Glen Bellinger
3/10/2002
Glen Bellinger died March 10 at Park Ridge Nursing Home in Shoreline, Wash. He was 81.
Mr. Bellinger was born on Dec. 5, 1920, the son of Adam and Katie Bellinger. He married the former Marcile Mears, who preceded him in death five years ago.
Mr. Bellinger was born in the family farmhouse on Bellinger Rd. between Maple City and Cedar. In high school he was a member of the Maple City Wildcats state championship basketball team. During World War II, he was a B-24 pilot who flew out of Hethel, England for the 8th Air Force.
After marriage, the couple settled in Hot Springs, Ark. He worked for several lending institutions as a finance officer, retiring from North Pacific Bank in Tacoma, Wash., as a vice president.
Surviving are his sons, Jeff Bellinger of Tiburon, Calif., and Greg Bellinger of Seattle, Wash.; and five grandchildren. At his request, no funeral service was held.
Dr. Edward C. Lake
10/19/1999
Dr. Edward C. Lake of Glen Lake died Oct. 19 in Jackson, Michigan.
Mr. Lake was born in Grass Lake, Mich. in 1915, the son of William Henry and Winifred (Craft) Lake. In 1942 he married Wanda Glettler, who survives.
He was a graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Medical School. He served in the Army Medical Corps in New Guinea during World War II before practicing medicine in Jackson for 32 years, during which he delivered more than 8,000 babies. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing and any other activity that would get him outdoors, and was a member of Bethlemen Lutheran Church in Glen Arbor.
Also surviving are sons Edward (Karen), Douglas (Mary) and Jon (Donna); a brother, Joseph Lake; a brother-in-law, Bernard (Laura) Glettler of Glen Lake; a sister-in-law, Dorthea (Dorr) Hewlett; and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, William H. Lake Jr.
Memorials may be directed to Bethlehem Lutheran Church.
Ermina D'Agostino
3/19/2002
Funeral services were held Saturday in Warren for Empire resident Ermina D'Agostino, who died March 19 at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak. She was 89.
Mrs. D'Agostino was born on Oct. 17, 1912, in Italy and emigrated to the United States at the age of 7. She was a 20-year resident of Empire.
Surviving are two children, Elizabeth (Roger L.) Trim and Thomas (Diane) D'Agostino; three sisters; and five grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter D'Agostino, who died Feb. 6, 2001.
Memorials may be made to Glen Arbor Fire and Rescue Association, P.O. Box 417, Glen Arbor 49656; or the Leelanau Conservancy, P.O. Box 1007, Leland 49654.
Victor M. Houdek
3/19/2002
A funeral Mass was held Saturday for Traverse City resident Victor M. Houdek, who died March 19. He was 87.
Mr. Houdek was born on July 1, 1914, in Suttons Bay, the son of Bernard and Anna (Hula) Houdek. On Sept. 14, 1943, in Immaculate Conception Church in Traverse City, he married the former Agnes G. Houda, who survives.
Mr. Houdek graduated from high school at the age of 14 and at 16-years-old from County Normal School with a teaching certificate. He served stateside in the Army during World War II, and went on to work for 36 years for the Postal Service-the last three as postmaster in Traverse City.
Mr. Houdek was an usher at Immaculate Conception parish, past president of the Catholic Cemetery Board, and a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, National Association of the Postmasters of the United States and American Legion. He enjoyed gardening, euchre, crossword puzzles and visiting with friends.
Also surviving are three children, Janis (Gary) Newton of Clarkston, James (Cindy) Houdek of Riverview and Jean (Andrew) Powell of Traverse City; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.
Interment was in Oakwood Catholic Diocesan Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Father Fred Foundation.
William C. Potter
2/17/2002
A memorial service was held March 15 at Grosse Pointe United Church for Glen Lake summer resident William C. Potter, who died Feb. 17 in Venice Florida. He was 79.
Mr. Potter was born on Jan. 16, 1923. He was a graduate of the University of Michigan. Following service as a merchant marine in World War II, he was an engineer and co-founder of his own company, Potter-Claiborn-Geelhood, Mechanical Engineers, in Troy.
The Potter family built a cottage on Glen Lake in 1969. One of Mr. Potter's projects was to transplant a majestic tamarack tree that now stands over 25 feet in height on the back of their lakefront lot.
Surviving are his wife of 52 years, Marian; sons Randy (Sheila) Potter of Troy, Jeff (Sue) Potter of Birmingham and Lance Potter of Chicago; a brother, George Potter of Fort Myers, Fla.; and two grandsons.
Ronald J. Priest
2/13/2002
A memorial service will be held in May in Port Huron for Lake Leelanau native Ronald J. Priest, who died Feb. 13. He was a resident of Indian Shores, Fla. He was 67.
Mr. Priest was born on Oct. 25, 1934, in Lake Leelanau, the son of Gerald and Delina Priest. In 1970, he married the former Carol Bernhart, who survives.
Mr. Priest was an automotive engineer in Detroit for several shops and eventually for Ford Motor Co. In 1980, he started his own pneumatics business in Port Sanilac, where he was half-owner of a tackle shop and owned a golf shop. He and his wife had recently moved to Florida.
He was an active member of the Sanilac County Republican Party, a strong supporter of the Girl Scouts, past member of the Sandusky Lions and attended Colonial Woods Missionary Church in Port Huron.
Also surviving are five sons, Andrew, Matthew, Patrick and Paul, all of northern Michigan, and Jason (Jenifer) of Montpelier, Ind.; his father, of Florida; a sister, Sharon Holliday; a brother, Bill Priest; a brother-in-law, Greg Bernhart; and 12 grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be sent to the Girl Scouts-Michigan Waterways Council in Port Huron.
Cheryl L. Oskaboose
3/16/2002
Funeral services were held yesterday for Traverse City resident Cheryl Lynn Oskaboose, who died March 16 at Munson Medical Center. She was 56.
Miss Oskaboose was born in Holland on March 4, 1946, the daughter of Russell Albert Oskaboose and Mable Katherine (White Pigeon) Perkins. The eldest of 10 siblings, she loved the Lord and all children, and nurtured her nieces and nephews; had a great sense of humor; and had an independent nature.
Survivors include three sisters, Mary Ann Antoine of Peshawbestown, Debra Jean Perkins of Traverse City and Joni Lynn Jones of Traverse City; and three brothers, Gary Ray (Jessica) Oskaboose of Peshawbestown, William Ray (Jessica) Oskaboose of Newport and Scott Anthony (Gail) Perkins of Traverse City. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Virginia Kathryn and Delores Clara; and a brother, Michael Peter.
Burial will be immediately followed at the Kewadin Indian Methodist Cemetery in Kewadin.
Kathryn J. Stringer
3/16/2002
Funeral services were held yesterday for Northport resident Kathryn J. "Kitty" Stringer, who died March 16 at Munson Medical Center. She was 84.
Mrs. Stringer was born on April 8, 1917, in Alma, the daughter of Fred and Ada (Williamson) Telgard. On Oct. 10, 1953, in Traverse City, she married James Stringer, who preceded her in death.
Mrs. Stringer moved to Northport at a young age, where she attended school and lived in the family home until her death. She loved animals, dancing, music and playing the piano. A homemaker, she was devoted to staying in contact with her many friends.
Surviving are a daughter, Kelli (Tom) Charter of Northport; a son, Brett (Geigy) Stringer of San Jose, Calif.; and two grandsons.
burial will take place in the spring in Leelanau Township Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Cherryland Humane Society or Leelanau Memorial Health Center in Northport.
Victor V. Nielsen
3/5/2002
A reception was held Saturday for Suttons Bay resident Victor Vinbech Nielsen, who died March 5 at Munson Medical Center. He was 75.
Mr. Nielsen was born on March 15, 1926, the son of Danish immigrants, and grew up in the Detroit area. In 1947 he married the former Torrance Baker, who survives.
Mr. Nielsen served in the Navy during World War II. He worked and raised a family in Utica before moving to Suttons Bay in 1978 to a home he designed and built. He opened "Nature's Gifts," a rock and mineral shop, in their home in 1988. He loved family, nature, gardening, hard work, sunsets over the bay and much more.
Also surviving are his children, Tim Nielsen of Traverse City, Kristi Romano of Washington, Mich., Tori Nielsen of Ann Arbor and Rob Nielsen of Suttons Bay; a sister Via Rector of Utica; and 11 grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Leader Dogs for the Blind, 1039 South Rochester Rd., Rochester 48307. A local memorial service is being planned for this spring.
Virginia Mitchell
3/16/2002
A memorial service will be held in the spring for Leland resident Virginia Walker Mitchell, who died March 16 at Cherry Hill Haven Home in Traverse City. She was 87.
Mrs. Mitchell was born on Dec. 12, 1914, in Walkerville, Ont., the daughter of Harrington E. and Helen C. (Macfie) Walker. On Feb. 22, 1936, in Grosse Pointe, she married Frank M. Mitchell, who preceded her in death in October, 1959. In Leland on Aug. 7, 1969, she married LaFrance A. Mitchell, who preceded her in death in June, 1993.
Mrs. Mitchell volunteered with the American Cancer Society for 20 years, for which she was a vice president of the Michigan Division for 20 years. She was also a member of the Little Garden Club of Leland, served as former president of the Traverse Symphony Orchestra, and was a member of Leland Community United Methodist Church.
Surviving are two children, Donald W. (Sandy) Mitchell of East Leland, and Ellen M. (Fr. James) McLean of Hot Springs Village, Ark.; a brother, Franklin M. Walker of Naples, Fla.; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Virginia C. Mitchell; and her sister, Florence Buell.
Memorials may be directed to any of the charities named above.
