Obituaries

David “Diamond” Eric Carlson, age 54, of Aston, Pennsylvania, and formerly of Munising and Christmas, died on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, at the Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia following a 29-year illness. David was born on Aug. 22, 1970, in Munising and graduated from Munising High School in 1989. He worked as a body mechanic at Joe’s Auto Body until he became ill with kidney disease in 1995. Dave received his first kidney transplant in September of 1995. He returned to work and worked with several construction companies in Munising including Carlson and Sons (with his father Roger and brother Neil), Norm’s Construction, 5 Mile Point Builders, and he built yurts and various other projects for Uncle Ducky Outdoors. In 2006, Dave married Jennifer Mercier and together raised sons Nathanial Gray and Avery Carlson and daughter Maia Carlson. In 2019, Dave and Jennifer moved the family to Aston, Pennsylvania. He enjoyed playing cards in the Tuesday night smear league, hunting, spending time at Camp O’Aces, and camping and picnicking at Pete’s Lake. He loved Ninja motorcycles and Coca Cola. Dave loved music and was always singing and dancing. He had a great sense of humor and always had Jen laughing every day. David was happy and optimistic and was a great friend to all who knew him and was loved by all.

Katherine “Kathie” Anne Bond, age 86, of Munising, died Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, at Brookridge Memory Care in Marquette. She was born on May 29, 1938, in Stambaugh, Michigan, to the late Peter and Marie (Andersen) Pedo. Kathie attendedCouzensGradeSchooland then graduated from Stambaugh High School in 1956. She attended the University of Michigan in the nursing program and later earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Northern Michigan University in 1988. Kathie’s hard work ethics were instilled at a young age by working at her family store, Pedo Grocery Store, and waitressing in the summers. While in high school on the tennis court, she met Ward. On Nov. 28, 1959, Kathie married Ward J. “Nick” Bond. Kathie and Ward were married 56 years when he preceded her in death in 2015. Their marriage was filled with love, adventure, faith and heartache. They were blessed with two children, Michael Ward Bond and Heather Marie Bond. Kathie and Ward experienced the great sorrow that all parents fear, with the death of their son, Michael, in 1977 to only experience that tragedy again in 1981 when Heather died. Kathie and Ward’s love for each other and their faith in God gave them the strength to move forward to serve the people in their community in so many ways.

Helen M. True, age 76, of Richmond, Indiana, died Monday, Sept.

John Abbott Madison, born January 23, 1944, died peacefully surrounded by family September 5, 2024 at St. Joseph’s Trinity Health of Ann Arbor. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Anna (Watson) Madison, daughters Maria (Bryant) Stuckey, Alethea Melissa (Ron) Shelly. Grandsons John Mark, Christopher and Caleb. John is survived by his brother R. Sidney Madison Piscataway NJ and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

On Wednesday, September 25, 2024, Robert “Bob” Belfry passed peacefully in his home after a lengthy battle with his health. Born and raised in Munising to Juanita “Kinky” Werner, Bob had an adventurous heart that led him to hitch-hike across the country. He got into all kinds of mischief while working in San Francisco, Oklahoma, Chicago, and anywhere else he decided to settle. And while many of these tales are too fun to include here, Bob’s friends and family know that he enjoyed everything life had to offer during that time. No matter how far he roamed, Munising was always Bob’s home, and he later returned and eventually welcomed his beloved daughter Danielle into the world. While back in his hometown, Bob worked at the Alger Correctional Facility for nearing twenty years, where he made friends with everyone from his fellow corrections officers to the inmates. In addition to being a devoted son and father, Bob was an avid music fan and collector who had amassed thousands of CDs over the years, a passion he shared with his daughter. He also enjoyed working with his hands, whether that was building something or creating all mediums of art. Though he would hate the term, Bob truly was a renaissance man who excelled at anything he put his mind to. His close friends and family knew him for his mischievous spirit, outrageous tales, and generosity.