Timothy Michael Duperron

Timothy M. Duperron, age 80, of Grosse Ile, MI passed away February 17, 2023. His wife and daughter were with him.

Born in Wyandotte on July 3, 1942, Tim was the son of Emery “Frenchy” Duperron and Mildred (Stein) Duperron. The sixth of ten children, he was preceded in death by five brothers, Paul, Skip, Larry, Denny and Dave and one sister, Marilyn. He is survived by his beloved wife of 38 years, Linda Miller, his children: Renee (Chuck) Croy, Tim Duperron Jr. and Terry (Jeni) Duperron, grandchildren Ashley (Bob) Lasiuta and Andrew (Kellyn) Croy as well as great-grandchildren: Luke Croy, Alex Lasiuta, Toby Croy and Lilith Lasiuta. He is also survived by three sisters: Barb Welsch, Sharon (Frank) Cuschieri, and Linda (Durk) Damstra as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Tim left high school at 17 to join the Navy in 1959, serving until July, 1963. He earned his GED while in the Navy. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and a Masters Degree from Central Michigan University.

While in the Navy, he was assigned to the U.S.S. Sienna, U.S.S. Ault and U.S.S. Willard Keith. He sailed throughout the Mediterranean and was aboard the U.S.S. Ault when it became the first ship to enter Russian waters in the Black Sea after the Cold War. He was aboard the Willard Keith during its participation in the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Blockade.

In 1964, Tim joined Ford Motor Company where he started as a machine operator, moved to skilled trades as a millwright and then entered salaried supervison as a maintenance supervisor. He steadily progressed through levels of responsibility, leading the plant engineering and maintenance crews that totally re-tooled and rebuilt Dearborn Engine and Fuel Tank Plant for the production of the Erika 4 cylinder engine. He went on to work in Chihuahua, Mexico as the Engineering Manager before

going to Romeo as the second person hired for the conversion of Romeo from a tractor plant to an engine production plant, developing innovative approaches to the use of teams in manufacturing. His last assignment was at Cleveland Casting Plant, at that time the world’s largest grey iron casting plant, as Plant Manager.

He retired from Ford in 1998 to join Focus: HOPE as COO after the death of Father Cunningham. He worked with Eleanor Josaitis to streamline the organization eliminating areas that were not effective and adding new ones. He was responsible for growing the education programs beyond the Machinist Institute. In conjunction with Lawrence Technological University, the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, he developed programs that led to degrees in various Engineering Fields as well as the Computer Sciences. He took great satisfaction in knowing Focus: HOPE was helping individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds grow to their full potential. In the words of Ro’Shon T. Cobb, now a graduate Engineer— “I am grateful you came into my life. You are a great person, a brilliant leader, and an excellent mentor.”

To everyone who knew him, he was a quiet man who had great strength and compassion but also a wonderful sense of humor and a love of life. He loved reading, woodworking, golf, cruising the Great Lakes on the Linda Vista and travel, but he especially loved time with his family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to American Cancer Society or Focus: Hope, in memory of Tim.

Visitation will take place at The Martenson Family of Funeral Homes, Trenton Chapel on Saturday February 25, 2023 from 10:00 am until 6:00 pm. A military honor guard and funeral service will begin at 4:00 pm.