Jeanette Emily Wepking

Jeanette Emily (Hatlem) Wepking, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on December 14, 2016. Jeanette was born to John and Theoline Hatlem on September 30, 1919 in Mn. Minnesota.

Teaching us how to keep our heads high, faith strong and modeling her endearing, loving, and giving heart, to her marriage, family and community became her life calling. Born of immigrant parents from their beloved Norway, Jeanette conquered many life trials in her precious 97 years of earthly life. She often took pride in referring to herself as "A Tough Norwegian" and tough she was.

Relocating from MN as a young child with her family, she graduated at the young age of 16 from Roald Amundsen High School in Chicago, Illinois, which was newly built to honor the famed Norwegian Explorer. Connection to her heritage, was something Jeanette greatly cherished.

In the late 1930's, her father and mother John and Theoline Hatlem Sr., were requested to be caretakers of a resort in Michigan. In short time, John and Theoline would usher in the beginning of the era of "Hatlem Resort" in Burdickville, on Glen Lake. Jeanette would help her mother and father with their famous Sunday chicken dinners, and bookkeepering duties of her fathers construction business, Hatlem Construction.

Jeanette soon fell in love with "Her Charles" from Maple City, and her parents hand was given in marriage on Sept 12th, 1940. They spent a short time together in Staten Island, New York, and in Charleston, South Carolina where Charles served in the US Coast Guard. After settling back on Glen Lake, their first and only home was built next door to "The Hatlem Resort". In this same home, they raised a beautiful family of 4 children. After many years working together at Hatlem Construction, Jeanette and Charles started their own construction business, "Wepking Construction" where they would work side by side until retirement. Their many years of hard work earned them 55 years of love, traveling, and wintering in Port Charlotte, Florida.
Her husband Charles F. Wepking Sr. preceded her in death in 1995.

Jeanette loved her community and local church, where she gave her time and gifts tirelessly. She was a Charter Member of The Glen Lake Community Reformed Church, where she served as secretary and on numerous outreach activities. Also a charter member of the Glen Arbor Women's Club, she was famous for her Norwegian meatballs, which she spent hours kneading on her kitchen counter for their annual smorgasbord. In addition, she was a founding Mother of The Glen Arbor Junior Womens Club. Jeanette was secretary for the original consolidation of the area schoolhouses into Glen Lake Community Schools and was a member of the Eastern Stars, as well as The Glen Lake Garden Club.

At the core of her heart was her dear husband and family. She loved her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She wasn't afraid to tell you they were all perfect. She loved a clean home, decorating, dressing up, high heels, lipstick, and always, always, a perfect hairstyle. Her penchant for speedy driving earned her the nickname "Grandma Jet". She loved telling long detailed stories, and if you were blessed to hang in there with her to the end, you were guaranteed to get a kiss on the cheek.

Jeanette is survived by her children. Carole (Kent) Gibbs, Sandra (James)
Spinniken, Charles (Dorothy) Wepking Jr., Debra (Donald, deceased) Peplinski. Her grandchildren, Michael (Tylene) Gibbs, Marc (Laurie) Gibbs, Matthew (Amber) Gibbs, Renee (Greg) Gaudard, Brian Spinniken, Joshua (Jessica) Peplinski, Brandon (Amelia) Peplinski. Stepchildren Gretchen (Mark) Federico, Amanda (Tony) Kuberski, and Kathryn Kiebel. Her great grandchildren, Channing GIbbs, Emily Gibbs, Abilgail Gibbs, Charles Gibbs, Bentley Gibbs, Boston Gibbs, Collin Gaudard, Caitlin Gaudard. Cali Gaudard, Tristan Spinniken, Greyson Spinniken, Sky Peplinski Vanderberg. Great step grandchildren, Lilly, Adeline, and Nickolas Kuberski, Reece and Taylor Federico. She is also survived by a brother John Hatlem Jr, and a sister Shirley Garnett. A sister Betty Crandall, as well as her parents predeceased her.

Open visitation will be held at Jonkhoff Funeral Home Tuesday December 20th, 2016 from 11-12:30. Burial immediately following at Grand Traverse memorial gardens at 1 PM. A celebration of life will be at the Glen Lake Community Reformed Church, in Burdickville, to be announced at a later date for summer 2017.

Memorials can be gifted to either The Glen Lake Community Reformed Church or The Glen Arbor Women's Club.