Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes East Lansing

02/06/2026

We are honored to share upcoming service information from our East Lansing Chapel and to hold these families in our hearts during this time of remembrance.

Cara Eugenia Jones
Jane Louise Finn
Kenneth Edward Nichols
Charles Alfred Petty
Donna Louise O’Connor
Frances Patricia Fillwock
Beverly Ann Shull
John Carlisle York

Each life represents a story deeply woven into the lives of family and friends. Our thoughts are with all who are grieving, gathering, and remembering. It is a privilege to support our East Lansing families as they honor their loved ones and share meaningful moments together.

02/03/2026

The memorial for Mr. Sturges begins at 530 at Munn Arena.

Please join us at Munn on Tuesday, February 3rd as we honor the life and legacy of Dan Sturges

Doors open at 4:45 and the program will start at 5:30

Free parking near Munn will be available at Lots 63, 67, 79, and 126

Support the Sturges Family: gofund.me/26a18b7e1

02/01/2026

Opening the Doors: The East Chapel Story (1962)
Part 7 - Then & Now: A Legacy That Continues

As we conclude this "look back" at the opening of our East Chapel, we’re reminded of something simple yet powerful: buildings may age, communities may grow, and time moves forward... but the heart of why a place like this exists does not change.

When the East Chapel first opened its doors in December 1962, it represented thoughtful design, careful craftsmanship, and a commitment to serve families with dignity and compassion. It was built to feel welcoming, comforting, and respectful: a place where people could gather, remember, and support each other.

Today, more than 60 years later, those same values still guide us.

The chapel has seen countless families walk through its doors. It has stood through celebrations of life, moments of quiet reflection, and seasons of joy and sorrow in our community. And while the world around it has changed in ways nobody in 1962 could have imagined, its purpose remains steady: to be a place of care, kindness, and respect.

Looking back reminds us how much history lives inside these walls. Looking forward reminds us how honored we are to continue that work.

Thank you for joining us on this journey CADL Local Historyhapel’s story... and thank you to the generations of families who have trusted us, then and now.

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Ingham County Genealogical Society
CADL Local History
Ingham County Historical Commission

01/31/2026

We came across this vintage Gorsline-Runciman ashtray recently, and while it definitely reflects a very different era (when funeral homes, hospitals, banks, and nearly every business handed these out as promotional items!), it also serves as a unique reminder of our long roots in the Greater Lansing community.

Items like this tell a story where everyday life - and marketing - looked very different than today.

While we certainly don’t celebrate smoking, we do appreciate the history, memories, and generations of families who have trusted us through so many decades of change.

We love preserving little glimpses of the past like this... and we’re grateful to still be here, serving families with the same care, compassion, and commitment to community.

01/27/2026

Opening the Doors: The East Chapel Story (1962)

Part 6: Built by a Community

When the East Chapel opened in 1962, it wasn’t just announced - it was celebrated!

Surrounding the open house announcement in the local newspaper were messages of congratulations from builders, contractors, tradespeople, and local businesses who helped bring the East Chapel to life. Before social media, before digital announcements, this was how community support was shown: publicly, proudly, and in print.

Each name on this page represents skilled hands, shared effort, and local partnerships that contributed to the creation of a space meant to serve others with care and dignity. Together, they reflect something larger than a single building: a moment when a community collectively invested in a place designed to support families during life’s most meaningful moments.

More than sixty years later, these pages serve as a reminder that the East Chapel was never just a project: it was a community effort from the very beginning.

Many of these businesses have since closed, but we see Hager Fox Heating & Air - A Randazzo Company - do you see any others that may be still around?

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Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes - Lansing
Michigan History Magazine
CADL Local History

01/26/2026

We are honored to share recent services entrusted to our East Lansing Chapel.

Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of Daniel William Sturges, Mary Jane Britten, Ronald D. Flanders, Susan Marie Dupay, Elizabeth “Liz” Anita Thorne, Janet Norma Zehnder Merrell, Richard Alexander Clark, and Laurence Joseph Sowash.

Service details and full obituaries may be found on our website. Please join us in keeping these families in your thoughts during this time.

01/24/2026

We are honored to care for the family of Daniel Sturges during this difficult time.

Coach Sturges was a respected leader and an important part of the Michigan State University community. His impact as a coach, mentor, and colleague will be remembered by many.

Obituary and service details are available at the link below:

Celebrate the life of Daniel Sturges, leave a kind word or memory and get funeral service information care of Gorsline Runciman Funeral Home.

01/24/2026

We are honored to care for the family of Daniel Sturges during this difficult time.

Coach Sturges was a respected leader and an important part of the Michigan State University community. His impact as a coach, mentor, and colleague will be remembered by many.

Obituary and service details are available at the link below:
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/east-lansing-mi/daniel-sturges-12718999

01/23/2026

Did you know that today is National Pie Day?

So many of us have a special pie that reminds us of someone we love. Mom’s apple pie, ganndpa's chess pie at Thanksgiving, your best friend's cherry pie at summer gatherings… food has a beautiful way of connecting us to our memories.

If there is a pie that reminds you of someone you love, today may be a sweet way to remember them: bake it, buy it, or simply smile thinking about it.

We’d love to hear your favorite “memory pie” in the comments.

01/22/2026

Opening the Doors: The East Chapel Story (1962)

Part 5: A Thank You, Written in 1962

Shortly after the East Chapel opened its doors, a message of gratitude appeared in the local newspaper.

Addressed to the community, it thanked the hundreds of people who visited during the open house and expressed appreciation not only for the new building, but for the trust and interest shown in funeral service itself. The message reaffirmed a commitment to what it called “Golden Rule service”... serving others as we would wish to be served.

Reading these words more than sixty years later, the sentiment feels familiar. The language is formal, but the intention is simple: gratitude, humility, and responsibility to the community.

From 1962 to today, that message still resonates. It reflects a belief that service is built on trust, and that care begins long before it is ever needed.

In our next post, we’ll look at the many local hands and businesses that helped bring the East Chapel to life.

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Lansing State Journal
Michigan History Magazine
Downtown East Lansing

01/17/2026

Opening the Doors: The East Chapel Story (1962)

Part 4: An Open House for the Community

Before the East Chapel ever served its first family, the doors were opened to the community.

In December 1962, Gorsline-Runciman invited neighbors, friends, and families to an open house at the newly completed East Chapel on East Grand River Avenue. Rather than waiting for a moment of need, the invitation encouraged the public to visit freely to walk through the building, see the chapel, and become familiar with the space in calm, everyday circumstances.

This open house reflected an important philosophy: that a funeral chapel should feel known and approachable long before it is ever needed. It was an opportunity to welcome the community inside, answer questions, and share the care and intention behind the new space.

In our next post, we’ll share a message written shortly after those opening days: a note of gratitude that captured the spirit of this moment in time.

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CADL Local History
East Lansing Info
The City of East Lansing