Marah Jean Witzke, 96, of Manistee and Wayland, and a winter resident of Huachuca City, Ariz., died Feb. 17 in Arizona.Jean graduated from Western High School and later married David Bonamici with whom she had her children, Bob and Judy.
Decades later, husband Alfred Witzke brought Jean to the world of small business. She assisted in running a small automotive electrical parts company. They retired from the Detroit area to Manistee in 1973.
After Al’s death in the 1980s, Doug Kimble won Jean’s heart and they decided they had enough of Michigan winters and went shopping for a winter home. They settled on Whetstone, Ariz., in the southeast corner of that state.
With her Scottish heritage, Jean was a big fan of Alma’s Scottish Festivals, their traditional games and foods. She visited Scotland twice.
Jean sewed and knitted beautifully, and was a great cook, making authentic Italian and Scottish foods, including shortbread.
Decades later, husband Alfred Witzke brought Jean to the world of small business. She assisted in running a small automotive electrical parts company. They retired from the Detroit area to Manistee in 1973.
After Al’s death in the 1980s, Doug Kimble won Jean’s heart and they decided they had enough of Michigan winters and went shopping for a winter home. They settled on Whetstone, Ariz., in the southeast corner of that state.
With her Scottish heritage, Jean was a big fan of Alma’s Scottish Festivals, their traditional games and foods. She visited Scotland twice.
Jean sewed and knitted beautifully, and was a great cook, making authentic Italian and Scottish foods, including shortbread.
Jean never met a plant she didn’t like or a seed she didn’t try to grow – from citrus trees to cuttings or starts from almost anything. She was a known guardian of the Bonamici family fig tree for over 70 years. She also loved and cultured orchids and hummingbirds.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, and by son Bob. Jean is survived by Doug Kimble of Wayland, by daughter Judy (Gary) Cools of Ludington, Michigan, by grandsons Eric Cools, and Adrian (Mayumi) Bonamici, and great-grandson Kyle. Doug’s children John (Bobbi) Kimble and Patty (Keith) Mosher and their families also survive, as do Jean’s nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, and by son Bob. Jean is survived by Doug Kimble of Wayland, by daughter Judy (Gary) Cools of Ludington, Michigan, by grandsons Eric Cools, and Adrian (Mayumi) Bonamici, and great-grandson Kyle. Doug’s children John (Bobbi) Kimble and Patty (Keith) Mosher and their families also survive, as do Jean’s nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Cremation has taken place at Jean’s request. Jean’s “Celebration of Life” has been canceled, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donors to consider a memorial gift in Jean’s name to either the Frederik Meijer Gardens (1000 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525) or to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (2021 N Kinney Rd, Tucson, AZ 85743). Virtual services are being handled by Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington.
