Lorraine Gariepy
April 3, 1932 — August 6, 2017
Munising
Lorraine Gariepy, age 85, of Munising, died Sunday, August 6, 2017 at UP Health Systems – Marquette surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 3, 1932 to the late Bror and Helmi (Kangas) Carlson. Bror was in the Coast Guard and in 1933, the family moved to Munising to open up the Coast Guard Station in town. Lorraine grew up on Sand Point Road and graduated from William G. Mather High School in 1950. After high school, Lorraine worked as a telephone operator in Munising and spent time in Detroit working for Vernors and Sanders Chocolate. She married Leo Robert Gariepy on September 27, 1952 and they raised their five children on Sand Point Road until 1971 when they moved to town. Leo and Lorraine owned and operated the Delft Theater for ten years. She also worked at Lester’s Jewelry for Picky and Arlene Posont and at the Pictured Rocks Cruises in the summer. Lorraine was a member of St. Ann’s Circle. She loved spending time at the beach at Sand Point, flower gardening, weekly Thursday get-togethers with friends, cooking, and opening up her home to family and friends on the 4th of July following the parade.
She is survived by her five children – Bob (Allie) Gariepy of Prudenville, MI, Jack (Mary Jo) Gariepy of Munising, Jim (Lynn) Gariepy of Munising, Bill (Char) Gariepy of Macomb Township, MI, and Ruth (Randy) Rezler of Bay City, Michigan; nine grandchildren – Gretchen (Kurt), Natalie (David), Pat, Jennifer (Corey), Lindsey (Todd), Brian (Rachelle), Mackenzie, Blair, and Ryan (Christy); eleven great-grandchildren; sister – Lenore Starzyk of Munising; brother-in-law – Fran (Beverly) Gariepy of AuTrain; and numerous nieces and nephews. Lorraine was preceded in death by her parents, husband Leo on July 23, 1981, and brother-in-law Joseph Starzyk.
Friends and family will gather to celebrate her life at her home in Munising on Saturday, August 19, 2017 starting at 2:00 p.m. Memorials in Lorraine’s name are requested to be made to the Alger Animal Shelter.