Alice Denman

Alice Grace Johnson Denman, lifelong resident of Alger County, died on August, 28, 2013. She was 86. Born in Sundell, MI, she touched the hearts of those she met. Friends and family remember her as a thoughtful and loving sibling, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Alice married John "Jack" Bernard Denman (deceased) in 1948, and they had two children: Phyllis Grace Denman Aken and James Brady Denman. Alice and her husband operated Denman's Hardware in Munising. They were in business for nearly 60 years.
Eben High School classmates referred to Alice as the "Queen of Eben HS." She cherished her friends and truly enjoyed their company. In later years, they met for coffee, lunch or at one of those Happy Birthday luncheons set up by her daughter, Phyllis.
Alice made it easy to enjoy her company as well as her stuffed turkey dinner, cabbage salad, and baked beans (all recipes she created/tested/retested)! Her son-in-law, Bernie, asked if he could call her "mom" before even marrying her daughter, Phyllis. For Phyllis, her mom was the sister she never had and definitely a best friend. When Alice came to live with Bernie and Phyllis for a few years in Texas, it felt to them like she was always meant to live in their home.
Alice's brother, Carl H. Johnson, was known to walk the halls of Harbour View Assisted Living and Tendercare with her. Caregivers noted they looked like two little kids walking with their heads together (still on the farm in Sundell). Her sister, Helen Lubenow, is deceased.
For many years, Alice's son Jim showed his affection with hugs, many hugs, and she would always take one more -- especially the big bear hugs.
Alice has always had a special place in her heart for children. Even though her first grandchild, Kimberly (Aken), lived in NY, she always found time to call, write or even visit NY. It was a big deal when Kim came to Munising. Alice always made sure Kimberly knew how much her grandma loved her. Kimberly grew up to be an Infectious Disease Doctor who married a General Surgeon. Drs. Semyon (aka Sam) and Kimberly Gambarin were always on speed dial when it came to comprehensive care for Grandma Alice (or Grandpa Jack). When Alice was in Sam's hospital in Texas, he would go to her room after each of his surgeries. After one of her many "thank yous" for his visits, Sam turned to her with a big smile and said in jest, "Please don't tell my peers how many times I have been here. Remember, I am a surgeon, and I have been to see you many times today without performing any surgeries!!!" Alice was Kim's beloved grandma, but Sam was right there checking charts and telling everyone to be sure to take care of "my wife's grandma." She had his heart, too.
The very kind and thoughtful Alice always created a positive environment. She made the best of every day. Phyllis recalls her mother working at the hardware store, checking cash register receipts at night, doing the accounting bookwork, the housework, the meals, and the laundry; but she still offered to take care of her grandson (Jason Denman) in the morning after his parents divorced. This was not a chore. Alice did not just babysit, she made sure to play games and to teach her grandson the alphabet and more. She would call Phyllis long distance in NY to ask about books and other new materials that Phyllis used teach Kimberly so that she could similarly teach Jason.
Then along came Great-granddaughter, Elena (Gambarin), who was born with Alice's beautiful blonde hair and big heart. The day Alice arrived in Austin for her extended stay with Bernie and Phyllis, Elena was also going to stay overnight. She greeted her great-grandmother with a hug, two stuffed animals and a plastic horse. She told Great-grandma Alice that she had named the horse," Alice," after her. In what seemed like an Alice moment, Elena turned to her Grandma Phyllis and said, "Since this is Grandma Alice's first night in a strange place, would it be ok if I slept with her? I have a stuffed animal to share." Elena also explained that Grandma Phyllis had Grandpa Bernie to keep her company at night, but that Grandma Alice did not have anyone in a strange bed.
Although Alice did not have the opportunity know her grandson Brian Johnson well, she had a special place in her heart for him. She confided in her daughter that she saw young Brian at his maternal grandfather's funeral. She said it took all her energy to not just run over and hug him. She held back her feelings as she did not want to overstep her place because Brian's parents were at odds at the time. She was pleased to meet him later in life, but always wished she knew him better.
Alice also leaves two other beautiful great-grandchildren, Jonah and Aili Denman.
Alice created an environment that gave us all the opportunity to be better people. The family hopes you will do something nice for someone (especially a child) in Alice's honor.
A memorial Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at 10 a.m. followed by a time to remember Alice in Sacred Heart's LaMothe Hall.