Charlene Ann Belfry

Charlene Ann Belfry, age 88, of Munising, died surrounded by her girls following a brief illness at her home on Sunday, May 24, 2020.  She was born on August 31, 1931 in Jackson, Michigan, daughter of Donald and Marcia (Sebright) Freeland.  Char moved to Munising at a young age and lived with the Andrew and Alice Soukup family.  She graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1949.  Char married Theodore “Ted” Belfry and together raised their six daughters.  She worked at Denman’s Department Store, Montgomery Wards, CCI in the veneer mill, and for UPPCO.  Char retired from UPPCO.  She and Ted and their friends loved Grand Island.  It was always great when the women would out fish the men.  Char was an excellent seamstress who made clothing for her daughters, drapes, slip covers, and Halloween costumes.  She and her bowling team would spend weeks in preparation on their costumes for Halloween.  Char knew how to laugh, love, and have fun.  She enjoyed cards with friends, crossword puzzles, and playing cribbage with her brother Jim.  Char’s best friend and “partner in crime”, Phyllis Baij, died nine days before Char.  It is easy to imagine the two of them reunited and in perfect health laughing together again.  Char was the wife of a fireman and fire chief for over forty-two years.  When the funeral home got to her home on Sunday evening, the nine o’clock fire whistle blew and her girls knew it was Ted calling her home.

She is survived by five daughters – Donna Kolbus of Munising, Roxanne (Doug) Peters of Munising, Tedi Ann Belfry of Phoenix, AZ, Patty Belfry of Marquette, and Susan Belfry of Marquette; son-in-law – Pat Sadler of Wetmore; grandchildren – Derek, Deidre, Ryan, Karly, Nathan, Chelsea, Courtney, Kayla, Brandon, and Morgan; Step Grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; brother – Jim Butcher; sisters Christine and Kathleen; special niece – Kim Steinhoff Graves; and numerous nieces and nephews.   Char was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ted, their daughter Becky Sadler, grandson Michael Kolbus, great-granddaughters Sarah and Tessa Kolbus, mother-in-law – Evelyn Belfry, and her brother Douglas Butcher.

No public services will be held.