Msgr. William (Bill) Easton died Dec. 29, 2013. He was the pastor of the National Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak. When Pope John Paul II came to Detroit, in 1989, Father Easton received the title of monsignor for his work. Father Joe Krupp, pastor of Sacred Heart, Hudson and St. Mary on the Lake, Manitou Beach, attended the funeral of his friend Msgr. Easton, who was the vice rector at Sacred Heart Seminary, Detroit, when Father Krupp was in the seminary. Father Krupp said, “Bill was one of the most balanced people. He had a great love for the Church. His love was so totally focused on the people, the hierarchy and the lay people. He declared one allegiance - he loved both.”
Father Krupp said that Msgr. Easton had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother and he went with him to Mexico on pilgrimages. When Msgr. Easton was assigned to a Spanish speaking community he learned Spanish and, later, when assigned to a parish where people spoke Samoan he learned that language, too. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
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