Obituaries

Hazel Koernke

1917 ~ 2014

  Hazel Huntsman Koernke, 96, of Lovells, passed away on Sunday, April 27, 2014 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.  Hazel resided at Tendercare of Leelanau for the last several years of her life, where she received kind and compassionate care.

  Hazel was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, daughter, and friend.  She was born in Barnesville, Ohio on Aug. 15, 1917.  Her parents were the late Joseph and Esther Huntsman. 

  Hazel is survived by her son, Tom Koernke; daughter-in-law, Holly Solem; grandchildren, Molly and Dan Koernke, sisters, Hilda Miller, Nina Dearth, and Joan Sramcik; sister-in-law, Sophie Koernke; brothers-in-law, John Phillips and Floyd Miller; step brother, Robert Hendershot; and numerous nieces and nephews.

  Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; sisters, Irene Giesey, Mable Wyscarver, and Edna Phillips; brothers, Victor Huntsman (who what killed in action in WWII), and Kennon Huntsman; brothers-in-law, William Koernke, Otto Koernke, and Eric Koernke.

  Hazel led an extraordinary life.  The second oldest of nine children, she graduated as the Valedictorian of her high school class.  She received a scholarship to Muskingum College however, the untimely passing of her father prompted Hazel to turn down the scholarship and take a job in Cleveland, Ohio to help her mother support Hazel’s siblings.  With her usual determination, after several years of work at other jobs, she was hired by Ohio Bell Telephone as an operation.  She was eventually promoted to serve as one of Ohio Bell’s first female supervisors.

  While working at Ohio Bell, she met and then married Fred Koernke.  Shortly thereafter Fred was drafted and served in the U.S. Army during WWII for four years.  He was stations in Europe for most of that time and Hazel did not see her husband for nearly three years until his return from Europe in early 1946.

  In 1950, Hazel and Fred and their young son, Tom, moved from Cleveland to Lovells, MI, a small resort community on the north branch of the Ausable River between Grayling and Lewiston.  They built and operated for nearly thirty years a family restaurant, the Pine Grill.  Among other specialties, the Pine Grill was well-known for delicious pies which Hazel made from scratch.

  Hazel was energetic and civic-minded.  She served the Lovells community in various capacities for nearly half a century.  She served several terms as Township Treasurer in the 1960s and prepared each property tax statement by hand.  For many years she also served on the board of the non-denominational Lovells Community Chapel and taught Sunday school there.  She served as a member of the Cheerful Giver’s Club, a community service organization, the Township Library Board, the Lovells Bridge Walk Committee, and the Lovells Historical Society.  She also wrote a weekly column about Lovells' activities for the Crawford County Avalanche newspaper.

  Hazel was an avid reader and had a lifelong love of literature.  She enjoyed story-telling and in her later years could be found with her grandchildren and their friends hanging on every word of her intricate and exciting stories.  Hazel’s generosity with her time, good humor, and volunteer spirit served the family and her community well.

  Private family services have been held.

  Memorial gifts may be directed to the Lovells Community Chapel, 8133 Bald Hill Road, Grayling, MI 49738.

  Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay/www.martinson.info.