Mildred Irene Stark

March 2, 1928 - December 12, 2019

TRAVERSE CITY - Mildred Irene (Kruse) Stark, known as "Mike" by everyone she met, passed peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, December 12, 2019 at Traverse Manor. Mike was born in Bay City, Michigan on March 2, 1928, the only child of Loren B. and Irene (Payette) Kruse. She grew up on Harvard Road in Detroit, and attended school there until graduation and moving to Fresno, California with her parents. She attended Fresno State University before returning to Detroit, where she worked as a switchboard operator for Republic Steel. She Married in 1954 and settled in Royal Oak, where she spent the next 42 years. She had two children, John Stark of Royal Oak, and Jean (Todd) Kennell of Traverse City. She divorced in 1980 and began working at Cargill Detroit Corporation as a secretary until her retirement in 1996. She was a devoted daughter, mother, and friend, and above all, she loved her grandchildren, Elizabeth and Andrew Roach. In 1996 she moved back to Traverse City so she could be closer to them. She also enjoyed her bonus grandson, Grant Kennell, whom she met in 2012. She loved to laugh and tell jokes, especially while enjoying an occasional Manhattan. She lived a good long life and always told us "I can't last forever". Per Mike’s request, cremation has taken place and she will be interred with her parents in Imlay City, Michigan at a later date.