Margaret A. Harding
3/7/2002
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. April 6 at Trinity Church for Northport resident Margaret "Peggy" A. Harding, who died March 7 at Leelanau Memorial Health Center. She was 75.
Mrs. Harding was born on July 1, 1926, in Philadelphia, the daughter of Stuart A. and Edna M. (Smith) Parvin. On Aug. 20, 1944 in Washington Square Methodist Church in Manhattan, New York, she married Frank "Dick" Harding, who survives.
During the 1960's she owned and operated an antique business. In 1976, she created the "Beech Tree Tea Room," where she was a gourmet cook. She and her husband retired in 1985.
Mrs. Harding was an expert seamstress who was a member of the Michigan Weavers Guild, Omena Quilting Group, The Stitchers Group and the Farmington Hills Quester Chapter. She contributed to the Sesquicentennial quilt hanging in the Northport Library. She was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ.
Also surviving are four children, Margaret (George) Coggins of Lawrence, Kansas, Louis (Don) Belanger of Ann Arbor, Richard (Debra) Harding of Canyon Lake, Texas and Drs. Barbara (Randy) Bimes of Quakertown, Penn.; 15 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
Memorials may be directed to Leelanau Memorial Health Center, Handicap Lift Ramp for the Health Center, 215 S. High St., Northport 49670.
Simon Dean Kohler
2/24/2002
Simon Dean Kohler, infant son of Matthew and Stephanie Kohler, was stillborn at Lakeland Hospital St. Joseph on Feb. 24.
Surviving are his parents, of Stevensville; two brothers, Jason and Noah; grandparents Nancy and Leo Spitzke of Eau Claire, Wis., Tom and Amy Kohler of Northport, and Don Watkins of Berrien Springs.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
Herbert W. Kramps
2/27/2002
A funeral Mass was held Saturday at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church for Glen Arbor resident Herbert W. Kramps, who died Feb. 27 at Munson Medical Center. He was 60.
Mr. Kramps was born on April 27, 1941, in Chicago, the son of Herbert W. and Marie (Pahis) Kramps Sr. On Oct. 7, 1972, in Evanston, Ill, he married the former Joan Hauter, who survives.
Mr. Kramps was a retired biology teacher with the Chicago Public School system. The Kramps moved to Glen Arbor in 1996, where he became a member of St. Philip Neri Catholic Church and was past president of the Glen Lake Association.
Also surviving are his daughters, Katherine Kramps and her fiance Matthew Pelham of Seattle, and Elizabeth Kramps of Providence, R.I.; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rhonda and Scott Hauter of Gig Harbor, Wash.
Memorials may be directed to the Glen Lake Association Preservation Fund, P.O. Box 245, Glen Arbor 49636.
Ann B. Malinczak
3/11/2002
A funeral Mass will be celebrated today at 11 a.m. at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church for Maple City and Clinton Township resident Ann B. Malinczak, who died March 11 at Munson Medical Center. She was 88.
Mrs. Malinczak was born on Nov. 26, 1913, in Scranton, Penn., the daughter of Adam and Theodora (Novak) Karash.
Her past jobs included being a nanny as a teen, retail work in New York and cocktail waitressing in Florida. During World War II she was a riveter on aircraft. She retired in 1977 after more than 25 years as a lab technician with Parke-Davis Pharmaceutical Company. She had an active retirement with extensive traveling.
Mrs. Malinczak was a member of St. Gertrude's Seniors, St. Clair Shores Senior Cruisers, a founding member of St. Isaac Jogues Parish, and San Francisco Parish in Clinton Township. She was a patient advocate on the Family Council of Father Murray's Nursing Home in Warren. She was known for her quick smile, love of adventure, sense of humor and generosity.
Surviving are her daughter, Theodora (Robert) House of Maple City; and a sister, Sophia Abratowski of Washington, Mich. She was preceded in death by a grandson; brothers Henry, Michael, Leo, Frank and Alex; and a sister, Mary Matthews.
A Scripture Service was held last night at 7:30 during a visitation period from 6-8 at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral home.
Burial will be in St. Philip Neri Catholic Church Cemetery.
Jay Willard Spaulding
3/11/2002
A memorial service is planned for June in the Traverse City area for Jay Willard Spaulding Jr. of Zephyrhills, Fla., who died March 7. He was 82.
Mr. Spaulding married the former Patricia D. Gordes in 1939, who preceded him in death after 50 years of marriage. He is survived by his second wife, Jean.
Mr. Spaulding worked at Saginaw Steering Gear after high school, and served in the Army Air Force during World War II. He returned to work for his father at a store in Chum's Corners, in sales for a Ford Dealership and then for Sheffer Collet in 1957. After retiring 17 years later, he partnered with his son-in-law in the Tapco shop in Northport, which was sold in 1985.
Mr. Spaulding enjoyed spending time with his family and his buddies in the coffee shop in Northport. He was a lifelong member of the American Legion Post No. 35 in Traverse City.
Also surviving are a son, Jay (Lorrene) of West Branch; a daughter, Patricia (James L.) Jorgesen of Northport; a sister, Phyllis Nelson of Traverse City; six grandchildren; one great grandchild; a stepson; a stepdaughter; six step-grandchildren and 13 step-greatgrandchildren.
Margaret Verreau
2/21/2002
Private family services are planned for lifelong Northport resident Margaret "Peg" Verreau, who died Feb. 21 at Grand Traverse Pavilions. She was 84.
Mrs. Verreau was born on Oct. 14, 1917, the daughter of Albion and Amelia (Carlson) Anderson. In 1950, she married Tillis Verreau, who preceded her in death.
Mrs. Verreau enjoyed dancing, playing cards and fishing.
Surviving are her daughter, Sharon (Fred) Thomas of Northport, her son, Captain Lenn Joseph Verreau of Key West, Fla; and two grandsons. She was also preceded in death by an infant daughter; a sister, Kate Sartori; and two brothers, Robert and Clayton Anderson.
Memorials may be directed to Cherryland Humane Society or the Leelanau Township Fire Department.
Mary Grace Willis
3/5/2002
A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on May 11 at Martinson Funeral Home for Mary Grace Willis, who died March 5 at her home on Little Traverse Lake. She was 76.
Mrs. Willis was born on May 12, 1925, in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of Marion Sylvester and Virginia (Broome) French. On June 14, 1947, in Indianapolis, she married William S. Willis, who survives.
A graduate of Butler University, Mrs. Willis was a former teacher. She was a volunteer at Leelanau Historical Museum, and former president of the Montgomery (Ohio) Women's Club.
Also surviving are her children, David O. (Patricia) Willis of Louisville, Ky., Richard J. (Brenda) Willis of Brighton and Mary Virginia Willis of Cincinnati; and three grandchildren. Memorials may be directed to the Leelanau Historical Society.
Margaret Mae Brown
2/21/2002
Memorials services will be held at a later date for Margaret Mae Brown, who died Feb. 21 at her home in Bartow, Fla. She was 72.
Born in Michigan on March 15, 1929, she moved to Bartow from Suttons Bay in 1997. She was a former sales representative for Avon. She was a Protestant.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Dwight V. Brown. Surviving are stepdaughters Deanna Van Ostran of Climax and Carolee Pickard; stepson Dwight V. Brown Jr., and a sister, Molly Park-all from Michigan.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Rhea K. Christie
3/13/2002
A memorial service was held Saturday for Rhea K. Putnam Christie, who died March 13 at her Traverse City home. She was 77.
Mrs. Christie was born on June 27, 1924, at the former Putnam farm in Omena, the youngest daughter of Edward and Anna (Engler) Putnam. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Gordon H. Solle and Joseph W. Christie, M.D.
Mrs. Christie lived in various Leelanau County locations until moving to Harbor Springs in 1967. In 1968, she moved to Beaver Island, and in 1979 to Port Charlotte, Fla.
The kitchen was the focal point of her life, with cinnamon rolls a favorite creation. She was quick with a smile or a song for children, and was always ready for a game of cards.
Surviving are a son, Frank (Sue) Solle of Ewen; a sister, Elizabeth (Stan) Markham of Traverse City; a half-sister, Mary Adelson of Lansing; long-time companion George Pusilowski of Traverse City; and a grandson. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Edna, Beulah, Doris and Margaret.
Interment will be in Omena Cemetery following cremation. Memorials may be directed to the Beaver Island Medical Center.
Hilda Marie Gauthier
3/14/2002
A funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church for Lake Leelanau resident Hilda Marie Gauthier, who died March 14 at Tendercare of Traverse City. She was 92.
Mrs. Gauthier was born in Suttons Bay on Dec. 10, 1909, the daughter of John and Mary (Kurth) Stallman. On Nov. 19, 1929, in Suttons Bay, she married Lawrence J. Gauthier on March 20, 1997.
Mrs. Gauthier was a homemaker and cook in many area restaurants. She loved to quilt, was a former member and president of the VFW Auxiliary in Lake Leelanau, and served as chairperson of the St. Mary's annual dinner.
Surviving are her children, Richard Gauthier, Marie Boyle (Hubert) McCauley, Jean (Francis) Schaub, Art (Linda) Gauthier, Helen (David) Niccum and John Gauthier; four sisters, Margaret Priest of Tennessee, Mary Vollink of Illinois, Cella (Lloyd) Stenberg of Wisconsin and Elizabeth Houdek of Gills Pier; 22 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Henry and Joseph Stallman; sisters Catherine Roubel and Gertrude Schlueter; and a daughter, Ruth McCauley.
Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery.
