subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
 
March 14, 2001

Obituaries

NEOMA BRISTOL, 74, of Kingsley, died Monday, March 12, 2001 at Tendercare in Traverse City.
      No services are planned. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Covell-Smith Funeral Home of Kingsley.
     
      JOHN "JACK" HOPP, JR., 78, of Fife Lake, died on Monday, March 12, 2001 in Kalkaska County. He was born on March 5, 1923, in Detroit.
      Visitation will be held today at 11 a.m. until time of services at the Wolfe Funeral Home in Kalkaska. Funeral services will be held today at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Cremation will follow funeral services.
     
      OPAL F. "GRANDMA WINNIE" WINNIE, 88, of Old Mission Peninsula, died on Monday, March 12, 2001 at Munson Medical Center.
      Visitation will be held on Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 1 p.m. with visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.
      A full obituary will appear in the Thursday edition of the Record-Eagle.
     
      JAMES L. RUSSELL, 66, of Traverse City, died Saturday, March 10, 2001 at his home.
      No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are being handled by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.
     
      JOANNE A. RUSSELL, 72, of Traverse City, died on Saturday, March 10, 2001, at her home.
      No services are planned at this time. Arrangements are being handled by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.
     
      DENNIS M. BUELL, 54, of Petoskey, formerly of Traverse City, died on Saturday, March 10, 2001, in Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey.
      Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. A funeral Mass will be recited on Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church.
     
      **PHOTO**
      Ernest Bertin Isaacsen
      Died March 10, 2001
      TRAVERSE CITY - Ernest Bertin Isaacsen, 98, of Traverse City, died Saturday at home.
      Born July 15, 1902 in Hancock, he was the son of John M. and Lena Marie (Bertheussen) Isaacsen. On May 14, 1927, in Cheboygan, he married the former Leone M. Brown, who preceded him in death in 1985. On May 23, 1986, he married the former Jane Stevenson Wunsch, who survives.
      During his early childhood, Ernie's parents moved to Idaho where his father was employed by the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. Ernie lived in Norway from 8 1/2 years of age, where he worked driving horse carriages and sleighs for his uncle's transport company, where temperatures ran between 40 and 55 below. After World War I, at the age of 17, he returned to the U.S. to live with his parents in the Cheboygan area. He completed his high school education in 1923 and was employed by the Cheboygan State Savings Bank. After serving as an agent for the Standard Oil Co., he joined the accounting department of Michigan Public Service Co., later becoming district manager in 1928 and transferring to Traverse City in 1943. He went into defense work with the Traverse Bay Manufacturing Co., an affiliate of the Parsons Co., reviewing War Production Board instructions. In 1946, following war contract negotiations, he joined Burwood Products Co. and became president and part owner until his retirement in 1969.
      Ernie was a board member and past president of the Chamber of Commerce, member of the Industrial Fund; very active in the Republican Party; co-chair of the 1949 committee of the United Fund, in the first year it ever went over the top of its goal; chosen Traverse City's outstanding citizen, received the Chamber of Commerce's distinguished service award in 1949; member of the board of Munson Medical Center; member, president and lieutenant governor of Kiwanis; chairman of the committee to raise funds and install a therapeutic pool in Munson Hospital for the treatment of handicapped children (which was a Kiwanis sponsored project); member of the Board of Directors of the previous Empire National Bank for 28 years; a founder of the Knife and Fork Club (and remained an active member until the time of his death); director, commodore and charter member of both the G.T. Yacht Club and the G.T. Bay Power Squadron; member and Trustee of the Elks Lodge #323 in Traverse City; chairman of the Harbor committee; active in securing the breakwater and large harbor facility for small boats still in use today in Greilickville on West Bay; and a founding member and trustee since 1934 of the First Congregational Church.
      Ernie had a great love for animals, horses and dogs in particular, and he was also an avid sportsman and outdoor enthusiast, enjoying sailing in particular. He owned six sailboats (from 21 to 39 ft.) and took part in many races, winning his share. A big game hunter, he succeeded in taking most North American big game, including a full-grown grizzly bear in the Yukon territory of Canada.
      Ernie is survived by his wife, Jane of Traverse City; sons, Richard (Donna) Wunsch of Hillsdale, Dr. James S. (Mary) Wunsch of Omaha, Neb., John A. (Laura Wigfield) Wunsch of Old Mission; daughters, Anne (Gary) Wunsch Wakenhut of Lakeview, Dr. Martha (Kent) Wunsch Nakamoto of Blackberg, Va.; 10 grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Paul O. Galanka; five great-grandchildren; niece, Alice Marie Galanka; nephew, Paul Michael Galanka; a grandNephew, David Anderson; special friends, Melanie Reith, Katie Koeppen, Elizabeth Most and Salty Meachem; and many cousins and friends in Norway.
      He was preceded in death by his first wife, Leone; parents; sisters, Beatrice I. Galanka, Alice C. Isaacsen, Marie O. Smith; brother, Henry Issacsen; and niece, Elenor Anderson; and a grandniece, Debbie Anderson.
      Private family services were held and a memorial service and a service of his life will take place at the First Congregational Church this summer, the date and time to be announced. Inurnment will be in the church's Garden of Remembrance.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the First Congregational Church, Smile Campaign, or World Vision.
      The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home of Traverse City.
      **FLAG** Michael Pettengill
      Died March 13, 2001
      MANTON - Michael Pettengill, 50, of Manton, passed away on Monday at his home from cancer.
      Mr. Pettengill was born on July 18, 1950, in Cadillac to Stanley and Agnes (Houser) Pettengill. On March 6, 1969, in Grand Rapids, he married the former Lynne Clark, who survives.
      He grew up in Grand Rapids, graduated from Kelloggsville High School in 1968 and served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. He lived in Traverse City and worked at Craig's Body Shop from 1971 to 1976, and had operated Mike's Body Shop in Manton since that time.
      Also surviving are three sons, Mike, Toby and Clint; his mother, Agnes, and mother-in-law, Arlene Clark; brother, Stanley; sisters, Sandra and Janice; and three grandchildren.
      A memorial service will be held at the Manton Baptist Church on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. with Rev. Joseph Martin officiating.
      The family was served by the Hall Funeral Chapel in Manton.
      Elizabeth A. Kelly
      March 12, 2001
      TRAVERSE CITY - Elizabeth A. Kelly, 99, of Traverse City, died on Monday at the Leelanau Memorial Health Center in Northport.
      She was born on Feb. 26, 1902 in Philadelphia, Pa., the daughter of William and Annie (McMonigle) McCabe. In 1923 in Philadelphia, she married Thomas Kelly.
      Mrs. Kelly was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and was a volunteer for St. Vincent DePaul for many years. She also was a foster parent through the Catholic Human Services for 10 years and was an avid reader and gardener.
      She is survived by her children, Kay (Richard) Benedict of Traverse City and Eugene (Katie) Kelly of Knoxville, Tenn.; and two grandsons, Matthew (Nicole) Benedict of Traverse City and Thomas Benedict of Hawaii.
      She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas in 1972; a son, Richard; parents; and her sisters, Mary and Nancy.
      Friends may call at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home on Thursday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Private family services will be held on Friday.
      Georgann R. Hall
      Died March 12, 2001
      RAPID CITY - Georgann R. Hall, 65, of Rapid City, died on Monday at Bortz Health Care in Traverse City.
      Mrs. Hall was born in Flint on May 15, 1935, to Carl and Edna Rheinhold Robinson. On August 19, 1955, in Davison, she married Welles W. Hall.
      Mrs. Hall moved to Rapid City in 1989, from Haslett. She was a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, and taught for over 20 years in the Davison Public Schools. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Elk Rapids, the M.E.A. and the N.E.A.
      She is survived by her husband, Welles; a son, David of Virginia Beach, Va.; a daughter, Kathy (Thomas) Mitchell of Davison; a brother, Richard (Sonnie) Robinson of Swartz Creek; and one granddaughter.
      She was preceded in death by a half brother, H. Dean Robinson.
      Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church in Elk Rapids. Pastor James Weber will officiate.
      Friends may call at the church at the time of services.
      Memorial gifts may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church Debt Retirement Fund, 10561 U.S. 31, Elk Rapids, MI 49629 or Antrim County Commission on Aging, P.O. Box 614, Bellaire, MI 49615-0614.
      Arrangements are being handled by the Wolfe Funeral Home in Kalkaska.