Charlotte A. Jaratz
Mar 1, 2023
Charlotte A. Jaratz. 94 of Traverse City passed away March 1, 2023 at Munson Hospice House. Charlotte was born on August 28, 1928 in Manistee to the late Cyril C. and Agnes A. (Arkin) Bryck. Charlotte was born and raised in Manistee. She had many fun stories about growing up along Lake Michigan and enjoying bon fires and parties on...
Barbara P. Schleif
Feb 28, 2023
Barbara P. Schleif, 89, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
Billy Leroy Jones
Feb 27, 2023
Billy LeRoy Jones, 4/22/42 - 2/27/23 ________________________________________ Regardless of how you know Billy L. Jones, there are a few indisputable facts we can all agree on. #1: He had an inherent knack for all things sports and outdoorsmanship. Whether he was boating on Higgins Lake, snowmobiling around northern Michigan, in his hunting blind, tubing down the Muskegon, on the lookout...
Michael Blonshine
Feb 27, 2023
Michael "Mike" Dean Blonshine, 75, of Traverse City, passed away February 27, 2023. Mike was born in Traverse City on April 1, 1947, son to Russell and Frances (Harrigan) Blonshine. He graduated St. Mary of Hannah Catholic School's class of 1965. One year after graduation Mike was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He proudly served from...
Donald Harriger
Feb 26, 2023
Donald "Don" Francis Harriger, 97, of Empire, passed away February 26, 2023. Don was born in Muskegon on August 10, 1925, son to Austin M. and Mary Rose (Hoffman) Harriger. Don has lived in the Empire area since he was three years old. He was a longtime parishioner at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Empire. He was proud to...
Debra Ann Frick
Feb 25, 2023
Debra "Deb" Ann Frick (Sawyer), 67 of Williamsburg, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on February 25, 2023. She was born in Creston, Iowa on May 3, 1955, daughter to Dale and B. Barbara (Moffitt) Sawyer. Deb graduated from Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, IA, class of 1973. She continued her schooling at St. Luke's...
Jean Watkoski
Feb 25, 2023
Jean Watkoski, age 80, passed away February 25, 2023 while surrounded by family at her Orchard Creek residence in Leelanau County, after a long battle with Parkinson's. Jean was born an identical twin on May 9, 1942. Jean and her sister Jeri were born the youngest children to Harold and Elizabeth Houghton at Munson Hospital. Jean attended Traverse City Public...
Verna Jean Pickard
Feb 25, 2023
Traverse City – Verna Jean Pickard, 87, a native of Traverse City, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 25, 2023. Verna was born on September 22, 1935 at her family's home on Grant Street. She was one of eight children born to the late Kenneth Lester and Martha Elizabeth (Crouch) Sheldon. Her mother Martha...
Elwood "Woody" Holman
Feb 24, 2023
Elwood Josiah Holman, a.k.a. Woody Woody was a sailor, a skier, a builder. He constructed furniture, a yurt, and four houses, and with his three sons put together an ice boat. He fashioned intricate metal sculptures: tall ships, model Ts, trains and biplanes. He welded each of these from oddball scrap—sparkplugs, tennis cans, bottle caps, canning jar rings. He loved...
Eva "Kay" Giddis
Feb 24, 2023
Eva "Kay" Giddis, 79, lifetime resident of Traverse City, passed away on Friday February 24, 2023 at Munson Medical Center with dignity and class and a dollop of sass. Kay was born on August 13, 1943 to the late Donald and Emma (Juhnke) King. She was one of three children. After graduating high school, Kay married her sweetheart Jerry Giddis...
Geraldine E. Forrester
Feb 23, 2023
A full obituary and service details are pending at this time - please check back often
James "Jim" G. Miller
Feb 23, 2023
Jim Miller of Omena, Michigan (formerly of Coronado, CA), passed away on February 23, 2023. His wife and daughter were at his side. He was born April 17, 1941 in Bakersfield, CA to the late Mary (Roberts) Morrison and Alvin Miller. Jim was a proud American, a volunteer, and a loving family man. He believed in working hard and developed...
Geraldine Emma Forrester
Feb 23, 2023
Geraldine Forrester, 93 of Traverse City, passed away peacefully of natural causes at the home of her son, Dan in Skandia, Michigan. She passed away on February 23, 2023. Geri was born on June 5, 1929 in Saginaw, Michigan to her parents, Frank and Emma (Lentz) Hart. Geri and her 3 siblings grew up in Beulah, Michigan. She loved to...
Kenneth "Ken" Sleder
Feb 21, 2023
Kenneth D. Sleder of Traverse City passed away at home on Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Ken was born on June 18, 1929 at James Decker Munson Hospital in Traverse City to Alphonse P. (Bud) and Ella C. (Lautner) Sleder. Ken graduated from Traverse City Central High School, Class of 1947. He then graduated from Michigan State University in 1949 with...
Kenneth A. Schmidt
Feb 20, 2023
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Kenneth A. Schmidt, age 78, of Traverse City, Michigan. Ken was called home to be with God on February 20, 2023. He entered heaven peacefully and surrounded by love. Ken was born in 1944 in Saginaw, Michigan to Elaine and Joseph Schmidt. He moved to Traverse City as a...
Carson L. Needham
Feb 19, 2023
Carson L. Needham, age 21, of Traverse City, Michigan, passed away on Sunday, February 19 as a result of a car accident. Carson was in his third year at Northern Michigan University (NMU) pursuing a degree in communications with a minor in music. The greatest passion of Carson's life was music. He fell in love with the rhythm of drums...
Alma M. Cox
Feb 18, 2023
Alma M. (Amen) Cox was born August 6, 1931, to Jacob and Katherine (Frank) Amen in Loveland Colorado. She was the third from the youngest of nine children. The family moved to Mead, Colorado when Alma was six years old, where she graduated from High School. Upon graduation she moved to Denver to live with her sister and she worked...
Helen Ann Niccum
Feb 16, 2023
Helen A. Niccum, age 80, of Grawn passed away peacefully February 16, 2023, in Traverse City, Michigan. Helen was born to Lawrence and Hilda (Stallman) Gauthier on the family homestead in Lake Leelanau on October 6, 1942. She attended St. Mary Catholic School. Helen, born prematurely weighing only three pounds, was later discovered to have cerebral palsy. She was strong-willed...
Barbara Soappman
Feb 16, 2023
Barbara Soappman, 96, of Traverse City, passed away February 16, 2023. She was born to the late Charles and Dora (Dunkle) Allen in Grand Rapids, MI on August 16, 1926. Barb was a graduate of Traverse City High School and attended Asbury College. She was a 26 plus year employee of Consumers Energy. A devoted member of Bayview Wesleyan Church,...
Betsy Arizaga Conant
Feb 16, 2023
Betsy Arizaga Conant Passed away February 16, 2023 Betsy was preceded in death by her mother, Mary (Okie) Limon Arizaga, father Ruben Alfaro Arizaga, daughter, Kristin Brooks. Grandchild Audrey Brooks. Betsy is survived by her husband Keith and son Dylan. Children Christoper Brooks (Jasmine), Robert (Angela) Brooks. Grandchildren, Baylee Brooks, Paisley Brooks, Penelope Brooks. Christopher Brooks Jr, Kristin Brooks. Aleena...
