August 1, 2005

Obituaries

      GEORGE BIESS, 83, of Mancelona, died Saturday, July 30, 2005, at home.
      The family will receive friends Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Mancelona Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes, with a Knights of Columbus service and rosary at 7:30 p.m.
      A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Mancelona.
      The family is being served by the Mancelona Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.

      PHYLLIS L. JACKSON, 61, of Kalkaska, died Saturday, July 30, 2005, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
      Visitation will take place Wednesday, Aug. 3, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Wolfe Funeral Home in Kalkaska.
      Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Lodi Cemetery.

      NANCY LEE PEDERSEN, 71, died Sunday, July 31, 2005, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, surrounded by her family.
      A complete obituary will appear in an upcoming edition of the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
      Arrangements are being handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Traverse City.

      RICK 'MOE' SMITH, 46, of Manistee, died unexpectedly Friday, July 29, 2005.
      Following Rick's wishes, a celebration of his life will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the St. Joseph Civic Club in Manistee. If you were a friend of Rick, you are invited to stop by and share your memories of him with his family and many friends.
      The family is being served by Johnson Funeral Home in Manistee.

Mary Lou Damm
Died July 31, 2005
      BEULAH - Mary Lou Damm, 66, of Beulah, died at home on Platte Lake surrounded by her family on July 31, 2005, after a courageous year-long battle with cancer.
      Mary Lou was known for her positive outlook on life and the boundless energy she had. She was a stay-at-home mom who raised four children and was a second mother to many. Her kitchen was always filled with homemade cookies, and the door was always open.
      Mary Lou was born in Flint on March 11, 1939, to Margaret and Gerald Maginn. She graduated from Central High School and St. Mary's College in South Bend, Ind. She met her husband, John, at a Christmas party while home from college during her freshman year. When they married in July of 1961, she went from being an only child to marrying into a large family, which she loved.
      Mary Lou spent her earlier years teaching kindergarten in Chicago, Flint and Grand Blanc. She was known for the beautiful perennial gardens she planted. She was a competitive golfer who equally enjoyed match play and a relaxing 18 on a Sunday afternoon. She cared deeply about her family and friends and wholeheartedly enjoyed her three grandsons.
      Mary Lou was an enthusiastic and tireless volunteer for many community organizations, including FISH, Indian Hill Elementary School, Grand Blanc Educational Foundation, and Holy Family Catholic Church. She was a longtime member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Grand Blanc, and attended St. Ann Catholic Church in Frankfort.
      For 44 years, Mary Lou was a loving wife to her husband, Dr. John Damm. She will be dearly missed by her children, Mary Beth (Jeff Micale), Kate (Todd Sinkins), John, and Sara (Matt Winstanley); and her three grandchildren, Eli, Alex, and Connor; her sister-in-law, Susan Damm Fultz; her brothers-in-law, Mike, Tom, Steve and Peter; as well as her many nieces and nephews; and her cousins, Mary Louise Miller and Donna Kursik.
      Her family will receive friends on Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6:30 to 9 p.m., with a rosary service at 8 p.m., at the Hill Funeral Home, 11723 Saginaw Street, Grand Blanc.
      Funeral Mass from the Order of Christian Funerals will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Grand Blanc.
      Private interment services will take place in Beulah, and a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at the Frankfort United Methodist Church in Frankfort.
      In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mary Lou's honor to Benzie Area Christian Neighbors, 2839 Benzie Highway, Benzonia, MI 49616, or St. Ann Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1168, Frankfort, MI 49635.
      The Bennett-Barz Funeral Home in Beulah is in charge of arrangements.

David Toles Eastland
Died July 31, 2005
      THOMPSONVILLE - David Toles Eastland, 83, of Thompsonville, died Sunday, July 31, 2005, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
      He was born June 30, 1922, in Waynesboro, Tenn., the son of David and Attie (Downing) Eastland.
      David served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1947. He retired in 1980 from General Motors, where he had been employed for over 31 years. David had also been a volunteer fireman in Wixom for over 20 years and in Thompsonville for a short period of time.
      David was a member and past treasurer of the Odd Fellows Lodge #419 in Thompsonville; a member of the Benzie Sportsman Club; a past president of the Benzie Central Band Boosters; and a past president and member of the Wixom Hunt Club.
      In his spare time, David enjoyed hunting, fishing, horseback riding and wood working. Most of all, David loved spending time visiting with his friends.
      On May 6, 1950, in Detroit, David married Clara J. Plautz, who survives him. He is also survived by two daughters, Mary Eastland of Grand Rapids and Barbara (Dennis) Dionne of Phoenix, Ariz.; a grandson, Wally (Chandra) Wing of Kentwood; and numerous nieces and nephews.
      David was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Homer and Hulbert; and sisters, Ellen, Maude and Tootsie.
      Visitation will be held Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Terwilliger Funeral Home in Kaleva.
      Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at the Terwilliger Funeral Home, with Fr. Richard Kosterman officiating.

Therese C. 'Tracy' Stowe
Died July 29, 2005
      NORTHPORT - Therese Coleen "Tracy" Stowe, 36, died unexpectedly on Friday, July 29, 2005.
      She was born Aug. 28, 1968, in Detroit, the daughter of Richard G. and Irene (Stoick) Huck. In Northport, on Oct. 21, 1989, she married her loving husband of 15 years, Marcus McKinley "Mac" Stowe.
      Tracy graduated from Northport High School in 1986 and obtained an associate's degree from Davenport College in 1988. Tracy was an active member of Bethany Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school. She was an enthusiastic volunteer at Northport School for all events and activities.
      Tracy was one whose priorities were so arranged by her nature that she instinctively knew what was important. Tracy's priority was her family, to whom she was fiercely devoted. While she loved gardening, athletics, boating, school events and friends, her first love remained her husband, children and family. Those who love her call her a gentle, patient, loving, loyal, spectacular phenomenal mother, and she will be sorely missed.
      She is survived by her husband Marcus, their four children, Basil, 15, Emily, 12, William, 10, and Marcus, 7; her parents; her grandparents, Monica Huck and Nick Stoick; a brother, Todd (Bonnie) Huck; a niece, Autumn Huck; and a nephew, Austin Huck. She is also beloved by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and the entire Basil and Barbara Stowe family.
      Visitation will be held Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, Northport. The funeral service will follow at 1 p.m. at the same location. Burial will immediately follow in Leelanau Township Cemetery.
      In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to The Marcus and Therese Stowe Children's Fund, c/o Huntington Bank, 122 East Nagonaba St., Northport, MI 49670, (231) 386-5147.
      Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.

Susie M. Tharp
Died July 30, 2005
      TRAVERSE CITY - Susie M. Tharp, 84, went to be with her Lord and Savior Saturday, July 30, 2005.
      Born June 7, 1921, in Kingsley to Rolland and Clara (Wellein) Johnson, she was raised on the family farm and graduated from Kingsley High School.
      Susie married John T. Tharp and they raised three children, Larry (Jan) Tharp of Hendersonville, N.C., Linda (Lynn) Patton of Accident, Md., and Michael (Patty) Tharp of Corunna. She is also survived by a sister, K. Blanche Sleder of Traverse City; nine grandchildren; eight great-grand children; and many nieces and nephews.
      Susie enjoyed knitting, sewing, crocheting, needlepoint and her flowers.
      She was preceded in death by her husband, John (May 21, 1982); and her parents.
      The family will receive friends Tuesday, Aug. 2, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Covell-Smith Funeral Home, 200 N. Brownson Ave., in Kingsley.
      A Service of Celebration of her life will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Redeemer Lutheran Church LCMS of Interlochen, 1896 Rogers Road, Interlochen, with visitation one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Timothy Mowry will be officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Kingsley.
      Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to Redeemer Lutheran Church LCMS, or Zion Lutheran Church LCMS, P.O. Box 171, Accident, MD 21520-0171.