Myron (Mike) Trethewey

Myron "Mike" Frederick Trethewey led a life saturated with honesty, integrity and respect. Mike was many things in his life - a hard worker, an innovator, and a great father. From his humble beginnings as a poor miner's son, to his fun filled retirement, Mike lived by the code of the three R's. His devotion to the institutions of responsibility, respect and religion allowed Mike to live life to its utmost potential.

The year was 1916, and America was up to its knees in the quagmire of conflict. Black skies brought the thunder of war raining down upon Europe, and the United States was dragged headlong into the storm. At home, the great Industrial Machine scrambled to support the war effort. No one could escape the forces of change, not even in the remote icy wilderness of Northern Michigan. It was in this environment of woods and snow that Mike was born. He entered this world on December 7th, 1916, the seventh child born to a mining family. He spent his childhood in the town of Baltic, Michigan - a copper mining boomtown that was working full speed to provide materials for the war effort.

His father Fred Trethewey was a respected miner who immigrated from England. Mike's mother Lottie also came from a mining family. Fred's first six children were all girls and he was extremely pleased to finally have a son to raise, and later another son Ernie.

Young Mike and the outdoors became synonymous with each other. Mike took advantage of the dense forests, the sparkling streams and the crisp cold air of the north. He spent his childhood and teens fishing, hunting, and doing any other outdoor activity of which you can think. From an early age, Mike showed an enormous propensity for learning. He could learn a new skill or trick with great ease, even inventing a few tricks of his own. He used to follow his father to the mines, but wasn't allowed into the dangerous mines themselves. Mike would instead hang out with the top-siders, men whose role it was to support and provide materials to the mines. Two of these men, Andrew Sweet and Louis Naville, took an interest in the young boy and taught him many things about the outdoors. Mike would watch Andy and Louis in the workshop and picked up many useful skills. By age 8, Mike learned to sharpen axes and saw blades, a very useful skill in the aboreal U.P. This job allowed Mike to trade for timber itself, a precious heating commodity that eased the strain on his father's paycheck.

Mike's mother died of rheumatic fever soon after she gave birth to the 8th child and Mike's sisters became the female figures for Mike. Mike spent more and more time outside of the house, and even became a barber by the age of ten. He invented a reflector system using shiny tin to focus light on the outhouse and help warm up the cold wooden facility during the winters.

Mike was always using his wits to improve his situation. Fred Trethewey saw much potential in his son and didn't want him to squander his life as a miner. He became ill in his later teens and his father used this excuse to send him South. Mike landed in Holland living with family. Though he missed the ruggedness of Baltic, Mike soon felt at home in Holland. He put his skills and wits to work at the local Tannery.

Mike would work all week and then relax on Saturday nights with a show, followed by a sundae at Fabiano's. Fabiano's had more than just ice cream to offer, though. One of the young waitresses, a pretty girl named Clara Covington, caught Mike's eye. They had a brief romance and then eloped in 1937. They moved into the downtown area of Holland and began a family. The couple had 5 children and Mike was working at the Western Tool shop when terrible news arrived: Mike had been drafted for World War II. When the fateful day arrived, Mike made a hard decision. Not wanting to scare or depress his children, he calmly walked from his home to the train station. He wasn't fooling anybody, though. His children still remember to this day the sight of Mike walking down that sidewalk. Mike went through boot camp but within three months the war ended. Relieved and homesick, Mike traveled back to Holland and joyfully reunited with his family. Upon his return from the service, Mike and Clara had three more daughters.

As a father, Mike spent countless hours with his kids, teaching them values and how to appreciate the outdoors. Later in life, Mike educated them on the finer points of golfing too. Mike was always fair and even-handed with his children, even after they spent an afternoon popping knotholes out of the family's new home. Following a lecture on heat loss, the kids spent the next day matching knots to holes. Mike always made sure his children came first, especially after he and Clara separated. Mike took care of his five children while at the same time working two jobs.

In 1956, he was asked to dinner by a young woman named Mary. They fell in love and married later that year. Mary belonged to an in-home church in Holland , and Mike in later years he would often attend with her. Every year Mike would take his family to the U.P in the fall to go camping. The forest in the autumn was simply magical, and Mike wanted his family to experience this sacred beauty that he knew so well. They would hike during the days and at nights Mike would lead the family in folk songs as the campfire light danced about their faces.

After the kids had all grown up, Mike still made his pilgrimage to the U.P., but enjoyed many other activities as well. He became an avid golfer, playing in many leagues around Holland. He loved cribbage and played cards too. He also loved to devote time to his grandkids and great-grandkids. He would sing songs for them, making up silly verses that never failed to entertain. Mike was a people person and always had a joke or story to share. He would recite the daffodil poem to his wife every spring over and over, and would often bring her daffodils. Mike truly was a caring and fun-loving individual. Like the light reflector from his youth, Mike's personality reflected and warmed everything around him - bringing the best out of any situation or person.

Mike Trethewey died Thursday June 12th, 2003, in Holland Community Hospital. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Mary; children Fred Trethewey of Holland; Robert and Sally Trethewey of Branch, Michigan; Peggy and Donald Fannon of Hudsonville, Michigan; Ronald and Robin Trethewey of Branch; Lonnie and Robert Rowan of Holland; Gayle Harmon of Brohman, Michigan; Myrna and David Haddad of St. Clare Shores, Michigan; and David and Carolyn Van Lente of Ohio; 29 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; brother Ernest and Fran Trethewey of Detroit; Mrs. Joseph Ruth Marier of Holland; several in laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Services will be at 1:30 PM Tuesday at the Northwood Chapel, Dykstra Funeral Homes, Lecil Sullivan and Shane Brown officiating. Burial will be in Restlawn Cemetery. Friends may call from 7-9 PM Monday at the Northwood Chapel, Dykstra Funeral Homes, located at 295 Douglas Ave. To read Mike's complete life story, share a memory, send flowers, or make a memorial contribution to the American Heart Association, please visit his personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com.

Mike embraced a life of content simplicity, knowing that the true bounties in life were found in integrity and a strong family. His caring demeanor and outgoing, amicable sense of humor will be missed by all.