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Joseph Augustine Gant
Joseph Augustine Gant died of complications of a stroke in his City of Grosse Pointe home on Thursday, April 20, 2000. He was 77.
Mr. Gant was born in Detroit and was a 1941 graduate of St. Paul High School and a 1950 graduate of the University of Detroit. He served as private first class in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was retired from U.S. Army Tacom and General Motors.
Mr. Gant was a parishioner of St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic Church, a member of Parents Without Partners and the proud owner of his dog, Buddy, a Sheltie.
Mr. Gant is survived by four daughters, Rosemary, Katherine Seely-Gant, Sylvia Lotito and Claudia Winter; a son, Joseph Jr.; two sisters, Rosemary and Patricia Smith; three brothers, William, Lawrence and Jerome; and 11 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter, Constance, and a sister, Josephine Welch.
A funeral service for Mr. Gant was held Monday, April 24, at A.H. Peters Funeral Home. Interment is at Mount Olivet cemetery in Detroit.
Memorial gifts may be sent to University of Detroit Mercy College of Engineering and Science, P.O. Box 19900, Detroit, MI 48219-0900.
Gilbert Elias Metry
Former Grosse Pointe Park resident Gilbert Elias Metry, of Harsens Island, died of congestive heart failure Friday, April 28, 2000, at St. John Hospital and Medical Center. He was 69.
Mr. Metry was born in Detroit and was a 1952 graduate of Wayne State University and a 1955 graduate of Wayne State University Law School. He was an attorney with Metry, Metry & Metry and owner of Grews Inn Restaurant.
Mr. Metry was a member of the Michigan Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Detroit Bar Association, the Arab American Bar Association, the Macomb County Bar Association, the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association and Delta Theta Phi. He was the former president of the Grosse Pointe Park Little League and enjoyed boating and horseback riding.
Mr. Metry is survived by his wife, Eva; a daughter Lori Kenny; two sons Mark and Dean; two sisters, Donna Muawad and Sally Conner; a brother, Frederick; and two grandchildren.
A funeral service for Mr. Metry was held at St. George Orthodox Church on Monday, May 1. Interment is at Resurrection cemetery in Clinton Township. Funeral arrangements were handled by Verheyden Funeral Home.
Edna F. Stanley
Edna F. Stanley died Monday, April 24, 2000, at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak.
Mrs. Stanley, 82, was born in Glendale, Md., and was a resident of Winter Park, Fla., and Birmingham and was a former Grosse Pointe Park resident. She was a volunteer at Bon Secours Hospital for many years and enjoyed reading, bridge and spending time with her family.
Mrs. Stanley is survived by five daughters, Kathie Llewellyn, Mary Tremonti, Alice Heist, Peggy Jerskey and Susie Schneider; two sons, John and J. Thomas; 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, J. Pearson.
A funeral service for Mrs. Stanley was held Thursday, April 27, at Lynch & Sons Funeral Home in Clawson.
Memorial gifts may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 539 Lane, Memphis, TN 38105.
Walter J. Tyrrell
Died: Thursday, April 17, 2008
Age: 74
Former Grosse Pointe Shores resident Walter J. Tyrrell, 74, was called home Thursday, April 17, 2008, in Keego Harbor.
He was born in Detroit to Walter and Alice Dueweke Tyrrell and lived for many years as a child and again as an adult on Vernier Road. He graduated from Grosse Pointe High School in 1955. He worked for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 58 for 52 years, retiring in 1996.
Friends and family knew Mr. Tyrrell by a myriad of nicknames: Mickey, Wally, Ty-Rap and the Old Codge.
He enjoyed fishing and hunting with his beloved dog, Dewers.
He also enjoyed golfing, playing pool and spending time with his brother, Bob. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
His family said some of his fondest memories of his youth were spending time with his mother at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club where she worked.
Mr. Tyrell is survived by his wife, Ruby Tyrrell; former wife, Jan Tyrrell; son, Terry "TJ" (Shawn) Tyrrell; daughters, Holly (Derek) Langton, Cheri "Chea" (Joe) Radzwion, and Shellie (Christopher) Tyrrell-Herman; stepsons, Daniel "Danny" (Melissa) Blaszkiewicz and Clayton "Clay" (Kelly) Siple Jr.; and stepdaughter, Wendy (Tom) Steiger.
He also is survived by his grandchildren, Katie, Chea, and Brooke Tyrrell, Morgan and Taylor "T.J." Couvreur, Alec Langton, Joe and James Radzwion and Adelaide "Addie" Herman; stepgranchildren, David, Taryn, Christian and Kennedy Blaszkiewicz, Cody and Logan Steiger, and Damon, Jessica and Connor Siple.
He also is survived by his sister, Helen (Bob) Ross; and brothers, Virgil "Bud" (the late Fran) Tyrrell, Patrick (Patricia "Pete") Tyrrell, and Robert (Sharon) Tyrrell.
He was predeceased by his parents; son-in-law, Daniel Couvreur; sister, Virginia Hentges; and brothers, Donald and William.
Services were arranged by S.K. Schultz Funeral Home of Clinton Township.
Memorial donations may be made to Cranbrook Hospice, 281 Enterprise Court, Suite 200, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 or the American Cancer Society, 20450 Civic Center Dr., Southfield, MI 48076.
Raymond R. Tessmer
Died: Saturday, April 24, 2010
Age: 98
Longtime Grosse Pointe Park resident and Detroit auto dealer Raymond R. "Trader Ray" Tessmer, 98, died Saturday, April 24, 2010.
Born June 6, 1911, he grew up on the family farm at the corner of 12 Mile Road and Dequindre in Warren. As a youngster, he would wake at 2 a.m. with his dad and ride under the seat of a horse drawn wagon on its way to Detroit's Eastern Market for the 6 a.m. opening.
As a boy, he loved tinkering with his dad's Model-T Ford, changing clutch belts when his dad didn't know it, and nurturing a mechanical desire to work at an auto dealership one day. His first job was at Ed Schmidt Chevrolet as a parts and service helper in 1927.
In 1930, he was hired by C & R Chevrolet after someone recommended him as "a young fellow who can make any car run."
By 1932, a new owner bought the dealership with the help of loans from Mr. Tessmer and the dealership's bookkeeper Rose Knauf. Shortly thereafter, Ray and Rose became husband and wife.
Over the next 10 years, Mr. Tessmer and his partner bought several other franchises. When his partner purchased Jefferson Chevrolet in Detroit in 1942, Mr. Tessmer purchased a 25 percent interest in the dealership and worked full-time as its general manager.
In 1953, Mr. Tessmer purchased sole ownership of Jefferson Chevrolet and quickly made his mark by implementing 24-hour service.
He earned his nickname "Trader Ray" by accepting almost anything that could be appraised as down payment on a vehicle. He used everything from odd jewelry to the occasional cow as down payment. He was a self promoter on area signs with his picture and "Trader Ray" became a Detroit area household name.
He was among the first dealers in the area to start a company pension plan and he diversified into the tire wholesale business as well. Many 30- and 40-year employees and their families provide testament to the business he developed.
Mr. Tessmer was a generous and active supporter of many community activities including church paper drives, Soap Box Derbies and hosted several Michigan-Ontario Muskie club parties at the dealership.
He served on the Chevrolet Dealer Council and was also president of the Greater Detroit Chevrolet Dealers Association.
Mr. Tessmer was loved by customers, employees, family and friends alike. He was the life of the party and enjoyed sharing the opportune "friendly drink." His zest for the car business was rooted in a life of service and his legacy as a generous person and great Detroit businessman will not be forgotten by the many lives he touched.
Predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Rosanna, Mr. Tessmer is survived by his daughter, Sandra and her husband Jim; grandchildren, Jimmy, Brian and Stephanie and great-grandchildren, Gabrielle and Grayson.
He also is survived by his sisters, Marie McClennan and Martina (Barney) Novak.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 29, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 15020 Hampton, Grosse Pointe Park. Visitation begins at 10 a.m. at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to Capuchin Soup Kitchen, 1820 Mt. Elliott, Detroit, MI 48207.
Geraldine Marie Brush
Died: Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Age: 83
Former longtime Grosse Pointe Woods resident Geraldine Marie Brush, 83, passed away peacefully Wednesday, April 21, 2010, in Safety Harbor, Fla.
Mrs. Brush, the widow of Alfred W. Brush, was born in Detroit. She loved to read, especially mystery novels. She enjoyed playing bridge and had fond memories of her bridge club in Grosse Pointe with whom she played for many years.
She was devoted to her husband and lovingly cared for him many years after he suffered a major stroke.
Mrs. Brush is survived by her three sons and their families: John "Jack" and his two children, Caroline and Braden; Bradley, his wife, Heather, and their children, Kathryn Roorda, Emily (Michael) Drake and Haley; Bruce and his wife, Marie-Louise and their children, Chene-Marie Klimowicz and Lauren-Elise; and her great-granddaughter, Isabella Drake.
She also is survived by her brothers, Robert and Milton Clark.
A funeral service will be held May 4 in Sylvan Abby Memorial Gardens in Safety Harbor.
George J. DeClerk
Died: Monday, April 19, 2010
Age: 96
Grosse Pointe Farms resident George J. DeClerk, 96, died Monday, April 19, 2010.
He was born July 1, 1913, in Chicago. He was the owner of DeClerk Industries in Center Line until his retirement in 1975.
Mr. DeClerk was a member of the Economic Club of Detroit, Detroit Athletic Club and Circumnavigators Club.
He is survived by his children, Jacqueline (Charles) Cornillie and Dennis (Barbara) DeClerk; three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Mr. DeClerk was predeceased by his wife Evangeline "Angie."
The funeral arrangements were private and handled by Ford Funeral Home in Center Line. Inurnment is in White Chapel cemetery in Troy.
Donations may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
