Elizabeth Buytaert

Elizabeth Miriam Buytaert, age 99, a resident of Traverse City since 2013, passed away in her sleep on Friday, November 8, 2019 at Bay Ridge Assisted Living Center. Elizabeth was born on June 29, 1920 in Ishpeming, Michigan to John and Lisa Josephine Wuorenmaa. She was a 1938 graduate of Ishpeming High School and was fiercely proud of both her U.P. and Finnish Heritage, living life with her SISU, a Finnish concept described as stoic determination, tenacity of purpose, grit, resilience, and hardiness which is held by Finns themselves to express national character. In June of 1940, she graduated from the Upper Peninsula Beauty Academy and started her career at the Cameo Beauty Salon in Ishpeming. Within the next year, she met and in 1943 married her husband of 73 years, Frank, who died in 2016. During WWII, they lived in Austin, Texas where Elizabeth worked in a salon and Frank was in the Army Air Force. Returning to Ishpeming in 1945 they settled back into the community, enjoying leisure time fishing on the Sturgeon River, partridge hunting and hiking the abundant woodlands about which Liz could tell many adventure stories, like the day she turned around and was face to face with a moose! She was an avid walker and loved to cross-country sky as well as play golf. She was a member of the Wawonowin Golf Club for many years and enjoyed camping in many UP communities to checkout their golf courses and fishing streams. She never turned down a game of bridge or cribbage and had the ability to remember every bid made and cards played days after the game was over. A great seamstress, she crafted clothing for herself and for her children and knitted mittens and afghans and slippers for many family members. Her baking skills were appreciated by family and friends alike as she kindly and generously shared cinnamon rolls, blueberry pie, cardamom bread, Finnish tarts, and outstanding U.P. style pasties. She loved picking wild blueberries, raspberries and apples. Her Sundays were filled with NFL games cheering for the Green Bay Packers or the Detroit Lions or catching Tiger Baseball in the appropriate season. In 1963, she opened Beth’s Beauty Salon and supported the family while her husband went to NMU to earn his degree in education. She continued running the salon for several years and was still cutting her own hair into her mid 90’s. After her children were grown, she was a dedicated volunteer both for the Ishpeming Hospital Auxiliary in their gift shop and in the elementary school classroom reading to children. She is survived and will be greatly missed by her two daughters and their families; Cheryl (William) Todd of Marquette and Ann (Dr. Charles) Weitz of Traverse City, grandchildren; Allyson Todd (Nathan) Kemp of Green Bay, WI, Willy (Terri) Todd of Green Bay, WI, Dr. Joshua (Dr. Lesley Loss) Weitz of Rochester, NY and Dr. Leah Weitz (Adam) Carlson of Traverse City, eight great grandchildren Nolan and Preston Kemp, Taylen and Willow Todd, William and Conrad Weitz, and Rory and Sean Carlson. Elizabeth was predeceased by her husband, Frank, her parents and all nine of her siblings and their spouses. Honoring Elizabeth’s request a private burial will be held at Oakwood Cemetery in Traverse City. Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your thoughts and memories with the family. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution please make a check payable to Ishpeming High School: Frank and Elizabeth Buytaert Memorial Scholarship; c/o Anthony Bertucci, Director of Business Services, Ishpeming Public Schools District No. 1, 319 E. Division Street, Ishpeming, MI 49489. Please note the name of the scholarship with the donation. The family is being cared for by Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

Elizabeth Buytaert

June 29, 1920 - November 8, 2019