Carl Hemken

Carl Merrick Hemken was a child at heart. Refusing to grow up, he was always happiest when surrounded by his kids. Although he was often stubborn and demanding, he had a huge soft heart and he was always willing to help others. Whether it meant giving people in the neighborhood a ride to the grocery store or volunteering at his church, he was thrilled to lend a hand to those in need, especially his family. Carl's family meant the world to him, and they truly appreciated that he was a dad that didn't have to be.

1930 represented a period of struggle for many Americans. As President Herbert Hoover led our country, unemployment rates soared while stock prices plummeted. Despite the difficult economic times, Americans were still able to enjoy many favorite pastimes. During 1930, thousands flocked to the theaters to watch the award winning film All's Quiet on the Western Front. Although the year brought many challenges, for Henry and Margaret (Jones) Hemken of Gladstone, Michigan, it also brought reason for celebration. It was in that same year that the couple welcomed their child, Carl Merrick Hemken, into their lives on Dececember 16, 1930.

Growing up as the youngest child in a family of immigrants, Carl was no stranger to hard times. Having emigrated from Germany through Canada , Henry supported the Hemken family by working as a lumberjack. Despite his hard work, however, the family still struggled to make ends meet. Luckily, Carl was a resourceful young man, and therefore never let a lack of money prevent him from having a good time. When Carl wanted to go downhill skiing and his family couldn't afford skis, he simply made them himself! Wanting the best for their children, the Hemken's encouraged their kids to pursue their education at a time when many young men were dropping out of High School after the 10th grade. Carl continued his education and gradated from Gladstone High School . After graduation, Carl moved with his parents to Nunica, were he went to work at Dake's Manufacturing in Grand Haven. Because of his skill and work ethic, he was eventually promoted to Plant Supervisor.

In order to make extra money, Carl decided to take a part-time job driving buses for his brother Henry who was the Transportation Director at Fruitport Public Schools. Although he loved his job as a bus driver, it could often present a challenge. Once while driving the afternoon kindergarten route a little boy named Tom Norris acted up, so Carl decided to make an appointment with young Tom's mother, Joyce Norris. As fate would have it Joyce was a 35 year-old single mother of five, who also drove busses for the school. From the moment he met Joyce, he was captured by her presence. There was only one problem; at age 23, Carl was 12 years younger than Joyce! Of course, love knows no age, and Carl decided not to let the difference in years stand in his way. After lying about his age, he asked Joyce on a date. Dressed to the nines in a black coat and hat, Carl picked Joyce up in his convertible and wined and dined her. Soon, Joyce decided to marry the dapper young man, and the couple was prepared for a fairy-tale ending.... until she found out that he was younger than she was by 12 years. Joyce nearly backed out of the wedding, but Carl was able to persuade her otherwise, and the couple took their vows on January 24, 1954 at the Lutheran Church in Nunica.

After the wedding, the couple made their home in Fruitport and Carl became a loving father to her children. A big kid at heart, he was always getting the kids into lots of trouble with their mom! One time he built stilts for the kids and himself. Equipped with a bandanas over their faces, and toy pistols in hand, Carl and the kids stumbled on to US 16 Highway where they would literally "stop traffic". Carl's crafts did not stop there. When the kids were young he built them what was undoubtedly the world's greatest tree house. Constructed in a way that allowed the children to live in the house during the summer, the tree house quickly became the envy of the neighborhood. When Carl wasn't busy building the kids incredible toys, he had fun just playing games with them. Family favorites included: hide the thimble, Michigan Rummy, card games, I Spy, and just about anything else the kids could think up. Football games were regularly held in the backyard and everyone had to play-no exceptions! Games were played by Army rules: no blood, no foul! Although playing with the kids was important, keeping his family safe was definitely Carl's top priority. Once when a tornado went through the Standale area, he decided they needed to dig a large hole in the backyard every summer to serve as a tornado shelter.

Not only was Carl an good father, he was also a devoted husband. Each Saturday night he and Joyce would go dancing, usually to the Nunica Tavern, where they would listen to his favorite song "Rock Around the Clock," or anything by Patsy Kline. A true family man, he also remained close to his own brothers and sisters. Often, they would get together to play cards and other games. In 1967, he and Joyce bought a home on Gun Lake , where they moved following his retirement from Dake's in the early 70s. They would continue to enjoy their time together at Gun Lake until Joyce passed away on January 29, 1990. Although he was technically retired when the couple moved to their new home, he went to work at Free Soil Public Schools as a custodian, and Joyce took a job as bus driver. Together, the couple drove bus for all of the sporting events and field trips. Carl participated in all of the school activities, and would use any excuse to spend time with the kids. They shared time together around the campfire he always had going at the beach on Gun Lake . During his time in Free Soil, he also volunteered for the Free Soil Fire Department, where he served as their treasurer. He and Joyce enjoyed attending the Free Soil Dance each year, and he always made the girls dance with the firemen. His family always joked that he was a fireman because he liked fire, ut his passion for the fire department was his ability to join in putting the fires out and helping his community. With a creativity that knew no bounds, Carl often used his various skills to invent, enhance and create. With his machine skills, Carl once built a cannon that was quite powerful. He enjoyed this greatly, with its resulting blast, noise, and flame.

Carl loved to keep busy and if he wasn't working at the school than he was usually building/fixing something or remodeling. A great plumber, electrician, welder and handy man, he was an incredible asset to his friends and family. A small suggestion was the only excuse he needed to start a new project. When one of the children would buy a house, he would move in and begin remodeling. The only things he demanded in return for his hard work were peanut butter, hard bread, jelly, and crackers. As he sat in the kids homes he thought of new designs, which he would draw out and then build. He was very meticulous about everything he built, and even collected dimensions of various birds so he could build proper bird houses. However, when necessary, he could build nearly anything with any supplies he could find. Once he and the kids took an old rowboat and made a sail out of an old screen door to make a sailboat, and of course, it worked! Carl loved building boats and would often build model remote control boats. These boats, however, were no ordinary small remote-controlled boats, these were big boats!

As Carl aged he continued to keep busy. He was a very active member of the Free Soil United Methodist Church , where he served as a Lay Minister, Communion Steward, Chairman of Trustees, custodians, and in any other capacity the church needed. When he wasn't busy helping to serve others, he would often enjoy cooking. Lately, Carl had collected hundreds of cookbooks from different countries and eras. He was never afraid to try new recipes, though after gaining a few pounds, decided he needed to scale back a little. Carl's favorite cooking technique was to smoke just about any food possible. His specialty was to smoke sucker fish and make sausage. While living on Gun Lake, he also became an expert at cooking meals over the campfire, espicially fresh fish from the lake. He enjoyed teaching the grandchildren and nieces and nephews the proper way to fillet their catch. Dinner was always followed by homemade ice cream, but if you wanted some, you better take your turn cranking the bucket! Carl was always on the move and enjoyed staying active. In recent years, he met a very special lady, Marilyn Walter. They spent a lot of time together traveling, attending family and community functions, and cleaning the church. She was very special to Carl.

After a life filled with love, Carl Hemken died on Wednesday, August 10, 2005 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. Besides his wife Joyce, he was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Henry, and his sisters Lorna Marshall, and Donna Herzog. He will be greatly missed by his children Leita (Gene) Smul of Milwaukee, WI, Lance (Inja) Norris of Nunica, Bill (Nancy) Norris of Caledonia, Sandra (Wayne) Bergman of Muskegon, and Tom Norris of Farmington Hills, 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 9 great, great-grandchildren, his sisters Lois Brodersen of Escanaba, and Ardith Harper of Nunica, his very special friend Marilyn Walter of Free Soil, numerous nieces and nephews, and many great friends. A Celebration of Life service will be held for Carl at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, August 17 at the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville with Pastor Jan O'Brien and Rev. Russ Garrigus officiating. Friends may meet with his family for a time of visitation on Tuesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the funeral home. To read Carl's full life story, share a memory, sign the guestbook, view photos, or make a memorial contribution to the Free Soil United Methodist Church or the Free Soil Fire Department, please visit Carl's person memory page at www.lifestorynet.com.