Michelle (Benchina) Grimm

Michelle (nee Benchina) Grimm, age 43, of Shingleton, died on Thursday morning, March 5, 2015 at her home under the loving care of her family and North Woods Hospice. She was born on September 5, 1971 in Munising to Thomas and Helen (Dolaskie) Benchina. Michelle was raised in Shingleton and graduated from Munising High School in 1989. She was always a hard worker and during high school worked at Tendercare. On May 19, 1995, Michelle married Gary Michael Grimm and together they raised their two sons. From 1997 until 2002, she worked at Timber Products. In the fall of 2002, Michelle began taking classes at Bay de Noc Community College and became an L.P.N. While working at Tendercare and taking classes to become an R.N., she was diagnosed in 2006 with Leiomyosarcoma. Michelle began her battle with cancer and following her treatments and radiation at the Cancer Treatment Centers in Zion, Illinois, she proudly finished her schooling to become a Registered Nurse. She worked at Tendercare and then the Jacobetti Home for Veterans in Marquette. Michelle loved working with the Veterans and she considered her co-workers her second family. She enjoyed reading and taking walks, and Michelle was lovingly opinionated. Michelle touched many lives throughout her life... before and during her courageous battle. She was extremely compassionate to other people and animals. Michelle was always concerned about others and always put others before herself.

She is survived by her husband of almost twenty years - Gary Grimm, Sr. of Shingleton; their sons - Gary Grimm, Jr. and Cody Grimm of Shingleton; her parents - Tom and Helen Benchina of Shingleton; brother - Tommy (Charissa) Benchina of Kalamazoo, MI; sister - Carrie (Jeff) Robinson of Blacklick, OH; nieces and nephews - Cassidy and Logan Benchina and Keegan and Chase Robinson; father-in-law - John Grimm of Georgia; brother-in-law - Troy Grimm of Kansas; sister-in-law - Michelle Bishop of Kansas; godparents - Brenda and Don Watson of Wetmore; aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and co-workers. Michelle was preceded in death by her grandparents Joe and Alice Dolaskie and Frank and Josephine Benchina.

Services will be held at the Bowerman Funeral Home in Munising on Monday, March 9, 2015. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m until 4:00 p.m. Michelle's funeral service will be held in the funeral home's chapel at 4:00 p.m.

Her family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the nurses, aides, and staff at Tendercare and North Woods Hospice, and to the many friends who have shown such an outpouring of love for Michelle and the family.

Memorials in Michelle's name are requested to be directed to The Sarcoma Foundation of America, 9899 Main Street - Suite 204, Damascus, MD 20872 or www.curesarcoma.org