Clarence J "Red" Armstrong Jr.

Clarence J. “Red” Armstrong Jr., 85, of Fort Gratiot, passed away in his home on March 14, 2026 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born on June 8, 1940 in Saginaw, Michigan to the late Clarence and Ora (Brennan) Armstrong.

Red attended St. Stephen High School. He married Ruth Ann Gardner of Jeddo in 1965. Together they raised twin boys, Jim and Brett, and lived in Fort Gratiot their whole lives. She passed away on October 14, 1992.

Red worked at the gas station located where Lakeshore Road turns into M-25. He was also employed at a bakery in Livonia and at Volkswagen, and he spent 32 years at Armak/American Tape before retiring.

Red enjoyed driving his 1958 Chevy Impala on cruise night and attending car shows. He loved the annual Fourth of July and Labor Day vacations he took with his close friends, Ken and Gayle Hutchins and their family, as well as trips to Alabama with his very close friend and companion, Mahaley Lake. Red also enjoyed playing cards and spending time with his sons, traveling to Florida with them or simply hanging out with them and their friends, whom he affectionately called his “other sons,” while sharing a cold beer.

He is survived by two sons, Jim Armstrong and Brett (Jennifer) Armstrong; two grandchildren, Taylor and Alyssa Armstrong; two great-grandchildren, Zen Armstrong and Bentley Nunez; five nephews, Jeff (Valerie) Gardner, Alan (Judy) Mack, Stanley Mack and Grant and Mike Gardner; and close friend and companion, Mahaley Lake. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mable (Stan) Mack; parents-in-law, Loral and Irene Gardner; two brothers-in-law, Ken (Lois) Gardner and Don Gardner; two nephews, Scott and Kevin Gardner; and his stepmother, Violet Wesch Armstrong.

Private family services will be held.

Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Fort Gratiot.

Red’s family would like to give a very big special thank you to Julia Gouin as well as his hospice nurses for all their loving care.