November 3, 1999

Obituaries

RONALD MARK BAUER, 41, of Blythe, Calif. and formerly of Traverse City, died Saturday in Blythe, Calif. He was born April 16, 1958.
      Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Monday followed by a memorial service at 11 a.m. at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. A full obituary will appear in Thursday's edition of the Record-Eagle.
     
      Memorial services for CHARLES L. DUPREY, 75, of Kalkaska, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Wolfe Funeral Home in Kalkaska. Charles died October 19, 1999, at his home. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of services on Saturday at the funeral home.
     
      DONALD WALTER GRAVES, 79, of Copemish, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. He was born Dec. 3, 1919, in Copemish.
      Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Terwilliger Funeral Home in Kaleva.
     
      DOROTHEA LOUISE HOFFMAN, 76, of Brethren, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999, at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. She was born Sept. 29, 1923, in Muskegon.
      Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Terwilliger Funeral Home in Kaleva. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Bear Lake Township Cemetery.
     
      JACK SKINNER, 75, of Elk Rapids, died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999, at Birchwood Nursing Center in Traverse City.
      Arrangements are pending at Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.
     
      Joseph T. Baxter
      Died October 31, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Retired police Capt. Joseph T. Baxter, 93, died Sunday at Bortz Health Care of Traverse City.
      He was born Nov., 4, 1905, in Boston. On Oct. 27, 1923, in Hamtramck, he married Josephine Borkowski.
      Joseph served as a police officer with the Hamtramck Police Department for 30 years. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and the Lions Club. He had been a resident of Traverse City for the past 30 years. After his retirement, he was head of security at J.L. Hudson's of Detroit.
      Survivors include a daughter, Wanda (Edward) Smith of Traverse City, a son, Edmund Baxter of Traverse City, seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
      Joseph was preceded in death by his parents, his wife - in 1988, two brothers, Bruno and Peter, and a sister, Sabina Finnegan.
      Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes; a Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m.
      A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hannah; the Rev. Albin Gietzen will serve as celebrant. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Hannah.
     
      Robert J. Cherry, Jr.
      Died October 31, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Robert J. Cherry, Jr., 86, of Traverse City, died Sunday at Birchwood Nursing Center in Traverse City.
      He is survived by his dear friends, Dr. Thomas and Barbara Bouwkamp and their son, Andrew, of Calumet, Bernard and Kathleen St. Pierre of Traverse City and Rev. Edwin Frederick of Traverse City.
      A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 11 a.m. today at St. Francis Catholic Church in Traverse City with Rev. James Gardiner serving as celebrant.
      Arrangements were handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home of Traverse City.
     
      Marion Joyce (Frye) Johnson
      Died October 31, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Marion Joyce (Frye) Johnson, after several months of deteriorating health, died Sunday at her home.
      Marion was born on Aug. 18, 1932. Family lore tells that she was born in the eye of a tornado, a few moments after midnight. Her mother, Ferne M. (Wilson) Frye and her father, H. Clarence Frye, both preceded Marion in death and are buried at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.
      After attending Traverse City schools, Marion earned a BA degree and teaching certificate from Alma College. She earned graduate credit at the Universities of Michigan and Dayton, as well as Eastern Michigan and Wright State Universities. In 1987 she earned a master of arts equivalency from the State of Ohio. She taught high school English for 25 years, three years in Michigan, one each in Washington, D.C. and the European extension of the City College of Chicago, with the remaining 20 years in the Fairborn (Ohio) school system, retiring in 1992. Known for her innovative styles, she won acclaim in creative writing workshops, often as a presenter or clinician. She was a judge for the National Council of Teachers in Language Arts. Many of her talented students pursued notable careers in writing and teaching. She was listed in the 1991 Marquis' Who's Who of American Women.
      Later, she published several short articles and poems. She collaborated with a group of other writers to compile and edit biographies of outstanding Greene County (Ohio) women in the 1994 book Women of Greene County. Until the time of her death, she was writing anecdotal histories of members of her immediate family, as well as continuing to write her beloved poetry, as yet unpublished.
      Marion followed her husband, Lt. Colonel Harold C. Johnson, during his service in the U.S. Air Force, participating in military chapel activities and in the school life of her children. She and her family lived in many places, including Washington, D.C., Tripoli, Libya, London, England, three cities in the former West Germany, McGuire AFB, New Jersey, Belleville, Ill., Wright Paterson AFB and Fairborn, Ohio. She retired to her hometown, Traverse City, in 1997, moving into a house designed by her daughter.
      Among her citations were accolades for service with the Girl Scouts of America, the American Red Cross, Air Force Family Service Organizations and Chapel System, and various volunteer organizations of her children's schools. Since moving to Traverse City, she was active in the music program of the First Christian Church. In her own words, she found her career varied and her life fulfilling.
      Marion is survived by her husband, Harold; and her three children, architect daughter, Robin, high school music teacher Gary, astronaut Gregory, and their respective spouses Donna (Davis) and Cari (Harbaugh), as well as her three grandchildren Matthew, Joseph and Rachel.
      Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at First Christian Church in Traverse City with a long-standing family friend, retired Air Force Captain (Colonel) Mansfield E. Hunt, officiating.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to First Christian Church or the American Diabetes Association.
     
      John H. McClain
      Died October 31, 1999
      BEULAH - John H. McClain, formerly of Grosse Pointe Woods and a resident of Benzie County for the past 20 years, died suddenly Sunday morning at his residence at the age of 83.
      John was born Feb. 12, 1916, in Herminie, Pa., the son of John and Margaret (Miller) McClain. As a boy he was raised in Swissvale, Pa. John had served the country honorably in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was united in marriage to Diane (Rudish) in February of 1951 in Detroit. He was the owner and operator of the McClain Insurance Advisors in Detroit for over 30 years. He was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Frankfort, University Club of Detroit, Crystal Downs Country Club, and member and former president of the Detroit Life Underwriters. He enjoyed golfing, carpentry work around the house and reading.
      John is survived by three sons, John C. McClain of Grand Rapids, Robert M. (Barbara) McClain of Grosse Pointe Woods and Richard P. McClain of Stockton, Calif.; two grandchildren; and two sisters, Mary Louise Flanagan of Silver Springs, M.D. and Ruth O'Brien of Pittsburgh, Pa.
      He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Diane, on July 14, 1994; and brother, Charles McClain.
      Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Perry Chapel, McElduff Funeral Homes in Benzonia, where a Vigil for the deceased (Rosary) will be recited at 7:30 p.m. this evening. The funeral Mass for the dead will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Ann Catholic Church in Frankfort; Msgr. David Gemuend will serve as celebrant. Burial will take place next to his wife, Diane, in the Benzonia Township Cemetery.
      Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a memorial contribution in John's memory to St. Ann Catholic Church.
     
      Theresa Schmeltzer
      Died November 1, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Theresa Schmeltzer, 71, of Traverse City, died Monday at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
      Born May 11, 1928, in Negaunee, she was the daughter of George and Ella (Choquette) Smedman. On June 25, 1949, in Marquette, she married Wilbur "Bud" Schmeltzer.
      Theresa was formerly employed by Universal CIT, Boy Scouts and Boniface Lumber - all of Marquette. Later she was employed at Traverse City Credit Bureau and Child and Family Services in Traverse City. For 13 years she worked as executive secretary to the superintendent of Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools. She was a past Cub Scout, Brownie and Girl Scout leader. A member of the Extension Club and Immaculate Conception PTA, she also volunteered at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church tabulating gifts, i.e., money counter and volunteered at Child and Family Services. Theresa enjoyed knitting. She knitted gloves, hats, etc. for servicemen during World War II. She also made hats and mittens and donated them to schools and needy families in the Traverse City area. The knitted lap afghans were donated for the health ministries at Immaculate Conception Church.
      She is survived by her husband, Bud; four daughters, Carol (Ross) LaCross of Charlotte, Barbara (William) Misner of Lake Ann, Pauline (Robert) Weaver of Honor and Jean (Mark) McManus of Grawn; one son, Robert Schmeltzer of Traverse City; 15 grandchildren; three sisters, Helen Myers, Frances "Mickey" (Charles) Downs and Margaret (William) Rule; and a brother, Charles (Lucille) Smedman - all of Marquette.
      She was preceded in death by her parents; and a daughter, Mary Katherine Schmeltzer.
      Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today, with a Rosary at 7:30 p.m., at Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Church with Rev. James Hayden serving as celebrant. Burial will be in Oakwood Catholic Diocesan Cemetery.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools.