Archie H. Stevens, Sr.

Archie H. Stevens, Sr. was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan. He married Rosalie Martha Nagel on March 24, 1945, and they raised 5 children: Archibald Hobson, Jr., Morrison Martin, Virginia Ruth, John Arthur and James Richard. He attended Michigan State University before going into business. He and his brother Hazen started running Stevens Moving Company when their father no longer could. Archie bought Hazen out when Hazen relocated to Atlanta, Georgia. Archie became sole owner, President and Chairman of the Board of Stevens Van Lines until he transferred ownership to his four sons: Archie, Jr., Morrison, John and James Stevens. During his tenure, he grew the Stevens Moving Co. to be a dominant mover in the state of Michigan and started expanding it throughout the United States. The four sons further expanded the company to become the prominent van line both in the U.S. and overseas, serving corporate, Department of Defense and civilian clients. One son, Archie, Jr., sold his interests to his brothers, and later John and Jim retired and sold their interests to Morrie Stevens, Sr. He now serves as Chairman of the Board. Morrie's four children, Morrie, Jr., Pete, Lindsay and Angie, work at the company. Stevens Van Lines is now a partial ESOP, but majority interest is held by Morrie Stevens, Sr. and his children. During Archie's tenure at Stevens Van Lines, he provided thousands of jobs for Michiganders and out of state citizens. Archie, Sr. was respected as a tough but fair businessman, and was respected and admired by both blue collar and white collar workers throughout the Stevens Van Lines company. He was part of the group which put together Landmark Savings and Loan. Archie, Sr., and his wife retired to Rio Verde, Arizona and spent their summers at their cottage on Au Sable Point Rd. in Oscoda, Michigan. Archie loved the outdoors, basketball and golf, and had many adventures and hobbies. Archie and his wife Rose toured the world visiting Hawaii, Australia, England, and many other countries in Europe. He hunted big game with Trophy hunts in New Mexico, British Columbia, Texas, Africa and Alaska. He hunted in camps in the Wolf Creek area of Alpena, Michigan, the Rabor Bay-Pickford area of the Upper Peninsula and at Tuttle Marsh near Oscoda, Michigan. Archie, Sr. had many hobbies. He maintained pacer and trotting race horses for several years, racing, racing pigeons, and enjoyed raccoon hunting with treeing walker hounds. He did very well in his hobbies, having the winnings of one of his horses pay the annual expenses for all the horses. Archie, Sr., accumulated a museum class collection of lumberjack artifacts from days of that era, antique museum class traps from the 1800's, and when he was in Rio Verde had a museum class native North American Indian artifacts collection. Archie, Sr., raised his family on a 320 acre, river flood plain farm at 1180 North River Road. He later moved the family to 1920 Kennelly Road. When the children were pre-teen and teenagers, he had a cottage on Houghton Lake and later on Au Sable Point Rd. in Oscoda, Michigan. His wife, Rose, predeceased him November 28, 2012. He is survived by his children, nine grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son, Archibald Hobson Stevens, Jr. in 2006. Two brothers, Hazen Stevens and Fred Stevens, have also predeceased him. Funeral service will take place at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at First Presbyterian Church, 121 Harrison. Rev. Ted McCulloch will officiate with entombment to follow in Oakwood Mausoleum. Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 8:00 p.m. Monday at the W. L. Case and Company Funeral Chapel, 201 N. Miller Rd. and then at the church on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider the Michigan Karst Conservancy; First Presbyterian Church or the Saginaw Community Foundation. Envelopes are available at the funeral home. www.casefuneralhome.com

Funeral Home:
W. L. Case and Company
201 North Miller Road
Saginaw, MI
United States 48609