SUTTONS BAY - Owen Loren Bahle, 92, died on Sept. 7, 2012 at Effie's Home in Leland. Owen arrived in Suttons Bay on June 5, 1920 at the apartment above Bahle's Store, the son of Otto and Lena (Sogge) Bahle. Owen's great-grandfather Lars Bahle sailed over on a ship from Norway in 1868.
Owen graduated from Suttons Bay High School in 1938. He graduated from Michigan State College with a BS in business administration in 1942, enlisting in the US Navy later that same year. He entered Midshipman Training at Columbia University, New York and was then ordered to the Submarine Chaser Training Center in Miami. His first commission was as third officer on Subchaser SC 775 out of California; where he served in the Pacific and was later promoted to captain of the 775. He became executive officer on the USS Greenwood, a destroyer escort. At his release from service on June 5th, 1946, his birthday, he returned to Suttons Bay. On Nov. 1, 1947 he married his sweetheart Leila Brehmer and became a partner with his father in Bahle's Store.
Owen was devoted to his family and the Leelanau community. He was committed to the growth and vitality of the area over the decades, living the life of "service above self" with quiet, cheerful enthusiasm. He will be deeply missed.
While helping Leila raise their five children and running Bahle's Store; at various times he served as village president, fire chief, and president of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member of the Suttons Bay Rotary Club (1946), serving as its president, and was a Paul Harris fellow. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, of which his grandfather was a founding member. He was an active supporter in the cherry industry, serving on the board of Cherry Growers while running cherry farms with his children. He renovated an old theatre in Suttons Bay, re-naming it The Bay. He was a founding supporter of the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fund, the Leelanau (now TART) Trail, the Sugar Loaf Ski Club and the Suttons Bay marina.
Owen was the local historian, known for his slide shows and almost encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Suttons Bay and Leelanau County. He built a darkroom in the store, where he worked on contributions to his archive. He loved to sail their 29 foot Erikson, the Tart. He taught his family woodworking, carpentry, and how to build anything with "what was on hand."
Owen is survived by his wife of 65 years ... [a daughter, 4 sons and 6 grandchildren].
A memorial service was held on Sept. 11 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Suttons Bay.
Private family burial was held in the Lutheran Cemetery of Suttons Bay.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be directed to the Community Foundation/ Suttons Bay Historical Photos, 250 E. Front Street, Ste. 310, Traverse City, MI 49684 and/or TART Trails/ Leelanau Trail, P.O. Box 252, Traverse City, MI 49685 and/or to Immanuel Lutheran Church. P.O. Box 206, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.
Published 2012-09-13 in the Leelanau Enterprise
Owen graduated from Suttons Bay High School in 1938. He graduated from Michigan State College with a BS in business administration in 1942, enlisting in the US Navy later that same year. He entered Midshipman Training at Columbia University, New York and was then ordered to the Submarine Chaser Training Center in Miami. His first commission was as third officer on Subchaser SC 775 out of California; where he served in the Pacific and was later promoted to captain of the 775. He became executive officer on the USS Greenwood, a destroyer escort. At his release from service on June 5th, 1946, his birthday, he returned to Suttons Bay. On Nov. 1, 1947 he married his sweetheart Leila Brehmer and became a partner with his father in Bahle's Store.
Owen was devoted to his family and the Leelanau community. He was committed to the growth and vitality of the area over the decades, living the life of "service above self" with quiet, cheerful enthusiasm. He will be deeply missed.
While helping Leila raise their five children and running Bahle's Store; at various times he served as village president, fire chief, and president of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member of the Suttons Bay Rotary Club (1946), serving as its president, and was a Paul Harris fellow. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, of which his grandfather was a founding member. He was an active supporter in the cherry industry, serving on the board of Cherry Growers while running cherry farms with his children. He renovated an old theatre in Suttons Bay, re-naming it The Bay. He was a founding supporter of the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fund, the Leelanau (now TART) Trail, the Sugar Loaf Ski Club and the Suttons Bay marina.
Owen was the local historian, known for his slide shows and almost encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Suttons Bay and Leelanau County. He built a darkroom in the store, where he worked on contributions to his archive. He loved to sail their 29 foot Erikson, the Tart. He taught his family woodworking, carpentry, and how to build anything with "what was on hand."
Owen is survived by his wife of 65 years ... [a daughter, 4 sons and 6 grandchildren].
A memorial service was held on Sept. 11 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Suttons Bay.
Private family burial was held in the Lutheran Cemetery of Suttons Bay.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be directed to the Community Foundation/ Suttons Bay Historical Photos, 250 E. Front Street, Ste. 310, Traverse City, MI 49684 and/or TART Trails/ Leelanau Trail, P.O. Box 252, Traverse City, MI 49685 and/or to Immanuel Lutheran Church. P.O. Box 206, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.
Published 2012-09-13 in the Leelanau Enterprise
SUTTONS BAY - Owen Loren Bahle, 92, died on Sept. 7, 2012 at Effie's Home in Leland. Owen arrived in Suttons Bay on June 5, 1920 at the apartment above Bahle's Store, the son of Otto and Lena (Sogge) Bahle. Owen's great-grandfather Lars Bahle sailed over on a ship from Norway in 1868.
Owen graduated from Suttons Bay High School in 1938. He graduated from Michigan State College with a BS in business administration in 1942, enlisting in the US Navy later that same year. He entered Midshipman Training at Columbia University, New York and was then ordered to the Submarine Chaser Training Center in Miami. His first commission was as third officer on Subchaser SC 775 out of California; where he served in the Pacific and was later promoted to captain of the 775. He became executive officer on the USS Greenwood, a destroyer escort. At his release from service on June 5th, 1946, his birthday, he returned to Suttons Bay. On Nov. 1, 1947 he married his sweetheart Leila Brehmer and became a partner with his father in Bahle's Store.
Owen was devoted to his family and the Leelanau community. He was committed to the growth and vitality of the area over the decades, living the life of "service above self" with quiet, cheerful enthusiasm. He will be deeply missed.
While helping Leila raise their five children and running Bahle's Store; at various times he served as village president, fire chief, and president of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member of the Suttons Bay Rotary Club (1946), serving as its president, and was a Paul Harris fellow. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, of which his grandfather was a founding member. He was an active supporter in the cherry industry, serving on the board of Cherry Growers while running cherry farms with his children. He renovated an old theatre in Suttons Bay, re-naming it The Bay. He was a founding supporter of the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fund, the Leelanau (now TART) Trail, the Sugar Loaf Ski Club and the Suttons Bay marina.
Owen was the local historian, known for his slide shows and almost encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Suttons Bay and Leelanau County. He built a darkroom in the store, where he worked on contributions to his archive. He loved to sail their 29 foot Erikson, the Tart. He taught his family woodworking, carpentry, and how to build anything with "what was on hand."
Owen is survived by his wife of 65 years ... [a daughter, 4 sons and 6 grandchildren].
A memorial service was held on Sept. 11 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Suttons Bay.
Private family burial was held in the Lutheran Cemetery of Suttons Bay.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be directed to the Community Foundation/ Suttons Bay Historical Photos, 250 E. Front Street, Ste. 310, Traverse City, MI 49684 and/or TART Trails/ Leelanau Trail, P.O. Box 252, Traverse City, MI 49685 and/or to Immanuel Lutheran Church. P.O. Box 206, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.
Published 2012-09-13 in the Leelanau Enterprise
Owen graduated from Suttons Bay High School in 1938. He graduated from Michigan State College with a BS in business administration in 1942, enlisting in the US Navy later that same year. He entered Midshipman Training at Columbia University, New York and was then ordered to the Submarine Chaser Training Center in Miami. His first commission was as third officer on Subchaser SC 775 out of California; where he served in the Pacific and was later promoted to captain of the 775. He became executive officer on the USS Greenwood, a destroyer escort. At his release from service on June 5th, 1946, his birthday, he returned to Suttons Bay. On Nov. 1, 1947 he married his sweetheart Leila Brehmer and became a partner with his father in Bahle's Store.
Owen was devoted to his family and the Leelanau community. He was committed to the growth and vitality of the area over the decades, living the life of "service above self" with quiet, cheerful enthusiasm. He will be deeply missed.
While helping Leila raise their five children and running Bahle's Store; at various times he served as village president, fire chief, and president of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a founding member of the Suttons Bay Rotary Club (1946), serving as its president, and was a Paul Harris fellow. He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church, of which his grandfather was a founding member. He was an active supporter in the cherry industry, serving on the board of Cherry Growers while running cherry farms with his children. He renovated an old theatre in Suttons Bay, re-naming it The Bay. He was a founding supporter of the Suttons Bay-Bingham Fund, the Leelanau (now TART) Trail, the Sugar Loaf Ski Club and the Suttons Bay marina.
Owen was the local historian, known for his slide shows and almost encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Suttons Bay and Leelanau County. He built a darkroom in the store, where he worked on contributions to his archive. He loved to sail their 29 foot Erikson, the Tart. He taught his family woodworking, carpentry, and how to build anything with "what was on hand."
Owen is survived by his wife of 65 years ... [a daughter, 4 sons and 6 grandchildren].
A memorial service was held on Sept. 11 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Suttons Bay.
Private family burial was held in the Lutheran Cemetery of Suttons Bay.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions may be directed to the Community Foundation/ Suttons Bay Historical Photos, 250 E. Front Street, Ste. 310, Traverse City, MI 49684 and/or TART Trails/ Leelanau Trail, P.O. Box 252, Traverse City, MI 49685 and/or to Immanuel Lutheran Church. P.O. Box 206, Suttons Bay, MI 49682.
Published 2012-09-13 in the Leelanau Enterprise
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
