November 14, 2000

Obituaries

      BONNIE SUE SNYDER, 75, of Manistee, formerly of Wellston, died Sunday, Nov. 12, 2000, at West Shore Medical Care Center in Manistee. She was born Dec. 25, 1924, in Manistee.
      Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until the time of services which will be conducted at 2 p.m. today at Terwilliger Funeral Home in Kaleva. Interment will be in Wellston Cemetery.
     
      BILLIE ANN SWAN, 40, of Mancelona, died Sunday, Nov. 12, 2000, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
      The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Penzien Funeral Homes, Inc. in Mancelona. Friends may also visit from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 11 a.m. until service time Thursday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Herron. Funeral services are tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. Thursday at the church.
     
      ELLEN M. TUCKER, 81, of Kalkaska, died Monday, Nov. 13, 2000, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. She was born Aug. 30, 1919, in Kalkaska.
      Visitation will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Wolfe Funeral Home in Kalkaska. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at the Funeral Home; burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Kalkaska.
     
      Paul H. Bachmann
      Died November 12, 2000
      CENTRAL LAKE - Paul H. Bachmann 91, of Central Lake, died Sunday November 12, 2000, surrounded by his family at Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility in Bellaire.
      During his lifetime he was an active member of the Central Lake Community. In 1942 he and his wife Winnie founded Bachmann's Variety Store in Central Lake. They ran the store together until 1972 when his son Michael and wife Christine bought the business.
      Paul was a member of the First Congregational Church in Central Lake, past master and Treasurer of the Central Lake Masonic Lodge, and member of the Northwest Shrine Club. He was also a charter member of the Central Lake Lions Club.
      Paul and Winnie enjoyed travel. Together they traveled around the country and abroad. Paul also enjoyed gardening and spending time with his family.
      He was born on October 8, 1909, in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Hugo and Margaret (Setzke) Bachmann who preceded him in death.
      He married Winifred Lamb in Rogers City on May 17, 1936. The love of his life, she preceded him in death in 1985.
      Also preceding him in death were brothers Theodore, Hugo, Karl and Norman.
      Surviving are two children, Donna K. Batterbee and Michael P. (Christine) Bachmann of Central Lake; his grandchildren, Michelle (Charles) Fox of Ellsworth, Denise Batterbee of Central Lake, Robert Bachmann of Eastport, and Elizabeth Bachmann of Charlevoix; a great-grandson, Ethan Fox; a brother, Ervin of California; many nieces and nephews; and his special friends at Meadow Brook.
      Paul was a very special man who will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
      Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 15, 2000, at 11 a.m. at the Central Lake First Congregational Church, the Rev. Daniel C. Clark officiating, followed by Masonic Services.
      Interment will be in Southern Cemetery, Central Lake Twp.
      The family will receive friends today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes and from 10 a.m. until services on Wednesday at the church.
      Memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church, Masonic Lodge, Library or Historical Society, all of Central Lake.
      Phyliss M. Bearinger
      Died November 13, 2000
      GRAWN - Phyliss M. Bearinger, 75, of Grawn, died Monday, November 13, 2000, at Grand Traverse Pavilions in Traverse City.
      Phyliss was born January 6, 1925, in Manistee, the daughter of Arthur T. and Florence (Larson) Mason.
      She was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Traverse City.
      She worked for Munson Medical Center and the Grand Traverse Medical Care Facility as a registered nurse for many years. She was also active in the Girl Scout Crooked Tree Council, the Grand Traverse Area YMCA and the Traverse City Women's Resource Center.
      On June 28, 1952, in Manistee, she married Lewis W. Bearinger who survives. Also surviving are four children, Carl A. of Traverse City, Louise A. (Jeff) Shamroe of Traverse city, Blair D. (Sandra) of Rives Junction, and Ivan L. (Michelle) of Traverse City; two sisters, Suzanna (Charles) Defever of Anchorville and Natalie (Richard) Callesen of Manistee; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two nieces; and two nephews.
      Phyliss was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Buddy.
      Funeral services will be held Thursday, November 16, 2000, at eleven a.m. at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Traverse City where the family will receive friends from ten a.m. until time of services. Pastor David Gable will officiate. Interment will take place in Southern Cemetery, Central Lake Twp.
      Memorial contributions may be made to The Pavilions or to the Alzheimer's Foundation.
      Arrangements are by the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.
     
      Major James Lewis Bielski
      Died November 11, 2000
      TRAVERSE CITY - Major James Lewis Bielski, 55, of Traverse City, died Saturday at home.
      Born Sept. 18, 1945, in Pittsburgh, Penn., he was the son of Dr. Alfred D. and Lillian (Lewis) Bielski.
      On Nov. 21, 1970, in Dallas, Texas, he married Brenda Strickland.
      A retired major, James served in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years before joining McDonald Douglas. He was a member of Huntingtons Disease National Group, N.A.U.S. and Alliance Genetic Group. James enjoyed participating in local politics.
      Survivors include his wife, Brenda of Traverse City; sons, Sean D., Brian J., Stephen J., and James D. - all of Traverse City; brothers, Stephen of California, Larry of Mississippi, and David of Pennsylvania; sisters, Susan Roush of New York and Barbra Antion of Iowa; granddaughter, Aleya Jordan Bielski; and many special nieces and nephews.
      A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home; Julie Chai will officiate.
      Memorials may be directed to the charity of one's choice.
     
      Robert Thomas 'Bob' Cassell
      Died November 8,2000
      TUCSON, Ariz. - Robert Thomas "Bob" Cassell, 67, of Tucson, formerly of Croswell, Mich., died Wednesday in Tucson.
      The son of the late Harry and Blanche (Levette) Cassell, he was born on April 29, 1933, in Detroit, Mich. Robert joined the U.S. Navy and served on active duty from 1950 to 1955. He then returned to the Grand Traverse area where he worked for the Traverse City State Hospital and later the MESC while also serving his country in the U.S. Navy Reserves from which he retired in 1993.
      Bob enjoyed working on his crop and dairy farm and taking care of his fields with his draft workhorses.
      He was a member of Eagles, VFW, American Legion, Arizona Rangers, 32nd degree Mason, fleet Reserves Branch 358, and Moose Club.
      His wife, Joan DeMarie Cassell of Arizona, and three stepchildren survive him. In 1954 he married Monte (Robbins) Bowman. He had four children, all of whom survive, Thomas Cassell of Buckley, Mich., Barry (Jane) Cassell of Wilmington, N.C., Sharon (David) London of Traverse City, Mich., and Kenneth Cassell of Buckley, Mich.; seven grandkids, Christy (Ronald) Cassell-Durga of Interlochen, Mich.; and Karen and Thomas Cassell II, Joshua and Bradley London, and Drew Cassell - all of Traverse City, Mich.; and two great-granddaughters - both of Traverse City, Mich.
      Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Pomeroy Funeral Home in Croswell, Mich. Viewing will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today.
      Zoe A. 'Sue' Lorenzen
      Died November 12, 2000
      GREENVILLE - Zoe A. "Sue" Lorenzen, 85, of Greenville, formerly of Traverse City, passed away Sunday morning at United Memorial Health Center in Greenville.
      She was born on July 26, 1915, in Davenport, Iowa, the daughter of William and Ethel P. Hibst Schroeder. On June 18, 1938, in Hammond, Ind., she married Dr. Glenn R. Lorenzen. She and her husband were residents of Traverse City for over 50 years where she assisted him in his practice, was an active member of the Ogdenburg Methodist Church, life member of the Eastern Star of Traverse City, member of the Daisy Chain of the Elks and on the drill team of Rainbow Girls of the Masonic Lodge. She and her husband moved to Greenville in 1999 where she was a member of Greenville First United Methodist Church. She was preceded in death by her son, Terre K. Lorenzen, in 1994.
      Surviving are her husband of 62 years, Dr. Glenn Lorenzen of Greenville; their daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Rev. Dr. Harry R. Johnson of Greenville and Karen and George Paulin of Traverse City; her grandchildren, David Lorenzen, Kristi Johnson, Jilan M. Johnson, Kim Johnson, Nicholas Paulin, Daniel Paulin, Patti Lorenzen, and Cory Lorenzen; and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Richard and Colleen Lorenzen of Davenport, Iowa.
      Funeral services will be Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2000, at 3:30 p.m. from Greenville First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Harry R. Johnson officiating. Interment will be later in the Columbarium of the First United Methodist Church.
      Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church.
      Arrangements are by Hurst Funeral Home in Greenville.
     
      Mary S. Sheridan
      Died November 11, 2000
      MAPLE CITY - Mary S. Sheridan, 94, of Maple City, died Saturday, November 11, 2000, at Grand Traverse Pavilions.
      Mary was born April 9, 1906, in Cedar, the daughter of Frank and Mary (Brezinski) Bloswick, and on January 16, 1924, she married Louis L. Sheridan in Grand Rapids.
      Mary was a member of St. Rita's Catholic Church in Maple City and St. Rita's Altar Society. She also was a member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and enjoyed her family and reading.
      Mary is survived by her children: Louis "Bud" (Jane) Sheridan of Coleman, Theodore (Margaret) Sheridan of Brunswick, Ohio, Joyce Sheridan of Manistee, and John (Ruth) Sheridan of Maple City. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren; as well as her sisters, Esther Flaska of Maple City, Clara Bumgardner of Maple City, and Helen Elmer of Six Lakes; a sister-in-law, Ruby Bloswick of St. Ignace; a dear friend, Dianna Ives of Manistee; her son-in-law, Eugene Richardson of Glen Arbor; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
      Mary was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter, Irene Richardson; a grandson, Loren Richardson; a great-grandson, Michael Richardson; her sisters, Isabelle Houston and Winifred Pearcy; and her brother, John Bloswick.
      The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday from St. Rita's Catholic Church in Maple City with The Rev. Fr. Walter Anthony serving as Celebrant.
      Burial will be in St. Philip Neri Catholic Cemetery in Empire.
      Visitation will be held at St. Rita's Catholic Church today from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. with the Rosary being prayed at 7:30 p.m.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Rita's Catholic Church, The Carmelite Monastery or to the Grand Traverse Pavilions.
      The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.
     
      Emilie D. Socha
      Died October 9, 2000
      TRAVERSE CITY - Emilie D. Socha, of Troy and Traverse City, died on Oct. 9, 2000, in Sedona, Ariz. at the age of 74.
      Emilie enjoyed life to the fullest and made friends everywhere with her love of people and great sense of humor. She had fun. A rousing "Hello there!" in the morning to the birds at the feeder. She had a passion for Polkas played loud in her automobile. You could hear her coming. She was a mystic, intensely interested in life beyond.
      Being an accomplished dowser, she planned her daily "agenda" during her contemplation moment in the morning over two cups of strong coffee. A free spirit who lived her philosophy, "He is free who lives as he wants to," "Who says I can't" and "Don't put negative thoughts into the air." Her spirit rubbed off on the family - a combination of determination, creativity and an aggressive insistence on freedom.
      Emilie was a graduate of the University of Detroit and studied at Catholic University in Washington, DC. She served as a family counselor with the Catholic Social Services in Detroit, also with the Red Cross and Jennings Memorial Hospital, and then in private practice. She became a professional graphologist and hypnotherapist using hypnosis to reach into past lives, when necessary, to find the source of client emotional problems. She also taught past life regression classes at Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City.
      Emilie was considering a job with the U.S. State Department when Joe Socha came along and they were married on Nov. 15, 1952, a marriage that continued to the end for 47 years. Four wonderful children came from this marriage all imbued with the importance of freedom and living life to the maximum of their ability. Emilie never recovered from the death of son, Paul Michael, in June of this year. She was with him to the end holding on to the hope that he would survive. There is a huge hole in the family's life without her, but we are certain that she is very busy "on the other side," experiencing something new and exciting, for her, and there certainly will be Polkas.
      She is survived by her husband, C. Joseph Socha; daughters, Glorianne (Henry) Ebel of Rochester Hills, Michelle Socha of Traverse City and Marie (Dave) Skridulis of Madison, Ala.; daughter-in-law, Mary, Paul's wonderful spouse; and a sister, Irene (Ed) Nason.
      A memorial service for Emilie is planned for Saturday, Nov. 18, at 10:30 a.m. at the Unity Church on Five Mile Road in Traverse City.
      Memorial contributions can be made to family intentions in care of Joe Socha or Unity Church of Traverse City.