Margie
Margie Lakeman
Margie ‘Tootie’ Lakeman of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, May 7, 2012, at Wings Home in Allegan. Mrs. Lakeman was born November 27, 1934 in Holland, Minnesota to Jacob and Anna Evink. On December 14, 1952 in Elkton, South Dakota she married Earl ‘Toby’ Lakeman and they moved to Michigan in 1955.
The main enjoyment in Tootie’s life was her family, having been raised with so many siblings. There was never a time that her home housed just her immediate family, there were always some other family members living there, whether it be nieces, nephews, grandparents, sisters or brothers. When her children were young there were family picnics at Brookside Park. Four of her siblings as well as her mother and father, who lived right next door, lived in Otsego at the time. There was lots of food and fun and always a baseball game – kids against the grownups, who would often intentionally throw the ball away, stumble and fall down to make the game fun for the kids.
Then there was her love of music; she loved to play her guitar. She was part of a few bands, one of which was The Happy Wanderers, which included her brother Ken, sister Harriet and sister Jane. If she wasn’t playing her guitar she would be up dancing to each and every song. For about 20 years Tootie and Toby went camping at Miles Cove, where Tootie was part of a band made up of campers who called themselves The Muskrat Ramblers. There were more nights than not that the sun would be near to coming up before the band would quit and go to bed. Many, many friends and happy memories came from those years.
Over the years, it seemed as though Tootie was always making something. She took ceramic classes and made many very nice pieces that her kids now have as keepsakes. She also worked with leather and made leather belts. Later on, she and Toby both did woodworking, Tootie started out and then Toby joined in. Toby would cut out the designs and sand them, while Tootie would stain or paint, then varnish. Eventually they worked on custom orders.
Surviving are four children, Gary (Cheryl Bailey) Lakeman of Otsego, Terri (Mike) Enos of Grand Haven, Debra (David) TenBusschen of Otsego and Kelley (Jim Jr,) Dendel of Otsego Twp.; 9 grandchildren, Asa J., Marisa, Joshua, Lisa, Robert, Nate, Kalyn, Trey and Madi; a special child, Heather; siblings, Angeline Larson of Dell Rapids, SD, Kenneth Evink of Flandreau, SD, Lois Wrigg of Elkton, SD, Jerold Evink of Rockford, IL, Jane Hoyt, Elmer Evink and Harriet Evink, all of Otsego; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl ‘Toby’ Lakeman on February 11, 2007; eight brothers; four sisters; an infant son, Danny Jay Lakeman; and a grandson, Alex William Dendel.
Friends may visit with Tootie’s family from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. Thursday at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, Pastor Stephen J. Burrow officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain Home Cemetery, Otsego.
Contributions in memory of Tootie may be made to
Wings Home
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Margie Lakeman
Condolence Messages
bruce and sharon milhiem
May 8, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Kelley and Family, We are so sorry for your loss! We will be praying for you and your family in the rough days ahead. We love your family and when you hurt, we hurt with you! Bruce and Sharon Milhiem
Reply
Joyce
May 8, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Kelley and Family, we are so sorry to read of Tootie’s passing. Please accept deepest condolences from your neighbors…The Bloom’s
Reply
Venah Ray
May 9, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Deb and family – your mom’s story is wonderful variety of life. Thank you for sharing all the fond memories.
Deb – I know you have heard this a million times, just like I did, but you look just like your mom.
Venah
Reply
Lisa TenBusschen
May 9, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Will always remember the joy that grammy has brought to our lives. What an amazing woman who has impacted all of us in ways we will never forget. Love you always! Keep shining down on us!
Reply
Vikki Jager
May 9, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Sorry doesn’t say nearly enough… Love and hugs to all ~
Love “Skinny Legs”
Reply
Terri & Howard Gott
May 10, 2012 at 8:11 am
Gary and Family, So very sorry to learn of your moms passing. She sure was a special lady. Please accept our sincere sympathy.
Terri and Howard
Reply
Mary Evink
May 10, 2012 at 11:21 am
My deepest sympathy to everyopne. She was loved by so many and will be missed allot. I will always remember her laugh and smile she had for everyone. Remember the good times. God bless you.
Reply
Connie Shoup
May 10, 2012 at 1:56 pm
I am so sorry for your loss and thank you for sharing the story of your mom history. She sounds like she was a wonderful person!
Reply
terrienos
May 13, 2012 at 9:25 am
happy mothers day mom i love you and miss you love terri
Reply
Carie Rife
May 13, 2012 at 7:58 pm
I know there are no words to ease the pain of your loss but please know my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Reply
Rebecca Chester
May 16, 2012 at 9:10 am
My Mom and Dad (Bertie and Jim Chester) camped with Tootie and Toby at Muskrat Campgrounds, they were all very good friends, and many a morning I was one of those people just going to bed from being up listening to the Muskrat Ramblers! She will be missed, she was a special lady….love and prayers for the family.
Reply
Coleen Philley
May 23, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Gary – so sorry for your loss. May God bless you and your family during this difficult time. Coleen
Reply
Kelley
June 2, 2012 at 2:09 pm
I miss you Mom! Tried to call you the other day to tell ya something. Does not seem right! I love you Mama!
Reply
terri
June 4, 2012 at 8:15 pm
i miss you always want to call you i know you are in a better place but the best place would be here with us love you,mama terri
Reply
terri
June 9, 2012 at 6:35 am
josh did good on his exams marisa is doing good made the deans list you would be proud love you terri
Reply
Kelley
July 17, 2012 at 8:04 am
Miss you mom! Yesterday was a hard day, but I hope you get to go to breakfast with Dave again now….Keep him in-line!
Love you!!
Reply
Deb TenBusschen
August 7, 2012 at 8:02 am
Mom – Sunday while at the flea market, I looked up and saw a woman from behind, that looked just like you. Same small body frame, same squared off shoulders, perm’d hair. This woman had her arm resting on a box, and I could tell by her shoulder movements that she was trying to catch her breath. I now think this was a sign from you, to reminde me that you are no longer suffering, especially with this summer’s heat. I love you and miss you.
Reply
terrienos
September 28, 2012 at 1:03 pm
mom the holidays are coming up and it dosent get any easier the kids are doing really good it doesent seem like you have been gone 4 monthes i really miss you i love you terri
Reply
Kelley
February 6, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Mom ~ None of this gets easier! I miss you everyday. It seems like every time I turn around there is something that reminds me of you! Asa and Jess had Twins a few weeks ago…You would be so in Love with them!! They are adorable!!! I saw Kenny and Larry Last night, it is just not the same having everyone together and you not here!
I miss you Mama!!! Give Dad a hug for me tell him I Love him!!!
I Love you!!! Kel
Reply
terri enos
May 8, 2013 at 5:13 am
one year has gone by already it dosent seem like its been that long [ miss you so much giv dad a hug tell him i love him and miss him marisa gradutes next may josh turns 17 i love you mom miss you love you terri
Reply
Deb Tenbusschen
May 12, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Happy Mothers Day Mom. You are in my thoughts all day long. I got to listen to some good OLD country music this morning, which of course included George Jones. It seems every time I turn around, there are reminders of you. That is because of such a good mother and person you were to everyone that had the honor of knowing you. I try to move forward, smile and do the right thing. I wish you were here for me to talk to, as I could sure use your advice on a lot of things. I get to be a Grandma in a month. You would be so excited for me. I’ll be thinking of you when I shop for baby stuff at garage sales this summer. You have my love for eternity. Debbie
Reply
terri enos
November 27, 2013 at 6:37 am
happy birthday mom love you terri
Reply
Kelley
April 22, 2015 at 2:46 pm
It has been almost 3 years Mama and I still miss you! I hope we are making you proud…I
Reply
Kelley
November 16, 2016 at 4:57 pm
it’s almost your birthday mama, as we get ready for Thanksgiving I am sad to not have you hear with us to celebrate. I love and miss you and Dad every day!
Reply
Kelley
January 24, 2022 at 1:52 pm
Mama, it is 2022 and you sure have missed a lot of stuff…. you would not have done well when we were locked down and could not go out, restaurants were closed, the kids could not go to school. The world seemed to have gone crazy!!! Mostly we were all lonely, you would have hated that!!
Then Debby died… Mama!!!!! Debby died!!!! I can’t hardly believe it, she was so sick and there was nothing we could do to help her. The only thing that makes it even a little bearable is knowing she is with you and dad! I know you are so happy to have one of us with you.
That situation left another mess… I wont go into it because you would be so sad!!
I hope we are all making you proud mama. There are not many days that go by that I could not use your advice, just to be able to talk to you for a minute would feel so good.
I Love you Mama!! Thank you for choosing me
Reply
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The main enjoyment in Tootie’s life was her family, having been raised with so many siblings. There was never a time that her home housed just her immediate family, there were always some other family members living there, whether it be nieces, nephews, grandparents, sisters or brothers. When her children were young there were family picnics at Brookside Park. Four of her siblings as well as her mother and father, who lived right next door, lived in Otsego at the time. There was lots of food and fun and always a baseball game – kids against the grownups, who would often intentionally throw the ball away, stumble and fall down to make the game fun for the kids.
Then there was her love of music; she loved to play her guitar. She was part of a few bands, one of which was The Happy Wanderers, which included her brother Ken, sister Harriet and sister Jane. If she wasn’t playing her guitar she would be up dancing to each and every song. For about 20 years Tootie and Toby went camping at Miles Cove, where Tootie was part of a band made up of campers who called themselves The Muskrat Ramblers. There were more nights than not that the sun would be near to coming up before the band would quit and go to bed. Many, many friends and happy memories came from those years.
Over the years, it seemed as though Tootie was always making something. She took ceramic classes and made many very nice pieces that her kids now have as keepsakes. She also worked with leather and made leather belts. Later on, she and Toby both did woodworking, Tootie started out and then Toby joined in. Toby would cut out the designs and sand them, while Tootie would stain or paint, then varnish. Eventually they worked on custom orders.
Surviving are four children, Gary (Cheryl Bailey) Lakeman of Otsego, Terri (Mike) Enos of Grand Haven, Debra (David) TenBusschen of Otsego and Kelley (Jim Jr,) Dendel of Otsego Twp.; 9 grandchildren, Asa J., Marisa, Joshua, Lisa, Robert, Nate, Kalyn, Trey and Madi; a special child, Heather; siblings, Angeline Larson of Dell Rapids, SD, Kenneth Evink of Flandreau, SD, Lois Wrigg of Elkton, SD, Jerold Evink of Rockford, IL, Jane Hoyt, Elmer Evink and Harriet Evink, all of Otsego; many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl ‘Toby’ Lakeman on February 11, 2007; eight brothers; four sisters; an infant son, Danny Jay Lakeman; and a grandson, Alex William Dendel.
Friends may visit with Tootie’s family from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. Thursday at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego, where funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, Pastor Stephen J. Burrow officiating. Burial will follow at Mountain Home Cemetery, Otsego.
Contributions in memory of Tootie may be made to
Wings Home
.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Margie Lakeman
Condolence Messages
bruce and sharon milhiem
May 8, 2012 at 5:01 pm
Kelley and Family, We are so sorry for your loss! We will be praying for you and your family in the rough days ahead. We love your family and when you hurt, we hurt with you! Bruce and Sharon Milhiem
Reply
Joyce
May 8, 2012 at 6:36 pm
Kelley and Family, we are so sorry to read of Tootie’s passing. Please accept deepest condolences from your neighbors…The Bloom’s
Reply
Venah Ray
May 9, 2012 at 12:24 pm
Deb and family – your mom’s story is wonderful variety of life. Thank you for sharing all the fond memories.
Deb – I know you have heard this a million times, just like I did, but you look just like your mom.
Venah
Reply
Lisa TenBusschen
May 9, 2012 at 1:57 pm
Will always remember the joy that grammy has brought to our lives. What an amazing woman who has impacted all of us in ways we will never forget. Love you always! Keep shining down on us!
Reply
Vikki Jager
May 9, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Sorry doesn’t say nearly enough… Love and hugs to all ~
Love “Skinny Legs”
Reply
Terri & Howard Gott
May 10, 2012 at 8:11 am
Gary and Family, So very sorry to learn of your moms passing. She sure was a special lady. Please accept our sincere sympathy.
Terri and Howard
Reply
Mary Evink
May 10, 2012 at 11:21 am
My deepest sympathy to everyopne. She was loved by so many and will be missed allot. I will always remember her laugh and smile she had for everyone. Remember the good times. God bless you.
Reply
Connie Shoup
May 10, 2012 at 1:56 pm
I am so sorry for your loss and thank you for sharing the story of your mom history. She sounds like she was a wonderful person!
Reply
terrienos
May 13, 2012 at 9:25 am
happy mothers day mom i love you and miss you love terri
Reply
Carie Rife
May 13, 2012 at 7:58 pm
I know there are no words to ease the pain of your loss but please know my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Reply
Rebecca Chester
May 16, 2012 at 9:10 am
My Mom and Dad (Bertie and Jim Chester) camped with Tootie and Toby at Muskrat Campgrounds, they were all very good friends, and many a morning I was one of those people just going to bed from being up listening to the Muskrat Ramblers! She will be missed, she was a special lady….love and prayers for the family.
Reply
Coleen Philley
May 23, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Gary – so sorry for your loss. May God bless you and your family during this difficult time. Coleen
Reply
Kelley
June 2, 2012 at 2:09 pm
I miss you Mom! Tried to call you the other day to tell ya something. Does not seem right! I love you Mama!
Reply
terri
June 4, 2012 at 8:15 pm
i miss you always want to call you i know you are in a better place but the best place would be here with us love you,mama terri
Reply
terri
June 9, 2012 at 6:35 am
josh did good on his exams marisa is doing good made the deans list you would be proud love you terri
Reply
Kelley
July 17, 2012 at 8:04 am
Miss you mom! Yesterday was a hard day, but I hope you get to go to breakfast with Dave again now….Keep him in-line!
Love you!!
Reply
Deb TenBusschen
August 7, 2012 at 8:02 am
Mom – Sunday while at the flea market, I looked up and saw a woman from behind, that looked just like you. Same small body frame, same squared off shoulders, perm’d hair. This woman had her arm resting on a box, and I could tell by her shoulder movements that she was trying to catch her breath. I now think this was a sign from you, to reminde me that you are no longer suffering, especially with this summer’s heat. I love you and miss you.
Reply
terrienos
September 28, 2012 at 1:03 pm
mom the holidays are coming up and it dosent get any easier the kids are doing really good it doesent seem like you have been gone 4 monthes i really miss you i love you terri
Reply
Kelley
February 6, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Mom ~ None of this gets easier! I miss you everyday. It seems like every time I turn around there is something that reminds me of you! Asa and Jess had Twins a few weeks ago…You would be so in Love with them!! They are adorable!!! I saw Kenny and Larry Last night, it is just not the same having everyone together and you not here!
I miss you Mama!!! Give Dad a hug for me tell him I Love him!!!
I Love you!!! Kel
Reply
terri enos
May 8, 2013 at 5:13 am
one year has gone by already it dosent seem like its been that long [ miss you so much giv dad a hug tell him i love him and miss him marisa gradutes next may josh turns 17 i love you mom miss you love you terri
Reply
Deb Tenbusschen
May 12, 2013 at 2:39 pm
Happy Mothers Day Mom. You are in my thoughts all day long. I got to listen to some good OLD country music this morning, which of course included George Jones. It seems every time I turn around, there are reminders of you. That is because of such a good mother and person you were to everyone that had the honor of knowing you. I try to move forward, smile and do the right thing. I wish you were here for me to talk to, as I could sure use your advice on a lot of things. I get to be a Grandma in a month. You would be so excited for me. I’ll be thinking of you when I shop for baby stuff at garage sales this summer. You have my love for eternity. Debbie
Reply
terri enos
November 27, 2013 at 6:37 am
happy birthday mom love you terri
Reply
Kelley
April 22, 2015 at 2:46 pm
It has been almost 3 years Mama and I still miss you! I hope we are making you proud…I
Reply
Kelley
November 16, 2016 at 4:57 pm
it’s almost your birthday mama, as we get ready for Thanksgiving I am sad to not have you hear with us to celebrate. I love and miss you and Dad every day!
Reply
Kelley
January 24, 2022 at 1:52 pm
Mama, it is 2022 and you sure have missed a lot of stuff…. you would not have done well when we were locked down and could not go out, restaurants were closed, the kids could not go to school. The world seemed to have gone crazy!!! Mostly we were all lonely, you would have hated that!!
Then Debby died… Mama!!!!! Debby died!!!! I can’t hardly believe it, she was so sick and there was nothing we could do to help her. The only thing that makes it even a little bearable is knowing she is with you and dad! I know you are so happy to have one of us with you.
That situation left another mess… I wont go into it because you would be so sad!!
I hope we are all making you proud mama. There are not many days that go by that I could not use your advice, just to be able to talk to you for a minute would feel so good.
I Love you Mama!! Thank you for choosing me
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
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