Arthur A. Elenbaas Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

CADILLAC - Arthur A. Elenbaas, age 87, of McBain went home to be with the Lord on March 10, 2011 at Autumnwood of McBain. He was born on July 17, 1923 in Richland Township to Richard and Ottilie (Gloff) Elenbaas. He married Evelyn Mae VandePol on February 1, 1944 at the VandePol family home east of McBain. Art had worked at Chris Craft in Cadillac for almost 20 years, was a fieldman for the Mackinaw Trails Milk Producers for a few years, had worked at the Missaukee Golf Course for five years, and had purchased the franchise of H&R Block in Cadillac in 1968, retiring from there in 2007. He had served as city clerk for McBain for over eight years. He also was a member of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Cadillac, where he had been Sunday school superintendent and had taught Sunday school for 30 years, was a choir member, treasurer and was on the building committee. He enjoyed feeding the birds, playing golf, bowling, gardening, picking wild berries and doing crossword puzzles. He was known for the pickles that he canned for many years. He had served in the U.S. Army during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater. He is survived by wife, Evelyn Mae Elenbaas of McBain; children, Audrey (Jerry) Gumm of McBain, Dollene VanPolen of Marion, Wilma (Lee) Bushor of Cadillac, Steve (Joan) Elenbaas of McBain, Carol (Jim) Henke of Ludington and Stan (Sue) Elenbaas of Sparta; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; sisters, Edith Quist of Cadillac and Dorothy Shelton of Flint; brothers, Harold (Pat) Elenbaas of Otsego and Ray (Angie) Elenbaas of Jenison; sisters-in-law, Marian Elenbaas of Grandville, Anita Elenbaas of Plant City, Fla., Joan Elenbaas of Bay City and Georgene (Cap) Dick of Jenison; half-brothers and sisters, Gertrude (Claude) Marcus, Frances Bekken and Ed Bekken, all of McBain, and Ken (Iva) Bekken of Marion; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother, Anna Bekken; son, Gordon Ray Elenbaas; sons-in-law, Bill VanPolen and Tom Cass; brothers, Marvin, Gordon, Clayton and Wilbur; and in-laws, Quentin Quist, Elton Shelton, Harold (Nellie) VandePol, Jake (Rula) VandePol, Carl (Helen) VandePol, Melvin VandePol, Florence Reinink and Clara (Harvey) Gort. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, at the Emmanuel Luthern Church in Cadillac, with Rev. Joel Hess officiating. Burial will be in Mount View Cemetery in McBain, Friends may meet the family from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, at Burkholder Funeral Home in McBain, Memorial contribuitions may be made to Missaukee County Relay for Life or the Church building Fund. An online guestbook is available at www.petersonfh.com

Arthur A. Elenbaas

July 17, 1923 - March 10, 2011