Geoffrey C. Bobier
8/22/1999
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. today at Holy Rosary Church for Maple City resident Geoffrey C. Bobier, who died Aug. 22 at Munson Medical Center. He was 54.
Mr. Bobier was born in Detroit on Feb. 10, 1945, the son of Charles LeRoy and Clara Grace (Irish) Bobier. On Dec. 14, 1994, in Maple City, he married Denise M. Tondreau, who survives.
Mr. Bobier graduated in 1962 from Detroit Mackenzie High School, and a year later from police academy. He served as a police officer in Inkster for two years before serving for 28 years with the Traverse City Police Department, retiring in 1995. He helped found the Traverse Narcotics Team. He was a member of the National Rifle Association, Ducks Unlimited, the Philatelic Society, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Police Officers Association.
Also surviving are children Keith (Lisa) Bobier of Interlochen, Charles "Chip" Bobier of Fort Benning, Ga., Cyndie Bobier of Portland, Ore. and Shane, David and Alexander Bobier-all at home; a stepdaughter, Angela Mikowski of Grawn; a sister, Gaye (Marvin) Zinser of Traverse City and two granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Friends may have called last night from 6-8 and a scripture service was held at 7 at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. Burial will be in Solon Township Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Leelanau County Sheriff's Department for squad car defibrillators.
Louisa Hoge Clarke
8/21/1999
Long-time East Leland summer resident Louisa Hoge Clarke died Aug. 21 in Louisville. She was 93.
Mrs. Clarke was born in Louisville on May 10, 1906, the daughter of S. French and May W. Hoge. On May 4, 1929, she married Oldham Clarke, who preceded her in death in 1979. She was a graduate of Vassar College and a summer resident of East Leland since 1924.
Surviving are a daughter, Louisa C. Ridgway of Rosemont, Penn.; a son, Ernest H. Clarke of New Bern, N.C.; six grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Memorials contributions may be directed to the Leelanau Conservancy or a charity of one's choice.
William 'Bill' Beuche
9/11/1999
A memorial service was held Tuesday at Martinson Funeral Home for William Alexander "Bill" Beuche of Suttons Bay, who died Sept. 11 at Munson Medical Center. He was 81.
Mr. Beuche was born in Sturgis on July 23, 1918, the second son of Alec and Marie Beuche of Zilwaukee. He married Marion Louise Mallack, who preceded him in death last winter.
Mr. Beuche was employed at several locations throughout the state by Michigan Bell Telephone Co. He and his wife were members of the Michigan Bell Pioneers, comprised of individuals who first spread telecommunications throughout northern Michigan. They retired to their summer home in Suttons Bay in 1975.
He was an ardent seeker of knowledge of northern Michigan history, a deep thinker, and an accomplished builder.
Surviving are four children, Antoinette Kemp of Tawas City, William A. Beuche Jr. of Palo Alto, Calif., James Richard Beuche of Ann Arbor and Michael Robert Beuche of Whitefish Bay, Wis.; a brother, Jack Beuche of Indian Head, Md. and nine grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Ben, and a sister, Lois.
Memorials may be handled as Mr. Beuche would have suggested: "Take your kids to dinner."
Donald Herbert Asmus
9/8/1999
Funeral services were held Friday for Donald Herbert Asmus, who died Sept. 8 at his Suttons Bay home. He was 62.
Mr. Asmus was born in Chicago on Oct. 24, 1936, the son of Herbert G. and Lillian A. (Brook) Asmus. On Sept. 7, 1957, in LaPort, Ind., he married Nancy Joy O'Keefe, who survives.
Mr. Asmus moved from Cincinnati to Suttons Bay in 1996. He worked as a program manager for General Electric for more than 30 years, and loved sailing, barber shopping and golf.
Also surviving are his daughter, Denise DeLynn (David W.) Reid of Long Beach, Calif.; a son, David Duane Asmus of Cincinnati; a sister, Alice Mooi of Winamac, Ind.; and a brother, Charles Asmus of Snohomish, Wash.
Memorials may be directed to the American Cancer Society or Grand Traverse Area Hospice.
Robert James Birdsall
9/24/1999
A memorial service was held last Thursday for Northport resident Robert James Birdsall, who died Sept. 24 in Oakland County. He was 68.
Mr. Birdsall was born in Berkely, Mich. on May 15, 1931, the son of Christine (Sparks) and Leonard Birdsall.
A financial consultant in the construction industry, Mr. Birdsall was a graduate of Wayne State University. He resided in the Berkely-Royal Oak area until 1961, then in Northville from 1961-1989 and finally in Northport. He purchased a home in Northport in 1975.
Mr. Birdsall was an Air Force veteran, having been stationed in Guam during the Korean War.
Surviving are four children, Robert Birdsall, David Birdsall and Douglas Birdsall, all of Traverse City, and Carolyn Whiting of Dallas, Texas; four brothers and sisters, Betty Rice of Alba, N.M., Leonard (Sonny) Birdsall of Tampa Bay, Fla., Myrna Sweetland of Lake Orion and Victor Birdsall of Redford; and six grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be made to the Leelanau Conservancy.
Louisa Hoge Clarke
8/21/1999
Long-time East Leland summer resident Louisa Hoge Clarke died Aug. 21 in Louisville. She was 93.
Mrs. Clarke was born in Louisville on May 10, 1906, the daughter of S. French and May W. Hoge. On May 4, 1929, she married Oldham Clarke, who preceded her in death in 1979. She was a graduate of Vassar College and a summer resident of East Leland since 1924.
Surviving are a daughter, Louisa C. Ridgway of Rosemont, Penn.; a son, Ernest H. Clarke of New Bern, N.C.; six grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Memorials contributions may be directed to the Leelanau Conservancy or a charity of one's choice.
Irene L. St. Martin
9/15/1999
Omena native Irene L. St. Martin died on Sept. 15 in Fairbanks, Alaska. She was 87.
Mrs. St. Martin was born in Omena on Feb. 1, 1912, the daughter of Paul and Christena Barth. She graduated from Northport High School in 1929, from County Normal in 1930 and from Central Michigan University with a teaching degree in 1942. She and her husband, Herman "Chip" St. Martin, moved in 1949 to Hastings, Mich., where they owned and operated St. Martin Floral & Greenhouse until 1971. She was active in many organizations, including the Garden Club, St. Rose Church and Altar Society, Knights of Columbus Ladies and Business and Professional Women. She was named a Rotary International Fellow. In 1995, at the age of 83, she moved to Alaska. She enjoyed gardening, playing bridge, attending Sunday Mass, making dandelion wine and bird watching.
Surviving are two sons, Craig (Jan) St. Martin of Sugarland, Texas and Mitch (Sue) St. Martin from North Pole, Alaska; a daughter, Althea St. Martin from Fairbanks; and four grandchildren.
Donations may be made to St. Rose Catholic Church in Hastings, Mich., where additional services will be held at a later date. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary in Hastings.
Marian H. Zeigler
8/7/1999
Services were held Tuesday at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City for Empire resident Marian H. Zeigler, who died Aug. 7 at Maple Valley Nursing Home. She was 73.
She was born in Empire on Jan. 11, 1926, the daughter of George and Lottie (Payne) Zeigler.
A lifelong resident of Empire, she had been a sales clerk at Bolton's Department Store and worked at Dunn's Resort in Glen Lake prior to her retirement. She was a member of the Platte Grange Ladies Aid.
Surviving are a sister, Ellen Bronson of Empire; a brother, William (Jean) Zeigler of Empire; nephews Percy (Nevada) Bronson of Camden, S.C., Ernest (Barb) Zeigler of Maple City and David (Jean) Zeigler of Empire; and a niece, Susan Zeigler of Empire. Preceding her in death was a brother-in-law, Percy Bronson.
Memorials may be directed to Platte Grange Ladies Aid.
Jeanne V. Jeffreys
8/12/1999
A memorial Mass was celebrated Saturday at St. Gertrude's Church in Northport for Jeanne V. Jeffreys, who passed away Aug. 12 at the home of her daughter. She was 77.
Mrs. Jeffreys was born Nov. 10, 1921, in Lansing, the daughter of Durnell E. and Grace F. (Connor) Matthews. On June 28, 1941, in Lansing, she married William R. Jeffreys, who passed away on Aug. 12, 1964.
Mrs. Jeffreys was a teacher's aide with developmentally disabled children for 20 years in the Lansing school district, retiring in 1981 at which time she moved to Northport.
She was a member of St. Gertrude's Catholic Church, a long-time member of Catholic War Veteran's Auxiliary in Lansing, the Lion's Club of Northport and the Association for Retired School Personnel. Mrs. Jeffreys was also a volunteer for the Leelanau Conservancy and the Leelanau County Family Independence Agency. An avid walker, 13 years ago, she walked across Michigan on the riding and hiking trails. She also enjoyed gardening.
Surviving are five children, Gerald (Judy) Jeffreys of Santa Fe, N. M.; Jacqueline Jeffreys of Suttons Bay; Gregory (Sherry) Jeffreys of Crystal; Marylyn (Michael) Pomeroy of Lansing and Therese (Richard Kaufman) Jeffreys of Traverse City; 19 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters, Joy Kilcherman of Northport and Janet Wallace of Traverse City and a half-brother, Ian Matthews of Australia.
She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Judith Ellen; and special friend, Capt. Wayne Cheal.
Memorials may be directed to Munson Hospice, Leelanau Conservancy or the Cherryland Humane Society.
