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May 13, 2001

Obituaries

TRAVERSE CITY - LaBar "Stew" Stewart, 69, of Traverse City and formerly of West Bloomfield and Detroit, passed away Friday at his home with his family at his side.
      Born May 25, 1931, in Detroit, he was the son of LaBar Stewart Sr. and Wilma (Peterson) Stewart. In 1952, he married the former Barbara Mae McCann, who preceded him in death on Dec. 21, 1976. On Dec. 27, 1979, he married the former Bernadette Louise Shaw.
      Stew was an avid athlete at McKenzie High School in Detroit and again in college specializing in track and field events. While attending Wayne State University, he received a B.S. in Business Administration. He served his country honorably from 1952 to 1954 in the USCG aboard the CGC Yakutat. As a radioman operator he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal. After college he designed homes and sold real estate with his father for 15 years in the Detroit area. While in West Bloomfield, he worked at an auto dealership and started his own stained glass business. He moved to Traverse City in 1977, where he continued his self-employment.
      Stew was an avid outdoorsman who loved to fish. He also loved inter-acting with people and just loved life itself. He may most be remembered for his ability to laugh the loudest. Even through his illness, he had everyone laughing...Doctors, nurses, friends and family. Stew was an active member of the VFW, Elks, Rotary Club and Oakland County Historical Society. Throughout his life he was also active in every aspect of the local community from groups such as the Boy Scouts, Gladhandler and served as a National Cherry Festival Ambassador for 20 consecutive years.
      Stew was an active participant for 21 years at the St. Francis Church of Traverse City.
      Stew is survived by his wife, Bernadette L. Stewart of Traverse City; children include son, Keith and wife Beth Stewart of Waldfeucht, Germany; daughter, Kim Stewart and spouse, Jane Maguire of St. Petersburg, Fla.; son, Michael Shaw and wife Amie of St. Louis, Mo.; daughter, Michelle (Shaw) Pearson and husband, John of Traverse City. He is also survived by his sister, Barbara (Stewart) McDermott of Lathrop Village; three grandchildren; one niece; and two nephews.
      The family extends a special thanks to the staff at Munson and Tender Care, as well as the Hospice workers for their excellent care, compassion and love that they provided to Stew and the family during these last few months. Our deepest thanks to Gean and Roger Sladek for the special love and care only they could share.
      Friends may call at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home on Tuesday from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. where a rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis Catholic Church on Wednesday at 11 a.m. The Rev. Fr. William Lipscomb and Rev. Fr. Richard Sitar will con-celebrate. Graveside Services will be held at Sashabaw Plains Cemetery in Independence Township near Clarkston on Thursday at 11 a.m.
      In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Francis Church and Munson Hospice for stroke victims.
     
      TRAVERSE CITY - Karen Elizabeth Blodgett, 44, of Traverse City, died unexpectedly Friday at her home.
      She was born in Detroit on May 31, 1956, to Richard E. and Elizabeth Ann (Smith) Blodgett and had made her home in Traverse City for most of all of the last 22 years.
      Karen was an associate of Sam's Club for 14 years, working in the accounting office. She enjoyed painting ceramics and spending time with her nieces, nephews, family and friends. She enjoyed sending greeting cards and doing things for others. Karen will be missed by her family and by her good friends.
      Karen is survived by her parents, Bettie and Dick Blodgett of Traverse City; her brothers and sisters, Christy (Bill) Maule of Florida, Lee Blodgett of Traverse City, Rick (Kathy) Blodgett of Thompsonville, Kevin (Wendy) Blodgett of Kingsley, Linda (Tim) Kulawiak of Thompsonville, Mark (Misha) Blodgett of Traverse City, Patti (Pat) Goudey of Traverse City; her many nieces and nephews; her Grandma, Dorothy Blodgett of Traverse City; and several aunts, uncles and many good friends.
      Funeral Services will be held at 12 noon Tuesday at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home with Father Duane Wachowiak officiating. Burial will be in Monroe Center Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Monday evening from 6 until 8 p.m.
      Memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association.
     
      CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio - Mrs. Isabel Jane Fisher Dembinski, 86, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, died on Wednesday at Akron General Medical Center in Akron, Ohio of multiple medical problems with her son Arthur holding her hands.
      She was born Aug. 7, 1914, in Peshawbestown in Leelanau County, to James Fisher and his wife, Mary Nagansay. She was the last born of the fourteen children of Mary Nagansay. After her father's sudden death when she was six months old, stepfathers Louis Wayashe and John Agosa also assisted in raising her.
      She was a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. She attended local schools in Leelanau County and also Holy Childhood School in Harbor Springs and Mt. Pleasant Indian School in Mt. Pleasant. She graduated from St. Francis High School in Traverse City in 1937. On Oct. 1, 1938, she completed her training as a Nursing Assistant at Mercy Hospital in Manistee. On May 28, 1954, she received her LPN license from the Michigan Board of Nursing. She practiced nursing full and part time until her retirement in 1976 at the Sophie Snow House in W. Roxbury, Massachusetts.
      On June 26, 1939, she married Frank Joseph Dembinski from Manistee in Lansing. After marriage she resided in Lansing, Saginaw, Petoskey, Detroit, Pontiac, Manistee, Williamston, Grand Ledge and St. Johns, all in Michigan. After moving from Michigan in 1963, the couple resided in Jacksonville, Ill.; Austin, Texas; Amherst, Mass.; Dover, Delaware and West Roxbury, Mass. With her son, she resided in Akron, Ohio; Stamford, Conn., and Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio where she spent the remaining 22 years of her life.
      She attended Mass weekly at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, or at Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church in Peshawbestown. She was a deeply religious woman and a devoted mother. She was intensely appreciative of her Odawa heritage. During her nursing practice she was active in the Michigan Practical Nursing Association. She was a long term member of the Northern Michigan Ottawa Association. Her hobbies included visiting her friends and relatives, camping, traveling out West, storytelling, costume jewelry, purple hats, photography, and gardening.
      Surviving her are her daughter, Terry Fischer, R.N. of Albuquerque, N.M.; and sons, Marvin Joseph Dembinski of W. Roxbury, Mass. and Arthur Francis Dembinski, M.D. of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; grandchildren Aileen Kuska Romero of Albuquerque, Michelle Ann Kuska of Englewood, Colo., and Steven Kuska of Cleveland, Ohio; great-grandchildren Sofia Marie Romero and Marisa Rayne Romero of Albuquerque; nieces Eileen Concannon Shimizu of Traverse City; Rita Ann Concannon of Ann Arbor; Alvina Miller Anderson Marshall and Irene Miller Otto of Peshawbestown; nephews Richard L. Harp of Traverse City, James Edward Concannon of Lake Leelanau; John Dennis Concannon; and Leonard Bernard Miller of Peshawbestown.
      Preceding her in death were both parents; brothers, Edwin Fisher of Peshawbestown, Archie Miller, Sr., and George Wayashe; sisters, Ella Fisher Waukazoo and Jeannette Fisher of Peshawbestown, Mabel Fisher Concannon of Lansing, and other siblings.
      The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Peshawbestown. Visiting hours will be at the Martinson Funeral Home from 3 to 6 p.m. today at the church and from 9 to 2 p.m. on Monday. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Peshawbestown at 2 p.m. on Monday, with the Rev. Andrew Buvala OFM serving as celebrant. Burial will be in the Kateri Church cemetery.
      Contributions in her memory may be sent to the Kateri Tekakwitha Society of Peshawbestown.
      Arrangements have been entrusted to the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
      Isabel had always wished to express her deepest gratitude to the anonymous benefactor who paid for her tuition at St. Francis and for her class ring and graduation gown, without whose help her life and the lives of many others would have been poorer. She also wished to thank those in Traverse City who provided employment which paid for her other needs during her time in high school, and the many priests and nuns who assisted her in her life. "Megwetch" is also expressed to those nurses, physicians, and others whose services over the decades allowed Isabel to live with health and vitality.
     
      GENEVIEVE G. BENNETT, 84, of Bellaire, died Friday, May 11, 2001, at Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility. She was born on Dec. 4, 1916, in Flint.
      Visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday at the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes with a Wake Service at 8 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at St. Luke Catholic Church in Bellaire.
     
      NANCY J. SEXTON, 64, of Alden, died Friday, May 11, 2001, at Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility. She was born on June 6, 1936, in Fife Lake.
      A private family memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements by the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.
     
      TERRI LEE MCRAE, 52, of Interlochen, died on Friday, May 11, 2001, at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor.
      A Celebration of Life service will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes with family greeting friends from 10 a.m. until time of services.
      A full obituary will appear in Monday's Record-Eagle.
     
     
      BEULAH - Kenneth Earl Freeland, 74, of Beulah and Bonita Springs, Fla., passed away on Friday at Hope Hospice in Fort Myers, Fla., after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
      Ken was born on July 10, 1926, in Empire, the son of Mary (Wilson) and Earl Freeland.
      A lifelong resident of Beulah, he served with distinction as a Sergeant in the United States Army in the Pacific during World War II. Ken was employed by Pet, Inc. as a long distance driver until his retirement. During his 38 years with Pet he received awards from the National Safety Council for having driven three million miles without an accident. After retiring he was employed part-time with ETV, Inc. of Coopersville and by his final retirement, had reached a four million mile total.
      On Aug. 21, 1949, he married Marilyn Elizabeth Bruce, who was the love of his life and his best friend for 52 years. Ken loved the sunny climate in Florida and he and Marilyn made their home in Bonita Springs during the winter. He made many friends there and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bonita Springs.
      Ken is survived by his wife; daughters, Mary Elizabeth (Joseph) Thompson and Patricia Jane (Jay) Trost, both of DeWitt; sons, Thomas Bruce (Catherine) Freeland of Coopersville and Michael Kenneth (Ronna) Freeland of Southfield; grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Schultz, Joel Jason Trost, Jared Kevin Trost, Heather Renee Freeland, Joshua Thomas Freeland, Halley Catherine Freeland, Dayna Michelle Freeland, Devon Kenneth Freeland and his namesake; great-granddaughter, Kenyth Elizabeth "Kenny" Schultz. His children and grandchildren were a great source of joy to him and he was their hero. Also surviving are his sisters, Evelyn (Don) Kirby of Frankfort and Delores (Raymond) Smith of Traverse City; and other relatives and a great number of friends.
      Ken was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Wesley and Duane Freeland; sisters, Ardith Shields and Virginia Dumont; and his mother-in-law, Helen Bruce.
      A memorial service will be held at the Frankfort United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, 2001, where family and friends may celebrate his life.
      Memorials may be directed to the Frankfort United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 1010, Frankfort, MI. 49635.
     
      BEULAH - Harry R. Wiggins, 57, of Beulah, died on Friday at his residence.
      Harry was born on June 17, 1943, in Benzonia, the son of Harry L. and Margaret (Sage) Wiggins. On Sept. 23, 1961, in Benzonia, he married the former Marilyn L. Esch.
      Harry was a maintenance worker for the Cherry Bowl Drive In. He loved fishing, hunting, snow plowing and C.B. radio.
      He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; sons, Ronald (Becky) Wiggins of Mesick and Richard (Wendy) Wiggins of Interlochen; daughters, Debra (Noel) Avery of Lake Ann, Betty (Albert) Reed of Beulah and Tammi (Domingo) Hernandez of Beulah; brothers, Carl (Carol) Wiggins of Beulah, Earl Wiggins of Beulah, Ron (Jo) Wiggins of Interlochen, Dave (Paulette) Wiggins of Benzonia and Mike (Adell) Wiggins of Texas; sisters, Barb (Fred) Laffleur of Thompsonville and Beth (Dennis) Clark of Ohio; and 11 grandchildren.
      He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Darryl; and his grandson, Joshua.
      Funeral services will be held on Monday at 3 p.m. at the Bennett-Barz Funeral Home in Beulah with the Rev. Thomas Maher officiating. Burial will be in the Benzonia Township Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday from 1 p.m. until time of services at the Bennett-Barz Funeral Home.