November 3, 2004
Obituaries
Donald H. Metz
TRAVERSE CITY - Donald H. Metz, 71, of Traverse City, died unexpectedly
on Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004, at his home. Don was born in Neenah, Wis.,
and was the son of Harold and Irene Metz, who preceded him in death.
Don graduated from Neenah High School and Marquette
University in Milwaukee, Wis. While at Marquette, he majored in business
administration and was a member of the Marquette Varsity Basketball Team.
After graduating from Marquette, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the
air-craft carrier USS Shangri-La.
Don began his business career in the Neenah area
before moving to Grand Rapids in 1980, as the president of American Actuaries.
Don, however, spent the majority of his career creating and marketing
unique products. Among his entrepreneurial accomplishments were the Birdola
bird-feed system and, most recently, the Floodwater Bag.
Don was an active participant in the community in
which he resided, serving as board member and chairman of several organizations.
His lifelong involvement with the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade started when
he was a boy and continues yet today through his grandchildren.
First in Don’s life was the love for his family.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Beth; daughter, Susan (Tom) Volkmann
of Grand Junction, Colo.; sons, Peter (Kathy) Metz of Grand Rapids, Philip
(Bobbie) Metz of Destin, Fla., and John Metz and Dr. Frank Maggiacomo
of Providence, R.I.; nine loving grandchildren, Katherine, Tyler, Peter
and Benjamin Volkmann, Justin, Jennifer and Colin Metz, and Andrew and
Alexander Metz; and sister, Bev (Glenn) Martin of Lakewood, Colo.
Private family graveside services will be held at
the Oak Hill Cemetery in Neenah, followed by memorial services and a celebration
of Don’s life on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s
Church in Menasha.
In his memory and in lieu of flowers, contributions
may be made to the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade in Neenah, Wis.
Arrangements are by the Kessler Funeral Home in Neenah,
Wis.
Thomas H. Wisniewski
EMPIRE - Thomas H. Wisniewski, 69, of Empire, died Sunday, October 24,
2004, at his home in Empire.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; and two children,
Paul of Oak Park and Beth Aileen-Marie Widgren of Grosse Pointe Woods.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 4,
2004, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Stapish East Fu-neral Home in Bay City.
Funeral services will be Friday, November 5, 2004, at 11 a.m., also at
the funeral home.
Leona Mae Vask
CEDAR - Leona Mae Vask, 84, of Cedar, died Monday evening, Nov. 1, 2004,
at the Grand Traverse Pavilions.
Born May 25, 1920, in Flint, she was the daughter
of Earl and Ruth (Porter) Ketchum. She spent her childhood in LeRoy. Leona
was married in Detroit on Feb. 18, 1938, to Joseph Vask, who survives.
Leona worked as a nurse for many years in Mesa, Ariz.,
before moving to Springfield, Mo., and then to Traverse City in 1965.
She and her husband enjoyed many winters in Venice and Arcadia, Fla.,
before returning to Traverse City. She spent the last three years at the
Grand Traverse Pavil-ions.
She was the loving mother of two children, son, Joseph
(Elaine) Vask Jr. of Springfield, Mo., and daughter, Susann (Donald) Bugai
of Cedar. She is also survived by two grandsons, Robert D. (Katie) Bugai
of Interlochen and Scott J. Bugai, currently serving with the U.S. Marines;
and a brother, Everett Ketchum of East Lansing.
Leona was preceded in death by her parents; and a
sister, Erma Rague of South Bend, Ind.
The family would like to sincerely “thank” the wonderful
staff at the Pavilions for the love and care they gave our mom and wife.
They are truly exceptional people.
No services are planned at this time.
Memorial donations may be directed to the Grand Traverse
Pavilions, 1000 Pavilions Circle, Traverse City, MI 49684.
The family is being served by The Reynolds-Jonkhoff
Funeral Home in Traverse City.
Benjamin H. Mendez
BENZONIA - Benjamin H. Mendez Sr., 74, of Benzonia, went home to be with
the Lord on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004.
He was born on Feb. 13, 1930, in Blue Island, Ill.,
to the late Henry and Carmen (Bazan) Mendez. He married Geneva Pearl Hamm
on Sept. 26, 1979, in Pontiac.
A lifelong upholsterer, he and his wife operated
Geneva’s Upholstery in Benzonia until his retirement two years ago. He
was an active member of the Eden Bible Church of Beulah, and will be missed
by all.
He is survived by his wife, Geneva Mendez of Benzonia;
four sons and daughters-in-law, Benjamin and Aggie Mendez, Robin and Lori
Mendez, Gary and Linda Mendez and Jeff Mendez, all of Minocqua, Wis.;
and one daughter and son-in-law, June and Jim Orlikowski of Westby, Wis.
He is also survived by two stepchildren, Leana (Keith) James of Alabama
and Oneal (Darlene) Haysilp of Arkansas; nine grandchildren; one great-grandson;
three sisters, Penny (Jim) McMain of Clarkston, Ruth Cordray of Rochester
and Pearl (Larry) Beard of Metamora; brother, Michael Mendez of Rochester;
and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death
by a baby brother and baby sister.
A celebration of the life of Benjamin H. Mendez Sr.
will be held on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2004, at 2 p.m. at the Eden Bible Church
in Beulah, with Pastor Dan Ingersoll officiating. Interment will be on
Nov. 20, 2004, at 2 p.m. in Square Lake Cemetery in Lake Orion. Cremation
will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Manistee.
Memorial contributions can be directed to the missionary
fund of the Eden Bible Church. Envelopes are available at the church.
The family has entrusted funeral arrangements to
Oak Grove Cremation Center of Manistee.
Robert Oliver Jenkins
TRAVERSE CITY - Robert Oliver Jenkins, 80, of Traverse City, died Sunday,
Oct. 31, 2004, at Munson Medical Center. He was born June 23, 1924, in
Flint, to Lawrence and Roberta (Shaw) Jenkins.
Robert was raised in Flint, and worked as a chef
at Big Boy and Denny’s. He moved to Traverse City in 1989, and worked
as a chef at Sleders and Bloomers Restaurant. He loved cooking, especially
chilies, beef stroganoff and chicken soup. During the last five years,
he worked in the mail room at the Record-Eagle.
Robert enjoyed taking walks and long drives in Northern
Michigan.
Robert married Linda (Baker) on Oct. 8, 1996, in
Traverse City.
Besides his wife, Linda, he is survived by his stepson,
Eric Sedelmaier.
Upon his request, services will be private.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the American
Lung Association.
Arrangements are being handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff
Funeral Home in Traverse City.
Theodore Ralph Anderson
SUTTONS BAY - Theodore Ralph Anderson, 71, of Suttons
Bay, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004, at Munson Medical Center. He was born
New Years Eve, Dec. 31, 1932, in the family home on Hillyside Farm in
Suttons Bay.
Teddy was a lifelong member of the Immanuel Lutheran
Church, where he was baptized and confirmed. He attended Suttons Bay Public
Schools at the old stone schoolhouse.
Teddy listened to country music through the speaker
of an old tube-style, wooden radio, and especially liked songs by the
late Ernest Tubb. He enjoyed playing the guitar and piano. Teddy grew
up listening to stories of Norway, as told by both sets of his grandparents,
who had immigrated from the old country in the 1800s, settling in the
Suttons Bay countryside.
He loved his mother’s cooking, with favorites being
homemade chocolate pudding or steamed cherry pudding fixed in a copper
boiler atop the wood-burning stove. The aroma of freshly baked bread always
alerted Teddy to supper time.
Teddy was raised with a simple lifestyle of family,
faith and old-fashioned values. He fished for brook trout in the stream
along Setterbo Road, rode horses with his siblings and just plain loved
farm life. Whether it was gathering fresh eggs, feeding the animals or
helping his dad with chores, he did so cheerfully, always wanting to be
in his dad’s shadow.
He is survived by his sister, Thelma (Steve) McClintock
of Thompsonville; three brothers, Robert (Effie) Anderson, Clayton (Martha)
Anderson and Gene (Christine) Anderson, all of Suttons Bay; his aunt,
Louise Dobson of Suttons Bay; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore
M. and Rachel M. (Setterbo) Anderson; and an infant sister, Rose.
The family would like to thank the staff at both
Birchwood Nursing Center and Munson Medical Center for their tender loving
care of their brother.
Visitation will take place today, Nov. 3, 2004, from
6 to 8 p .m., at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. A funeral
and internment service will be held Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, at 11 a.m.,
at the Lutheran Cemetery in Suttons Bay Township, with the Rev. Paul E.
Kuhlman officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made
to the Immanuel Lutheran Church, 203 N. Lincoln, Suttons Bay, MI 49682,
or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
William P. Moroski Sr.
TRAVERSE CITY - William P. Moroski Sr., 79, formerly
of Royal Oak, died Sunday, Oct. 31, 2004, at Grand Traverse Pavilions.
He was born in Royal Oak on Aug. 11, 1925. On Sept. 18, 1954, in Centerline,
he married Doris J. (Albertson) Moroski, who died in 2000.
A resident of Royal Oak until 1996, William worked
as a tank mechanic for General Dynamics for 30 years until he retired
in 1982.
He is survived by his children, Nancy (Richard) Warszawski
of Traverse City and William P. (Mary Lou) Moroski of Oxford; three grandchildren;
and a sister, Therese Cherer.
In addition to his wife, William was preceded in
death by his son, Craig S. Moroski.
Visitation will be Thursday, Nov. 4, 2004, from 4
to 8 p.m. at the William Sullivan and Son Funeral Home, 705 W. 11 Mile
(four blocks East of Woodward) in Royal Oak. Funeral services will be
held on Friday, Nov. 5, 2004, at 11 a.m., also at the funeral home, with
the Rev. Dale A Hunter of Woodlawn Church officiating. Burial will be
in Oakview Cemetery.
Memorials may be considered to the American Diabetes
Association, the American Heart Association of to the charity of one’s
choice.
FLORA
SPINNER, 94, of Elk Rapids, died Monday, Nov. 1, 2004, at Munson Medical
Center.
Arrangements are pending and have been entrusted
to the Covell Funeral Home in Elk Rapids.
|
|
