Diane M. Finch 1/1/2002
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday at noon at St. Mary’s Catholic Church for Diane M. Finch, who died Tuesday at her Leland home. She was 68.
Mrs. Finch was a graduate of Western Michigan University and taught elementary and nursery school in the Grand Rapids area. She was an enthusiastic sailor—a past commodore of the Leland Yacht Club—and active in the National Ski Patrol. She was a peaceful person with a kind word for everyone.
Surviving are her husband, Macklyn Finch of Leland; daughters Cristina Finch, Esq. of Arlington, Va. and Tracy Finch of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; her mother, Violet Yonkers of Northport; a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Myrle Marie and Don Hudson of Grant. She was preceded in death by her father, Albert Yonkers; and brothers Albert Jr. and Kenneth.
Visitation was held from 3-7 p.m. yesterday and will be held from 3-7 p.m. today at Martinson Funeral Home. Internment will be in East Leland Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Leland Yacht Club or the American Cancer Society.
Donald R. Eimers 12/29/2001
A memorial service was held yesterday at the Lions Club for Maple City resident Donald Robert Eimers, who died Dec. 29 at Munson Medical Center. He was 71.
Mr. Eimers was born on May 18, 1930, in Saginaw, the son of Oliver and Margaret (Decker) Eimers. On April 15, 1953, in Saginaw, he married Madlyn Barrigar, who survives.
He was a resident of Maple City since 1964. He served in the Navy, and was employed as a carpenter with the Keift and Dorsey Construction Company, the Paul Mauer Company and Easling Construction, retiring in 1991. He also ran a bait shop from his home, and was an avid hunter and fisherman.
Also surviving are five children, Deborah Rock of Maple City, David (Mary) Eimers of Maple City, Dennis (Barb) Eimers of Traverse City, Tammy (Steve) Collins of Holland and Robert Eimers of Canada; two stepsons, Gary Clink of Florida and Larry (Peg) Clink of Karlin; a brother, Howard of Saginaw; a half-brother, Brian Meissner of Saginaw; sister-in-law, Mary Eimers of Saginaw; stepfather, Lyman Meissner of Saginaw; 18 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Diane; brother, Edward; and a grandson.
Memorials may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
Albion E. Brow 12/27/2001
A funeral Mass was celebrated Monday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church for county native Albion E. Brow, who died Dec. 27 at Munson Medical Center. He was 90.
Mr. Brow was born on March 24, 1911, in Centerville Township, the son of Ferdinand and Ellen (Gauthier) Brow. On June 14, 1934, he married Orpha Garnet Priest in Lake Leelanau.
Mr. Brow was a farmer, carpenter and mason. He enjoyed fishing, and loved spending time with his grandchildren and special great-grandson.
Surviving are his daughter, Phyllis Dunklow of Lake Leelanau; a granddaughter, Marilyn (David) Fortuna of Suttons Bay; two sisters, Betty Heron of Florida and Edith Priest of Monroe; a sister-in-law, Iris Brugh of Traverse City; a grandson; a step grandson; and a great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Orpha, on Oct. 27, 1999; a son-in-law, Marvin Dunklow; five brothers, Arthur, Dennis, Napoleon, Edmund and Clifford; and three sisters, Florence, Matilda and Louise.
Interment will take place in Keswick Maple Grove Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s School, or to Mass intentions.
Floyd Donald Skinner 11/28/2001
Floyd Donald Skinner of Glen Arbor died Nov. 28 in Gulf Shores, Ala. He was 83.
Mr. Skinner was born in Detroit on July 15, 1918, the son of Ada (Bellamy) and Earl Skinner. He received a MBA from the University of Michigan, and had a career in accounting in business and government. He was a Naval officer aboard the Enterprise during World War II.
Mr. Skinner was active in Elks and Lions clubs in past years, and volunteered at Pensacola Naval Museum where he spoke about the history of the Enterprise and World War II. He was an avid reader of current events and the economy, loved beautifying his yard, was proud of his family, and a member of St. Philip Neri Parish in Empire.
Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Hope; three daughters, Nadine Byrne (Terry), Karen Szukalski (Gene) and Denise Doherty; a son James Skinner; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother.
Burial will be at a later date at St. Philip’s cemetery.
Carolyn T. Russell 11/29/2001
A memorial service was held Sunday for East Leland resident Carolyn Trueblood Russell, who died Nov. 29 at Leelanau Memorial Long Term Care. She was 88.
Mrs. Russell was born in Freeport, Ill., on May 15, 1913. On Sept. 22, 1934, she married Joe O. Russell, who preceded her in death. She resided in Palmetto, Fla., and for the past 20 years in East Leland after spending 70 years as a summer resident. She was active in the community, volunteering at the township library, school library, Leland Museum and hospital. She was an avid supporter of the Leelanau Conservancy.
Surviving are four children, Joe B.T. Russell of Bikenibeu, Tarawa, Kiribati; Michael Morgan Russell of Sarasota, Fla.; Pamela Duncan Russell Tibbitts of Eugene, Ore; and Carolyn Trueblood Russell Motlow of Baton Rouge, La.
Memorials may be made to the Leelanau Conservancy, P.O. Box 1007, Leland; ShareCare, P.O. Box 217, Northport; or the Leelanau Memorial Health Center Long Term Care, P.O. Box 217, Northport.
Donald Michael Galla 12/1/2001
A funeral Mass was held yesterday morning at Holy Rosary Church for Cedar resident Donald Michael Galla, who died Dec. 1 at Munson Medical Center. He was 57.
Mr. Galla was born in Cedar on May 11, 1944, the son of Michael and Regina (Brzezinski) Galla. On Feb. 16, 1963, at Holy Rosary Church, he married Geraldine Flaska, who survives.
Mr. Galla was a mechanic for Noonan & Sons, and had worked at Traverse City Iron Works and Cone Drive Gears. He was an avid snowmobiler—a founder of the Cedar Hill Toppers Snowmobile Club—and enjoyed most things outdoors, including hunting and fishing. He was a volunteer for the Cedar Fire Department, a member of the Lake Leelanau Yacht Club and enjoyed watching NASCAR races.
Also surviving are two children, Daniel (Merritt) Galla and Patrick A. (May) Galla; four sisters, Alvena (Stanley) Popa, Susan Stroebbe, Marie Feldman and Esther Crocker; five brothers, Stephen (Joyce) Galla, Leon (Loretta) Galla, Anthony (Georgetta) Galla, Walter (Marga) Galla and John (Virginia) Galla; a sister-in-law, Jean Galla; and three grandchildren.
Burial was in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Grand Traverse Area Hospice, ALS Disease Research, or Cedar Rescue Squad.
Howard W. Andresen 11/29/2001
A memorial service was held Sunday for Howard W. “Andy” Andresen Sr., who died suddenly Nov. 29 at his Bingham Township home. He was 76.
Mr. Andresen was born on Nov. 4, 1925, in Reed City, the son of L. Peter and Bertha (Krueger) Andresen. On July 26, 1969, he married Traverse City resident Virginia Snow, who survives.
Mr. Andresen served in the Navy during World War II. He later worked for the Coca Cola Company in Cadillac and Traverse City for many years, and retired in 1988 from Cherry Growers.
Mr. Andresen loved camping, deer and turkey hunting, bird watching and feeding wildlife in his back yard. He was a member of the Eagles Club in Traverse City.
Also surviving are a son, Howard (Terri Lynn) Andresen Jr. of Traverse City; a daughter, Dawn (Ben) Downing of Baton Rouge, La.; a brother, Leonard Andresen of Traverse City; sisters Eleanor Clementshaw of Reed City and Mildred Mielens of Mr. Pleasant; his mother-in-law, Anna Snow of Traverse City; and four grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. A private graveside service will be held at a later date at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be directed to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Herbert C. Southwell 11/14/2001
Herbert C. Southwell died Nov. 14 at his Bradenton, Fla. home. He was 86.
Mr. Southwell was born on Nov. 9, 1915, the son of Samuel and Rose (Brown) Southwell. In Lansing, he married Eva Leete McDonald, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Southwell graduated in 1934 from Northport High School. He was retired after 38 years of service from Motor Wheel Corporation. After extensive traveling, he settled in Bradenton.
Surviving are a daughter, Annette (Richard) of Phoenix, Ariz.; a sister, Elaine (George) Frederickson of Northport; a sister-in-law, Annette Southwell; a companion, Millie Spangler; two granddaughters; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Francis and Lester (Shorty) Southwell.
A graveside service will be held next summer at Hillcrest Cemetery in Omena.
Edward J. Popa 11/26/2001
A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Holy Rosary Catholic Church for Cedar resident Edward J. Popa, who died Nov. 26 at the French Manor. He was 87.
Mr. Popa was born in Cedar on Jan. 22, 1914, the son of Frank and Anna (Flis) Popa. On Aug. 29, 1942, he married the former Irene Eldridge, who preceded him in death.
Mr. Popa left the area when 17-years-old, and returned in 1979 after working for Uniroyal in Detroit for 40 years. He also lived in Three Rivers and Florida for a short time. He was a member of the Eagles Club of Traverse City.
Surviving are his sons, James O. Popa of Colorado and Michael Popa of Macomb; his daughters, Constance Retheford of Rochester Hills and Lynn Francis of Maryland; his sister, Sophia Popa of Sterling Heights; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
He was also preceded in death by a son, Thomas M.; a sister, Anna Popa; and brothers Joseph and Stephen.
Friends may call at the time of the service. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Isadore. Memorials may be made to Munson Manor.
