1921
Garrett
2011
Garrett "Gary" Stevenson
December 19, 1921 — October 8, 2011
Munising
Garrett "Gary" L. Stevenson, age 89, of 504 Birch Street, Munising, died on Saturday evening, October 8, 2011 at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. He was born on December 19, 1921 at the old Munising Pumping Station to the late Guy and Lewella (Chartran) Stevenson. Gary graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School and then attended college. His college career was cut short by WWII when he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. Gary served in the infantry, ordinance and then in finance and was stationed in Guadalcanal. Gary returned to Munising and married Alice H. Niemi on July 2, 1946. They were married over sixty-five years when she preceded him in death on July 16, 2011. He enjoyed the outdoors and sailing on the lake with Alice before their children were born. Even though he stopped sailing years ago, Gary always enjoyed the peace he felt while sailing the waters. He owned and operated Alger County Hardware for many years and retired in the 1980s and was part of the local downtown development. He always enjoyed athletics and remained physically active throughout his life. Gary enjoyed walking, riding his bike, playing volleyball and dancing. He could really cut a rug. Gary was part of a musically talented family. Alice would play the piano and he and his brothers would sing four part harmony. Gary sang at many weddings, funerals and Masonic installations. He contributed generously to the local music scene. He directed the First Presbyterian choir over thirty years, organized the Vanguards men's chorale and the popular "Fifty Voice Choir" and participated in the Marquette Chorale Society for many years. Gary was a gifted musician and played with many different groups over the years; Munising City Band, the Dixie Downbeats, the Clown Band and the Superior Swing Band. The big band talents of the Superior Swing Band played all over the U.P. including the President's Ball at NMU, many New Year's Eves at the Landmark and the GOP Michigan Conference on Mackinaw Island. Gary was a lifetime member of the Musicians Union out of Green Bay. He was also a member of the American Legion and the Munising Lions Club. Gary was a tenderhearted man with a wonderful sense of humor who could banter with the best of them.
He is survived by children - Susan (Byron) Schopp of Holt, Michigan and Jeffrey (Mary) Stevenson of Marquette; grandchildren - Charles Schopp of Florida, Melissa (Tom) Bennett of Holt, Jeremy (Jennifer) Schopp of Fowlerville, Michigan, Bryony (Tony) Fiori of Holt, Jacob Schopp of Holt, Brett (Jamie) Stevenson of Coleman, Michigan, Kristy (Joshua) Burt of Marquette and Daniel (Jessica) Stevenson of Marquette; step-grandchildren - Rebecca (Michael) Duke of Bronson, MI and Benjamin Bocklund of Marquette; great-grandchildren - Harley, Nicholas, Sylvia, Madeline, Isaac, Gabriel, Nino, Lorien, Vera, Ryker, Jonah, Hailey, Garrett, Parker, Tori, Eliahna, Mason, Sullivan, Eleanor and Theodore; brother - Thurman (Julia) Stevenson of Munising; sister-in-law - Sylvia Stevenson of Munising; and numerous nieces and nephews. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife Alice, sister Iola Patterson, and brothers George and Murray Stevenson.
Services for Gary will be held on Friday, October 14, 2011. Visiting time with family and friends will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Munising at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery where Alger County Veterans and American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
Garrett "Gary" L. Stevenson, age 89, of 504 Birch Street, Munising, died on Saturday evening, October 8, 2011 at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. He was born on December 19, 1921 at the old Munising Pumping Station to the late Guy and Lewella (Chartran) Stevenson. Gary graduated from Wm. G. Mather High School and then attended college. His college career was cut short by WWII when he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. Gary served in the infantry, ordinance and then in finance and was stationed in Guadalcanal. Gary returned to Munising and married Alice H. Niemi on July 2, 1946. They were married over sixty-five years when she preceded him in death on July 16, 2011. He enjoyed the outdoors and sailing on the lake with Alice before their children were born. Even though he stopped sailing years ago, Gary always enjoyed the peace he felt while sailing the waters. He owned and operated Alger County Hardware for many years and retired in the 1980s and was part of the local downtown development. He always enjoyed athletics and remained physically active throughout his life. Gary enjoyed walking, riding his bike, playing volleyball and dancing. He could really cut a rug. Gary was part of a musically talented family. Alice would play the piano and he and his brothers would sing four part harmony. Gary sang at many weddings, funerals and Masonic installations. He contributed generously to the local music scene. He directed the First Presbyterian choir over thirty years, organized the Vanguards men's chorale and the popular "Fifty Voice Choir" and participated in the Marquette Chorale Society for many years. Gary was a gifted musician and played with many different groups over the years; Munising City Band, the Dixie Downbeats, the Clown Band and the Superior Swing Band. The big band talents of the Superior Swing Band played all over the U.P. including the President's Ball at NMU, many New Year's Eves at the Landmark and the GOP Michigan Conference on Mackinaw Island. Gary was a lifetime member of the Musicians Union out of Green Bay. He was also a member of the American Legion and the Munising Lions Club. Gary was a tenderhearted man with a wonderful sense of humor who could banter with the best of them.
He is survived by children - Susan (Byron) Schopp of Holt, Michigan and Jeffrey (Mary) Stevenson of Marquette; grandchildren - Charles Schopp of Florida, Melissa (Tom) Bennett of Holt, Jeremy (Jennifer) Schopp of Fowlerville, Michigan, Bryony (Tony) Fiori of Holt, Jacob Schopp of Holt, Brett (Jamie) Stevenson of Coleman, Michigan, Kristy (Joshua) Burt of Marquette and Daniel (Jessica) Stevenson of Marquette; step-grandchildren - Rebecca (Michael) Duke of Bronson, MI and Benjamin Bocklund of Marquette; great-grandchildren - Harley, Nicholas, Sylvia, Madeline, Isaac, Gabriel, Nino, Lorien, Vera, Ryker, Jonah, Hailey, Garrett, Parker, Tori, Eliahna, Mason, Sullivan, Eleanor and Theodore; brother - Thurman (Julia) Stevenson of Munising; sister-in-law - Sylvia Stevenson of Munising; and numerous nieces and nephews. Gary was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife Alice, sister Iola Patterson, and brothers George and Murray Stevenson.
Services for Gary will be held on Friday, October 14, 2011. Visiting time with family and friends will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home from 11:00 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Munising at 2:00 p.m. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery where Alger County Veterans and American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors.
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