George R. Stephens

Munising             George R. Stephens, age 78, of Connors Road, Munising, died following a brief illness late Friday morning, November 19, 2010 at the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette with his daughters at his side.   George was born in Munising on November 7, 1932 to the late Russell and Margarite (Mee) Stephens.  He graduated from Sacred Heart School and then from Wm. G. Mather High School in 1950.  George served in the U.S Navy on the U.S.S. Randolph from 1950 - 1953.  He returned home and sailed the Great Lakes for the U.S. Steel Corporation on the George Baker, Governor Miller and the William Palmer ore boats.  George went to work at Kimberly Clark in the Engineering Dept in 1956.  Upon completion of his apprenticeship training, he became a Machinist in 1959.  During the strike at the mill, George returned back to the ore industry and spent those months back on the Lakes.  In 1992, George retired from Kimberly Clark with 35 ½ years of service at the Munising mill.  On June 1, 1957, he had married Nancy Ann Casey and they together raised their five children.   George and Nancy's unconditional and never failing love and care of their family and son Patrick was an inspiration to all.  George was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Church.  He and Nancy enjoyed square dancing together with the Hiawatha Hillbillies.  George was a dedicated member and Past President of the Munising Booster Club.  He was honored as Volunteer of the Year for his hard work at football games and track meets.   He also was a U.P. Finals Track official for many years.  George volunteered at the Senior Center, helped as Assistant Scout Master for the Boy Scouts and enjoyed cross country skiing, ski jumping (in his younger years), canoeing, hunting, fishing, blueberry picking and walking the boardwalk at Sand Point.   He was a loving and giving man who was always taking care of someone.  He truly loved his family and was awarded the Alger County Grandparent of the Year after being nominated by his granddaughter Chelsea.                                   George is survived by four children - Richard (Fatima) Stephens of Cairo, Egypt, Mary (Mark) Doolittle of AuTrain, Tom (Amanda Smith) Stephens of Munising and Katherine (Steve Anthony) Cota of Marquette; grandchildren - Chelsea (Jeff) Martin, Josh Gatiss, Cheyenne Cota, Chad Stephens, Dena Stephens and Suzie Stephens; great-grandchildren - Morgan and Jeffrey Martin; brother - William Stephens of Kissimmee, Fl; sisters - Dorothy Kuenzer of Sault Ste. Marie, Margaret "Ummie" Boguth of Port Huron, Betty Lane of Munising and Norma Secreast of Munising; brother-in-law - Jim (Deb) Casey of Munising; and numerous nieces and nephews.   George was preceded in death by his parents, wife of over fifty-one years Nancy, son Patrick Joseph Stephens, brother John Stephens, sister Ruth Fitzgerald and in-laws Ray Kuenzer, Maurice Boguth, James Lane, Walfred Latvala, Wig Fitzgerald and Jerry Secreast.            Visitation will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Friday, November 26, 2010 from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m.   A Parish Vigil Service and time for sharing stories will be held at 7:00 p.m.   Father Chris Gardiner will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, November 27, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Munising.   Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery where the Alger County Veterans Council and American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors.              George's family would like to especially thank the Commission on Aging, the Alzheimer's Club and the Jacobetti Veterans Home for making the past few years fun.