Search Archived Marriage Records
Dr. Arthur A. Ulmer
Dr. Arthur A. Ulmer, 79, of Grosse Pointe Shores, a practicing physician for 52 years, died on Monday, Dec. 10, 2001, at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit.
Dr. Ulmer graduated from Wayne State University Medical School, with distinction and honors, in 1947. After completing his internship at Detroit Receiving Hospital, he began a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Hutzel Hospital. It was interrupted by his service as a doctor in the United States Navy from 1951 through 1953.
He practiced obstetrics and gynecology from 1955 to 1997, delivering more than 12,000 babies.
Retired from the staff of St. John Hospital and Medical Center, he had also been associated with Detroit's Women's Hospital, Deaconess Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital and the Eastside General Hospital.
Other highlights of his medical career include his 30-year membership in the Wayne County Medical Society, including a term as president in 1977. He was twice elected chief of staff of St. John Hospital and Medical Center and was also chosen instructor of the year several times. He served as a member of the Michigan State Medical Society Board of Directors for nine years. He was a member of the American Medical Association and also a member of the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Michigan Board of Directors for nine years. In addition, he served as president and treasurer of the Detroit Medical Club, and served on the Michigan State OB/GYN Mortality Board for 54 years. This past year, he was elected president of the Wayne State University Medical School Alumni.
Dr. Ulmer was an active member of the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church and served as president of the congregation.
His many hobbies included sailing as a member of the Crescent Sail Club, golf, tennis, woodworking and photography. He loved to travel and visited more than 30 countries on six continents. He was a member of the Grosse Pointe Rotary since 1970 and a member of the Grosse Pointe Senior Men's Club since his retirement.
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; sons Lawrence Ulmer, Roger Ulmer, Douglas Ulmer and John Ulmer; daughters Karen Richards and Barbara Guest; 17 grandchildren; brothers Donald Ulmer and Raymond Ulmer and a sister, Mildred Oprek.
Visitation will be on Thursday, Dec. 13 and Friday, Dec. 14, from 3 to 8 p.m., at the A. H. Peters Funeral Home, 20705 Mack in Grosse Pointe Woods. Friends and family may also pay their respects on Saturday, Dec. 15, at 9 a.m., at First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, 800 Vernier in Grosse Pointe Woods, before the 10 a.m. memorial service. Interment will be at Elmwood cemetery in Detroit.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, 800 Vernier Rd., Grosse Pointe Woods MI 48236 or Lutheran Social Services, P. O. Box 441232, Detroit, MI 48244-1232.
Linda M. Watts
Linda M. Watts, 59, beloved wife of Frederick B. Watts, M.D., died at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, of complications from cancer, on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2001.
A onetime resident of Grosse Pointe Woods, Mrs. Watts was born in Detroit and lived in Ann Arbor at the time of her death.
She attended Western Michigan University and was a graduate of the Harper Hospital School of Nursing, class of 1964.
Mrs. Watts was a past president of the Children's Hospital of Michigan Auxiliary and also enjoyed memberships in the Country Club of Detroit, the Junior League of Detroit and Barton Hills Country Club.
Survivors also include her son Frederick B. "Trace" Watts III; her daughter, Laura (Jerry) Wholihan, one grandchild and a brother Philip Peters.
A memorial service was held on Saturday, Nov. 10, at the Verheyden Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Park. Interment is at Woodlawn cemetery in Detroit.
Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Michigan Cancer Center.
Ruth Elizabeth Knisely Brundle
Ruth Elizabeth Knisely Brundle, 91, of Grosse Pointe Farms, died of heart failure on Monday, Dec. 10, 2001, at the St. John Senior Community in Detroit.
Born in Fort Wayne, Ind., Mrs. Brundle graduated from the Detroit Teachers College in 1928.
She was an active member of St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Detroit Review Club. She was also a lifetime member of Alpha Sigma Tau, Theta Chapter.
Mrs. Brundle enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, gardening and reading.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Ann Brundle, one grandchild and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Charles Frederick Brundle.
A memorial service was held on Friday, Dec. 14, at the A. H. Peters Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Woods. Interment is at White Chapel cemetery in Troy.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 375 Lothrop, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236.
Ruth Lois Campbell Gmeiner
Even in her final days, Ruth Gmeiner displayed her sense of humor and quick wit. "When I visited her on Thanksgiving Day I didn't even want to leave the nursing home because we were both laughing so hard," said her grandson Brian Fife.
Mrs. Gmeiner, 89, of St. Clair Shores, died of coronary artery disease on Friday, Dec. 14, 2001, at the St. John Senior Community in Detroit.
Born in Detroit in March of 1912, Ruth Lois Campbell attended Eastern High School and the University of Michigan. She was the daughter of the late Harvey Campbell, president of the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, and his wife Mabel Thosteson.
Ruth married
Wilfred D. "Toot" Gmeiner and enjoyed years of sailing with her husband and three children, Nancy Fife Gibson, Frank "Skip" Gmeiner and the late Douglas Gmeiner. The Detroit Yacht Club was the hub of her activity including the bowling, golf and swimming leagues. In addition, she devoted many years of service to the Harper Hospital Auxiliary, serving as its president.
She will be remembered for her loyalty to her friends and family, her love of music and theater and her sense of enthusiasm.
She is survived by two of her children, 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held on Dec. 17, at the Verheyden Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Park.
Contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or The Detroit News Goodfellows Fund.
Mary Catherine LaNier-Gesell
Grosse Pointe Woods resident Mary Catherine LaNier-Gesell, 67, dear wife of Henry O. Gesell, died of breast cancer on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2001, at Harper Hospital in Detroit.
Born in Clarksburg, W. Va., Mrs. LaNier-Gesell earned a bachelor of arts in liberal studies from Florida International University in 1977.
She began her multi-faceted career as a personnel recruiter and flight attendant for Eastern Airlines, from 1951 to 1978. Between 1979 and 1982, she was the first administrator for the Flagler Center at Daytona Beach Community College. Mrs. LaNier-Gesell was a legislative aide to Sen. Edgar M. Dunn, Jr., from 1982 to 1983 and was later the president of the LaNier Associates from 1983 to 1993.
Her community/professional interests included serving as president for the Compassionate Friends of Ormond Beach, Fla., from 1990 to 1994 and memberships in the Eastern Airlines Silverliners and the Grosse Pointe Garden Club. In addition, she enjoyed gardening, Bible study and travel.
Mrs. LaNier-Gesell is also survived by her sons Douglas C. Traub, David T. Traub and Donald E. Traub; one grandchild, Catherine Elizabeth Traub and her brother, William "Bil"' Childs of Hurricane, W. Va. She was predeceased by her son Daniel H. Traub.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 29, at 2 p.m., at the Tomoka Christian Church in Ormond Beach, Fla.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Tomoka Christian Church, 1151 W. Granada, Ormond Beach, FL 32174.
Margaret L. Layson
Margaret L. Layson, 88, died on Friday, Dec. 14, 2001, at Bon Secours Hospital in Grosse Pointe.
Born in Jamestown, N.Y., on June 20, 1913, to Evas and Clarence Lemmon, Mrs. LaysonÕs family settled in Detroit in 1930. She graduated from Northwestern High School in 1932 and attended City College (Wayne State) and then Management Training for the Fred Sanders Company.
The Fred Sanders Company was home for Margaret. She spent 30 years in store management. She completed her career there as the superintendent of the commissary for the Oakman Boulevard plant. After leaving Sanders, she served as the catering and house manager at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. In 1970, she joined a longtime friend and opened a gift and decoupage shop, Wick and Willow, first on Kercheval in Grosse Pointe Park and later on Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Farms.
,She was an avid golfer and a member of the Detroit Yacht Club Thursday morning golf group. She also enjoyed travel, needle pointing and caring for others.
Margaret was an active member of the Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church, Grosse Pointe Women of Wayne, Detroit Womens City Club, Salvation Army Auxiliary, Cottage Hospital Auxiliary and the Womens Republican Committee.
She is survived by a nephew, Dr. Michael (Sandy) Wilson; a niece, Patricia Wilson Rohloff; cousins Margaret (James) Fetrow and Martha (Kenneth) Cochraine and two great-nieces and nephews. In addition, she was the Godmother of Spencer (Becky) Perry and a surrogate aunt to the Kenneth (Karen) Hollidge and Gary (Wendy) Hollidge families. Margaret was predeceased by her brothers Robert Lemmon, Jack W. Lemmon and a sister Patricia Lemmon Wilson.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2002, at 1 p.m., at the Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church, 211 Moross Road in Grosse Pointe Farms.
Contributions in her name may be made to the Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church Memorial Committee, 211 Moross Rd., Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236.
Howard R. Poppen
Howard R. Poppen, 94, died Sunday, Dec. 16, 2001, at Providence Hospital in Southfield.
Mr. Poppen was born on May 8, 1907 and was a resident of Grosse Pointe for 50 years.
He enjoyed memberships in the Harper Woods Rotary Club, the Grosse Pointe MenÕs Garden Club, the Senior MenÕs Club of Grosse Pointe and the Grosse Pointe United Church. He was also a life member of the CLU.
Mr. Poppen is survived by his daughters Janet (Phillip) Carr, Judy (Charles) Hanneman and Joyce (Matthew) Quinn; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren and a brother Robert Poppen. He was predeceased by his wife Grayce.
Arrangements were handled by the OÕBrien/Sullivan Funeral Home in Novi. Interment is at Springdale cemetery in Peoria, Ill.
Memorial gifts may be given to the AlzheimerÕs Association and Hospice of Michigan.
