May Charlotte Trudgen

May Charlotte Trudgen, age 90, of Traverse City, died on Sept. 16, 2022 at her home, surrounded by her family, after a brief illness. Born Aug. 2, 1932 in Lansing, she was the daughter of Cassimer and Della (Pratt) Leonard. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Bruce of 62 years, and her brother John (Marilyn Ann) Leonard of Lansing.

May graduated from Lansing Sexton High School in 1950. She worked for the Ingham County Circuit Court and Friend of the Court while attending Michigan State University. May married Bruce W. Trudgen December 4, 1954, in Lansing and they lived in Honolulu their first two years of marriage while Bruce served in the Army Security Agency. After returning to Lansing, she worked for the State of Michigan Library and again attended MSU, until her son was born. Three years later she was blessed once more, this time with a daughter.

While her children were growing up, May was a stay-at-home mom who considered her family her first priority. She was a Girl Scout leader, President of the Lansing power Squadron's First Mates, and Vice-President of the Waverly High School Band Boosters. She was active in the Westminster Presbyterian Church's Mother's Club and Circle 6, and was Co-President of the Westminster Women's Association. When her kids reached high school age, May rejoined the work force, this time as a legal secretary and assistant to the president of Lansing Community College.

May moved with Bruce upon retirement to their cottage in Pentwater, where she was Secretary to the Pentwater Friends of the Library. In 1993 May and Bruce moved to Traverse City in order to be closer to their grandchildren, where she was an active member of The Presbyterian Church. Grandma May, as she was known, adored her grandchildren; she attended their many activities, provided sound advice and blessed them with pure, unconditional love.

May, with her loving husband Bruce, was a great adventurer. Together they cruised USA and Canadian waterways on their boats from 1962 to 2007; they traveled North America with their travel trailer from 1987-2015, camping in more than 400 different campgrounds; and their most distant destination of exploration was New Zealand. May valued travel, and with her daughter Kathy, the women ventured to: Hawaii, England, Scotland, San Diego, Florida, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Bryce Canyon, Branson and more.

May loved animals (especially cats), sewing, and working in her flowerbeds. She was an avid reader and belonged to the Shine Book Club. She was a lifelong learner and attended 34 Elderhostel/Road Scholar programs in the US and Canada. Writing was a passion of hers as well, with articles that were published in Lakeland Boating and Canadian Yachting magazines.

She is survived by her son Steven (Laura Carantza) Trudgen of San Diego, her daughter Kathleen (Joseph) Lessard of Traverse City, two grandchildren, Danielle Needham (Charles) of Traverse City, and Travis Peck of Saratoga, WY, and one great-grandson Dawson Needham. She is also survived by three step-grandchildren, Ian, Adam and Madeleine Lessard of Traverse City.


A memorial service will be held at 11am on Wednesday November 2 at The Presbyterian Church with Pastor Jordan Starkenburg officiating. Visitation with family will be an hour before the service with a luncheon following the service. Cremation has taken place and internment will be in Lansing on Friday, November 4.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contribution may be made to The Presbyterian Church of Traverse City, 701 Westminster Road, 49686, or the Cherryland Humane Society of Traverse City, 1750 Ahlberg Road, 49696.

The family is being cared for by the Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.