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Orvetta B. Moltzau
Orvetta B. Moltzau, 87, a former Grosse Pointe resident, died on Saturday, March 30, 2002, at Tryon Estates, an ACTS Retirement-Life Community at Columbus, N.C.
Ê Mrs. Moltzau came to Grosse Pointe in 1940 as the bride of Hughitt "Hugh" Moltzau who was a teacher at the Grosse Pointe Country Day School. Their two daughters, Paula Lepak, and Ann Bosworth both attended Defer Elementary School and Pierce Middle School before graduating from Grosse Pointe High School.Ê
She was an active member of the Grosse Pointe Congregational Church, served as a Girl Scout leader, and was a member of the Pierce Mothers Club, P.E.O., The Financial Femmes Investment Club, and The Mayflower Society.ÊAt age 85 she wrote a book "Life With My Mom."
The family lived on Berkshire Rd. while her husband was the Training Director at Parke-Davis. After his retirement in the fall of 1979, the family moved to Tryon, N.C., where they built a retirement home in the mountains. Six years ago they moved into a local Life Care Retirement Center.
In addition to her husband and daughters, she is also survived by two grandsons.
Mathilde V. Saunders
Mathilde V. "Tillie" Saunders, 63, died on Saturday, April 6, 2002, at her home in Grosse Pointe Park.
Mrs. Saunders was born to Rudolph and Hedwig Stiehl, on Feb. 17, 1939, in ÊBad Kreuznach, Germany. She came to the United States in July of 1959 when she married
the late Peter W. MacDonald of St. Clair Shores.
On July 13, 1975, she married
Detroit Dixieland jazz musician, Thomas "Tommy" W. Saunders and became his most devoted fan and traveling companion as he played his music. Along with her many friends and family, the Dixieland jazz community around the world mourns her passing.
Mrs. Saunders touched the lives of an untold number of friends in the Detroit and Grosse Pointe community through her 39 years of work as a manager at the Surf Side Lounge on Jefferson Avenue and Benno's Restaurant in Indian Village, and as the concierge of the Hotel Pontchartrain in downtown Detroit. Her latest passion was providing professional gardening services for many homes in the Grosse Pointe area. Among her many other interests were knitting, reading, traveling and music.
A loving grandmother, devoted wife and mother and dear friend, she is survived by her husband Tom; her daughter Annelisa MacDonald Strong of The Woodlands, Texas; her brother Wilhelm Stiehl of Bad Kreuznach, Germany; her stepson Tim Saunders of New Jersey; her stepdaughters Debbie Hosbein of Grosse Pointe Woods and Jeanne Weaver of Grand Rapids and her grandchildren Tyler, Hunter, Steve, Katie, Burgandy and Bill. She was predeceased by her stepson Matt Saunders.
A funeral service was held on April 10, at the Verheyden Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Park. Interment is at the Christian Memorial Cultural Center in Rochester Hills.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Van Elslander Cancer Center.
Robert Stevens
Grosse Pointe Woods resident Robert Stevens, 78, dear husband of Lucy Stevens, died on Friday, March 29, 2002, at St. John Hospital and Medical Center.
Born in Detroit on July 28, 1923, Mr. Stevens was a graduate of Southeastern High School in Detroit. He received both his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Detroit Mercy.
Mr. Stevens was a decorated veteran of World War II, serving in the U. S. Army from 1942 through 1946. He received the Purple Heart and fought valiantly in the Battle of the Bulge.
In addition, he had the distinction of being the longest serving assistant prosecuting attorney in the State of Michigan. He worked for the Wayne County Prosecutors office for 42 years prior to his retirement in 2001. All three of his children have followed in his professional footsteps, becoming prosecutors in Wayne and Macomb counties.
According to his son, Robert A. Stevens, Mr. Stevens was a "lawyers lawyer" who served his country and community for 60 years. He was an active member of the Democratic Party and was also involved in numerous political and veterans organizations. In addition, Mr. Stevens was a longtime member of the Lochmoor Club.
Following his retirement, his greatest joy came from spending time with his granddaughter Samantha and reading.
Along with his wife, son and granddaughter, Mr. Stevens is survived by his daughters Jane Stevens and Jill (Phillip) Bush; his daughter-in-law Jacqueline Stevens; his brother Millard Stevens and his sister Carol Oleksinski.
Arrangements were handled by the A. H. Peters Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Woods. Mr. Stevens was buried with full military honors and a motorcade. A funeral service was held on April 3, at the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe Woods. Interment is at Cadillac Memorial Gardens East in Clinton Township.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, 800 Vernier Rd., Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 or the World War II Memorial Fund in Washington, D.C.
Emily R. Wolf
Grosse Pointe Woods resident Emily R. Wolf, 93, beloved wife of the late American Bowling Congress Hall of Famer and broadcaster Fred Wolf, died on Tuesday, April 2, 2002, at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit.
Born on June 8, 1908 in Detroit, Mrs. Wolf graduated from the Grosse Pointe High School in 1925.
She loved to travel and displayed a zest for life and a passion for gardening, reading and golf. She also took special care to maintain lasting relationships with her many, many friends.
Mrs. Wolf and her husband were honorary members of the Lochmoor Club.
She is survived by her brother Norbert Rybacki of Gladwin and her nephew Bernard "Toby" Fisher of San Diego, Calif.
A memorial service was held on April 6 at the A. H. Peters Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Woods.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the St. John Hospice, 18303 E. Ten Mile, Roseville, MI 48066.
Woodrow W. Woody
The nation's longest-running Pontiac dealer, Woodrow W. Woody, 94, of Mount Clemens, died on Wednesday, April 3, 2002, in Beaumont Hospital in Troy.
Born Woodrow William Shikany in Lebanon in 1907, he was named for U. S. President Woodrow Wilson and eventually took his nickname as his surname. He moved with his family to Minneapolis when he was 4-years-old.
Mr. Woody got his start in sales as an 11-year-old newsboy. He never completed high school and installed rear axles at the Hudson Automobile plant on Detroit's eastside during the Great Depression. He began selling cars at a Detroit Chevrolet dealership in 1936. His success prompted General Motors to offer him a new Pontiac dealership in Hamtramck in 1939, it opened in 1940.
While Mr. Woody was in the service during World War II, his family kept the dealership open by selling automotive parts and used cars.
Over the years, he became famous for his unique approaches to marketing and advertising. He handed out $1 bills to children and ended his television commercials with the gravel-voiced words, "So long. See you soon and please drive carefully."
He is said to have sold more than 100,000 Pontiacs during his career. The dealership was later sold back to General Motors.
Mr. Woody was equally well known for his many charitable works, including building a school and medical clinic in the Lebanese village from which he emigrated and numerous acts of philanthropy throughout the Hamtramck community. He served as the president of the Hamtramck Rotary Club in the 1950s.
Mr. Woody is survived by his wife, Anna, brothers John Shikany and Edmund Shikany; sisters Sadie Abraham, Diane George and Jeanette Asey and 65 nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his sister Vera Deeby.
Arrangements were handled by the Verheyden - DuRoss Funeral Home in Warren. A funeral Mass was celebrated on April 6, at St. Sharbel Maronite Catholic Church in Warren. Interment is at Resurrection cemetery in Clinton Township.
Anne M. Atkin
Anne Muriel Atkin, 82, died on Thursday, April 18, 2002, in Dearborn.
Mrs. Atkin was born on May 23, 1919 in Columbus, Ohio and later lived in Grosse Pointe Woods and St. Clair Shores.
She attended Ohio State University, Bliss Business School and the Franklin Institute.
A professional model, Mrs. Atkins also narrated fashion shows and managed several boutiques.
According to her family, her "sense of humor and compassion will never be forgotten."
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Rupert; her son William (Karen) Atkin of Grand Ledge; her daughters Terri White Tate of Sausalito, Calif. and Valerie Atkin (Russell) Pitts of Ann Arbor and her grandchildren Eric, Justin, Kaitlyn, Kendall, Phil, Will, Ben and Haley. She was predeceased by her son Greg in 1979.
A funeral service was held on April 21, at the Hackett-Metcalf Funeral Home in Dearborn. Interment is at Greenlawn cemetery in Columbus, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Thomas E. Landau
Life-long Grosse Pointe resident Thomas E. Landau, 54, of Grosse Pointe Woods, died on Monday, April 8, 2002, in Bon Secours Hospital in Grosse Pointe.
Mr. Landau grew up in Grosse Pointe Park and was a 1965 graduate of St. Ambrose High School. There he played football under the direction of Coach George Perles and staff. Mr. Landau held the record for the Goodfellow City Championship Game era, scoring three touchdowns to lead his team to victory in the 1964 game.
Almost immediately after receiving his bachelor's degree from Wayne State University in 1970, Mr. Landau was drafted into the U. S. Army. He completed basic training at Fort Dix in New Jersey and Medic/Neuro-psychiatric training at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. He completed his tour of duty in Cam Rohn Bay, Vietnam, serving as a medic/neuro-psychiatric specialist. A decorated veteran, Mr. Landau was awarded the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, one Overseas Bar and a M16 Expert medal. He was honorably discharged on April 7, 1972.
Mr. Landau began his career in business management with the Allstate Insurance Company in 1975. He enjoyed his work just as much as he enjoyed his sports, especially football, baseball and golf. He was a member of the Metro East Golf League, founded in 1976 for employees of the Metro East Claims Office. By unanimous proclamation of the league officers, on April 11, 2002, the league's name was officially changed to the Tom Landau Golf League or T.L.G.L., T. L. being one of his nicknames.
One of his fellow golf league members commented that, "It just made people happy to be around him because he had a unique and amazing ability to make people laugh."
Mr. Landau's "field of dreams" was truly Ghesquiere Park in Grosse Pointe Woods. He was on the coaching staff with Grosse Pointe Woods/Grosse Pointe Shores Little League prior to joining the Grosse Pointe Woods/Grosse Pointe Shores Babe Ruth League coaching staff in 1995. He was currently serving as the Babe Ruth League President, a position he had held for several years.
According to his wife, Nancy J. (Mann) Landau, "One thing Tom was not was boastful. He will long be remembered for so many wonderful and unique qualities including his easy-going nature, his sense of humor, his love for people, and most especially, for his family and friends. He touched the lives and hearts of so many people of all ages in a most special way."
Mr. Landau is also survived by his sons Michael Landau and David Landau; his sister Kathy (Gary) Baetens of Clinton and many loving family members and friends.
Arrangements were handled by A. H. Peters Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Woods. Mr. Landau was buried with full military honors. Two representatives from the U. S. Army Honor Guard were in attendance at Mr. Landau's interment at Woodlawn cemetery in Detroit, following a funeral Mass at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Woods on April 13. His wife was presented with the American Flag by a member of the Honor Guard.
Memorial contributions may be made to The University of Michigan, Skull Base Tumor Research, 1500 E. Medical Center Dr., T. C. 1904, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0312.
