Helen B. Sheidler

1914 ~ 2015

Helen Bartholomew Sheidler, 101, passed away Thurs. Sept.17, 2015 at Joy Givers AFC in Traverse City where she had been living for the past year.  She will be greatly missed by her family.  She loved unconditionally and the greatest gift she left was wonderful times spent together with each of her family members.

Helen was born July 7, 1914 in Lansing, MI, the daughter of Frank and Alberta Bartholomew and lived in the Mansfield-Lucas, OH, area for over 57 years having moved to Suttons Bay in 1998 to live with her son and family.

She graduated from Tiffin Columbian H.S. in 1932 and earned a B.A in Physical Education and English at Miami University in Oxford, OH in 1936.  She taught Jr. and Sr. High girls PE and Health at Gibsonburg High School in Gibsonburg, OH, and Creveling grade school in Mansfield, OH.  She served the community through her leadership with the Lucas Mothers Club, Girl Scouts, and Sunday School with the Lucas Congregational Church.  She was an avid photographer, loved the outdoors especially walking the beaches of Lake Michigan and Florida.

Helen was preceded in death by her loving husband, Robert Guy Sheidler, whom she met in Gibsonburg, OH, where they were both teaching.  They married August 25, 1939, in Tiffin, OH.  She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara Bartholomew, Portland, OR.

Helen is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Jones, Tiffin, OH; one son, Thomas (Peggy) Sheidler of
Suttons Bay, MI; one daughter, Rebecca (James) Fitzgerald of Valrico, FL; six grandchildren known as Nana to: Steve (Amy) Nolte, Lockport, NY, Chris (Nancy) Nolte, Knoxville, TN, Cameron Geddes, Oakland, CA, Greg Sheidler, Suttons Bay, MI, Matt (Dawn) Sheidler, Traverse City, MI, and Kari Sheidler, Buckley, MI; nine great-grandchildren, Natalie, Tyler, Matthew, Benjamin, Blakely, Lauren, Jacob, Walter, and Sydney; two nieces, Judy (Mike) Muhn, Sandusky, OH, and Lynn (Thomas) Dewhirst, Kalamazoo, MI; and one nephew, John (Rhonda) Jones, New Hampshire.

A graveside memorial service will be held at the Washington Village Cemetery in Mansfield, OH, at a later date.

The family would like to thank the staff at Joy Givers, Area Agency on Aging – Traverse City, Hospice of Michigan for their care and love given to Helen, and Martinson Funeral Home in Suttons Bay for their support and guidance.

Memorial contributions can be given in Helen's name to: AYF-Miniwanca, 8845 West Garfield Road, Shelby, MI 49455.

Please share memories and condolences with Helen's family online at www.martinson.info 



Eligio Paul “Lee” Reyes

Died Sept. 21, 2015

PESHAWBESTOWN – Eligio Paul “Lee” Reyes, 60, of Peshawbestown, passed away Monday, Sept. 21 at his home.

Lee was born on Dec. 12, 1954 in Trenton Township, the son of Filipe and Bertha (Paul) Reyes. 

Lee was a hard worker and loved working for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.  In his life he was a mentor to youth, an avid fisherman, and loved sharing the word of God.  In his free time he loved to boat and ride his motorcycle.  Miigwetch to all the people who helped bring food and supported us in this time of need.

Lee is survived by his daughter, Elena Reyes; son, Eligio Paul Reyes, Jr.; grandson, Cheveyo M. Reyes; siblings, Felipe C. Reyes, Maria Harper, Matilda Ali, Dora Eastman, and Manuel Reyes.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Hosiel Reyes.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, Sept. 24 from 2 to 8 p.m. with a wake service at 7 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.  The funeral service will be held on Friday, Sept. 25 at 12 noon at the Strongheart Center in Peshawbestown.  Pastor Lucy Schaub will officiate.

Please share memories and condolences with Lee’s family below:

Gerald W. McNeil

Died Sept. 14, 2015

LAKE LEELANAU – Gerald William McNeil, 100, of Lake Leelanau, passed away Monday, Sept. 14, 2015 at Munson Hospice House.

  Gerald was born on Sept. 17, 1914 in Traverse City, the son of Lorin and Gertrude (Schaub) McNeil.  On Oct. 10, 1944 at St. Mary’s Church in Lake Leelanau, he married Ethel M. Atkinson who preceded him in death on Sept. 3, 2010.

  Jerry was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and gardening.  He loved baseball and the Detroit Tigers and he enjoyed a good game of euchre of which he always won.  Jerry worked for the Traverse City Public Schools as a custodian for ten years.  He also served as a mill hand for thirty five years with the Lake Leelanau Co-op and was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

  Gerald is survived by his children, Mary (Fred) Binder, Gertrude Fowler, Gerald (Lorraine) McNeil, Donald McNeil, Elizabeth (Dan) Inman, William (Carol) McNeil, and Tim (Linda) McNeil; sister-in-laws, Alice, Eleanore, and Alice McNeil; a son in law, JB Wheeler; 20 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

  In addition to his wife of 65 years, Gerald was preceded in death by a daughter, Linda Wheeler, a son, Charles John McNeil; his brothers, Leonard, Jim, Art and Lawrence McNeil; sisters, Margaret Williams, Dorothy Plamondon, and Cecelia Williams; a sister in law, Mary McNeil; and a son-in-law, Andy Fowler.

  A memorial mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church in Lake Leelanau with family greeting friends one hour prior.  Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery.  Father Michael Janowski will serve as celebrant.

   Memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s School, P.O. Box 340, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653 and/or Mass Intentions.

  Please share memories with the McNeil family at www.martinson.info

  Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Leelanau.

 

 

Donald L. Richards

Died Sept. 15, 2015

ELMWOOD TOWNSHIP – Donald Lloyd Richards, 89, formerly of Suttons Bay, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2015 at Orchard Creek Assisted Living surrounded by his loving family.

Don was born Jan. 11, 1926 in Detroit the son of Lloyd and Velma (Deering) Richards.  On Aug. 21, 1948 in Detroit he married his loving wife of 67 years, Marie Therese (Baumann) Richards, who survives.

After high school Don served his nation in the U.S. Navy.  He then attended Western Michigan University.  Don worked at Maryland American Casualty Insurance in Detroit, Michigan for many years.   After moving to Suttons Bay, he was a well-known realtor for many years; he worked at Zimmerman-McDonald, Real Estate One and Coldwell Banker where he retired from.  He served on the Leelanau and Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club of Suttons Bay and he was a life member of the Traverse City Elks Lodge #323.  

Don is survived by his wife, Marie; his four children, Joanne M. Brown, Janet L. Pugh, Thomas E. Richards, Donald Paul Richards; nine grandchildren, Brian, Maria, Mike, Randy, Jonathan, Erica, Meghann, Allison and Katelin and eight great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 with the Rosary to be Prayed at 7:30 PM at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.  A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at St. Michael’s Parish of Suttons Bay.  Private family burial in St. Michael’s Cemetery will be held at a later date.  Father Leonard Paul will serve as celebrant.

Memorials may be directed to Hospice of Michigan, 10850 E. Traverse Hwy, Suite 1155, Traverse City, MI 49684. 

Please share memories with Don’s Family at www.martinson.info or the funeral home’s Facebook page.

 

 

 

Rose M. Schramski

Died Sept. 10, 2015

SUTTONS BAY – Rose Marie Hahnenberg Schramski, 89, of Suttons Bay, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015 at The French Manor surrounded by her loving family.

  A native of Lake Leelanau Rose Marie was born to Simon and Isabel (Plamondon) Hahnenberg on Dec. 30, 1925.  She grew up in the village of Lake Leelanau and graduated from St. Mary’s High School as Valedictorian of the 1943 graduating class.  In 1945 she married Frank A. Schramski who preceded her in death on June 25, 2010.

  Rose Marie worked in Ypsilanti during WWII as a riveter on the center wing of the B-24 Bomber.  She also worked on her father’s cherry farm and worked as a secretary for her brother, Fred Hahnenberg, Register of Deeds from September 1944 until March 1946.

  After her marriage in 1945 she moved to Suttons Bay, where she made her home until her move to the French Manor, Traverse City in March of 2015.  She was a homemaker and especially known for her homemade bread and canned foods from her productive vegetable garden.  Rose Marie also was a piano and vocal teacher in her home for over forty years.  She was a talented soprano vocalist who sang for many weddings and funerals and she also served as organist and choir member of St. Michael’s Parish.  She babysat in her home for a period of twenty years and did house cleaning outside the home for about five years.

  She served as secretary of the National Council of Catholic Women for two years and served on St. Michael’s Parish Council of Suttons Bay for two years.  She was secretary of St. Michael’s Altar Society for six years and taught CCD for five years.

  Rose Marie often said her primary goal in life was “to be a good mother and wife”; her family and extended family have received many benefits from the role she took on so willingly.  She has left behind extensive photograph albums and scrapbooks documenting the family and community history.

  Rose Marie survived many major illnesses and surgeries, yet kept a strong faith and maintained her love of life.  Rose Marie will be remembered for her unusually expressive personal warmth, hugs, beautiful smile and contagious laugh throughout all phases of life.

  Rose Marie is survived by her six children, Jean (Raymond) Wall of Traverse City, Joan (Robert) Holliday of Chadds Ford, PA, Lawrence (Suzanne) Schramski of Grand Ledge, Ruth (Clement) Mikowski of Norfolk, VA, Robert (Deborah) Schramski of Traverse City, Mary Ann Kirt of Milan; her brother, Willard (Donita) Hahnenberg, ten grandchildren and nineteen great grandchildren.

  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Frank; and her siblings, Cecilia Bussey, Frederick, Edward, Rita Egeler, Lawrence and Genevieve Zeits.

  Visitation will be held from 5 t0 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17 with the Rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.  The Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 at St. Michael’s Parish of Suttons Bay.  Burial in St. Michael’s Cemetery will be held at a later date.  Father Leonard Paul will serve as celebrant.

  Memorials may be directed to St. Michael’s Parish, PO Box 9, Suttons Bay, MI 49682, Meals on Wheels, c/o NMCAA, 3963 Three Mile Rd, Traverse City, MI 49686 and/or Mass Intentions.

  Please share memories with the Schramski Family at www.martinson.info

  Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.



Leo G. Shea

Died August 31, 2015

LELAND, MI – Leo Gerald “Jerry” Shea, 86, of Leland, MI passed away Monday, August 31, 2015 at Effie’s Assisted Living with family at his side.

Jerry was born on January 17, 1929 in Chicago, the son of Leo and Genevieve (Higgins) Shea.  He was reared in Oak Park, IL and graduated from Oak Park High School. With a French horn scholarship, he spent three summers at Culver Military Academy in the band program.  He received a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY in 1951.  That same year he joined the United States Marine Corps and served with the First Marine Division in Korea 1952-1953, and was honorably discharged in 1955 with the rank of Captain.  In 1959 he received his MBA from the University of Chicago.  On May 23, 1959 in Cedar Rapids, IA, he married Patricia Kathryn Dunshee.

Jerry’s dedication to his profession was only matched by his love for the outdoors and his interest in everything.  In 1956 on an AIA tour of South America he met his soon to be lifelong friend Louis G. Redstone, whose architectural practice in Detroit he would join in 1961.  Jerry worked with Louis for 25 years, eventually leading the firm as President.  He would attain the distinction of Fellow of the American Institute of Architects in 1978.  He was honored with the Gold Medal and the Charles Blessing Award from AIA Detroit and the Gold Medal from AIA Michigan. He was Chairman of the AIA National Documents Board committee responsible for the 1997 edition of AIA Document A201 – The General Conditions of the Contract for Construction. 

While becoming a leader in architecture in Detroit, Jerry would make the most of his non-working time.  From 1970 to 1987 he was an instructor with Blizzard Ski School where his children also learned to ski.  He was an avid sailor, played golf, squash and tennis, and was a Past President of the Leland Country Club, and member of Leland Yacht Club and Birmingham Athletic Club.  He was a supporter and volunteer at the Cranbrook Institute of Science where he learned about beekeeping and later became a beekeeper, harvesting his own honey. 

Throughout his life he was an avid reader and supporter of the arts.  He was a Past President of the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Association, and a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association.  In 1999, and after summering there for forty years, he retired with his wife Patty to Leland, MI where he continued to support the community serving on the Leland Township Planning Commission, the board of the City Opera House in Traverse City and Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear. 

In addition to his loving wife Patty of 56 years, Jerry is survived by his sister Genevieve Shea Healy (Donald), his sons, Kevin (Kimberly) and Michael; daughters, Kathryn Adams (Gregory), Loretta Borgo (Robert) and Kerry Satterwhite (Ross); and grandchildren Genevieve Charlton (Scott), Donald, Audrey, Neal, Connor, Claire, Colin and Griffin.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Donald Shea; and a sister, Jacquelyn Shea Fish.

Private graveside services at Beechwood Cemetery in Leland have been held.  A celebration of his life for family and friends will be held on October 17, 2015 from 11am to 1pm at the Leland Country Club.

Memorials may be directed to Leland Township Library, P.O. Box 736, Leland, MI 49654 and/or to a charity of one’s choice.

Please share thoughts and memories with Jerry’s family below:

 

 

Therese G. Larson

Died August 28, 2015

LELAND– Therese Gits Larson, 89, of Leland, passed away Friday, Aug. 28, 2015 at Cherry Hill Haven surrounded by her loving family.

  Therese was born April 17, 1926 in Riverside, IL the daughter of Remi J. and Matilda (Heynen) Gits.  On June 4, 1949 in Riverside she married her loving husband of forty eight years, Jack Dale Larson, who preceded her in death on Sep. 10, 1997.
  In the early 70's the family moved from Riverside to their summer home in Leland. Therese helped her husband run several small businesses, Continental Home Supply, Lakeside and Bay Sanitation.
  She loved playing golf and was an active member of the Leland Country Club for many years. She participated in Ladies golf and helped with the Junior Golf Program. During a tough game of golf Therese's strategy was to use her special club "the Devastator Extreme Distance 425 ". Which worked most every time.
  Therese enjoyed playing cards, especially bridge.  She also liked watching old movies and swimming in Lake Leelanau. She made wonderful meals and on Sunday mornings a hot milk breakfast cake with coconut topping, a recipe from her mother.
  Therese will be fondly remembered as a wonderful sister, a loving Mother and a cheerful friend.
  The Larson family extends an extra special thanks to everyone at Cherry Hill Haven for the wonderful care Therese received.
   Therese is survived by her children, Christine L. (Elmer) Hohnke, Katherine L. Larson, David R. Larson, Cynthia M. Larson, Patricia A. Larson, Timothy S. Larson; her siblings, Norbert W. Gits, Joanne Burnham; and two grandsons, Jason D. Larson and Ethan B. Hohnke.
  She was preceded in death by her siblings, Remi J. Gits Jr., Marie Gits Seeger, Gerald B. Gits and Edward C. Gits.
  A memorial mass at St. Mary’s Church will be held on Saturday Oct. 3, 2015 with the Rosary to be prayed at 10:30 a.m., the Mass will begin at 11 a.m. and the family will greet friends at starting at 10:00 a.m.  A luncheon will be served in the St Mary's hall following the service.  Father Michael Janowski will serve as celebrant.  Private family burial in Beechwood Cemetery will be held at a later date.
  Memorials may be directed to St. Mary’s School or St. Mary’s Church, both at PO Box 340, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653.
  Please share condolences with Therese’s family online at www.martinson.info or the funeral home's Facebook page.
  Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.