Shivajirao Desai

DESAI, Shivajirao “Shiva” Govindrao - Age 93, died October 12, 2020 in Lapeer Michigan. A memorial service will be held 2:30 PM Friday, October 23, 2020 at West Flint Church of the Nazarene, 2254 S. Dye Rd., Flint. Private interment will follow at Sunset Hills Cemetery. Those desiring may make contributions to the International Student Emergency Fund at the University of Michigan, https://leadersandbest.umich.edu/find/#!/give/basket/fund/317023.  Shiva was born January 1, 1927 in Madilage, India, the son of Govindrao and Bhimabai Desai. In 1951, he immigrated to the United States on the Queen Mary to pursue his education. He was the first in his village to do so. Shiva went on to earn a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from University of Michigan, later earning his Professional Engineering license from the State of Michigan and Ohio. He was married to Marlene Peters in 1958. They moved to Swartz Creek in 1967, where he started his businesses: Desai and Associates and Desai Construction. Mr. Desai was a member of the Optimist Club, where he was past president. He was also active in the India Club of Flint. Through the years, he supported many organizations in his hometown in India and started an International Optimist Club in Kolhapur. In 2003 he built a home in India and traveled between his residences until 2015. Surviving are his three children, Lata (Erik) VonBrockdorff, Ravi (Bonnie) Desai and Jay (Michelle) Desai; grandchildren, Erika (Alex) Bedtelyon, Emily (Timothy) Jagielo, Taylor VonBrockdorff, Alexis VonBrockdorff, Alexander(Amy) Desai, Emerson Desai, Walker Desai, Ashley (Joseph) Johnson , Kyle London and Taran Desai; great-grandchildren, Selene Bedtelyon and Zachary Johnson; brothers, Hanmantrao Desai and Rajaram Desai. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marlene; sister, Laxmibai Ramchandra Jadhav; brothers, Sambhajirao and Narayanrao Desai. Tributes may be shared at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com