October 24, 1999

Obituaries

EDITH L. CARLSON, 92, of Manistee, died Saturday, Oct. 23, 1999.
      Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Johnson Funeral Home in Manistee.
     
      ERMA GLASS HUBBELL, 96, of Leland, died Thursday, Oct. 21, 1999, at Bortz Health Care.
      Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at McColaugh Funeral Home in Xenia, Ohio. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the time of service Saturday at the funeral home. A full obituary will be in Monday's edition of the Record-Eagle. Local arrangements by Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
     
      HARRY WILLIAM MARTIN, 67, of Brethren and formerly of Toledo, Ohio, died Friday, Oct. 22, 1999, at West Shore Hospital in Manistee. He was born Jan. 20, 1932.
      Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Terwilliger Funeral Home in Kaleva. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
     
      Raymond 'Doeskin' Koon
      Died October 21, 1999
      HONOR - Raymond "Doeskin" Koon, 74, formerly of Grawn and a resident of Benzie County for the past 10 1/2 years, died peacefully Thursday morning at his residence with family members by his side.
      Raymond was born March 23, 1925, in Honor, the son of Samuel and Emma (Moby) Koon. He was united in marriage to Joanne L. McGowan on June 1, 1970, in Mt. Pleasant.
      Raymond worked for 25 years as a sheet metal worker and was a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Local No. 7. He also was the owner and operator of Koon & Sons Roofing Company. He was a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and he enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, building, attending Native American Indian events and ceremonies and gardening. Many knew Raymond for the vegetable stand that he operated outside of his home on Moby Hill just east of Honor on U.S. 31.
      Raymond is survived by his wife, Joanne, of Honor; six sons, James R. of Interlochen, Steven G. of Thompsonville, Larry L. (Shari) of Interlochen, Rodney L. of Thompsonville, Timothy A. (Pauline) of Interlochen and Shawn R. (Sue) Koon-Nolff of Grawn; seven daughters, Cathy A. Philo of Interlochen, Carol A. (Bob) Adams of Traverse City, Karen R. Koon of Kingsley, Nancy L. (Terry) Groesser of Omena, Tammy J. (John) Munoz of Pensacola, Fla., Merry I. Koon of Traverse City and Barbara K. Wilson of Interlochen. Also surviving are 29 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; brother, Johnny Williams; numerous nieces and nephews; and many, many dear friends.
      He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Dennis J. Koon; and sisters, Isabella Jackson and Irene Koon.
      Visitation for Raymond will be held on Sunday from 10 a.m. and throughout the day and evening at his Honor residence located at 12246 Honor Hwy. (U.S. 31). For specific directions to the family home, please call (231) 325-2286. Funeral services for Raymond will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Perry Chapel, McElduff Funeral Homes, 7223 South St., in Benzonia (231) 882-5097. Friends may also visit with the family on Monday at the funeral home from noon until the time of the service. Raymond's family will conduct his services and also serve as pallbearers for the burial service which will take place in the Champion Hill Cemetery in Honor, where Raymond will be buried next to his mother.
      Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider a contribution made to the wishes of Raymond's family.
     
      Verner Edward Leiter
      Died October 23, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Verner Edward Leiter, 90, of Traverse City, died Saturday at Birchwood Nursing Center in Traverse City.
      Born April 19, 1909, in Whitewater Township, he was the son of Orson and Kate (Smedley) Leiter. He married Lois J. Copeland, who preceded him in death on May 8, 1991.
      Verner was a self-employed auto mechanic. He owned his own garage during the depression. He was also a plant engineer at Vulcan Mold and Iron Company Foundry in Chicago Heights, Ill. for 15 years and was also employed at Valley Mold and Iron Company in Chicago for 16 years. Verner enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially elk hunting and the outdoors, woodworking and custom cabinetry. If it was broke, he could fix it. He built the families first boat - a 24 foot cabin cruiser.
      He is survived by three daughters, LaVern (Robert) Burwell of Clarmont, Calif., Verna (John) Blackwell of Traverse City and Myrna Qualkinbush of Indianapolis; two sons, Marvin (Bonnie) Leiter of San Diego and Neil Leiter of Chicago Heights, Ill.; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
      He was also preceded in death by his parents; infant brother; and a sister, Helen Zink.
      Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the charity of one's choice.
     
      Donald C. Smith
      Died October 22, 1999
      BEULAH - Donald C. Smith, noted local musician, died peacefully Friday afternoon at Munson Medical Center.
      Born Sept. 14, 1922, in Muskegon, he was the son of Justus and Gladys (Edwards) Smith.
      As a very young boy growing up in Beulah, he showed unusual promise on the violin. This promise was realized when, as a high school student, he was awarded a scholarship to the National Music Camp (now the International Arts Academy) in Interlochen. Don's university career was interrupted by service in the Army Air Corps, where he served in North Africa as a pilot in World War II. He returned to Michigan State University after the war and completed his degree in music. Don shared his great talents with fellow musicians and thousands of students as he developed and headed school musical departments in Benzonia, Dimondale, Remus, Traverse City and Monroe. Don was a charter member of the Northwestern Michigan Symphony as a violinist. He also used his vocal gifts as a soloist with the Christian Science Church and in countless performances both as a soloist and with a variety of vocal ensembles. Don was a member of the Benzie County Community Chorus and conducted the Benzie Area Symphonette. He performed extensively throughout Michigan, and toured as well in England.
      Don was also a talented athlete who excelled for many years as a tennis player. He also enjoyed golf and was an avid supporter of high school sports. He was also a faithful sports fan of his alma mater, Michigan State University. Don was also a salesman for Sleeping Bear Realty for several years.
      He is survived by his wife, Mary (Jackman) Smith of Beulah; his children, Sarah Nelson of St. Joseph, Gordon (Carol) Smith of Phoenix, Linda (Timothy) Sheehan of Prescott, Ariz., Randy (Phyllis) Tompkins of Temperance, Gary Smith of Traverse City, Ben (Barbara) Tompkins of St. Louis, Mo. and Anne (Tracy) Staver of Cincinnati. Other family members include a sister, Jean Pryor of Cambridge, England; brother, Edward (Ted) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a sister, Chris Stone of Beulah; brother, Dana Smith of Sebring, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
      As talented an artist as Don was, perhaps a greater gift was his remarkable sweetness, gentleness and humor. We were touched by you, Don. Thanks for lighting the path.
      Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30, at the Perry Chapel, McElduff Funeral Home of Benzonia with Ben Tompkins as reader. Friends may meet with the family from 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home until the time of services.
      Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the Benzie Area Symphonette. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.
     
      Marjorie S. 'Jo' Wartinbee
      Died October 20, 1999
      TORCH LAKE - Marjorie S. "Jo" Wartinbee, 71, of Torch Lake, Central Lake Township, and formerly of Ann Arbor and El Cajon, Calif., passed away Wednesday at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
      Jo was the daughter of the late Dr. Dana and Mildred (Coors) Snell of East Lansing. She was also predeceased by her brother, Keith.
      On Oct. 9, 1954, in Lansing, she was married by her uncle, the Bishop Stanley D. Coors to Samuel C. Wartinbee, her beloved husband of 45 years, who survives.
      Also surviving are four loving children, Linda W. (Bruce) Harvey of Chesapeake, Va., Samuel C. Jr. (Linda) of Fruitland Park, Fla., Robert D. (Christina) of North Hollywood, Calif. and Betsy M. (Jeff) Waldrop of Ann Arbor; eight grandchildren, Joshua (Sherri) Porter, Jessica, Benjamin, Travis, Shelby, Jacob, Steven and Denisa; and a cousin, Robert S. (Betty) Coors of LaMesa, Calif. and Torch Lake.
      Joe enjoyed a lifetime love of Torch Lake in northern Michigan. She raised her family in Ann Arbor prior to a retirement move to Torch Lake in 1983. They then wintered in El Cajon, Calif. where she pursued her love of golf with family and friends year round. She attended Stephens College in St. Charles, Mo. and Michigan State University. She was a deaconess at the First Congregational Church in Ann Arbor, scouting den mother, member of the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers Auxiliary, and enjoyed water and winter sports while raising four children. When the nest was empty, she became active in the Antrim Dells Women's Golf League and the Central Lake Women's Club. She enjoyed traveling and reading, while always having her doors open to family and friends both in Michigan and California.
      Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the Ann Arbor First Congregational Church, 608 E. Williams St. (the Maynard Street parking structure is under reconstruction and not available so please allow extra parking time).
      The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at the Muehlig Funeral Chapel in Ann Arbor.
      The family will receive their northern Michigan friends from 2 p.m. Wednesday until the 3 p.m. funeral service at the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes (231-544-3600). The Rev. Terry Smith will officiate both services.
      Private interment will take place in Lakeview Cemetery, Torch Lake Township.
      Memorial contributions may be made to the Ann Arbor First Congregational Church, Marjorie S. Wartinbee Memorial Fund.
     
      Albert P. Witkop
      Died October 22, 1999
      MIDLAND - Albert P. Witkop, 83, of Midland, died Friday at MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland.
      Born March 23, 1916, in Traverse City, he was the son of the late John J. and Mary Katherine (Schiedel) Witkop. He was raised and educated in Traverse City. On April 23, 1939, in Traverse City, he married the former N. Agatha Barnes and they became Midland residents in 1941.
      Albert was a shift supervisor for the Dow Chemical Company for many years. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, travel, yardwork and gardening. Animals and all forms of wildlife were a major joy in his life.
      He is survived by his wife, N. Agatha; sons, Martin (Donna) Witkop of Sanford and Norman (Eleanor) Witkop of Omer; daughters, Carole (Clifford) Herring of Detroit and Jennifer Witkop of Midland; brother, John Witkop of Traverse City; sister, Katherine Harvey of Traverse City; sister-in-law, Jane Witkop of Traverse City; and five grandchildren, Dianna Herring, Larry Herring, Norman Witkop, Jr., Anne Marie Witkop and Trenton Witkop.
      He was preceded in death by his son, Albert Jr.; brother, Hiram Witkop; and sister, Nellie Fryzelka.
      Friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. today and from 11 a.m. until the time of service on Monday at the Wilson Miller Funeral Home, 4210 N. Saginaw Rd., Midland. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with Rev. Susan Kingsley of First United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery in Traverse City.
      Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider First United Methodist Church or the Humane Society.