Albert J. Herman
Died June 1, 2014
SUTTONS BAY – Albert John Herman, 83, of
Suttons Bay, passed away Sunday, June 1, 2014 at Northport Highlands.
Albert was born April 22, 1931 in Suttons Bay the son of John and Ella
Rose (Priest) Herman. On June 25, 1955
at St. Wenceslaus Church of Gills Pier he married his loving wife of fifty
eight years, Bernice A. (Kalchik) Herman, who survives.As a young man Albert served as a U.S. Marine spending a year in Japan. He enjoyed deer and rabbit hunting in the UP with his 8-Ball Club buddies. Albert was a member of the Lake Leelanau VFW Post 7731 and Traverse City Elk’s Lodge 323 for many years.
He went into the excavating and septic pumping business with his brother Jim. Jim passed away and later Albert retired and along with his wife, Bernice, they wintered in Sun City, Arizona.
Albert was an avid golfer and was proud of the hole-in-one he made with his friends on a 1991 Georgia golf outing. In his circle of friends he was known for having the ability to play and sing most country western songs – using only three chords on his guitar.
To many of nieces and nephews he was known as “Uncle Al, the kiddies pal.”
Albert is survived by his wife, Bernice; four children, Sherry (Dennis) Fehrenbach, Debbie (Tom) Harrigan, Jeff Herman, Julie (Mike) Drow; three siblings, Leonard (Joan) Herman, Louis (Joan) Herman, Joan (Roy) LeMarie; a sister in law, Donna Herman; sixteen grandchildren, twenty one great grandchildren with one on the way. As one beautiful life began with the birth of his twenty first great grandchild on Saturday, May 31, 2014 Albert’s eternal life began in Heaven on Sunday, June 1, 2014.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, James, Lucy (Anthony) Gill, five infant siblings at birth; and an infant daughter, Bonnie Sue Herman.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4 with the Rosary to be prayed at 7 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay. The mass will be held on Thursday, June 5 at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Church of Suttons Bay. Burial will follow in St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, Suttons Bay. Father Leonard Paul will serve as celebrant.
Memorials may be directed to Suttons Bay – Bingham Fire and Rescue, PO Box 280, Suttons Bay, MI, 49682 and/or Mass Intentions.
Please share memories with Albert’s family at their online obituary at www.martinson.info.
Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
My Dad was a hard worker. He could build, remodel or repair just about anything involving wood. He knew how to do plum ion and electrical work and had the tools to do it. He also knew all about septic pumping and repairs. My husband and I bought his septic pumping business from him and my mother in 1986 after a one year apprenticeship with him. It was a very good business for us for 19 years.
ReplyDeleteThe last thing he did for me was repair a family heirloom-an infant crib his father had made. He and his siblings, many of their children and grandchildren slept in it. All of my children used it along with some of my own grand kids. It was sorely in need of repair and as usual he did an excellent job!
When I was getting ready for kindergarten, he taught me to tie my shoes. Later how to paint, stain and varnish. When I was getting ready for a road trip to Colorado, he showed me how to check my oil and change a tire. He actually MADE me do it!
There were so many other things he taught me along the way-how to work hard and honestly, how to save money and how to willingly help others with the talents I had. He never bought any of us a car but he made sure us girls had one by the time we graduated from high school. My brother didn't want one until he was in college, but dad helped him too. He also helped all of us to obtain our first homes. He loaned the money to buy a house to my siblings and sold us the property his business was located on and built us a beautiful house.
Growing up, he provided us with a beautiful home on Suttons Bay. For many years we always had a boat to spend time out in the water with. We would go out with my parents friends and with our own friends as we got older. He spent a lot of time helping us to learn how to waterski!
He also liked to take his family on Sunday afternoon drives around Leelanua County. As kids we were in awe of how many people and places he knew. He would tell us how he had done work for many them or he would tell is how he was related to them. Sometimes we would stop and visit relatives or friends.
There were other things too. He surprised us by building a sandbox one afternoon while we took our naps! That provided many, many hours of our own excavating business! He also bought and put up a swing set which was also used to the point of wearing out.