Marian Alice Kipfer

While growing up in Kalamazoo, her mother Julia, would take her and the neighborhood kids for walks in the woods and teach them the names of the wildflowers and trees. This gave her a lifelong love of them, which she passed on to her granddaughter, Ashley, in the same way. Alice was very proud of the fact that she was trained by the Civil Air Defense as a pilot at the age of 19. She didn’t get her drivers license until age 24. She had a BA in Art and minors in Spanish and Biology from Western Michigan University. Alice also attended EMU, where she received her teaching degree.

She was an art teacher at Northville Public Schools, where she was a positive influence to her many students. There are those who credit her with helping them find their “path in life.” After retirement, Alice and her husband, Jim moved to Eagle Harbor, where they had vacationed since 1948. She and her daughter, Ann, opened their gift shop, Carriage House Gifts in 1984. They operated it together until the fall of 2017. An incredible amount of artwork was created during this time, by the two of them and later by Ann’s daughter Ashley, who joined the team. Alice was an extremely talented woman, she was able to master any art form she took an interest in. That included watercolor painting, all fiber arts, pottery, jewelry, silk screen printing, floral arranging, cake decorating, etc. All of which she passed on to others, including her family. She loved sewing, which her mother taught her and she was making her own clothes by age 10. She made clothes for her daughter, from early childhood. Alice also made granddaughter, Sara’s, skating costumes and granddaughter Ashley’s beautiful “snow outfits”. She also made hand smocked children’s dresses and bonnets for their shop.

Alice will be greatly missed by those that loved her. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Kipfer-Mavonery; granddaughter, Ashley (Jason) Kipfer Norton; grandson, Scott Kipfer; son, Kent Kipfer (Karen Burnett); granddaughter, Sara (Chris) Mitchell; and great grandchildren, Chloe and Max Mitchell.

Alice was preceded by her husband, James F. Kipfer (1996); her brother, Guy Jr. (19 yrs) when she was 18; her mother, Julia; father, Guy; favorite nephew, Dean Foy and his mother and father; and son-in-law, DuWayne Maronen.

At Alice’s request, there will be no memorial. The family may plan a get together, at a later date, to celebrate Alice’s long life and accomplishments.

Online condolences may be left for the family at ericksoncrowleypeterson.com.