Coleman V. Gronseth
2/26/2003
Services are scheduled for May 4 from 1-4 p.m. in Suttons Bay for Leelanau County native Coleman Valor Gronseth who died Feb. 26. He was 82.
He was born June 10, 1921, in Suttons Bay, the only child of Conrad A. Gronseth and Verna M. (Heimforth) Gronseth. On Dec 13, 1943, he married the former Eileen M. Burke, who survives.
He was a 1939 graduate of Suttons Bay High School and a 1943 graduate of Michigan State University. He was commissioned a U.S. Army officer, participated in the June 1944 Normandy invasion, saw heavy combat action in France, Belgium and Germany, and was wounded three times. He was a member of both the American Legion and the V.F.W.
After the war, he taught and coached basketball at Suttons Bay High School for two years. He then served as principal of two elementary schools downstate before beginning a business career in Lansing in 1959. He semi-retired in the early 1970’s and returned to Suttons Bay, serving as a substitute teacher at several local schools before joining the faculty at Leland Public School fulltime. He retired from that position and moved to Florida in 1983, returning to Leelanau County each summer.
Also surviving are four children, Glen, Colleen, Edward and George; and five grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fund, c/o Owen Bahle, 301 S. Shore Dr., Suttons Bay, 49682.
Charles A. Donaldson
2/28/2003
Leland native Charles A. Donaldson died Feb. 28 in Houston, Texas. He was 81.
He was born Oct. 31, 1922, the son of Sylvia (Keumin) Donaldson of Suttons Bay and Hubert A. Donaldson of Alpena. His wife of 55 years, Martha ( Leadingham) Donaldson of Leland, survives.
Mr. Donaldson graduated from Leland High School, joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, and served in the U.S. Army. He was an active member of the American Legion and the V.F.W.
Also surviving is his daughter Brenda (Donaldson) Reynard of Leland.
He was preceded in death by his sister Mary Jane Cook, and his son Charles R. Donaldson.
Pauline A. Stefaniak
2/12/2003
A memorial mass was celebrated Friday at St. Rita-St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maple City for Pauline Angeline Stefaniak who died Feb. 12. She was 87.
She was born Feb. 6, 1916, in Flint, to Paul and Eva (Smieloska) Urbanik. On May 4, 1940, in Flint, she married Raymond A. Stefaniak, who survives.
She was a 1934 graduate of Central High School in Flint, and a 50-year member of All Saints Church and its Rosary Society. She was married in the church. Following the couple’s move to Maple City, she became a member of the St. Rita-St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Also surviving is her daughter, Dorothy A. Mulliner; her sisters, Emily Sadowski, Virginia Dillon and Josephine Harchick; five grandsons; and one great-granddaughter.
Mrs. Stefaniak was preceded in death by two brothers, Leonard and Louis Urbanik, and her sister, Anne Schowalter.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mass Intentions of to the Cherryland Humane Society.
Ronald J. Smith
2/15/2003
A memorial service will be held at noon Saturday at First Congregational Church in Traverse City for Suttons Bay resident Ronald J. Smith who died Feb. 15 at his home. He was 49.
He was born in Alpena on June 10, 1953, the son of Ronald and Susie (Shephard) Smith. On Oct. 12, 1991, in West Branch, he married Marie C. Lapointe, who survives.
Mr. Smith worked for UPS for 20 years as a driver and a manager. He also was a proprietor of Super Wash Car Wash of Suttons Bay, Traverse City and Gaylord. He was an avid supporter of Suttons Bay High School sports, particularly football.
Also surviving are his children, Jenelle Renshaw of California, Jessica Quigley of Lupton, Jaclyn Smith of Milford, Charles Whitney of Suttons Bay, and McGregor Whitney of Suttons Bay; sisters and brother Connie Shaw of Hillman, Mary Jo Lemon of Arizona, Sandee Fessler of Interlochen, and Bryan Smith of North Branch; and his mother, Susie Slieff of Hillman.
A memorial service was also scheduled for today at Calvary Episcopal Church in Hillman. Memorial contributions may be made to Grand Traverse Area Hospice, the Suttons Bay High School football program, or your local youth football program.
Anna Mae Hallett
12/19/1999
Services were held yesterday at Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church for Omena resident Anna Mae Hallett, who died Dec. 19 at the Leelanau Care Center. She was 94.
Mrs. Hallett was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, on Sept. 30, 1905, the ninth of ten children. She moved to Boston as a teenager and subsequently to Detroit, where she married John Chester Hallet, who preceded her in death. Mr. Hallett worked for the Jesuits at the University of Detroit before the couple moved to the Villa Marquette in Omena, where he served as caretaker.
Mrs. Hallett was a dedicated homemaker who also volunteered for Social Services, the cancer drive and many church functions. She enjoyed Euchre, marbles and Tigers baseball, and always had a dance in her step, a song in her heart and a joke to play when least expected.
Surviving are sons John Hartford (Linda), Ed (Shari), Fred (Amy) and Bob; daughters Margie (Lawrence) Meachum, Dorothy (Vic) Bodeux and Mary (Stephen) Stanton; 31 grandchildren; and numerous great grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by sons Roddie, Chester, Bill and Cyril.
Memorials may be directed to Leelanau Memorial Care Center.
Jack David Sharnowski
2/14/2003
A funeral Mass was celebrated Tuesday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake Leelanau for Jack David Sharnowski who died Feb. 14 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. He was 60.
He was born Jan. 15, 1943, in Roscommon, to Peter Frank and Florence (Kirt) Sharnowski. On Jan. 6, 1967, in Traverse City, he married Lorraine Joyce LeRuox, who survives.
Mr. Sharnowski served in the U.S. Army. He was an member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lake Leelanau. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing cards.
Also surviving are his daughter, Lorrie Marie Bergmann of Howard City; his mother, Florence Sharnowski; his brothers and sisters, August (Barb) Sharnowski, Milford Sharnowski, Mary Lou Kelly, Thomas (Lila) Sharnowski, Ron (Elaine) Sharnowski, Joyce (Bob) Hallead, Jane Anderson, Frank (Brenda) Sharnowski, Ginger Petroskey and Mark (Linda) Sharnowski; and two grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society/Leelanau County Chapter, St. Judes Children’s hospital, or to the Leland Fire and Rescue Squad.
Charles Y. Freeman III
2/24/2003
A memorial service will be held Saturday in Illinois for seasonal Leland resident Charles Yoe Freeman III, who died Feb. 24 at home in Northbrook, Ill. He was 61.
He was born Dec. 29, 1941, in Chicago. He is survived by his wife, twin daughters, son, sister, and four granddaughters.
An avid golfer, he was a member of several golf clubs including the Leland Country Club.
Memorials may be made to Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Cardiac Research or Congestive Heart Fund, 1603 Orrington, Suite 750, Evanston, Ill. 60201; or the Leland Country Club Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 285, Leland 49654.
Velma Emma Lepley
2/12/2003
A memorial service was held Saturday at the Glen Lake Community Reformed Church for Velma Emma Lepley of Maple City who died Feb. 12 at home. She was 82.
Born May 6, 1920, in Pekin, Ill, she was the daughter of Oscar Stephen and Lucy Mae (Heiser) Miller. On March 23, 1941, in Ithaca, she married Keith D. Lepley who preceded her in death in 1995.
Mrs. Lepley had been employed as a teacher’s aide for Glen Lake Public Schools. She was a member of the Glen Lake Community Reformed Church where she was involved in the Women’s Guild, served as a Stephen minister, a Sunday school teacher, and sang in the church choir. She enjoyed sewing knitting, crocheting, her flower garden, and spending time with her family.
Survivors include her children, Donald (Jani) Lepley of Lebanon, Ohio, Sandy (Jerry) Prause of Maple City, Shirley (Jerry) Solem of Empire, Karen (Pat) Watson of Maple City, and Deena (Bob) Hamilton of Maple City, two brothers, two sisters, 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by three brothers and two sisters, a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Glen Lake Community Reformed Church or to Munson Hospice.
