James Ardery Obituary

TRAVERSE CITY — James D. Ardery, 90, died Thursday, Dec. 7, at Munson Hospice House after a brief illness.

Jim was born on Aug. 31, 1916, in Dayton, Ohio, to Harry and Freda (Smith) Ardery. He graduated from Miami-Jacobs Business College and was employed by Gem City Savings Association for 41 years. Jim retired as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors on Dec. 31, 1976. He also served as President of Miami Conservancy District Board of Appraisers. Moving to Traverse City in January of 1977, he worked as a residential staff appraiser for The First Savings of Saginaw for several years.

Jim married Rosemary Toney in College Corner, Ohio, on Sept. 10, 1938. She died in January of 1952, leaving two children, Susanne (David) Roeder of Pinehurst, N.C., and Donald M. (Ellen) Ardery of Minneapolis, Minn. Jim married Kirsten Aars-Nicolaysen in Oslo, Norway, in May of 1953; two children were born of this marriage, Eric C. Ardery of Durham, N.C., and Craig N. (Karen) Ardery Of Traverse City.

Surviving are his wife, Kirsten; the four children; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his sister, Betty B. Sheets of Greenville, Ohio.

During his lifetime, Jim enjoyed golf, traveling, pheasant hunting in South Dakota and fishing in Ontario. In Traverse City, he continued to play golf and was particularly proud of his vegetable garden.

He was a member of The Presbyterian Church and a former member of the Traverse City Golf and Country Club.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, Dec. 16, at 4 p.m., at Traverse City Presbyterian Church, where the family will greet friends in the Narthex one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Dr. Homer Nye will officiate. Burial will be in David's Cemetery, Dayton, Ohio, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be directed to Munson Hospice House, 1105 Sixth St., Traverse City, MI 49684 or The Father Fred Foundation, PO Box 2260, Traverse City, MI 49685-2260.

The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

This obituary was originally published in the Record-Eagle.