Iris June Gager

Iris June Gager, age 72, of E3338 H-44 Limestone, died Friday morning, September 20, 2013 at her home surrounded by her loving family and the care of Lake Superior Hospice. She was born on October 16, 1940 in Munising, Michigan to Russell and Marjorie (McLeod) McClellan. Iris grew up in Van Meer. She worked at the Brownstone, Club Majestic, and the retirement home in Chatham. She married James "Sam" Manolakis in 1962 and they had two children - Michele and James, Jr. They lived in Gary, Indiana and in 1976, she relocated to Chatham and then to Seney. Iris worked at the Lakefield Nursing Home as a nurse's aide. She married Roger L. Gager on July 28, 1984 in Limestone. Iris moved to Limestone to help care for her parents. She worked for Senior Meals in Chatham for six years and then retired. Iris was a past member of the Germfask/Seney Lioness Club. She loved to read and could finish a book in a day. Iris and Roger gardened and together they canned around 1000 quarts each year. She enjoyed drawing when she was younger, she enjoyed being outside, and she was a good cook.
She is survived by her husband - Roger Gager of Limestone; children - Michele Hayward of Munising and James Manolakis, Jr. of Munising; step-children - Shelly (Don) Gillespie of Howell, MI, Debra (Daryl) Kalnbach of Lakefield, MI, Rebecca ("Red") Evans of Ontario, Canada, Alicia (Glenn) Kalnbach of Lakefield, MI, and Leonard Gager of Limestone; siblings - Bill McClellan of Wisconsin, Neil (Betty) Moore of Chatham, Jim (Karen) Moore of Negaunee, Terry (Randy) VanDerAa of Kingsport, TN, Tom (Katie) Moore of Chatham, and Tim (Gail) Moore of Bryant, WI; seventeen grandchildren; and numerous great grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins. Iris was preceded in death by her parents - Russell McClellan and James and Marjorie Moore, and siblings - Fern McClellan, Wayne McClellan, and Edward McClellan.
Services will be held at the Sion Lutheran Church in Chatham on Monday, September 23, 2013. Visiting time with family and friends will be from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Pastor Paul Kelto will conduct Iris' memorial service at 12:00 noon. Interment will be at the Limestone Township Cemetery.