Anna Marie INGLES

DELAFORCE - Anna Marie DeLaforce born December 22, 1914 to Pauline and Robert Ingles in Marine City, MI. Anna Marie was raised in Marine City. A graduate of Marine City High School, she completed her college degree at Michigan State Normal College (now Eastern Michigan University) in 1936. It was there she met her beloved husband Richard while both were aspiring theater students. They married in 1939 and enjoyed 49 years of marriage before Dick died in 1988. Anna Marie taught briefly at Muskegon Heights McKinley Elementary School in 1936. She shifted to Van Dyke Elementary Schools in 1936 (near Detroit) and taught until 1951 when she left to raise her son and care for an aged mother. An avid sports enthusiast all her life, she learned to swim in the currents of the Saint Clair River swimming out to greet the passing ore freighters carrying her father and uncles in their work on the Great Lakes. She loved to play Bridge and was active in bowling and golf leagues, president of the Women's Golf League at the Pines for many years. A life-long Lutheran, Anna Marie was confirmed in St. Martin's Lutheran Church, Marine City, and was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, South Bend, IN and Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Wyoming for a brief time. She is survived by her only son, George Robert (named for both grandfathers); her future daughter-in-law, Mary Ellen Piechocki, and several cousins and their families, Lucille Olfs in Detroit, John Antons in Portland, OR, Mary Murphy in Ann Arbor, and cousin-in-law, Chuck Dunkel in Fort Gratiot; three dear cousins, Roscoe Davidson and wife, Mary, Miriam Crowley VanWaen and husband, Roman, and Pauline Crowley Purcell and husband, Richard, and Laurel Dunkel preceded her in death. Her dearest friend and life-long pal Nancy Kureth preceded her last year. Great memories are had also of dear departed friends, Betty and Roy Beattie, Jean and Ted Westby, and Liz and Harry Stults whose families also survive. The family acknowledges with loving gratitude the tender care of all of Luther Community's staff. Friends may visit at the Cook Funeral Home, Grandville, 4235 Prairie St. SW (west building) Sunday evening 7 to 9 p.m, and at 12 noon Monday, preceding the funeral service at 1 p.m. Monday at the Cook Memorial Chapel (east building), the Rev. John Hitzeroth and the Rev. Rebecca Ebbs-Speese, co-presiding. Interment will be at a later date in Woodlawn Cemetary, Marine City, MI next to her husband and parents. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers may be made to Hospice of Michigan or Luther Home. Published in the Grand Rapids Press on 6/25/2005.