Glen Arbor Mi

Unplugging to go Up North

For more than 25 years my parents have spent the first two weeks of their summer at a cottage up north in Glen Arbor , a small town about 40 minutes northwest of Traverse City. With the Sleeping Bear sand dunes as the backdrop along the coast of Lake Michigan, the sleepy hamlet wraps around Glen Lake, a shimmering blue pearl nestled into the woodlands.

Every year, after the school year came to a close – my mother is a school teacher – she and my father would pack my brother and I into the car and we'd make our way up to the cottage. I have endless fond memories of these trips. And there is something very reassuring about them all. Whether it’s the smell of the lake and the trees, the ring-toss game that hangs on the wall in the cottage or the perpetual knock of the front door – which is spring loaded, snapping shut against the door jamb as we came and went.

There are countless others. Up until three years ago, I had not been up to Glen Arbor for probably 10 years. Two years ago my wife took our oldest daughter, who was almost one at the time. They had a blast. After they returned home, and we sat down to look over the photos my wife took, I was overcome with jealousy. So much of what Emma had experienced for the first time up there – as I had when I was young – were things that I loved as a kid, things that I wanted so much to experience again with her.

Aside from this, my wife was glowing with pride, gushing about all the fun that she had up there. I could not stand that I had missed out on all of it. So, last year we all made the trip, and as I had expected it was everything I had hoped it would be. But like any great vacation we were sad to see it end. I knew, though, that we would return, and on an annual basis.

Next (generation) up (north)

Last week marked Emma’s third year at the cottage, and the second consecutive one we all spent up there together with my parents. This year we had the addition of our 8-month-old daughter Avery, visiting for her first year. It was incredible. Emma, who will be three the second week of July, was able to engage in so much more on her own, and really surprised us with her memory of her previous visits.

The first indication of this was when Emma turned to my Aunt Lynn – she and my mom’s brother Richard were up for the first weekend – and asked her “Lynn, do you know where all the monkeys are?” We all looked at each other quizzically. We had no idea what she was talking about (which isn’t altogether unusual for Emma), but after about 10 minutes of talking with one another my mom discovered what my daughter was inquiring about.

. » Post Topic » Obituaries

Frances M. Martin died Thursday, June 2, 2011 at the age of 101. Fran has lived in the Bradenton area since 1975 coming from St. Johns and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns. She was predeceased by her husband John, daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Eugene DePuy, granddaughter Julie Rann and grandson Michael DePuy.

Surviving is her daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and William Wiseman of Bradenton; three grandchildren, Marty (Jerri) DePuy, Shelly DePuy and Dianne ( John Stuart) Rann and six great grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place and graveside services at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns will be on June 27th at 11:00 A.M.. Memorials may be made to Tide Well Hospice, Inc. 5955 Rand Blvd. Sarasota, FL 34238. The family was assisted with these arrangements by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home , St. Johns, MI

Joshua L. Thoma

Joshua L. Thoma, 28 of St. Johns, MI died Sunday, June 19, 2011 following a motorcycle accident. Josh was born on Nov. 11, 1982 in St. Johns, MI the son of Douglas and Lynne (LeDuke) Thoma. He graduated from St. Johns High School in 2001, and on July 7, 2007 he married Nichole Huhn in St. Johns. Josh was employed by Android Industries, a supplier for General Motors working as a team leader. He enjoyed motorcycles, dirt bikes and working on vehicles.

He is survived by his wife, Nichole, son Dylan at home, mother Lynne Thoma and friend Steve Valley, of St. Johns, father Douglas (Nancy) Thoma of Bancroft. Grandmother Noreen (Forest) Hunnicutt of St. Johns, grandfather, William Thoma of Fowler, sister, Rebecca (David) Kuzdek of New Hudson, MI, brother Brent Thoma of St. Johns, half sister, Amy Thoma of Glen Arbor, MI., step sister Kaycie Kingman of Bancroft, half sister, Shannon Thoma of Bancroft, half brother Douglas Thoma of Bancroft, niece Mahayla Miller of New Hudson, MI, mother-in-law Linda Huhn of St. Johns, and father-in-law, Kurt Huhn of Yuma, AZ. He was preceded in death by daughter, Leighla, grandmother Virginia Thoma and grandfather David LeDuke.

The family will receive friends and relatives at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home , St. Johns on Thursday, June 23, 2011, 2-8 P.M. Funeral services will be held at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, on Friday, June 24, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Eric Branch officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI. Memorials may be given for Dylan’s Education or to The Childhood Cancer Society.

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