Rev. John Peter Bird Sr., also Master Sergeant John P. Bird Sr. of Watervliet, Michigan went to be with the Lord on January 20, 2016.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Hartford General Baptist Church. Military Rites will also be conducted. Cremation has taken place.

He was ordained by the Southern Michigan Association of General Baptists Headquarters in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.

Master Sergeant John Peter Bird Sr. served in the U.S. Army for three years and the National Guard Reserve and Army Reserve until 1992 when he retired.  John had seven years of college and two years in pastoral ministries.  He served as associate pastor and pastor for churches for 13 years. He served as clerk of Southern Michigan Association for several years and helped organize the Calumet Association in Portage, Indiana.

He and his wife Lela had a southern gospel quartet which sang at churches in this area. He was a great bass singer. He loved contemporary and southern gospel music.

He is survived by his wife Lela Mae Shearer Kiser Bird; a son James Franklin Bird of Ft. Collins, Colorado; three step-children, Cathy Kiser, Vickie Page, and David Kiser; 5 grandchildren, 7 step-grandchildren; 15 step-great grandchildren; 1 great grandchild and one on the way; a sister Sidney Janetzsky of Columbus, Ohio; a brother James Bird and his wife Charlotte of North Carolina; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his son John P. Bird Jr.; his parents; a brother-in-law Ron Janetzsky; and a sister-in-law Annette Bird.