November 11, 1999

Obituaries

BETTY D. SMITHINGELL, 72, of Kalkaska, died Monday, Nov. 8, 1999, at her home. She was born on April 21, 1927.
      Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the Wolfe Funeral Home in Kalkaska. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
     
      MYRA H. THOMAS, 102, of Bellaire, died Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1999, at Meadow Brook Medical Care Facility in Bellaire. She was born Dec. 21, 1896.
      Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. Friends may call at the time of service.
     
      Annie 'Nan' Case
      Died November 7, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Annie "Nan" Case, 95, died peacefully Sunday at Munson Hospital in the company of her family.
      Nan was born Annie Urquhart on Aug. 10, 1904 in Kinkiang, China. She married F. Phillips Case in Singapore and arrived in the U.S. in April 1933. They came to settle in Sault Ste. Marie where she lived until 1942. She then resided in St. Ignace until 1957, moved to Lansing and finally to Traverse City in 1997.
      For years Nan did volunteer work for the Angelus League of St. Lawrence Hospital in Lansing and for the St. Lawrence Community Mental Health Center. She was known for her gift with people and especially with little children.
      She is survived by two children, Abbie (Dale) Knepp of Traverse City and Fred "Bud" (Judy) Case of Riverdale, Utah; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
      Nan was preceded in death by her husband, Phil Case.
      Cremation has taken place. At her request, there will be no funeral services. The family will gather at Oak Hill Cemetery in Owosso for Nan's interment.
      Arrangements were handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home of Traverse City.
     
      Gilbert Isadore Gauthier
      Died November 9, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Gilbert Isadore Gauthier, 73, of Traverse City, passed away at home in Traverse City following an extended illness.
      Born March 25, 1926, in Leelanau County, Gil was the son of Isadore and Esther (Dinger) Gauthier. On Aug. 2, 1947, he married Patricia Stratton of Alden (who survives) at St. Mary's Church in Lake Leelanau. They have been happily married for 52 years.
      Gil will be greatly missed by his wife and children, Dale (Chris), Donald (Kim), David (Carolyn), Michael (Angie) and Sharon (Tim) Porter, all of Traverse City; Douglas (Janet) of Ludington and Richard (Irene) of San Antonio, Texas; three sisters, Dorothy (Charlie) Zeits of Lake Leelanau, Claire Boutain (Lou) of Riverview, Jeanne (Bob) Baker of Traverse City and brother Jim (Phyllis) Gauthier of Traverse City; along with 22 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
      Gil was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary and a son, Daniel; grandsons, Patrick and Donald and Daniel (twins); his parents; and brothers, Delbert (Gil's twin) and Claude.
      He attended school at St. Mary's in Lake Leelanau and graduated from Catholic Central High School and Davenport College in Grand Rapids. He was a retired salesman, accountant and entrepreneur. Gil owned Airport Auto Sales (1958-1960), and subsequently Gauthier Auto Sales and Pure Service Station (1960-1967) where he worked with his sons. Through his business, Gil was always supportive in assisting the Boy Scouts of America with fund-raisers. Over the years, he was a sales manager for various auto dealerships in Traverse City and Kalkaska. After leaving the car business, Gil joined the real estate industry where he was a salesman and broker with the Traverse City Board of Realtors, and later a co-owner of a local Century 21 agency.
      He was a 4th degree fraternal member of the Knights of Columbus No. 1213 and the Elks Lodge No. 323, both in Traverse City. He was also a member of the National Grange for many years. An avid country and western music fan, he belonged to the LSFA and UFA in San Antonio, Texas, also the MFA, OMFA and ODPC Fiddlers Clubs of Michigan. Although he only "fiddled" with his extensive string collection, he truly loved listening to others play. In his early years, Gil enjoyed hunting on his parent's farm with his father and sons. He also enjoyed fishing with his children and had a passion for horses, old cars and motorcycles. During his retired years, he enjoyed spending the winter months in Mississippi and Texas.
      Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday with a Rosary at 7 p.m. at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. A funeral Mass will be concelebrated with Father Bill Lipscomb and Father Patrick Barrett at St. Francis Church in Traverse City at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13. Interment will take place at Memorial Gardens in Traverse City with K of C Honor Guard Ceremony.
      Those considering an expression of sympathy may consider memorials to the American Cancer Society, Munson Hospice or Father Fred Foundation.
     
      Rolland Eugene 'Gene' Howes
      Died November 10, 1999
      KALEVA - Rolland Eugene "Gene" Howes, 85, of Kaleva, died Wednesday at his residence.
      Born Oct. 14, 1914, in Marilla, he was the son of Carl and Grace (Grossnickle) Howes. On Oct. 24, 1937, in Marilla, he married the former Geraldine Naomi Dilling, who survives him.
      Gene was a farmer in Marilla for many years and owned a sawmill in Marilla during the 1940's with his brother, Roy Howes. In the 1950's Gene founded Gene Howes Trucking Company, which later became Howes and Howes Trucking Company. He was a member of the Marilla Church of the Brethren and enjoyed hunting and reading.
      Gene was also survived by his children, Roland (Hope) Howes of Kaleva, Faye (David) Scholten of Hudsonville, Linda (Duane) Luhtanen of Northville and Richard (Shannon) Howes of Marilla; 18 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; a brother, Roy Howes of Kaleva; a sister, Rita Russell of Copemish; and numerous nieces and nephews.
      Gene was preceded in death by his daughter, Marcia Nunn; three brothers, Raymond, Vernon and Russell; a brother, Harold, in infancy; and a sister, Ruth Bowling.
      Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Terwilliger Funeral Home in Kaleva. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Marilla Church of the Brethren in Marilla with Pastor Donald Willoughby officiating. Interment will be in the Marilla Township Cemetery.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the Marilla Church of the Brethren. Envelopes are available at the Terwilliger Funeral Home.
     
      Loretta Ellen Wright Jacobs
      Died November 5, 1999
      BELLAIRE - Loretta Ellen Wright Jacobs, of Bellaire, died Friday at Central DuPage Hospital.
      She leaves to honor her memory with love and respect, her four children, Lauralyn (Hank) Theodore, Daniel (Myrna) Jacobs, Rodger (Mary) Jacobs and Charles (Susan) Jacobs; her grandchildren, Karyn (Dan) Johnson, Kristine Theodore, Lauren (Curt) Wilson, Duke Cullinan, Evan Jacobs, Jonathon and Brian Jacobs and Jazmin Jacobs; and great-grandchildren, Matthew Johnson, Jake and Alexandra Wilson; and countless friends and relatives whose lives she touched.
      Loretta's love of music touched many, many lives over her 81 years. Her reputation as one who brought joy and enthusiam is well known. She played piano with her children as they performed as the Northland Dixie Stompers, the Jacobs Junior Jivers; she accompanied the Bellaire Lion's Club annual show for many years; her piano playing regaled many Dixieland groups; she was part of the Messengers of Melody, the gospel quartet, and played rags on her own CD.
      She loved children and was a teacher for over 20 years. After raising her four children, she went back to college to acquire her degree from Michigan State University and taught mainly kindergarten for many years. Her love for children and sense of adventure took Loretta and her husband to England, where she served as an exchange teacher for a year.
      She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wilbur; infant daughter; sister and brother.
      A celebration of Loretta's life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Bellaire Community United Methodist Church.
      In honor of Loretta's memory, a music scholarship fund has been established. Contributions may be sent to: Loretta Jacobs Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 292, Bellaire, MI 49615.
     
      Raymond George Kuemin
      Died November 9, 1999
      NILES - Raymond George Kuemin, 88, of Niles, died Tuesday at St. Joseph Community Hospital in Mishawaka, Ind. following a brief illness.
      Born Dec. 26, 1910, in North Manitou Island, he was the son of Henry George and Emma Rachael (Remington) Kuemin. On Aug. 27, 1949, in Traverse City, he married the former Alice Marie Zody.
      Raymond moved to Niles from Traverse City in 1950 and was a winter resident of Eufaula, Ala. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in World War II. Raymond retired in 1970 after 20 years of service with Dallas & Mavis Forwarding Co., South Bend Terminal. He was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles, American Legion Post No. 26, also in Niles, Holiday Rambler & Good Sam RV Clubs, Teamsters Local No. 364, South Bend and he was active in the Brandywine Booster Club when his children were students.
      He is survived by his wife; daughter, Ruth Ellen Preston of Morganton, N.C.; son, Dennis Raymond Kuemin, daughter, Beverly Ann Kuemin, son, Donald Warren Kuemin and daughter, Kathleen Lynette Gilley - all of Niles, and son, David Henry Kuemin of Elkhart, Ind.; 16 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Galetta Jakubeck, Wanetta Ritola and Kathryn Walter - all of Traverse City.
      He was preceded in death by a grandson, Kyle Kuemin in 1986; and two brothers, one who died in infancy and one who died in childhood.
      Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles where a Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles with Rev. John J. Croston, C.S.C. of Notre Dame, Ind. serving as celebrant. A flag presentation by American Legion Post No. 26 of Niles will follow the committal.
     
      Helen Marie Turner
      Died November 9, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Helen Marie Turner, 73, of Traverse City, died Tuesday at her home.
      Born April 19, 1926, in Hayward, Calif., she was the daughter of Otto and Helen Bollerup.
      Along with the love and care she gave her family, she worked as a sales representative for 17 years at Pierce Northern Barber and Beauty Supply and for Century 21 Real Estate. Helen enjoyed reading, sports and the outdoors.
      She is survived by five sons, Terry (Grace) Turner of Glendale, Calif., John (Terri) Turner of Seligman, Ariz., Michael (Kathy) Turner of Las Vegas, Nev., Troy (Barbara) Turner of Traverse City and Eric Turner, also of Traverse City; 16 grandchildren, Lisa Olsen, Troy Turner, Stephanie Ting, Dade, Judy and Kelly Turner, Valerie and Rachel Turner, Justin, Christian and Autumn Toth, Josh, Emily, Hilary and Seth Turner and Amber Lancaster; and two sisters, June Anderegg and Alice Akins.
      She was preceded in death by her parents.
      In celebration of her life, a gathering will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday at the home of Troy and Barbara Turner, 520 West 11th Street, Traverse City.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to Munson Hospice or Vietnam Veterans American Legion Baseball.
      Arrangements were handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.