Newspapers.com – Battle Creek Enquirer, June 19, 1994, Page 31
Author-professional speaker Art Fettig of Growth Unlimited, Battle Creek, recently made a two-week working trip to Oahu and Maui, Hawaii, where his speaking schedule included programs for students at Sacred Heart Academy, U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian members of National Speakers Association, Association of Safety Engineers and attendees at the Governor’s Pacific Rim Safety Conference. Videographer Terry Pochert, who works at Channel 7 ABC, accompanied Fettig and they created a number of video series.
I’m in here at my computer early this morning so that I can send it off and get over to the library book sale in Chapel Hill. I had to promise my wife that for every book I brought home today I would get rid of at least one book from my office. Books are my addiction. I don’t think I had a half a dozen books around other than school books for the first twenty years of my life. When I was twenty two I was wounded in Korea and we moved on to Hokkaido, Japan and I hurt my leg taking ski training and as my leg was healing I would stumble across the street from my barracks and spend my time in the library across the way. Mostly I enjoyed the biography section. When I was learning to become a claim agent with the railroad I began to read books about behavior; why people bought things and how the creative mind works. I discovered Alex Osborne and the topic of creative thinking. For many, many years I have gone through a book a week and the topics are as varied at those wet leaves that have piled up all around our home in the woods.
I’m sure you have heard the expression “Readers are leaders.” Well all I can say is that most of what I have learned has come from the books I bought or borrowed. I’ve done my learning my way and it has been a joyous venture.
This week I learned that my new novel, The Old May and the CD won the NABE 2009 Pinnacle Book Achievement Award for best book in the category of Novel for which I am most grateful. I might truly be a slow learner but I keep on striving.
Arthur J. (Art) Fettig, Jr, 91, of Hillsborough, NC passed from this life May 18, 2021, after a long and healthy life ended with several major health issues attacking him in his final 6 months. Art was born July 5, 1929 in Detroit, MI to deceased parents Arthur Fettig, Sr. and Jennie Sands Fettig. He was “little brother” to deceased sisters, Virginia (Sister Marie Therese) Fettig and Florence Fettig; and surviving sister, Barbara Monahan of Grosse Point Shores, MI; and big brother, to Joseph (deceased).
He served 2 years in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict, returned to Detroit and in 1954 married first wife Ruth Zepke Fettig (deceased); they became parents to Nancy Smith (Mike); Daniel Fettig (Karen); Amy Trexler (Robb); son David (deceased) and Rosemarie (deceased).
Upon graduation from University of Detroit High School, highly motivated and creative Art began work with Grand Trunk Western Railroad, retiring in 1983 as Corp. Communications Officer. With his innate gift of gab, humorous nature, desire to make the world a better place and encouraging all he met to do likewise, and capitalizing on all opportunities for further enhancing his talents (including writing), coupled with a love for travel, he became a Certified Speaking Professional (NSA)-in numerous fields. In 2002 he was awarded the Distinguished Service to Safety Award by the National Safety Council. He authored around 50 books on various subjects and for 32 years wrote “Monday Morning Memos”, many of which are still available on artfettig.com.
Tiring of winter snow and searching for new adventures and a new wife, he in 1998 met and married wife (now of 20 years) Jean Collier Fettig in Hillsborough, NC. In doing so he acquired new sons David Collier (GeeGee recently deceased); Christopher Collier (deceased); Kevin Collier (Michele); new grandchildren, great grandchildren and many new relatives.
He continued speaking, much of which was as “Almost Andy”, Art Fettig’s hilarious adventures when mistaken for North Carolina native Andy Griffith/Matlock. His swan song in this persona was just short weeks before Andy died when then gubernatorial candidate Pat McCrory thought he was the real Mckoy before several TV cameras and newspeople. Art truly enjoyed life in Hillsborough and the South, wrote some books about our town and several songs about the South.
Survivors also include daughter-in-law, Senka Fettig; granddaughters, Tiffany Fettig(Nikki), Alison Havercamp (Nick), Carli Fettig, Jennifer Wyatt(Paul), Michelle Swart(Derek), Kate Collier, Anna Collier; grandsons, Rory Packard(Veronica), Trevor Packard, Mickey Tomanovic, Michael Collier(Amanda), Alex Collier; and 5 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held May 27th at 11:00 am at Hillsborough Presbyterian Church, 102 West Tryon Street, Hillsborough, NC, followed by graveside service at 3:00 pm at Old Bluff Presbyterian Church, Godwin, NC.
In lieu of flowers, Art would wish that all would light little candles wherever a need is seen, making the world a better place.
The family is being assisted by Clements Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. in Hillsborough. Online condolences may be sent to www.clementsfuneralservice.com.
Mentors are people who truly love what they are doing, and want to share that love and skill with someone they believe might do it. Mentors don’t do it for you – they point the way and stand back and watch you stumble and grow. They know that life is really a “Do-it-Yourself” project and difficult things come easy, often unappreciated, prove useless. Mentees, nearly always, at times feel their Mentor is holding back – and it is true and necessary, for craftsmanship demands a vast amount of try and fail. Mentors quietly care, and they silently cheer you on, and every little challenge that you overcome burns joyfully within their hearts. Mentors give unselfishly, most likely because once, in their past, they knew a Mentor who shared, and cared and silently cheered them on. For this is a continuous, self-perpetuating process. Mentees grow, and when they’ve reached a level of success, they then become a Mentor. For love goes on and on and therein lies the magic.
Of 1776, what was the spirit? Revolution? Freedom? Independence? No. I think the prevailing spirit Was selling. Selling one another. Selling like selling Had never been done before. Or since. Salesmen saying, “But as for me, Give me liberty or give me death.” Saying, “I only regret that I have but one life To give for my country.” Saying, “Let us all hang together, Or assuredly we will hang alone. “ And signing, “We mutually pledge to each other Our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. ” Selling the world an exciting concept; that men, And women, could rule their own destiny. And what is wrong with America today Will be made right again with selling. Selling the dedication and devotion and That mutual concern that made it all begin.
