Peggy J. Vanfraley

Peggy J. Vanfraley

Died March 25, 2016

PESHAWBESTOWN – Peggy Jean Vanfraley, 59, of Peshawbestown, passed away Friday, March 25, 2016 at Tendercare Birchwood surrounded by her loving family.

  Peggy was born March 5, 1957 in Frankfort the daughter of Anton and Alvina (Cobb) Bailey. 

  In her youth she attended Traverse City Central Grade School and graduated from Traverse City Central High School.  She worked in the tribal administration for many years.  Peggy enjoyed time with her granddaughters Carrie and Rosie.  She loved doing Native American beadwork with quills.  Peggy enjoyed her rock in roll and most of all the band Mojo and the Boogieman. 

  She enjoyed spending hours in Goodwill with her good friend Connie; going to the casino with her kids.  Peggy was a good mother to all of her children and loved all her kids very much.  She spent a lot of time with her sisters going shopping and out to eat. 

  Peggy was like a mother to a lot of people; when her friend Connie left, she took care of her daughter Whitney and loved her other three grandkids Nathan, Payton and Londyn.

  Peggy is survived by her children, Teresa Ann Bailey (Dundas) Plagens, Jolyne Michelle Vanfraley (James Anderson), Whitney Cooper, Christopher John James Vanfraley, Wayne Earl Michael Vanfraley; four siblings, Doris Lentz, Donna Day, Sandra Turner, Lori Bailey; a forever husband, John Vanfraley; her grandchildren, Carrie Ann Plagens, Rose Marie Plagens, Nathan, Payton and Londyn.

  She was preceded in death by her parents.

  Visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 31 at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.  The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 1 also at the funeral home.  Reverend Samuel McClellan will officiate.

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Carol A. Eichstadt

Carol A. Eichstadt

Died March 18, 2016

NORTHPORT - Carol Ann Eichstadt, 64, (aka Mum, Mummy, Ann, Annie, Carolina, Christmas Carol), avid gardener, reluctant cook, excellent listener, dedicated wife, steadfast sister, proud mother, and best friend, died Friday March 18, 2016 at home, surrounded by her loving family.

Carol was born on Jan. 30, 1952 in Northport, graduating from Northport High School in 1970.  She is a descendant on her father's side of George Alfred Barrett Craker, one of the first settlers of Omena.  She was the third of six children and the first daughter born to Calvin (better known as Ted) and Audrey (Rogers) Craker.  Carol's father owned and operated the Craker Boat Yard, where she and her siblings grew up swimming and fishing on Northport Bay.  As a child she enjoyed participating in church Christmas pageants, secretly trespassing in her brothers' fort, occasionally tormenting frogs, and piloting boats slowly until out of her father's sight (after which she'd open the throttle).

She excelled at growing plants, taking interest and pride in starting things from seed, whether it was vegetables for her garden or an avocado plant beginning its life as a pit pierced with toothpicks balancing on the mouth of a glass.  She always carried a pair of garden shears in her purse just in case she spotted a plant she liked and could get a cutting.   Her backyard was an annual adventure in creative landscaping, including an impressive ladder garden, laden with vegetables cascading along the rungs.  It only makes sense that her favorite color was green.

Carol liked birds, straw hats, white wine, wind chimes, HGTV, flossing regularly, starting DIY projects, drinking morning coffee, dabbling in things, and commiserating with humor about the everyday headaches of life.  She was a lifelong knitter, but pooh-poohed her skill, taking a laissez-faire approach:  after she'd learned to knit her first sock, she was in no hurry to complete its mate.    She was a very good cook, but only when the spirit moved her, mostly content to leave that task to her husband.  She had a unique and delightful knack for choosing quirky little gifts but her wrapping efforts left a little to be desired.  She hated squirrels and never stopped trying to thwart their efforts.  Loquaciousness in other people tested her patience.

She was a hard and constant worker.  She took on extra jobs when necessary while single-handedly and proudly raising her daughter.  She was a familiar and welcome face to many in the Northport area through her long employment at two of the town's year-round businesses:  Tom's Food Market and Ace Hardware.  Carol brightened many days with her wry humor and casual, no-nonsense friendliness.  If you had a problem, she would listen and offer a quip, a smile, a sympathetic eye-roll and possibly some unfiltered advice.

The loves of her life were, of course, her family and friends.  She met Darryl Eichstadt at work and married him on April 20, 2002 at Omena Presbyterian Church.  Their favorite hours together were spent on the deck overlooking their eclectic backyard and enjoying cocktails, laughter and conversation.  She maintained many lifelong friendships and was lucky enough to call cousins and a sister her closest friends.  Sundays were special to her.  For many years she looked forward to phone conversations with her daughter on Sunday mornings; more recently there was nothing she loved more than gathering with "the girls" on Sunday afternoons.

Carol is survived by her husband Darryl; her daughter, Joei Wroten; a sister, Ellen Gibson; brothers, Michael (Sandy) Craker and Mark Craker; a niece and several nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Richard Craker; and a sister, Marsha Craker.

A memorial service celebrating Carol's life will be held on April 4th, at 7pm at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay, with family greeting friends one hour prior and after.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hospice of Michigan, 10850 E. Traverse Hwy., Traverse City, MI 49686 and/or to the Leelanau Cancer Fund P.O. Box 325, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653.

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William A. Goodfallow

William A. Goodfallow

Died March 20, 2016

LELAND - William Arthur Goodfallow, 91, of Leland, passed away Sunday, March 20, 2016 at home in the early morning hours.

  Bill was born August 11, 1924 in Detroit, the son of George and Helen (Hanson) Goodfallow.  On October 7, 1950 at St. Theresa Church in Detroit, he married his loving wife of sixty-five years, Betty Jane (Murray) Goodfallow, who survives.

  Grandpa Bill especially enjoyed spending time with his family.  Bill was a carpenter and construction supervisor by trade.  He had a hobby of woodworking and was artistically talented in stained glass work.  Bill was a veteran of WWII.

  Grandpa Bill is survived by his wife, Betty; his children, Nancy Jane (Alfred) Perzanowski, Wayne Arthur (Jeanne) Goodfallow, Douglas William Goodfallow; a son in law, Stanley Olson, twelve grandchildren, Rebecca (Dave) Locke, Thomas Perzanowski, Mike (Amy) Perzanowski, Laura (Sean) Ruban, David Perzanowski, Elizabeth Perzanowski, Jennifer Perzanowski, Jessica Goodfallow, Jacquelyn Goodfallow, Victoria Goodfallow, Jeremy (Laura) Olson, Jakob Olson; eight great grandchildren, Ben, Kate, Trevor, Kara, Nolan, Evey, Natalie and Hannah.

  Bill was preceded in death by a daughter, Cynthia Ann Olson; a grandson, Bradley James Perzanowski; three sisters, Margaret, Jean, Helen and a brother, George.

  Private family services have been held.

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Amy E. Bruggeman

Amy E. Bruggeman

Died March 22, 2016

“Mimi’s liefde voor ons was onvoorwaardelijk.”

CEDAR – Amy Ellen Bruggeman, 57, of Cedar, passed away Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at her home surrounded by her loving family.

  Amy was born June 17, 1958 in Mt. Clemens, M.I. the daughter of Henry J. Bruggeman and Nancy Ruth (Burke) Bruggeman.

  Amy loved life! Amy lived her life for her family and would tell everyone that her greatest accomplishment in life was her family.  There was nothing more important to her than those that she loved.  Her love and kindness was felt in everyone she encountered.  Amy saw beauty in everything and everyone.  For her it was the simple things that brought the most beauty.  Her smile could light up a room and her laughter was infectious.

  Amy’s love for sports began as a young child listening to Detroit Tigers or Lions games on a transistor radio; she rarely missed one.  She loved watching them on t.v., and thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to travel to Detroit and watch them play live.  She was an enthusiastic fan!  She played softball in high school and loved coaching her daughters’ teams when they were younger.

  Amy had many careers in her life but the most rewarding for her was as a Caregiver at Effie’s Assisted Living.  Her love for the elderly made this easy and rewarding.  During her retirement Amy spent time with her family and enjoyed outdoor hobbies.  She loved cooking, baking, snowmobiling, kayaking, hiking, birdwatching and gardening.  Amy loved her backyard menagerie which included birds, chipmunks and deer.  Her nightly ritual, spring through fall was to hike down to the valley on their property to feed the deer, who would often come in to eat before she headed back to the house.  It was a special joy for her. Amy loved life, and she lived it to the fullest!

  Amy is survived by her life partner, Robert J. Maleski; two daughters, Emily R. (Brian) Homberger-Sieg, Abby Hale (Phil) Roubal; three siblings, Jeffrey (Kathy) Bruggeman, Martha (Hugh) Cook, Emily (Duane) Kalember; and four grandchildren, Madilyn Homberger, Otto Marsh, Kaitlyn Sieg and Payton Sieg, and many loving nieces and nephews.

  She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Jenny Keck.

  Amy’s family is very thankful for the services provided by Hospice of Michigan and the wonderful care given by her doctors through her battle.  All of you provided a comfort for the family and Amy that was loving and genuine.

  Private family services will be held in the summer.

  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Robert Maleski for Amy’s favorite local charities.

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Danny R. Hughes

Danny R. Hughes

Died March 17, 2016

LELAND TWP – Danny Robert Hughes, 64, of Lake Leelanau, passed away Thursday, March 17, 2016 at home surrounded by his loving family.

Danny was born on March 11, 1952, in Macon, GA, the son of George and Ella (Gill) Hughes.  On Nov. 19, 1977 at St. Mary Church in Lake Leelanau, he married Donna Mae Belanger, who survives.

Danny grew up in Gainesville, Fl., where he started the Shade Tree Stained Glass Studio.  He had an amazing talent, and decided to take that talent and his studio to Petoskey, MI.  This is where he met the love of his life.  Dan sold the Shade Tree Glass Studio, married Donna and moved to Ypsilanti, where they raised their two daughters.

Dan always wished he could move back "Up North."  His wish finally came true the Summer of 1995, when he and his wife and girls moved to Lake Leelanau.  He had a love of nature and gardening.  His home is surrounded by bird feeders, as birds were his favorite.  They would land on his shoulder when he went out to feed them.  He was also a weather fanatic, always excited when a big thunderstorm would roll in.

Sports was a big part of life in the Hughes household.  If U of M was playing football, it was guaranteed Dan was watching it.  He was a big fan of Formula One racing, too.  Danny also appreciated an Old Western movie every now and then, especially if they were with John Wayne.  Country music was a way of life, and he drew many values and lessons for living from the lyrics.

Dan was grateful to work for the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians.  He was the Facilities Manager for West Bay Operations for the past 19 years.  He made many lasting friendships there, and loved everyone he worked with.  He always referred to the casino as "his baby."

Danny was a very loving Husband, Father and Grandfather.  His kids and grandkids were his pride and joy.  He had an abundance of love for all children.  Dan was a Father figure to many who knew him.  He was a fun-loving man, who lived life to its fullest.  He had a big heart and love for everyone he knew.  He was the type of guy that made you feel good whenever he was around.  Danny was the life of the party!  

Danny never was one to tell people goodbye.  He always ended things with "Love ya and be careful out there.  I'll see ya on the flip-side."

In addition to his loving wife of 38 years, Danny is survived by his daughters, Cory (Troy) Smith and Katie (Steven) Russell; grandchildren, Hannah, Quentin, and Henley Smith, Colin, Austin, and Ian Hank Russell.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his parents-in-law, Germain and Dorothy Belanger.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 2 at 1 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay with family greeting friends beginning at 11 a.m.  Reverend Doctor Robin Carden will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org.

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A. Kathleen Livingston

A. Kathleen Livingston
Died March 24, 2016

SUTTONS BAY – Alice Kathleen Livingston, 86, of Suttons Bay, passed away Thursday, March 24, 2016 at her home with family at her side.

Kathleen was born on Nov. 12, 1929 on the family homestead in Bingham Twp., the daughter of Ivan C. and Mary A. (Rader) Livingston. She attended Donny Brook School and was a graduate of Suttons Bay High School in 1947. In 1949 she began her career in banking at State Bank in Suttons Bay and, 39 years later, retired from Old Kent (now known as 5/3rd). She lived on the family farm her entire life and was also a lifelong cherry farmer, running the farm up until the end of her life. Kathleen was a hardworking woman with a will as strong as her heart.

A wonderful woman who enjoyed hunting for treasures at garages sales, Kathleen was also known to attend many auctions. Furthermore, she had a knack for hosting memorable family dinners – and was renowned for her specialty pies and cookies. Her creativity was also exemplified by her talents at crocheting and sewing.

Kathleen is survived by her nieces, Lori (Ken) Pease and Kayla (Brad) Thomas; nephews, Edward Send, Mark (Esther) Send, and Allen Livingston; grand-nieces, Kelli, Trisha, and Kelsey; grand nephews, Andrew and Jason; and a great-grandnephew, Kevin; sister, Helena Send; and sister-in-law, Evelyn Livingston.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, Ivan Robert “Bob” and Irvin Livingston; brother-in-law, Edward Send; and nephew, Michael Livingston.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 28 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, March 29 at 11 a.m. also at the funeral home with a visitation one hour prior. Rev. Patricia Haas will officiate. Burial will be at Keswick Maple Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Suttons Bay/Bingham Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 280, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 and/or to Munson Hospice, 1105 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI 49684.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Jessica Paquette and staff and to Munson Hospice for their compassionate care of Kathleen.

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Mary Anne Ball

Mary Anne Ball

Died March 16, 2016

ELMWOOD TOWNSHIP - Mary Anne was born on August 17, 1938 to Graham & Mary (Painter) Pogue and grew up in Muncie, IN with two siblings.  She passed away at the Munson Hospice House in Traverse City, MI on March 16^th, 2016.

   Born in Galesburg, IL Mary Anne led a diverse life and pursued an entrepreneurial lifestyle.  She received a BA degree from Indiana University and a M.Ed. from Ball State University.  After her marriage to Frank Ball, they moved to Cedar, MI in the 1960’s to operate Sugarloaf Ski Resort.  They had three children together and loved skiing, tennis and the active lifestyle of northern Michigan.

   After divorcing and moving to Evergreen, Colorado, she met Arnold Bilgore and embarked upon an entirely new chapter in her life.  Arnold was involved in Mexican eco-tourism and Mary Anne was soon a full partner in his life and Mexico business ventures.  From developing a computerized, reservations call center to building thatch huts in the Yucatan jungle, Mary Anne truly enjoyed and dedicated herself to the diverse challenges of operating an international small business. Prior to their union, Arnold’s children were involved in the family enterprise and one by one Mary Anne’s three sons joined as well.

  Upon retirement she returned to Traverse City where she had maintained many long lasting friendships and carried countless fond memories.  She continued to be active in social events, her homeowner’s association and worried over her grandkids right through her final days.

  Preceded in death by her true love Arnold she is survived by her brother Richard Pogue, sister Judi Burns, three sons Clint, Charles and Clayton, 7 grandchildren as well as Arnold’s 3 children and 6 grandchildren.

   Mary Anne’s wishes were for no public memorial service.  The family is greatly appreciative of the myriad condolences received and sends sincere thanks for the sympathy.  Donations in Mary Anne’s memory can be made to the Graham Pogue Student Teacher Scholarship Fund at Ball State University.  BSU Office of University Development – email: giving@bsu.edu - phone: (765)-285-8261

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Steven W. Megill

Steven W. Megill

Died March 15, 2016

SUTTONS BAY – Steven Warren Megill, 71, of Suttons Bay, passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at Munson Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.
   Steve was born on Sept. 13, 1944 in Lansing, the son of Charles and Maxine (Warden) Megill. He graduated from Bath High School where he played baseball and was co-captain of the football team.

  After high school, Steve began his career in road construction with the city of Lansing where he joined the Operating Engineers Union. In 1971, he moved north to Suttons Bay, continuing to work for various contractors within the industry. On Oct. 3, 1983 he married Merry S. Walters, who survives.

   Steve retired in 2006 from the Local 324, with 26 years of service. Steve had a large impact on the road building industry, and had a key role in the building and supervision of many large scale projects locally and statewide. Merry always enjoyed taking drives with Steve as he pointed out various roads and parking lots he had a part in constructing over the years.

  From a young age, his dad taught him an appreciation for hunting, fishing and the outdoors. Steve grew up wing shooting pheasants behind his favorite bird dog, hunting deer in Trout Lake at his Dad's tent camp, and fishing for Bluegills on Park Lake.  His passion for the outdoors continued and with the addition of his wife, sons and grandchildren, he had his own group to mentor and instilled his knowledge in those he cared for the most.

  Steve was an avid golfer and loved a leisurely round with his wife, a foursome with his children and league play with the boys. He had a fascination with Great Lakes Shipping with its boats and trains. It didn’t matter if it was a coal barge taking refuge in the bay, sitting on the grass embankment at the Soo Locks or one of his favorite trains at the CCRN rail yard in Gladstone, he was all eyes and ears.

  Steve also enjoyed tinkering at home. From riding his lawn tractor to setting up his extensive outdoor Christmas display, or just visiting with a neighbor or a random passerby. His garden showcased a great sense pride he took in planting, growing, and harvesting the vegetables he and Merry grew. In the winter months he liked woodworking or restoring antiques.

  As a grandpa, Steve also liked to attend the extracurricular activities that his grandkids participated in. If there was a football game, dance recital, or Christmas play, he was in the audience somewhere.
   Steve was also a former member of the Suttons Bay/Bingham Fire and Rescue Department.
   In addition to his wife of 32 years, Steve is survived by his sons, Kent Anthony (Jeri Sue) Megill, Chad Patrick (Natalie) Megill, Tyler Warren (Matasha Garver) Megill; step-children, Shawn (Vera) Fuller and Mandy (Matthew) McIntyre; six grandchildren, Shamus, Seth, Tess, Shane, Ava and Lauren; sister, Colleen (Vincent) Kuntz; and a brother, Charles (Linda) Megill.
   He was preceded in death by a sister, Thressa Hudnut.
   A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 19 at 12:30 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay with family greeting friends beginning at 11 a.m.  Vincent Kuntz will serve as celebrant.
   Memorials may be directed to the Suttons Bay/Bingham Fire & Rescue, P.O. Box 280, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 and/or to the American Cancer Society, 129 Jefferson Ave. S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503.     
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