Winthrop "Winn" Setchfield

Winthrop (Winn) C. Setchfield, Jr., 82, passed away peacefully in the evening of Friday, April 12, 2024, after a fierce battle with COPD.   He was born on March 24, 1942, in San Diego, CA, to parents Winthrop Sr. and Marion Jean (Spencer) Setchfield, of Belding, MI, who have preceded him in death.  Also preceding him in death is brother-in-law Teague Breimayer of Belding, MI.

At the time of Winn’s passing, he was surrounded by his family who love him dearly.  He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Penny Setchfield (Breimayer), his three (3) daughters and their spouses; Jamie (and Walt) Dolph, of Caledonia, MI, Traci (and Dwayne) Botruff, of Byron Center, MI, and Shawne (and Kevin) Boring, of Kentwood, MI.  Also surviving him are his six (6) grandchildren (with spouses and significant others); Jenna (and Brian) Thrash, Nicole Dolph, Brandon (and Alicyn Mabry) Botruff, Tyler (and Julie Fargo) Boring, Kelsey (and Tyler) Visser (Botruff) and Kyle Boring; and his four (4) special great-grandchildren; Joseph Thrash, Shaina Scott, Ava Visser and Ella Visser.  He is also survived by his sister Sue (and Joe) Cooper, sister-in-law Diane (and Gary) Sower (Breimayer), both of Belding, MI, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Winn was an entrepreneur with many innovative ideas throughout his lifetime, with a strong talent in refrigeration systems.  He worked for the family refrigeration business, Setchfield Refrigeration (now Cooper Mechanical), then started an Ice supply business, S+F Ice (then Wonderland Ice).  Then in 1978 he founded Envirotronics, Inc. (now Weiss Technik), in Grand Rapids, MI, a company that designs and manufactures environmental test chambers.  He sold the company and retired in 2008, where he led and grew the company to be a major global presence in the environmental test chamber industry specializing in custom-designed equipment.  He treated his employees as family members and empowered them to help the business grow.

Winn was very active in the community during his lifetime.  He coached Little League baseball, girls’ basketball and adult women’s softball. Winn was an active member of the Belding Athletic Boosters, Belding Jaycees, a past board member on the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame and a past President of the Crystal Springs Country Club (now Stonewater Country Club).  He loved sports and actively followed and helped the Belding High School Football team during their state championship runs in the 1990’s.  Winn also loved and followed his beloved Michigan State Spartans teams.  He was an avid collector of MSU sports memorabilia and loved to talk sports, having an extensive memory of sports trivia.

He was very outgoing and well loved by many friends from his career, local communities, including hometown Belding, MI, Crystal Springs community in Caledonia, MI, Long Lake in Orleans, MI, and his beloved winter home for fourteen (14) years in The Villages, FL.  Winn also loved spending time with the entire family at the lake and on several family trips to his favorite vacation destination, Aruba.

The visitation and funeral services will be held at the Johnson-Feuerstein Funeral Home (203 Pleasant St., Belding, MI).  Visitation with family and friends will take place on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, from 5:00 – 8:00pm.  This visitation will be casual Michigan State Spartans themed, so feel free to wear MSU apparel.  An additional visitation be held on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 10:00am with the funeral service following, starting at 11:00am, officiated by Pastor Mike Simmons. In lieu of flowers, family has requested that memorial contributions be considered for the B Foundation (Cancer support for families) or the Belding Museum.

There will be a luncheon for all that wish to attend after the funeral service at the Candlestone Inn (8100 Storey Road, Belding, MI).

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