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Remembering Steve Upton

We are honoring the life of Steve Upton, a CMF member and philanthropist in Southwest Michigan who led the Whirlpool Foundation and the Frederick S. Upton Foundation. Friends, family and community members gathered last week to remember his many contributions to his community. He passed away at the age of 98.  

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Steve Upton. John Madill / HP file photo

We are honoring the life of Steve Upton, a CMF member and philanthropist in Southwest Michigan who led the Whirlpool Foundation and the Frederick S. Upton Foundation. Friends, family and community members gathered last week to remember his many contributions to his community. He passed away at the age of 98.  

Steve, the father of Congressman Fred Upton, was a valued partner to Michigan philanthropy and spent years building his family legacy and extending a hand to the surrounding communities through his philanthropic efforts.

“He was about as down to Earth as you could be,” Rep. Upton said. “We all looked up to him. There was never a harsh word because he led by example. He loved his family and was always engaged. He was always interested in what people were doing.”

Steve was known for his philanthropic efforts in Southwest Michigan, was a World War II veteran and later a senior vice president at Whirlpool Corporation.

After his three-year service in the 76th Infantry, the World War II veteran went on to enroll at the University of Michigan. He joined Whirlpool, which his father Frederick Stanley Upton had co-founded with his brothers.

According to the Herald-Palladium, after retiring at the end of 1987, he continued to steer the Whirlpool Foundation and Frederick S. Upton Foundation for decades.

“Steve invested in this community because he loved the people in it. Because he wanted the world to be better for absolutely everyone,” Lisa Cripps-Downey, CMF member and president of the Berrien County Community Foundation, said.

In 2016, Steve and his wife Elizabeth provided a $1 million endowment to the Berrien Community Foundation, which was used to establish the Stephen E. Upton Love Your Community Grant.

The legacy grant awards $50,000 every year to local entities that either try to establish themselves or expand ongoing efforts.

“Steve Upton was an incredible individual who had a significant impact not only on Whirlpool Corp., but also on our community. The generosity Steve and his wife Elizabeth have shown over the years, across so many aspects of our community, will serve this area for generations to come. Many at Whirlpool have had the privilege of spending time with Steve, enabling them to learn our company’s history directly from him,” Marc Bitzer, CEO of Whirlpool Corporation said.

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