Versile Edwin Fraleigh, 96, of Chelsea and Ann Arbor, died on June 23 of natural causes. He was born in Detroit, MI on June 4, 1928 to Norman and Bernice Fraleigh. Versile, “think Universal,” graduated from Cooley High School in Detroit. He remembered taking the streetcar for 5 cents to downtown Detroit for a Vernors ginger ale.
While trying to figure out his life’s direction, Versile spent the year of ninth grade working on a family farm in Harbor Beach, MI. During two stints in the Army after high school, he served at Fort Knox and as french horn player and drum major in General MacArthur’s headquarters band in Tokyo. Upon returning from his service in Japan, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Michigan State University. To fill the gap which the G.I. Bill did not cover, Versile started a landscape and yard maintenance company with which he earned his way through MSU.
He married Judith Carolee Oakes on July 13, 1957, and together they took great pride in raising four sons while they founded and built Fraleigh’s Landscape Nursery in Ann Arbor, Michigan. They were a team in all respects. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, music, and travel. Versile will be remembered for his love of all things creative, from landscapes to music, from art to photography, and his active pursuit of whatever challenge was in front of him.
Versile is survived by his sons Jon (Holly), Doug (Amy), Chris, and Tim (Romi), grandchildren, Taylor, Rachael, Sanna, Max, Margeaux, Chloe, Sophie, Lily, and Joaquin, and great-grandchildren Everly, Francesca, and MacKenzie.
Versile’s life will be celebrated on September 13, 2024 from 4–6 p.m. at Muehlig’s Funeral Home, 403 S. Fourth Ave., Ann Arbor, MI 48104.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his name to the charity of your choosing.
