Raymond France

IRON MOUNTAIN - Raymond J. "Pete" France, beloved husband of Marjorie, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, at the home of his daughter in Sparta, N.J., which is their usual winter home, after a short illness. He was born on Jan. 1, 1928, in Sault Ste. Marie. His family moved to St. lgnace where he attended school and graduated from LaSalle High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in post World War II in Germany; was a reservist and recalled to serve during the Korean War. He married Marjorie Kleiman on Oct. 22, 1948, in Iron Mountain. Pete owned France Grocery and Million Dollar View Motel in St. Ignace. He attended Houghton Tech University and had served as the mayor of St. Ignace and on the Mackinac County Board of Supervisors. In 1966, they moved to Owosso, Mich., taking the position of city assessor, personnel director and assistant to the city manager. He was elected to the Shiawassee County Board of Commissioners and served as chairman and vice chairman for many years. He also served on the Shiawassee County Boundary Commission. In 1972, Pete was appointed city manager of Wayland, Mich. In 1977, he returned to his beloved Upper Peninsula, his birthplace, as the city manager of Norway until 1988. He then served as the city assessor of Iron Mountain and later the city manager of Ishpeming from 1990-1992. Pete was a member of the International City Managers Association, the Michigan Tax Assessors Association and he attended the Evangelical Covenant Church in Norway. He was a past member of the Lions Club and the Kiwanis Club. Pete's family and faith were of most importance to him. His beloved wife and daughters were the light of his life, With four little daughters his lap was begirled He's the Lord of the Manor and King of the World, Though some men are lucky to have boys he knows They'll never be dolls like his buttons and bows. He is survived by his wife, Marjorie; three daughters, Catherine (Junior Lee) Bruff of Owosso, Mich., Judy (Robert) Schmidt of Columbia, Tenn., and Gloria (Larry) Gardner of Sparta, N.J.; seven grandchildren, Peter (Kathleen) Gustafson of Novi, Mich., Ian (Renee) Maahs of Sacramento, Calif., Eric Gustafson of Owosso, Aaron Schmidt of Columbia, Tenn., Gabriel (Taunia) Stein of Dallas, Ga., Elaina Johnson of Columbia, Tenn. and Anna Schmidt of Columbia; six great-grandchildren, Landon and Ava Gustafson, Estella and Emma Johnson, TJ Stein, and Baby Gustafson, due in May of 2008; one brother, Clyde (Tillie) France of Midland, Mich.; three sisters, Betty Mae Fenlon of St. Ignace, Ruth (Kevin) McCord of Pickford, and Mary France of Manistique, brothers and sisters-in-law, Gordon (Betty) Kleiman, Lenore (Tom) Edwards, Katherine (Ray) Clemo, Harry (Kris) Kleiman, Susan France, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Ann France in 1998, two brothers and two sisters A memorial service will be held on April 19, 2008, at 4 p.m. at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Norway. Rev. James Danielson will officiate. Burial will be in the Norway Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Evangelical Covenant Church. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Raymond J. "Pete" France online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Erickson-Rochon and Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain.

Raymond France

February 3, 2008