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December 10, 2000

Obituaries

GRAND RAPIDS - Mrs. Leola May Essex Johnson Klise, 90, of Grand Rapids, went to be with her Lord on Saturday.
      Leola had a great zest for life and enjoyed music. She lived in Traverse City and was an adult foster care provider there for over 30 years.
      She is survived by her three daughters, Marilyn Larson and Barbara (William) Winowiecki - both of Owosso and Joan Baynton of Essex; one son, Jerome (Phyllis) Essex; 18 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Edna Smith and Lois (William) Bednarz; brothers, DeVitte and Frederick Johnson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
      Mrs. Klise was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Klise; a daughter, Rosalyn Essex; brothers Al, Todd, Nate and Ray Johnson; and a sister, Eunice Willey.
      The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday at the Zaagman Memorial Chapel in Grand Rapids. Funeral services will be held at noon Tuesday at the chapel with Rev. Larry Erlandson officiating. Interment will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
      Memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of the Nazarene Music Fund, 1023 S. Division Street, Traverse City, MI 49684.
     
      TRAVERSE CITY - Jan Huyck was born in Alma, the daughter of Leon and Geraldine Currie. She attended St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School and graduated from Alma High School in 1968. After graduation she studied at Patricia Stevens' Modeling School in Wisconsin until moving to Germany to marry Ronnie W. Huyck of Ithaca, who was serving in the U.S. Army. They were married in Babenhausen, Germany by the Bergermeister (Mayor) on July 4, 1969 and a Catholic ceremony preceded on July 19, 1969.
      They returned to Midland where Jan became a certified dental assistant and in May of 1974 gave birth to a daughter, Corey Anne Huyck.
      In the spring of 1977 the family moved to a new home in Frankenmuth, where they resided until the summer of 1981. At that time Ron was transferred through General Motors to Decatur, Ala. Jan loved the warm weather and made many new and dear friends during the 11 years she spent there. In 1991 she was diagnosed with Huntington's disease and in the summer of 1992 she returned to Saginaw to be closer to her family. Shortly after her mother Geraldine passed away in March of 1999 she moved to Traverse City where she was able to enjoy many family gatherings on Silver Lake.
      Jan is survived by her husband, Ron Huyck; two brothers, Greg (Karlene) Currie and Ryan Currie - both of Traverse City; and a daughter, Corey, of Chicago.
      Memorial services will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City with Father Gerri Micketti serving as celebrant.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to Huntington's (HDSA) - Michigan Chapter, 5900 Mason, Mason, MI 48642.
     
      TRAVERSE CITY - Mary S. Stedman, 66, of Traverse City, died Wednesday at home.
      Born March 2, 1934, in Detroit, she was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Molnar) Veresh. On Jan. 15, 1966, in Allen Park, she married George Stedman.
      A resident of Traverse City since 1989, she moved here from Fenton where she had lived since 1966. Mary was employed as a dietitian at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, at Greenfields Restaurant in Detroit and also at Ford Motor Company. She later taught at Southwestern High School in Flint and also at Northwest Vocational Education Center in Clarkston. She also taught at Southwestern High School in Flint and retired from Northwest Vocational Education Center in Clarkston until her retirement. She was also an excellent cook, baker and hostess, to the great enjoyment of her friends and family. She was a master gardener and gardening was her greatest love. Other outdoor activities included golf and fishing.
      Mary is survived by her children, Claudia (Robert) Craig of Traverse City and Matthew (Tamara) Stedman of Grand Blanc. She is also survived by her granddaughters Kylie Lynne and Katie Maureen, Sarah Elizabeth and Abby Rose; a sister, Eva (Julius) Tatar of Suttons Bay; brothers, Louis (Helen) Veresh of Suttons Bay and William (Helen) Veresh of Lincoln Park; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth Veresh of Milford and Anenia Veresh of Detroit; and many nieces and nephews, of whom all were her favorites.
      She was preceded in death by her husband, George; a son, George "Chip" Stedman, Jr.; her parents; and her brothers, John, Joseph and Steve.
      Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City with Rev. Becky Chamberlain officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home at the time of service.
      Memorials may be directed to Munson Hospice, Cherryland Humane Society or the American Cancer Society.
     
      TRAVERSE CITY - Maybelle L. Round, 81, of Traverse City, joined her beloved husband Bob in heaven on Dec. 7, 2000, and is once again able to stand up straight and is no longer in pain.
      Maybelle was born Oct. 18, 1919, in St. Johns, the daughter of Charles and Orcelia (Rosier) Dutton. On June 17, 1939, in Traverse City, she married G. Robert Round.
      A resident of Traverse City since the age of 6, Maybelle came here from St. Johns with her family. Maybelle was a homemaker and was very supportive of her husband, Bob, who was a chef for Rounds Circle Inn, which was owned and operated by his brother Bill. She also dearly loved her children and grandchildren. Maybelle was a member of Grace Episcopal Church and enjoyed gardening and sewing.
      Survivors include her daughters, Bonnie J. (William J.) King and Elizabeth M. 'Betty' (Robert A.) Wheeler - both of Traverse City; two grandchildren, Todd King of Traverse City and Melissa King and her fiance Scott Steffes of Grawn; three great-grandchildren, Jennifer King, Nicole Potts and Hailee King; a sister, Esther Whiteford and a brother, Charles Dutton and a nephew, Don Whiteford - all of Williamsburg.
      Maybelle was preceded in death by her husband in 1995. She was also preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Ernest.
      Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home with Rev. William Haggard officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the NMC Culinary Arts Scholarship Fund in the names of Robert and Maybelle Round.
     
      TRAVERSE CITY - Bernice May Wiitala, 84, of Traverse City, went to be with her Lord on Saturday at her home.
      Born May 4, 1916, in Bailey, she was the daughter of Lewis and Minnie (Brink) McClain. On July 13, 1935, at Calvary Baptist Church in Muskegon, Bernice married Eino J. Wiitala and in 1942 they moved to Marilla.
      Bernice and her husband were instrumental in the formation of the Kaleva Baptist Church where they both were among the charter members. After moving to Traverse City in the early 1980's, Bernice became a very active member of Bethany Baptist Church. A retired teacher's aide at Mesick Consolidated Schools, Bernice was a member of the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel. She also enjoyed reading and ceramics but she especially enjoyed knitting. She personally knitted over 2,000 bonnets for the nursery at Munson Medical Center and was honored by the hospital and featured in a newspaper article for her accomplishment.
      Bernice is survived by her children, Donald (Joan) Wiitala of Williamsburg, Carol (Gerald) Stevens of Traverse City and Marilee (Richard) Duncan of Novi. Also surviving are 13 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and her sisters, Dorothy Davenport and Fern Swierenga - both of Muskegon, along with many nieces and nephews.
      Bernice was preceded in death by her husband, Eino, on April 8, 1983; her great-grandsons, Jeffrey Aaron Stevens in 1979 and Adam Taylor in 1998; her brothers, Ernest, Marion, Robert and Clarence McClain; and by her sisters, Edna Poort and Lena Whitsel.
      Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home of Traverse City. Services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with Pastors Donald Sunman and Richard Duncan officiating. Burial will be at Marilla Cemetery near Kaleva.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the Kaleva Baptist Church, P.O. Box 4, Kaleva, MI 49645. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.