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November 27, 2001ObituariesEllen Joan BjorkDied November 25, 2001 GRAND RAPIDS - Ellen Joan Bjork, 89, of Porter Hills Presbyterian Village in Grand Rapids, formerly of Traverse City, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 25, 2001. She is survived by her children of her first marriage, a son, Alan (Nancy) Bedell of Grand Rapids; and a daughter, Margaret Jean Lanning (Donald Spolyar) of Cadillac; Grandsons Kurt Bedell of San Francisco, Calif., Kyle Bedell of Evanston, Ill., Duane (Tina) Lanning of San Diego, Calif. and granddaughter, Keri (Dean) Podzamsky of Branton, Fla.; Stepchildren from her second marriage, Karen (Peter) Strom of Traverse City, Jean (John) Boquist of Elk Rapids, William (Elizabeth) Bjork of Grand Rapids and Barbara (Jim) Papazian of East Lansing; step-grandchildren, Michael Strom, Alex and Bjorn Boquist, Erica and Peter Bjork, and Mark and Katie Papazian. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Ralph Curtis Bedell and Carl Bjork; and her sister, Jeanne Wurmser Miltner. As a loving wife, mother and stepmother, Joan cared deeply for her family. Our mom, grandmother and great-grandmother will be remembered as a gentle person. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service is being planned for Saturday, Dec. 29, 2001, at 10 a.m. in the Meeting House at Porter Hills Presbyterian Village in Grand Rapids. Donations may be made to Porter Hills Benevolent Fund (3600 E. Fulton, Grand Rapids, MI 49643-0199), or charity of one's choice. Arrangements are being handled by the Reyers North Valley Chapel in Grand Rapids. **PHOTO** **Masonic Emblem** Ray Spencer Swan Died November 25, 2001 TRAVERSE CITY - Ray Spencer Swan, 86, of Acme, passed away on Sunday at Munson Medical Center. Born October 7, 1915, in Traverse City, Ray was the son of Lee and Stella (Burns) Swan. He married the former Rhea Mae Lautner on Sept. 4, 1938, in Traverse City. Ray graduated from Traverse City High School in 1936 and was a lifelong resident of the area. Prior to his retirement, Ray had been employed by Montgomery Wards for 45 years and was service manager for over 30 years. He also was an Eagle Scout, a Past Master of the Masonic Lodge F & AM #222 and was a member of the Cherryland Amateur Radio Club. He loved the outdoors, was an avid deer hunter and fly fisherman. He also enjoyed square dancing with his wife, Rhea and skiing. Ray is survived by his wife, Rhea; a daughter, Barbara Zue of Seattle; a son, Richard of Reno, Nev. and a brother, Leo of San Bernardino, Calif. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Bruce Zue and Debbie (Tom) Rossman, both of Seattle, Brian (Connie) Zue of Traverse City, Sarah Swan of Portland, Ore. and Stephen Swan of Reno, Nev.; five great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Ray was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Otto; and by his son-in-law, Dick Zue. Ray was a loving husband and was dearly loved by his family. He was generous with his love and time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, with the Rev. Father Edwin Thome officiating. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday and will continue until the time of the service. Memorial contributions may be directed to The American Cancer Society or to a charity of your choice. Charlene A. VanKersen Died November 25, 2001 TRAVERSE CITY - Charlene A. VanKersen, 67, of Traverse City, died Sunday at Munson Medical Center. She was born Dec. 30, 1933, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of William and Geneva (Hamilton) Vos and married George A. VanKerson, Jr. on July 1, 1962, in Kalamazoo. Charlene, a resident of Traverse City since 1971, was employed as the personal secretary to Louis A. Smith of the law firm of Smith and Johnson for the past 26 years. She enjoyed her dogs, Tracy, Alex and Chrissy and her many friends at Peegeo's Restaurant. Charlene is survived by her sons, Garth (Patricia) VanKersen of Traverse City, George (Susan) VanKersen of Traverse City and Todd (Laura) VanKersen of Galesburg; her grandchildren, Jeremy, George, Megan, Todd and Jennifer VanKersen, Chris and Benjamin Guertin, Larry, Casey and Cory Tutt; brother, Duane "Jock" (Marjorie) Vos of Kalamazoo; her sister, Jean McDaniel of Kalamazoo; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Don and Jenny VanKersen of Scotts, Mich.; and many nieces. Charlene was preceded in death by her parents; and by her husband, George. Visitation will take place Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and will continue on Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Funeral Home with The Rev. Dr. Homer Nye officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery following cremation. Memorial contributions may be directed to Munson Hospice, 1105 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI 49684. EDWARD J. POPA, 87, of Cedar, formerly of Ferndale, died Monday, Nov. 26, 2001, at the French Manor. Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Howard M. Jones Died November 25, 2001 KINGSLEY - Howard M. Jones, 73, of Kingsley, died Sunday at Munson Medical Center. Survivors include his wife, Lucinda of Kingsley; his children, Bruce (Gayla) Jones, John (Darlene) Jones, Kay (Gerald) Foor and Kathy (Kurt) Graves; her children, Veronica Gomez, Leon Green and Louis (Patti) Green; and 11 grandchildren. A gathering of family and friends for a time of remembering will take place on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Grange Hall in Kingsley. Arrangements were made by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. **FLAG** Elwin Stickney Died November 22, 2001 HONOR - Elwin Stickney, 81, of Honor, died on Thursday at The Maples in Frankfort. He was born on April 9, 1920, in Buckley, the son of Frank and Corabelle (Pringle) Stickney. On Dec. 24, 1941, in Mesick, he married the former Adeline Green, who preceded him in death on July 19, 1994. Mr. Stickney grew up in Mesick. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and participated in the Battle of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. He received the Purple Heart for wounds received in Germany in August 1945. He lived in Flint after World War II where he worked in Plant Security at the GM Buick Plant. He retired to Mesick in 1974 and had lived in Kalkaska and Traverse City before moving to Honor in 1989. He was active with his wife in the foster home program in Flint and they raised many foster children. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and his family. He is survived by his three sons, Richard (Sandra) Stickney of Bancroft, William (Thelma) Stickney of Honor and Jim (Tammie) Stickney of Yuma, Ariz.; three daughters, Joan Eldridge of Honor, Sandra Riddle of Honor and Elaine (Fred) Cooper of Davison; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his siblings, Doris, an infant, twins, Virgil and Vedetta, Dorr, Francis Richard, Viola Haldeman, Henry and Dallas. A memorial service will be held on Saturday Dec. 8, 2001, at 1 p.m. at the Faith Baptist Church, 7046 South Street in Benzonia, with Pastor Steven Ayers officiating. Burial will be in the Cornell Cemetery near Buckley. Memorial contributions may be made to The Maples Care Facility in Frankfort. Arrangements were made by the Hall Funeral Chapel in Manton. **PHOTO** Daisy R. Mania Died November 23, 2001 TRAVERSE CITY - On Friday evening, we said our last good-bye to our wife, our mom and our grandma. Born in Las Cruces, N.M., Daisy Elizabeth touched many lives. Through the course of her life she was loved by the people close to her. More importantly, she loved those people and gave much of herself to everyone. She was at her best when any of us was sad or sick or struggling or happy or curious. Her memory will be kept alive by her husband, Jim; her children, Bill, Susan, Kathleen, Marcia, Jan and Dave; her grandchildren; her brothers and sisters; and everyone else in her family. Each of these people will miss her very much, but all of them are happy to have been touched by her life. Visitation will be held today from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. There will also be a rosary said at 7:30 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. A funeral mass will be held today at 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church. Good-bye and rest well. |
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