Dr. Louis C. Hartesvelt DDS, Died May 18, 2020

Louis C. Hartesvelt DDS

Died May 18, 2020

SUTTONS BAY - Dr. Louis Charles Hartesvelt, 86, of Suttons Bay, completed his earthly journey trusting in the promises of Christ and joined his God and the rank of the saints in heaven on Monday, May 18, 2020 after a brief hospitalization.

He was born October 14, 1933 in Grand Rapids, to Peter Andrew Hartesvelt and Anna Katherine Gies.  His mother Anna died while Louis was a young teen and Adella Wyborn married his father to continue to love and raise him into adulthood.  

Louis (Lou and known by most as Doc) married Elizabeth (Liz) Ida Yeaw who survives him, on August 11, 1956, this summer would mark 64 years of devoted marriage.  While she worked in the Pathology Dept. of U. of M. Hospital, Lou finished Dental School, graduating in 1958.

Lou joined the U.S. Public Health Service and he and Liz were stationed at the Choctaw Indian Hospital of Talihina, Oklahoma where he was a Dentist to the Native American people there.  While in Oklahoma, they gave birth to their son, John Charles on Dec. 8, 1958 who later died at age six months.  Before leaving the service and Oklahoma, their daughter, Catherine Lynn was born and the small family headed north back to Michigan.

They came to the Leelanau and Grand Traverse area hoping to expand their family and set up a dental practice.  Doc and Liz purchased a practice owned by Dr. Kitson in Suttons Bay and enjoyed almost forty years doing the work and serving his patients he so enjoyed.  Their family grew during those years with the birth of Janet Carol, a landscape designer and Amy Louise, talented musician as was he.  All three daughters live in the area and will miss their Dad, a great father and a fine example of a Christian man like no other.  Doc and Liz also treated many close friends as members of their family, notably Robin Patterson, dedicated employee and hygienist to the practice and Michelle and Allan Crocker, their children and grandchildren as their additional children.

Doc’s favorite places on earth were his home and garden in Suttons Bay and his retreat on Beaver Island owned by his sister, Harriet Nelson, who survives, and his beloved brother-in-law and friend Dr. Raymond Nelson who predeceased him.  Doc designed and built the Nelson cabin on the island with the help of many friends from another favorite place, Northern Lumber in Suttons Bay.  Many hunting trips, euchre games and family gatherings took place in that cabin.

His last visits to the island were to celebrate their 60^th wedding anniversary in 2016 as the island was their honeymoon destination and again when the original deck was redesigned and replaced more recently to inspect the work and make sure it was up to his standard.  Doc was also an avid outdoorsman enjoying all of nature especially our national parks.  His brother, Dr. Richard Hartesveldt, who predeceased him as well, had been a professor at San Jose State, teaching Forestry, specializing in the study of the Sequoias.  Doc loved reading about and visiting Sequoia National Forest.  He also loved a good game of cribbage with his best friends George Brach and Jerry Henshaw who also predeceased him.

Doc loved fishing, hunting, woodworking, music, especially choral music.  He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and their choir for 59 years and Rotary, as well as, the Rotary Minstrel back in the 60’s & 70’s.  In Suttons Bay he enjoyed the fellowship of the Rotarians where he served as Sergeant of Arms for almost 59 years, leading the singing with vim and vigor.

  

Doc also served his community and was part of the first EMT ranks with Suttons Bay Bingham Fire & Rescue, was a board member of Suttons Bay Public Schools and the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District, taught Public Boating and Outboard Maintenance with Harve Norris while a member of the United States Power Squadron in the 60’s and continued his Boy Scout of America training becoming a leader of the next generation of scouts for many years with his good friend George in the Suttons Bay area.

He is survived and will be missed by his daughters, Cathy (David Bleich), Janet (Guy Leslie) and Amy (Thomas Mamo); his grandchildren, Susan (Ryan Korson), Mitchell Herman (Taylor Bebow) and Marta Herman.  He also has many nieces and nephews who will remember their Uncle Louie fondly.

Graveside services will be held in Rest Lawn Memorial Park, Grand Rapids at a later date.  An announcement of a celebration of Doc’s life will be held at Immanuel Lutheran Church of Suttons Bay, also at a later date.

Memorials may be sent to Immanuel Lutheran Church, PO Box 206, Suttons Bay, MI 49682 or the Yosemite Conservancy, 101 Montgomery Street, Suite 1700, San Francisco, CA 94104 or at yosemite.org

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