July 27, 2005

Obituaries

      ROBERT M. DUNBAR, 60, of Kaleva, died Thursday, July 21, 2005, in Kaleva.
      Visitation will take place this evening, Wednesday, July 27, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Herbert Funeral Home in Manistee.
      Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 28, with visitation one hour prior to the services. Burial will follow in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Manistee.
      Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee is in charge of arrangements.

      Memorial services for ELIZABETH KLAVER 'BETH' JENKINS, 78, who died March 27, 2005, will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at The Presbyterian Church, 701 Westminster, Traverse City.
      Arrangements are being handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.
     
Tracy Boomer
Died July 9, 2005
      HAINES CITY, Fla. - Mr. Tracy Boomer, 41, of Haines City, Fla., died of injuries sustained from a July 9, 2005, house fire in Lake Wales, Fla.
      Born in Flint on July 29, 1963, Tracy moved to Haines City from Empire in 1979. He was a supervisor for a refrigeration company. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. He attended North Ridge Church in Haines City.
      He is survived by his parents, Richard and Eleanor Boomer of Haines City; son, Ryan Boomer of Delaware; brothers, Rick Boomer of Gainesville, Fla., Pete (Pam) Boomer and Edward (Lori) Boomer, both of Traverse City; sisters, Patricia (Tony) McQueer of Haines City, and Loretta McGonigal of Boca Raton; brothers, John (Lauri) Boomer of Traverse City and Kelly Boomer of Boca Raton; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
      Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 1001 Grace Ave., in Haines City.
      Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel.
      Memorials may be made to North Ridge Church, 2250 State Rd. 17 S., Haines City, FL 33844.
     
Ronald J. Conroy
Died July 25, 2005
      TRAVERSE CITY - Ronald J. Conroy, 58, of Traverse City, passed away Monday, July 25, 2005.
      He was born March 25, 1947, in Traverse City, to Patrick and Sylvia (Denoyer) Conroy. He graduated from St. Francis Catholic High School in 1966. He served as a medic in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War.
      Ronald was retired from the Traverse City Regional Psychiatric Hospital, where he worked as a Resident Care aide. He loved fishing, hunting, crossword puzzles, music, walking and spending time with his family. He also enjoyed his cats, Jack and Jill.
      Ronald is survived by his mother, Sylvia Boyd; siblings, Ken Conroy, Larry (Emi) Conroy, Rick (Sally) Boyd, Sharon Littke, twin sister Donna (Gregory) Stroh, Mary Conroy, Patricia (George) Bonnell, Lucinda (Wayne) Mantz and Debra (George) Eden; and several nieces and nephews.
      He was preceded in death by his father, Patrick Conroy; sisters, Doris and Eva; a brother, George Conroy; and grandfather, George Denoyer.
      Visitation will take place Thursday, July 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes, with a rosary at 7 p.m.
      A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, July 29, at St. Francis Catholic Church. Cremation will follow.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the St. Francis Catholic High School Scholarship Fund, or to the American Cancer Society.
      Arrangements have been entrusted to the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.

Marilyn (Hoogstraten) Ford
Died July 23, 2005
      GAYLORD - Mrs. Marilyn (Hoogstraten) Ford, 70, of Gaylord, died Saturday, July 23, 2005, at her home.
      Mrs. Ford was born in Kalamazoo Aug. 19, 1934, the daughter of Otto and Clara (Dieterman) Moyer. She had been employed with Michigan Bell in the Kalamazoo, Petoskey and Traverse City areas. She enjoyed camping, gardening and NASCAR.
      Mrs. Ford is survived by two daughters, Sue (Larry) Nowak of Gaylord and Dara (Fred) Hiedema of Holland; a son, Douglas (Margo) Hoogstraten of Wolverine; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a sister, Norma Earl of Grand Junction, Colo.; and two nephews.
      She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, George Ford; a son at birth, David Matthew Hoogstraten; and her longtime companion, her beagle, Molly.
      Funeral services will be held at noon today, Wednesday, July 27, at Holy Redeemer Church in Vanderbilt, with Fr. John McCracken officiating.
      Memorial contributions may be made to Vital Care Hospice or to the Otsego County Animal Shelter, through the Nelson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 1548, Gaylord, MI 49734.

Richard H. Mitchell
Died July 24, 2005
      NORTHPORT - Richard H. Mitchell, 53, of Northport, died Sunday, July 24, 2005, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
      He was born in Huntington, Ind., on Nov. 23, 1951, the son of Bernard and Harriet (Nelson) Mitchell.
      Richard was a devoted father to Brian (Kelly) and Holly Mitchell. He was infamous for his love of Cherry Home Orchards, located in Leelanau County. Richard had the unique opportunity of having this passion as his occupation. He had a love for the outdoors, boating, hunting, scuba diving, and sharing such hobbies with his children. He had a great interest in the west; Arizona prevailed as his favorite destination.
      Richard was a man respected by many for his large heart. He will certainly be missed by a number of family members and friends who loved him.
      He is survived by his parents; his son, Brian (Kelly) Mitchell; a daughter. Holly; his loving, longtime companion, Susan Roseberry; a sister, Carol (Michael) Betz; his loving nieces and nephews, Paige (Steven) Kelly, Stephanie (Scott) Miller, Christian (Lori) Betz, Justin (Caroline) Mitchell, Emily (Andrew) Tyra, and Elke Betz; and many grand-nieces and -nephews.
      Richard was preceded in death by his brother, Donald.
      Visitation will be held today, Wednesday, July 27, from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
      In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Cherryland Humane Society.
     
Ronald J. 'R.J' Walters
Died July 24, 2005
      TRAVERSE CITY - Ronald John Walters, 43, known to many as "R.J.," died Sunday, July 24, 2005 at his home.
      A native of Traverse City, he was born Oct. 11, 1961, the son of John and Joan (Sundeen-Cox) Walters. He graduated from St. Francis High School in 1979, and continued his education at Ferris State University, where he earned a Bachelor Degree in Construction Management. He was a third generation master plumber and worked for Local 85.
      Ron enjoyed hunting and fishing, horseshoes, skiing, snowboarding, water skiing and wind surfing. He also enjoyed playing poker, spending time with his family and friends and going to his nieces and nephews sports activities.
      A St. Francis Gladiator sports fan, Ron loved to reminisce about his school days at St. Francis, and would always mention the great homemade hot lunches he enjoyed.
      Although Ron's life was a challenge due to medical conditions, he always had a smile and a positive attitude. He strived for perfection in everything he did. He knew how precious life was and cherished every memory made with friends and family. He loved to share the details of his daily life, work and other experiences with anyone that would listen. He took great pride in his gardens and what he had learned from his grandpa. He had a heart of gold and always liked to help out.
      Ron touched many lives as a dedicated volunteer for many activities, with a special interest in the VASA Women's Ski Tour and Gladhander. Strong in his Catholic faith, Ron was involved in the Knights of Columbus and was a former Grand Knight for the Traverse City Council #1213.
      Ron is survived by his loving parents, John and Joan Walters; a sister, Barb (Rick) Anderson; his brothers, Jim (Kim) Walters and Bob (Terra) Walters, all of Traverse City; 10 nieces and nephews, Johnathan, Lance and Alayna Anderson, Emily, Ben, Abbie and Heidi Walters, Brenton, Maia and Owen Walters; and many special aunts, uncles and cousins.
      Ron was preceded in death by his grandparents, Herman J. and Lovey (Duester) Walters, Oscar and Ester Sundeen and Henry H. and Nora Cox.
      Visitation will take place today, Wednesday, July 27, at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., with the rosary being prayed at 7:30 p.m.
      Visitation will continue on Thursday, July 28, from 10 until 11 a.m. at St. Francis Catholic Church, where the Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11 a.m. The Rev. Fr. Ken Stachnik will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in Oakwood Catholic Diocesan Cemetery.
      In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools Athletic Department or the American Diabetes Association.