SUTTONS BAY – Beulah (Bea) Gwen Jakielek, 93, of Suttons Bay, Michigan passed away peacefully at home, Thursday, June 4, 2020, amidst her family. She was born at home in Buckley, Michigan on May 23, 1927 to Carlton Olney and Dorothy Effa (Bigger) Stevens. During high school, her family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan for a short time, but returned for her senior year and graduation from Buckley High School. After graduation she worked at J.C. Penny in Traverse City, as a sales clerk. She again moved to Ann Arbor to work in a ball bearing factory.
On September 3, 1949, Bea married Ernest (Ernie) Frank Jakielek of Detroit, Michigan at Grant Methodist Church in Buckley, Michigan. After marriage, they resided in the Detroit area until they purchased Cedar Drug and moved to Cedar, Michigan in 1959, where she co-operated the drug store with Ernie. In addition, she worked in the Cedar Post Office and later at the Traverse City State Hospital. After Bea and Ernie sold Cedar Drug, Bea began her career with the Michigan Department of Corrections as a Corrections Officer. She retired to her home on West Bay.
Bea enjoyed traveling, playing cards, and loved animals. She was an excellent seamstress and knitter, as well as a great cook, with Polish food as her specialty.
Bea is survived by her 4 children; Susan (Daniel) Davis, Karen Carlton, Gary (Linda) Jakielek, Craig (Lori) Jakielek, 6 grandchildren; Brent (Holly) Davis, Brook (Brian) Czerniak, Alyssa, Lane, Derek Jakielek, and Camden Jakielek, 5 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandson, and her sister, Phyllis (John) Haggard, along with many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Frank Jakielek, sisters; Carmen Johnston-Bonebreak, Carol Haines-Sheets, Marylea Crandall-Hansen, and brothers, Ronald and Donald Stevens.
Services for Bea will take place on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at 11:00 am with a visitation one-hour prior at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth Street, Traverse City, MI, with a burial service immediately following at Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens, 3575 Veterans Drive, Traverse City, MI.
The family would like to give special thanks to the nurses and aides at Heartland Hospice. Those wishing to make memorial contributions are asked to consider Heartland Hospice, 4020 Copper View, Suite 113, Traverse City, MI 49684.