Thelma Akerman

With a life that spanned times of great change in the world around her, Thelma Akerman was a gift in the lives of everyone she met. Although she was rather quiet and reserved, she could really get people laughing with her one-liners at times. Thelma was a woman of many talents and gifts, yet there was nothing she loved more than using her skills to bless those around her. A more devoted family woman would be hard to find as she fully devoted her life to making each and every day spacial in the lives of the children and grandchildren she adored. Life was not without times of trial for Thelma, but she faced whatever came her way with a graceful courage and a quiet strength that were such an inspiration. Although she will be deeply missed, her timeless legacy will be proudly carried on by those who follow in her footsteps.

It was great to be an American during the decade that we commonly refer to as the Roaring Twenties. Prosperity was commonplace, and innovation was taking us places we had never been. Radios, washing machines, and refrigerators were signs of the time, and cars were more affordable because of the wide implementation of the assembly line. Amidst this exciting time was a time of great anticipation in the lives of Dorsey and Lucy (Tolfree) Davis as they were eagerly awaiting the birth of their new baby as the heat of the summer held the city of Merrill, Michigan, firmly in its grip in 1925. The big day finally arrived on August 13th when the baby girl they named Thelma Jean drew her first breath. She was the fourth of six children in her family, raised alongside her brothers, Richard and Chet, and her sisters, Shirley, Katie, and Ellen.

The Davis family was given a tough pill to swallow when Thelma’s mother died when Thelma was only seven. She and her siblings were then split up, which sent her and her brother, Dick, to live with her her aunt and uncle. As a young girl Thelma had an earache, which was treated with hot oil. Sadly, this burned her ear, which left her deaf in one ear for the rest of her life. They lived on a farm, and Thelma learned a strong work ethic by completing her fair share of farm chores. The 1930s ushered in the Great Depression, and although the challenges were many, the animals and crops provided Thelma and her family with the food they needed as well as an income to put a roof over their head. She was raised in a strict but loving environment and attended school in Merrill.

Ready for a change, Thelma moved to Flint after graduating from high school and stayed with her sister Ellen. Through one of Ellen's friends, Thelma was introduced to a young man named Frank Lowell. They fell in love and were married when Thelma was 19. With the end of WWII in 1945, manufacturing was no longer needed to support the war effort, which is what brought the couple to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in search of better jobs. The couple initially moved into an apartment, but they later settled into a home on Michigan Street, NE, which is where they raised their four children, Diane, Cris, Ted, and Cindy. In addition to caring for her home and family, Thelma worked outside of the home. Many years were spent working second shift at General Motors and at times her family brought her dinner around eight at night.

Around the house, Thelma was a bustle of activity. She kept a neat and tidy home, and her skills in the kitchen were fantastic. Of course her meals were always nutritious as well. Weekends were usually reserved for something special as they often took Sunday drives or traveled back to Merrill to see her “parents.” The family always went camping during the week following the Fourth of July, starting in tents and later working up to a pop-up camper. On Sunday evenings Thelma often made fudge, and on Friday nights she sent to children to the store for Coke to have with their popcorn. Around the house, Thelma also enjoyed gardening and did some sewing. Although her marriage later ended in divorce, she was forever grateful for the children they shared.

New and exciting changes were in store for Thelma when she found love again when she met John "Jack" Akerman. Together they were a very social couple, and they especially enjoyed going to dances at the VFW halls in the area. Their two families melded together seamlessly, and they enjoyed several great times as a group. Thelma and Jack moved to a house on Bradford, and she continued working for Tassel Hardware and then for Klise Manufacturing until retiring.

During her retirement years, Thelma continued to live an active lifestyle. They moved to a home in Baldwin and also had a winter home on Pine Island in Florida. Their entire family loved coming to visit in Baldwin as there were always plenty of fun things to do such as fishing, hunting mushrooms, having memorable Halloween parties, and snowmobiling during the winter. Even if they were only just spending time together doing nothing special, that was just fine, too. As a grandmother Thelma was always a ton of fun, too, as she could be such a kid at heart when her grandchildren were around. Often called “Red” by her family because of her red hair, Thelma was certainly the heartbeat of her family.

In 1990 Thelma was deeply saddened with the death of her beloved Jack, and shortly thereafter she sold their house in Baldwin. For years Thelma kept their place in Florida while returning to Grand Rapids to live with her son, Ted, during the summers. She enjoyed playing the piano, which she had learned as a child, and she could also play the organ and the accordion. Later in life she took up some crafts and other various hobbies like carving and painting wooden bird figurines, making pine needle frames, crocheting dresses for porcelain dolls, and crocheting afghans. Whatever she could find to keep herself busy, Thelma was open to trying just about anything. During the last nine years of her life, her mind clouded with Alzheimer’s disease.

Whether it was her quick wit, her bubbly personality, or her fun-loving demeanor, Thelma Akerman was an extraordinary woman to know and love. Her zest for life was contagious, and her devotion to her loved ones was unmatched. Thelma will be forever missed.

Thelma Jean Akerman, age 89 of Grand Rapids, passed away May 14, 2015. She was preceded in death by her husband, John "Jack", in 1990; her brother, Chet Davis; sisters Katie Jury and Ellen Caudell; and stepdaughter, Judy Garthwaite. Thelma is survived by her children, Diane Barry, Cris Lowell, Ted Lowell, Cindy & Randy Anes; stepchildren Jackie & Bob Kish, John Akerman, Joyce & Tim Conatser, Dick Garthwaite; grandchildren Patty Anderson, Oscar Anderson, Cathy Barry, Josh & Melody Anes, Kelly & Jeremy VanDyke, Christopher Lowell; step grandchildren Tracy Vandeweg, Michelle Pracher, Chuck Stebelton, Jay Chernault, Loren Akerman, Brandon Akerman; brother Richard Davis; sister, Shirley Vansickle and sister-in-law Betty Davis; half siblings Dorsey & Lorraine Davis, Ruthann Dorsa, and Mary McKay. A service to remember and celebrate Thelma's life will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at 12 Noon at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home - 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW where friends are invited to visit with her family from 11 AM until the service. Interment in Conway Cemetery, Arcadia, Michigan. For those who wish, memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association are appreciated. To read more about Thelma's life, to share a memory or sign her guestbook, visit www.lifestorynet.com