Margie Janet Kahler-Bryant

TRAVERSE CITY – Margie Janet Kahler-Bryant, 91, passed peacefully from the arms of her loving and devoted daughters to the arms of her heavenly Father on September 30 at Munson Medical Center, after a brief illness.

The daughter of Holger W. and Anna M. Olesen, Margie was born at the family farm on December 9, 1922 in Turner County, South Dakota. One of six children, her contribution to the family was that of seamstress, a talent that became a passion over the years. She also baked incredible pies, a skill she learned as young girl when she helped feed the wheat threshing crews as they traveled from farm to farm. She attended grade school at a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Viborg High School in Viborg, South Dakota. After graduation, she attended secretarial school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where she met her husband, Raymond C. Kahler of New Jersey while he was stationed there during WWII. They married in Sioux Falls on January 22, 1946. After Ray completed his college education in West Chester, Pennsylvania, they settled in Michigan, midway between their two families. Ray's career in education administration took them to Elk Rapids, Mesick – where they lived when their three daughters were born – Ottawa Lake, Sandusky and Glen Lake. Their first love was the Grand Traverse area, leading them to build a summer cottage on Green Lake at Interlochen before they left the area. After Ray's retirement they made Traverse City their home.

Margie was a skilled and creative seamstress, upholsterer and knitter, and a natural artist and interior decorator. She enjoyed sharing her talents with her churches, her daughters' schools and the hospital auxiliary. Her love of art and design culminated in the opening of an art studio and supply store in Sandusky, where she taught classes in papier tôle, decoupage and china painting. Her hands were rarely idle. Even more, she excelled at what she thought was her most important role, that of wife, homemaker and mother to her "three little angels." Margie's greatest joy came from spending time with her family. She adored her grandchildren and took special delight in the recent arrival of her first great grandchild. Perhaps the only thing she couldn't do was find fault with her three sons-in-law!

On returning to northern Michigan, Margie co-managed four Benjamin Twiggs stores which, at the time, were a division of Traverse City Canning Company and a family-run business. After Ray's death in 1988, she married Alfred T. Bryant in 1991. She enjoyed her retirement years traveling with him and enjoying their families until his death in 1998.

Margie is survived by her daughters Rebecca S. Kellogg (Charles) Geer, Juliana G. (Mark) Leslie and Kathleen R. (Lew) Farrell; grandchildren David M. (Nicole) Leslie, Sarah J. Leslie and Chad K. Farrell; great granddaughter Harper G. Leslie; step-grandchildren Benjamin L. (Caroline) Geer, Christopher W. (Kathryn) Geer, Mark K. Farrell, Lisa M. (Keegan) Myers; step-great grandchildren Tegan Tighe-Farrell, Ethan Geer, Lawrence Geer, Cody Geer, Madeline Geer, Elise Geer and Jack Hameline; her sister-in-law Jenola Olesen and many nieces and nephews.

Besides her husbands, Margie was predeceased by her parents, her siblings Ruby N. (Edwin) Nelson, Erma C. (Ray) Unruh, Opal A. (Ellis) Allen, Josephine M. (Norman) Nielsen and Wesley H. (Jenola) Olesen, and her son-in-law David R. Kellogg.

Cremation has taken place and interment will be in the Garden of Remembrance at the First Congregational Church of Traverse City. A celebration of Margie's life is planned for Monday, October 6, 2014 at the First Congregational Church chapel at 12:30 pm, followed by a light lunch.

Memorials may be directed to the First Congregation Church Garden of Remembrance, the Cowell Family Cancer Center at Munson Medical Center or the charity of one's choice. The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.