September 30, 1999

Obituaries

AGNES (HARLUKOWICZ) BAMFORD, 82, of Traverse City, died Wednesday, Sept. 29, 1999, at Grand Traverse Pavilions.
      Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Hibbard Funeral and Cremation Service in Traverse City. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with burial in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens. A full obituary will appear in Friday's edition of the Record-Eagle.
     
      Donald D. Edinger Sr.
      Died September 28, 1999
      NEWBERRY - Donald D. Edinger Sr., 58, of Newberry, died Tuesday at Helen Newberry Hospital.
      Born Dec. 3, 1940, in Detroit, he was the son of Paul Eugene Edinger Sr. and Esther Bell (Link) Edinger. On July 19, 1997, in Benzonia, he married Yvonne M. Eley.
      Formerly of Honor, Donald was known as an excellent master mason. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, gun collecting, bird watching and classic country music. He also loved his cat "Fluffer."
      He is survived by his wife, Yvonne; children, Donald D. (Marilyn) Edinger, Jr. of Traverse City, Sondra D. (Brian) Halliday of Oxford, Victoria K. Edinger of Texas and Esther A. (James) Racus of Texas; stepchildren, Linda (Charles) Herman of St. Joseph, Tenn., Sherry (Robert) Grose of Interlochen, LeRoy (Sharon) Gary of Interlochen, Sally (Happy) Wahmhoff of Kingsley and Murman (Nancy) Gary of Parsons, Kan.; mother, Esther B. Edinger; brothers, Gordon Edinger, Walt Edinger and Gary Edinger - all of Honor; half-brothers, Paul Edinger of Florida and Tom Edinger of Union Lake; sisters, Georgie Ulberg of Thompsonville and Paulette Abshire of Honor; 35 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
      He was preceded in death by his father; brother, Otto and daughter-in-law, Kim Edinger.
      Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Champion Hill Cemetery with Pastor Richard Stieve officiating. Friends may call at the cemetery at the time of service.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to The Donald D. Edinger, Sr. Memorial Fund.
      Arrangements were handled by Bennett-Barz Funeral Home in Beulah.
     
      Robert Dale Gribble
      Died September 10, 1999
      AMES, Iowa - Robert Dale Gribble, 57, former Traverse City resident and business leader, died of cancer on Friday, Sept. 10, in Ames.
      Originally from Brownsville, Pa., he lived in Traverse City from 1989 to 1993. Robert served as executive director of operations for the Sara Lee Bakery Corporation in Traverse City and worked for the Sara Lee Corporation for nearly 20 years. Most recently, he was executive director for Uncle B's Bagel Bakery in Ellsworth, Iowa. Earlier in his career, he worked for the United States Federal Government's Naval Research Laboratory and the Goddard Space Flight Center on the design of the first lunar landing space module and NASA's space shuttle. Robert held an associate degree in mechanical engineering. He also lived in Washington, D.C., New Hampton, Iowa, Jackson, Miss., Greenville, S.C., Chicago and Ames.
      Robert served as New Hampton city councilman and president of Greenville's Chamber of Commerce. He was on the board of directors for the South Carolina Manufacturer's Association, appointed to the Governor of Mississippi's prestigious Business Development Task Force, an avid coach for the Annandale Boys Club Soccer League and a high school basketball referee. He won numerous professional, civic and community awards for his contributions and he was a member of the Masonic Lodge.
      Robert is survived by his wife, Sherry; his parents, Thomas and AnnaMae Gribble of Hibbs, Pa.; a brother and sister, Tim Gribble of Belle Vernon and Rindy McDowell of Hibbs; a daughter, Laurie Powers McCulley of Alexandria, Va.; three sons, Robert Gribble, Jr. of Washington, D.C., David Powers of Alexandria, Va. and Tony Gribble of St. Louis, Mo.; and two grandchildren, Matthew and Ryan Gribble.
      A memorial service was held on Tuesday, Sept. 14 at the Bethesda Lutheran Church in Ames. In accordance with Robert's wishes, his remains were dedicated in a private ceremony at his farm in Fort Atkinson, Iowa.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Cancer Society.
      Arrangements were handled by the Adams Funeral Home in Ames, Iowa.
     
      Victorine Leona Knopf
      Died September 29, 1999
      ACME - Victorine Leona Knopf, 79, of Acme, died Wednesday at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
      Born Dec. 8, 1919, in Detroit, she was the daughter of Victor and Francis Guest and in 1939 married Neil Leonard Knopf in Detroit. They moved to Acme in 1964.
      Victorine owned and operated the Willow Beach Cottages for 35 years and was the Acme Township clerk for 24 years. She was a member of the Acme Women's Club and a former member of Eastern Star. She loved flowers, gardening and enjoyed painting.
      She is survived by a daughter, Noelle Knopf of Acme; son, Neil (Carolyn) Knopf of Traverse City; three sisters, Delores (Charles) Spicer of Detroit, Loretta Hawkinson of Farmington and Shirley (Donald) Storm of Arlington, Texas; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
      She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; and great-grandson, Jonathon M. Sommerfield.
      Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with Rev. Dr. Daniel K. Herlein officiating. Burial will be in Acme Township Cemetery.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the Parkinson Foundation.
     
      Stanley Joseph Niewiadomski
      Died September 27, 1999
      WHITE CLOUD - Stanley Joseph Niewiadomski, 59, of White Cloud, died Monday at Gerber Memorial Hospital in Fremont.
      Born April 30, 1940, in Grand Rapids, he was the son of Stanley Joseph and Rebecca (Andrews) Niewiadomski.
      Stanley owned and operated Acme Office Equipment in Traverse City for 18 years. He then retired to White Cloud where he loved to hunt and fish. He was greatly loved and touched many lives with his charm and sense of humor. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.
      He is survived by his children, Pam (Pete) Pikaar of Jenison and Jeff (Nan) Niewiadomski and Lauri Niewiadomski - both of Traverse City; six grandchildren, Kristi and LeAnn Pikaar, Jenny and Josh Niewiadomski and Ashley and Marissa Niewiadomski; two sisters, Garn Patten and Diane Vandersteldt of Grand Rapids; three brothers, Michael of Buchanan, Charles of Grand Rapids and Gerald of Six Lakes; a special friend of 14 years, Jana Lederle; and many nieces and nephews.
      He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, William.
      A Mass of Resurrection will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 955 Newell St., White Cloud, MI.
     
      Hazel L. Roush
      Died September 28, 1999
      TRAVERSE CITY - Hazel L. Roush, 95, a lifelong resident of Traverse City, died Tuesday at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City.
      Born Aug. 21, 1904, in Traverse City, she was the daughter of Fred and Minnie (Lambert) Strait. On Nov. 29, 1922, in Traverse City, she married Wilson "Pete" Roush, who preceded her in death on Jan. 4, 1976.
      Hazel worked several summers at Cherry Growers. She was a longtime member of Pinegrove Church of God and a former member of Farm Bureau. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed quilting, crocheting and her large family.
      She is survived by 11 children, Harry (Opal) Roush of Empire, Esther (Earl) Plowman of Empire, Robert (Mary) Roush of Traverse City, Lewis (Marcella) Roush of Traverse City, Harold (Sharon) Roush of Central Lake, Francis (Barbara) Roush of Hartford, Hellen (Harold) Bush of Traverse City, Leonard (Dorothy) Roush of Traverse City, George (Pat) Roush of Traverse City, Jane (Howard) Rinehart of Traverse City and Floyd (Kaye) Roush, also of Traverse City; 63 grandchildren; 102 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Thomas Strait of Traverse City; a sister, Margaret Tharp of Traverse City; and many nieces and nephews.
      She was also preceded in death by four children, Louise Fasel, William, Alfred and Donald Roush.
      Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today and 3 to 5 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Rev. Marvin Rosa officiating. Burial will be in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the American Heart Association.
     
      Robert VanBrocklin
      Died September 27, 1999
      FRANKFORT - Robert VanBrocklin, 59, a lifetime resident of Benzie County, died unexpectedly Monday morning at his residence.
      Born June 22, 1940, in Beulah, he was the son of R.C. Henry and Ida Ellen (Gunderson) VanBrocklin. On Aug. 9, 1960, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfort, he was united in marriage to Marlene Townsend.
      Robert had worked for the past 28 years as a machinist for Frankfort Manufacturing. He had many interests including football, being outdoors, bowling, gardening, mushrooming, hunting and collecting coins and crystal. But what gave him the most enjoyment were his grandchildren whom he loved very much.
      He is survived by his wife, Marlene, of Frankfort; son, R.C. (Marie) VanBrocklin of Frankfort; two daughters, Bobbi Jo (Rick) Fast of Honor and Lisa (David) Royal of Iowa; seven grandchildren; his mother, Ida Mix of Frankfort; brothers, Henry (Claudia) VanBrocklin of Elberta, Tom (Gisele) Mix of Ada and Chuck (Barb) Bugleski of Grand Haven; four sisters, Zelda (John) Hodge of Frankfort, Janice Brown of Frankfort, Zora (Frank) Pelky of Honor and Joan (Tim) Thomas of Traverse City; and numerous nieces and nephews.
      He was preceded in death by his father; stepfather, Lawrence Mix; brother, Ladon G. "Don" VanBrocklin and brother-in-law, Fred Brown.
      No visitation is planned. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfort with Pastor Rick Stieve officiating. Burial will take place in the Crystal Lake Township North Cemetery.
      Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider the American Cancer Society - Benzie County Chapter or the Trinity Lutheran Church.
      The family was served by the Frankfort Chapel, McElduff Funeral Homes.