Florence Peters

Florence Peters was a woman who loved life and lived each day to the fullest.

Florence was born at the height of the industrial age when Henry Ford produced the first affordable car ($700) and the Wright Brothers made their historic flight at Kitty Hawk. In Monroe, Wisconsin an even more exciting event was unfolding for Adolf and Della (Witt) Koepnick who were expecting their second child. Florence was born on October 14, 1908, the only daughter in the family of three boys: Raymond, LaVerne, and George. Florence attended school in Monroe until 1915 when the family moved to Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Here the children grew up on the family farm, working alongside their father. Rarely did the girls of Florence's generation continue their education into high school, but Florence completed the 12th grade at Elkhorn School and turned toward her future.

Florence was still in her teens when a chance meeting charted the next years of her life. A young man named Clyde Peters worked as a salesman for some land developers in the area. He and Florence met through their mutual friends and they began to date. Their love for one another grew and their relationship became strong. However, in an effort to find other work, Clyde moved back to Michigan. It was a move back home, since his family was originally from Michigan, but it turned out to be a move, as well, to his future home where he would begin his own family. He went to the Lincoln River area of Ludington and once settled there, he sent for Florence. They married on October 14, 1928, in Manistee, Michigan, a perfect 20th birthday present for Florence!

Florence and Clyde purchased a farm on Sugar Grove Road, where they grew sweet corn to sell locally. Their successful venture led to Clyde's fame as the "Sweet Corn Man". He was also well-known as a school bus driver. Perhaps one of the best titles Florence and Clyde enjoyed was "parents". In 1939, they were thrilled at the birth of their son William, and two years later they welcomed their daughter Carol into their lives. Florence loved her family and devoted herself to their care and happiness. It's no wonder that attention to family meant feeding their appetites. Florence liked to bake and her family liked her to bake. They especially loved her donuts and ate them as quickly as she made them. One cake-making day when Carol's cousins were visiting, they took advantage of Florence's brief absence. Florence had just baked a chocolate cake and set it out to cool while she went next door to see her neighbor. Carol and her cousins decided to taste test and ended up eating the entire middle out of the cake before Florence returned. Of course they were found out, and the punishment was later watching everyone else enjoy the cake with frosting and all.

When the children began school, Florence decided to enter the work force. In 1954, she began work as a sales clerk at Newberry's 5 & 10 in Ludington where she remained until her retirement and the store closed in 1971. Being a working woman didn't prevent Florence from spending as much time with her family as possible. That meant making return visits to her family in Wisconsin. Her favorite mode of transportation to Wisconsin was the S.S. Badger car ferry, traveling directly across Lake Michigan. Recently, in 2004, Florence and her daughter Carol took that same route on the ferry for old times' sake. As always, Florence thoroughly enjoyed herself.

Florence loved life and made the best of every situation. When she suffered the grief of losing her beloved Clyde on August 5, 1991, she found ways to enjoy this different stage of her life. In 1996, when the farm became too much to manage, she moved into Longfellow Towers in Ludington. She had loved the farm and the rural life of gardening and growing flowers. But when she moved into the towers, Florence was determined to enjoy her new life as well. She continued to do the things that brought her happiness: sewing, working crossword puzzles, and crocheting. In fact, her crochet work won two regional contests sponsored by the Senior Housing Company, earning Florence her picture on a calendar. Naturally, her family called Florence the "Calendar Girl".

Calling her mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, those who knew and loved Florence Peters will miss her dearly.

Florence Peters passed away on Wednesday, August 30, 2006 at Memorial Medical Center in Ludington following a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde, her brothers Raymond, LaVerne, and George, her son-in-law Robert E. Brown. She will be greatly missed by her son William and his wife Mary Ann Peters of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, her daughter Carol E. Brown of Scottville, six grandchildren, nine great-grandhchildren, her sister-in-law Imogene Koepnick of Delavan, Wisconsin, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends. A Celebration of Life memorial service will be held for Florence at 1:30 PM on Saturday, September 2 at the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville, with Pastor Rich Chasse of Crossroads Church officiating. Cremation has taken place at Western Michigan Crematory in Muskegon, and burial will take place at Sugar Grove Cemetery. Friends may meet with Florence 's family for a time of visitation on Saturday from 12:30 PM until time of services at the funeral home. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to Hospice of Michigan-Mason County.