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December 17, 2000

Obituaries

DAPHNE W. DOELKER, 80, of Traverse City, died Saturday, Dec. 15, 2000, at the Grand Traverse Pavilions.
      Arrangements are pending by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home of Traverse City.
     
      VIOLET ELIZABETH REIDLINGER, 91, of Interlochen, died Friday, Dec. 15, 2000 at the home of her son and daughter-in-law.
      Arrangements are pending by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home of Traverse City.
     
      TRAVERSE CITY - Jacob William Fisher, 73, of Traverse City, died on Friday, Dec. 15, 2000, at Munson Medical Center.
      Born on Aug. 3, 1927, in Stockbridge, Mich., he was the son of Pearl Lester and Verda Lucille (Mericle) Fisher. On Jan. 23, 1948, in Traverse City, he married the former Barbara J. Edenburn.
      He was a retired engineer and had been employed by Michigan Bell Telephone for 35 years. A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served during World War II as a Carpenter's Mate 3rd Class-CB. He was a member of VFW Cherryland Post No. 2780, the Traverse City Eagles, and the Mesick AMVETS.
      He is survived by his wife, Barbara of Traverse City; three sons, William W. Fisher of Fontana, Calif., Craig A. (Jacklyn) Fisher of Van Buren, Ark., and Jeffrey K. (Candice) Fisher of Traverse City; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and one sister, Patty A. (Kenneth) Mann of Lakeland, Fla.
      He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Harold and Donald; and one sister, Mary Schavey.
      A memorial service, with full military honors under the auspices of VFW Cherryland Post No. 2780, will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. The Rev. Donald T. Sunman will officiate. Friends may call at the time of the service.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society.
     
      TRAVERSE CITY - Denise Gavaldon, 45, of Traverse City, went to be with her Lord on Monday.
      Born April 19, 1955, in Pontiac, she was the daughter of Oral Norman Hook and Lavora Maxine Tupper. On Oct. 6, 1979, in Traverse City, she was united in marriage to John Gavaldon.
      As a public speaker, she enjoyed working with children teaching them the effects of drug abuse. Denise was also very active in the church. She loved crafts and animals.
      Survivors include her husband, John; brothers and sister, Michael Hook, Paul (Kirsten) Allen, Barbara (John) Kelley, Larry (Mary) Allen and many special nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her special friend Linda "Spin" Mazek and many other wonderful friends.
      Denise was preceded in death by her parents.
      A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, Dec. 30, at 11:30 a.m. at the Church of the Living God with Pastor John Bontrager officiating.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the Resurrection Life Church Building Fund or the Church of the Living God.
      The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home of Traverse City.
     
      RAPID CITY-Alvin J. Gidner, 77, of Rapid City, died Friday.
      He was born on January 9, 1923 in Detroit, the son of Andrew and Rose (Gipperich) Gidner.
      Alvin was a Staff Sgt. in the Army, serving at the Battle of the Bulge during World War II. He was a member of the Central Lake VFW Post #2001. He enjoyed the outdoors and his friends.
      Mr. Gidner is survived by his wife, Veda Gidner of Rapid City; nephews Gary A. (Carol) Gidner and Allan R. (Judy) Gidner, both of Calif.; and dear friends, Barry and Liz Riebow and family of Williamsburg.
      He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother.
      Visitation will be held 11 a.m. today until the time of service at the Elk Rapids Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes. A "Celebration of Life" service will be held at 2 p.m. today at the funeral home. Internment will be in the Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.
      Memorial contributions may be made to the Elk Rapids EMS.
     
      CEDAR-George E. Leikert, 73, formerly of Birmingham, died Friday at his home on Lime Lake in Cedar.
      Son of George G. and Bessie (Rockwell) Leikert, he was born June 25, 1927, in Bay City. On September 9, 1948, he married the former Shirley Elizabeth Howard, his childhood sweetheart since the age of 13, in Vassar.
      George graduated from Redford High School and attended the University of Michigan, followed by a tour of duty with the occupation forces in Japan. When his parents were killed in a 1947 train accident, he returned home and with his brothers took over the family business, Wolverine Hardware.
      In 1956, he was employed by Fisher Body Financial Division GMC. In 1985, he moved to Buick-Oldsmobile-Cadillac Group of GM as the Senior Administrator of the Salaried Compensation and Benefit Plans Administration. Upon retirement in 1987, he moved from Birmingham to his summer home on Lime Lake in Leelanau County, where he served on the Cleveland Township Planning Commission Board, as well as Treasurer of the Leelanau Unit of the American Cancer Society, keeper of the Gold (treasurer) of the Leelanau Prospectors Club, and Treasurer of the Lime Lake Shores Association. He was also a member of the Leland Cross Country Ski Group, Lamplighters, Traverse City Elks Lodge, The Thursday Afternoon Poker Club, and the Redford High School Alumni Association.
      George was a man loved and respected by the many who knew him. He was first the loving and devoted husband of Shirley. For Shari and Howard, he was a wonderful father who showed how to live a full, fun, caring and loving life by example. The qualities that made him a great husband and father also made him an important member to the extended family and to the communities in which he lived. His generousity, kindness, and giving nature endeared him to all that were fortunate enogh to have him touch their lives.
      In addition to his wife, Shirley, George is survived by his daughter Shari (John Lanman) Leikert of New Baltimore, son Howard (April) Leikert and beloved granddaughter Amy Beth Leikert, all of Lowell. Also his sister Wilma Welfare of Detroit; sisters-in-law Sonya Leikert, Joyce Frank (Fred) Stackable and Arlone (Robert) Russel; nieces Marilyn Welfare Keller, Elizabeth Frank DeLyria, and Kathryn Russel; nephews James Welfare, Alan Welfare, James Leikert, Richard Frank, Scott Frank, William Frank, Robert Russel and David Russel, as well as great nieces and nephews and caregiver DeeDee Beuter.
      George was preceded in death by his parents, brother James Leikert, and brother-in-law Douglas Welfare.
      A memorial service will take place at the Leland United Methodist Church, 106 N. Fourth St, Leland, at 1 p.m. on Monday, with Pastor Joe Graybill officiating. The family will greet friends from noon until the time of the service.
      Memorial gifts may be directed to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association, 21021 Venture Blvd., Suite 321, Woodland Hills, CA 91364.
      Arrangements have been entrusted to the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.
     
      TRAVERSE CITY-Infant son of Jason T. and Chastity Ann (Schaub) Norton.
      Survivors include grandparents, Debra Schaub of Traverse City, Alan Norton of Buckley, and Jan Norton of Portland Ore.; and brother, Tyler J. Norton.
      Services will be held at 3 p.m. today at Bell-Borek Funeral Home, Lamb Chapel, in Howell, with Rev. Carl Wesler officiating. The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. until the time of service. Burial will take place at Grand Traverse memorial Gardens.
     
      TRAVERSE CITY-Anna M. Woods of Traverse City and formerly of Newberry, West Branch and Bay City, died on Friday.
      Mrs. Woods was born in Detroit, on August 25, 1918. On November 27, 1937 at St. Joseph's Church in Bay City, she married Orville J. Woods, who preceded her in death on September 13, 1997.
      Surviving are three sons, Richard J. (Kathryn) Woods of Traverse City, Thomas D. (Karla) Woods of Lake Leelanau and Robert K. (Beth) Woods of Traverse City; one granddaughter, Kelli; four grandsons, David (Julie) Woods, Tim (Dawn) Woods, Mike (Denise) Woods, and Chris Woods; and four great-grandchildren; Logan, Thomas, Cayla and Corrina.
      In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and three brothers.
      Funeral services will be held at Grace Episcopal Church on Tuesday at 2 p.m. The Rev. Catherine W. Richardson and The Rev. Edward Emenheiser will officiate. Friends may call at the church (341 Washington St.) one hour prior to the service.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the Commission on Aging, 520 W. Front St., Suite B, Traverse City.
      Funeral arrangements are being handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.