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Bemis Elementary  |  All About Us


Black and White photo of Walter Bemis with hat and overalls
Walter R. Bemis was born in Whitford Centre, Michigan on January 17.1898. He worked and lived on his uncle's farm while attending elementary school.  He and his family moved to Troy in 1927 where he worked for 13 years on a farm. In 1940 he went to Poppleton school to sub for a few days and stayed on as custodian for 28 1/2 years. Devoted to his job, he missed only one day of work when his mother passed away.
 
In 1968 Mr. Bemis retired but returned to sub for another 10 1/2 years.  The elderly Mr. Bemis subbed during the early years when our school first opened and returned as a crossing guard for another five years. 
 
The Troy School District named the Walter R. Bemis Elementary School in his honor in 1978.  Friends and family of Mr. Bemis, touched by his spirit and dedication, initiated a scholarship in his name to perpetuate in a tangible way, his dedication to family, children, coworkers and the Troy School District. "He made ours a better life."