Hazel Margaret Killmar

Hazel Margaret Killmar, 93 of Traverse City passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 20, 2013 at Orchard Creek Assisted Living. Hazel was born on November 3, 1919 in Calumet, MI to William and Barbara (Paterson) Stalker. She married the late Kenneth Douglas Killmar on August 26, 1944 also in Calumet. Hazel lived in Escanaba until 2006 where she was a proud Yooper and very fond of her Scottish and Copper Country Heritage. She was a graduate of the Calumet High School Class of 1937. Growing up, she loved ice skating at the Caledonia Ice Rink and was known at one time as the Queen of the Caledonia. As a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Escanaba, she served as a Deacon, was a member of the Ladies Circle, and a member of the Ladies Dart Ball Team. Hazel was a loyal fan of Michigan sports teams and especially enjoyed following the Detroit Tigers and the Detroit Lions. Halloween was Hazel’s favorite holiday, she loved to dress up every year as “Witch Hazel.” After moving to Traverse City in 2006 to be closer to her daughter she lived at Glen Eagle Retirement Village and later moved to Orchard Creek Assisted Living. She enjoyed playing Bingo and the Saturday sing-a-longs. Hazel was a people person who loved making new friends and treasured her old friends. She always had a positive attitude and a warm friendly spirit. At the end of every visit, Hazel would tell her daughter Jean “I love you dearly, give me a kiss, let me kiss you, now drive home carefully.” Surviving Hazel is her daughter Jean (Jeffrey) LaCross of Lake Leelanau, grandsons, Jesse (Tammie) LaCross, and Joseph (Amanda) LaCross, great-grandchildren, Lane, Luke, Adeline, Isabel and Louie. She is also survived by a sister-in-law Norma Stalker and a favorite niece Barbara (David) Vinocur, great nephews Josh and Seth Vinocur and many other special friends. Hazel is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, sisters Jean and Mary and a brother Irvin. Funeral services will be held for Hazel at 11am on Friday, February 22, 2013 at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home with a visitation held one hour prior. Fr. Michael Janowski will preside. Committal services will take place in the spring at the Gardens of Rest Cemetery in Wells, MI. Memorial contributions may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church in Escanaba, 819 1st Ave S Escanaba, MI 49829 or the Charity of one’s choice. In honor of Hazel’s favorite color the family requests that everyone wear pink to her funeral. The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at Orchard Creek Assisted Living for their loving care and friendship throughout the years.

Hazel Margaret Killmar

November 3, 1919 - February 20, 2013