Genevieve Cousineau
December 4, 1926 – October 26, 2025
Genevieve Cousineau, 98, a long time Hiawatha Sportsman Club resident, passed away while under the care of her loving family and North Woods Home Care and Hospice on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
Born on December 4, 1926 in Detroit, daughter of the late Albert & Mary (Grzybek) Blaszczak. Genevieve was raised in the Detroit area, graduating from Chadsey High School. She attended Michigan State Normal College (EMU), receiving her bachelor’s degree in education, then furthering her post graduate studies at Oakland University, receiving her master of arts degree in counseling. On November 27, 1947, Genevieve married Raymond Cousineau in Detroit.
During her lifetime, Genevieve held several employments, starting as a teacher for several districts, owner and founder of Mackinac Real Estate and was a talented painter of both portraits and landscapes. She also was an accomplished stained glass artist.
Genevieve loved to cook, was an avid golfer, but her greatest passion was entertaining her grandkids and great grand kids. Genevieve was a longtime active member of St. Stephens Catholic Church in Naubinway.
In addition to her parents, Genevieve is preceded in death by her husband Raymond on October 31, 2011 and son Kent.
Survivors include her children Raymond (Jayne) Cousineau of Wixom, Lynn (Gary) Cousineau-Moore of Naubinway, Glenn (Linda Tyson) Cousineau of Traverse City and Randal (Kathleen) Cousineau of Chesterfield; 18 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.
A Memorial Mass celebrating the life of Genevieve will be held Saturday November 22, 2025 at 10:30 am at St. Stephens Catholic Church in Naubinway with Fr. Jacek Wtyklo and Fr. Frank Ricca officiating. Rite of Committal will follow at the Naubinway Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest with her husband Raymond and son Kent.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Joan C. Simmerman
August 5, 1936 – October 29, 2025
Joan was born Joan Carol Morrison on August 5, 1936, in Gould City, Michigan daughter of Roy and Mabel Morrison. She graduated from Gould City High School.
She married the love of her life, Wesley Simmerman, on March 29, 1954. They were together for 66 years. Through the ups, downs, good and bad, they faced everything united as one. It wasn’t always easy, but together they overcame everything life threw at them. Her greatest vocation was motherhood, where she poured her energy into raising her children and supporting her family.
Joan had a passion for reading that ranged from mystery, thriller, to the occasional fantasy and horror genre. Her reading didn’t stop with novels. She spent countless hours reading medical journals. She had a son with medical issues and wanted knowledge on that subject. Dr. Mom suited her very well.
Gaming was her favorite recreation. Game night was not uncommon. She would play Clue, Masterpiece, Trivial Pursuit, or whatever was available. She was hypercompetitive and wasn’t the type of mom to let the kids win. When spending time with her siblings, pulling out Rack-O or Scrabble was inevitable. When playing Scrabble, she was relentless. She had an amazing vocabulary, but she and her sister would turn the game into a battle of wits whose objective was to block your opponent’s ability to make big words. The result was three-letter words instead of long ones, simply to keep each other from scoring big.
She was preceded in death by her husband Wesley Simmerman; son Paul Simmerman; father Roy Morrison; mother Mabel Morrison; siblings Violet (Norm) Lentz, Doreen (James) Ackerman, Helen (Will) Paulson, Loreen (Robert) Purple, Roy Jr. (Ester) Morrison and Marilyn (Dean) Crowe.
She is survived by her daughter Lynn (Richard) Victorson; son Glenn (Cheryl) Simmerman; son Todd (Karil) Simmerman; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and brother Larry (Judy) Morrison.
Graveside services were held at Columbus Township Cemetery in McMillan where Joan was reunited with her beloved husband and son, Wesley and Paul. A celebration of life honoring Joan will take place in the spring of 2026, with a date and time to be announced.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
John Arthur “Jay” Maki
May 28, 1942 – October 21, 2025
John Arthur “Jay” Maki, 83, of Newberry, died Tuesday morning, October 21, 2025 at Newberry Assisted Living Community.
Born May 28, 1942 in Newberry, son of the late George and Fern (Scott) Maki, Jay was raised on a 360 acre farm six miles outside of Newberry on M-28. Jay was a 1960 graduate of Newberry High School and attended Michigan State University and, after an on and off college career, finally graduated in 1971 with a degree in Elementary Education.
Jay taught in Detroit and Oxford, Michigan for 11 years, returning to Newberry in 1982 to start his own computer business, Dollarville Computers, which he operated for 16 years. Jay primarily programmed computers for banks, writing his original programs. He also operated computer stores in Newberry and Manistique. In 1999, Jay went back to work as a sixth grade teacher for Rudyard Area Schools, retiring in 2007.
After retirement, Jay spent his winters in Plaquemine, Louisiana and Green Valley, Arizona. During this time, Jay worked for income tax preparation companies to “keep his mind sharp.” During his working career, Jay was also a sportscaster for local radio stations and remained the booth announcer for Newberry High School Football and Track events through 2022.
Jay was very active in his community as a life member and only five term Exalted Ruler of Newberry Elks Lodge #1705, six term president of the Newberry Sportsmen’s Club, four year president of the Newberry High School Sports Boosters and member of the Newberry Eagles Club and the Rudyard Lions Club. Jay also sponsored teams in men’s and women’s slow pitch softball.
Jay was a lifelong member of the First Presbyterian Church of Newberry where he served many terms as an Elder and Lay Reader. He was also the lead gardener in the church’s “Heavenly Half Acre” Community Garden.
Jay love to play his gut bucket (wash tub bass) at any hootenanny or music festival that came along, playing gospel music every Friday night at the SBC, spending time at his hunting camp, “Camp Unicorn”, west of McMillan on M-28, fishing trips to Isle Royale and Canada, his eight trips to Alaska, cooking for the Presbyterians, organizing Whitetail Banquets, gardening and selling his produce at the Farmer’s Market, berry picking and making jam.
In addition to his parents, Jay is preceded in death by his sister Jill. Survivors include cousins and numerous friends.
A gathering of family and friends will take place Monday, November 10, 2025 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the First Presbyterian Church. A memorial celebration of life will follow at the church at 11:00 am with Pastor Melinda VanderSys officiating. Following the celebration, the family extends an invitation to join at the Newberry Elks Lodge where an Elks memorial service will be conducted and a luncheon following.
Memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church or to the Newberry High School Sports Boosters to be designated for the track and field program in his loving memory.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Death Notice
Gerald “Jerry” Belcher
May 21, 1950 – October 22, 2025
Gerald “Jerry” Belcher passed away on October 22, 2025 at the age of 75. He was born on May 21, 1950 in Newberry, Michigan, to the late Howard and Retha (Baber) Belcher and graduating from Newberry High School.
In accordance with his wishes, Jerry was cremated, and his ashes will be spread in some of his most cherished places throughout the Upper Peninsula.
