1930
Betty
2009
Betty Jean Rohac
July 9, 1930 — February 18, 2009
Munising
Betty Jean Rohac, age 78, of West Shore Drive, Munising, died following a lengthy illness with Alzheimer's Disease on Wednesday evening, February 18, 2009. Because of the loving care of her family and friends, she was able to die at her home overlooking her beloved Lake Superior. Betty was born on July 9, 1930 in Clarksville, Tennessee to the late John and Anne (Arms) Kelly. She was raised in Detroit and graduated from Nursing School at Henry Ford. She met Al Rohac while he was a patient at Henry Ford Hospital, they were married, and together raised four children. Their family moved to Owosso and they opened their first drive-in restaurant, while Betty car-hopped during the day and worked night shift at the hospital. In 1964, Betty and Al moved their children to the Upper Peninsula and they purchased the Northern Motel (which is now the Days Inn.) They also opened two additional restaurants in Escanaba and Marquette called Big Al's. Betty went on to become a successful business woman owning retail, buying and selling real estate, and was an integral member of the community. She served as President of the Hospital Board for fifteen years and was a major force in preserving Munising Memorial Hospital for the community. Betty was the Chairman of the Board - just like her license plate read. Col. John Brown, a retired State Police Detective, came into her life in 1977. They together had business ventures and owned the Auction Barn, both of them being auctioneers. They spent over thirty wonderful years together before John preceded her in death on January 17, 2009. Betty was a past active member of Sacred Heart Church. She enjoyed her home on the lake, her dogs (she had a long line of dogs that wandered in and stayed), and her antiques. She loved playing cribbage and had a perfect hand playing against John (who had never in their thousands of cribbage games had a perfect 29). Betty was a strong, independent, brilliant, feisty and wonderful woman. She loved doing nice things for others anonymously and was known for her generosity.
She is survived by four children - Kim Rohac of AuTrain, Jana (Bob) Lake of Boone, NC, Tim (Lana) Rohac of Denver, CO, and Steve (Vickie) Rohac of Aurora, CO; grandchildren who loved their NeNe - Yana Keown, Luke Bengal, Bobby and Steve Lake, Vanessa Rohac, and Stevie and Axel Rohac; sister - Billie Buchinski of South Lyon, MI; four nieces and nephews - Michael, Lee, Caroline, and Jeff; and her "other children" - dogs Sam and Buddy.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Sunday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A prayer service and time for sharing of stories and memories will be held at 8:00 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, February 23, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising.
Memorials in memory of Betty are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association or the Alger County Animal Shelter.
Betty Jean Rohac, age 78, of West Shore Drive, Munising, died following a lengthy illness with Alzheimer's Disease on Wednesday evening, February 18, 2009. Because of the loving care of her family and friends, she was able to die at her home overlooking her beloved Lake Superior. Betty was born on July 9, 1930 in Clarksville, Tennessee to the late John and Anne (Arms) Kelly. She was raised in Detroit and graduated from Nursing School at Henry Ford. She met Al Rohac while he was a patient at Henry Ford Hospital, they were married, and together raised four children. Their family moved to Owosso and they opened their first drive-in restaurant, while Betty car-hopped during the day and worked night shift at the hospital. In 1964, Betty and Al moved their children to the Upper Peninsula and they purchased the Northern Motel (which is now the Days Inn.) They also opened two additional restaurants in Escanaba and Marquette called Big Al's. Betty went on to become a successful business woman owning retail, buying and selling real estate, and was an integral member of the community. She served as President of the Hospital Board for fifteen years and was a major force in preserving Munising Memorial Hospital for the community. Betty was the Chairman of the Board - just like her license plate read. Col. John Brown, a retired State Police Detective, came into her life in 1977. They together had business ventures and owned the Auction Barn, both of them being auctioneers. They spent over thirty wonderful years together before John preceded her in death on January 17, 2009. Betty was a past active member of Sacred Heart Church. She enjoyed her home on the lake, her dogs (she had a long line of dogs that wandered in and stayed), and her antiques. She loved playing cribbage and had a perfect hand playing against John (who had never in their thousands of cribbage games had a perfect 29). Betty was a strong, independent, brilliant, feisty and wonderful woman. She loved doing nice things for others anonymously and was known for her generosity.
She is survived by four children - Kim Rohac of AuTrain, Jana (Bob) Lake of Boone, NC, Tim (Lana) Rohac of Denver, CO, and Steve (Vickie) Rohac of Aurora, CO; grandchildren who loved their NeNe - Yana Keown, Luke Bengal, Bobby and Steve Lake, Vanessa Rohac, and Stevie and Axel Rohac; sister - Billie Buchinski of South Lyon, MI; four nieces and nephews - Michael, Lee, Caroline, and Jeff; and her "other children" - dogs Sam and Buddy.
Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Sunday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. A prayer service and time for sharing of stories and memories will be held at 8:00 p.m. Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, February 23, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising.
Memorials in memory of Betty are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association or the Alger County Animal Shelter.
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