Dianne "DeeDee" (Soles) St.Amour

Munising

Dianne “DeeDee” St.Amour, age 61, of Munising, died unexpectedly and peacefully in her sleep at her home on Tuesday, November 28, 2017.  She was born on May 15, 1956 to the late Glenn and Rhoda (Root) Soles.  Growing up in Cox Addition, DeeDee was a bit of tomboy and could do anything the boys could do.  She graduated from William G. Mather in 1974.  On June 22, 1974 DeeDee married Robert E. St.Amour, and together they raised their three children.  Shortly after they were married, DeeDee and Bob purchased the A&P Store on Elm Avenue and started their Partnership of over forty years of running Bob’s IGA.  The store became a family affair, first with the kids doing their homework in the office, to them working as clerks and product relocation engineers (stock boy), to even their grandkids working with them side by side.  The responsibility of the store didn’t leave many opportunities for the family to travel, but come summer, DeeDee and Bob would pack the family up and move to Pete’s Lake for some time away.  DeeDee served as the League Secretary for years at Gitche Gumee Lanes. She enjoyed bowling and scoring for the New Moon Team, but her focus was helping all the leagues as secretary.   Another one of Deedee’s volunteer endeavors was the youth group “Underground Dances”.  She helped in starting the dances, to give community kids a safe fun place to hang out.  Even after her children were too old to attend, DeeDee continued to chaperone alongside her husband. DeeDee really loved being a mother and grandmother and that is where she really shone and found happiness. Nurturing and supporting came very natural to her, any needs her kids or grandkids had she was happy to fulfill.  She took on true dance mom role for many of her grandchildren – altering costumes, working at dance recitals, spending time with other dance moms, and chaperoning special dance tournaments states away. She attended sporting events, shared her wisdom teaching card games and strategies, sharing recipes and has taught many how to cook, being a second mom and confidant to her grandkids. She took great pride and joy in her time she spent with her beloved chocolate lab Indy, who passed away years ago.

DeeDee was big into genealogy long before ancestry.com and she would make Bob and kids, at times, sit in the parking lot for hours at court houses all over the state, while she thumbed through records looking for family history.  DeeDee looked forward to her yearly trips with her sister Sharon and their husbands, cruising all over the seas.  Her two favorite cruises were the Trans-Atlantic trips where they got to spend time in Paris and Barcelona.  DeeDee enjoyed watching and feeding the hummingbirds and ducks on the lake, doing ceramics, and monthly dinners with beloved friends Marie and Trish. DeeDee was a great host, amazing cook, and so welcoming to anyone she met.

DeeDee is survived by her husband of forty-three years – Bob St.Amour of Munising; children – Bobbie (Kris) MacArthur of Munising, Amy (Alex) Ostrander of Lake Ann, MI, and Glen (Hope) St.Amour of Ishpeming; grandkids – Emily (Matt), Daniel, Megan, Hunter, Jordan, Jonathon, Leighla, Chloe, Samuel, Angela, and baby Olivia on the way; great-granddaughters – Esther, Maci, and Xyla; brother – Robert (Beth) Soles, brother-in-law – Bill Mookhoek; and numerous other brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Sharon Mookhoek, in-laws Peg and Hoot St.Amour, and beloved family dog Indy.

Visitation will be at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Saturday, December 2, 2017 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m.  Pastor Jason LaFlamme will conduct DeeDee’s funeral at the Munising Baptist Church in Wetmore on Sunday, December 3, 2017 at 1:00 p.m.   Interment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery at a later date.