Verna Joan (Bogart) Bartnick, of Traverse City, Michigan, our extraordinary mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, entered into eternal life on January 23, 2024 at the age of 92.

Verna was born in Kalamazoo, MI on February 21, 1931, the second child and first daughter of Ida (Stites) and Vern Bogart. In early childhood, Verna learned perseverance early on, as she lived on a farm and attended a one room schoolhouse for grade school. She contributed her high level of self-confidence to her grandmother Stites, who she lived with one summer at the age of 5. Verna attended an all-girls Catholic high school, Marywood Academy, in Grand Rapids, MI where good morals and discipline were instilled in her from the Dominican Sisters. Verna often mentioned that her love for music, drama and God developed here and greatly influenced the rest of her life.

Verna went on to pursue a teaching degree from Central Michigan University where she met her husband, Art, at age 20. It was through Art's Polish Catholic family, of which he was the youngest of 12, that Verna learned the delicious and unifying art of Polish cooking.

Verna and Art were married on August 4th, 1951. Art told her that his goal was to help her become the best person she could be! Her family and friends were lucky to be a witness to this remarkable journey of betterment & exploration. Art had an uncanny way of sensing her potential, foreshadowing her vocation as a loving mother, thriving artist, and successful entrepreneur that would unfold over her incredible life.

Verna was born with art in her soul. She enrolled in art classes at NMC in her late thirties while raising seven children. She taught us that you're never too old, and it's never too late to follow your dreams. Her artistic talent had no bounds, but she was especially known for her bronze sculpting and has many works of art displayed in Traverse City and beyond. Her most notable sculpture is located at TC's Open Space park - a depiction of a father pushing his son on a bike aptly named "A time to Let Go." Just a few other key pieces include "Perry Hanna" on Union St., "St. Francis Statue & Stations of the Cross" at St. Francis Church, Chateau Chantal's "The Vine and the Branches," and "Les Beiderman's Bust" at NMC.

She and Art also started a simple ice cream shop on Old Mission Peninsula that evolved into a local gem called the Old Mission Tavern (OMT) and Bella Galleria. Her son Joe, and his boys, carried on the legacy of the restaurant, where friends and family gathered often. If you weren't family when you entered, you certainly were by the time you left. Her famous Thursday pierogi platters and Sunday chicken dinners will go down in history.

Verna was feisty, independent, optimistic and opinionated and always fought for the underdog. She loved passionately. She saw the good in people and was always willing to give them a second chance and stressed our important need to forgive. She was generous to those who were less fortunate and opened-up her home to all. She became a gourmet cook who never used a recipe, but somehow made you feel like when you visited her home, you were at the best restaurant in town.

She loved God and her family and saw the beauty of God in all of creation. Verna was active in many of the Catholic churches throughout her life in Traverse City, but called St. Joseph Catholic Church on Old Mission Peninsula her home parish.

She will be missed by so many, but her legacy and influence will live on through her children, extended family, and the many admirers of her art.


Verna was preceded in death by parents Ida and Vern Bogart, her husband Arthur T. Bartnick, brother Hugh (Jerri) Bogart, infant son John, Son Vern, and daughter Ida (Lee) Burgis.

Verna is survived by her two younger sisters, Kathreen (Bob) Hock, Josephine (Walt) Cannon and many relatives from the Brighton, MI area. Also surviving are her children; James, Mary (Patrick) Kelly, Joseph (Kaile), Jon (Kathy), Mike, and grandchildren; Jenny Krause; Macare Lumbrezer, Sean Kelly; Luke Burgis; Miles, Greta Zenner; Katherine Gardyko, Noah, Jake, Eric, Kyle, Lora, Jaden and Kendal; 16 great grandchildren and special relatives Kristin and Sheila Bartnick, as well as many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 12:00 noon, with a rosary at 10:45 a.m. and visitation starting at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, February 3, 2024 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 12675 Center Rd., Traverse City, MI 49686. Rev. Benjammin Rexroat will officiate. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to The Carmelite Monastery in Traverse City, MI or St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Verna's family at her tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com .