GOOD HARBOR – Larry Lee Wichern of Cedar, 88, was called home to heaven on July 11, 2026.

He will be laid to rest in the cemetery of his beloved St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Good Harbor, a centerpiece of Larry’s life.

Larry was born on October 29, 1937, joining parents Edward and Lucille (Eitzen) Wichern, grandparents Louis and Rachel Wichern, grandparents Claus and Clara Eitzen, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins in the close-knit, pioneer-built community surrounding Good Harbor.

He was born at home in a small house that had been his Uncle Tase Wichern’s gas station hugging the shoulder of M-22 near the Good Harbor Beach Rd. Uncle Lloyd Eitzen was an early visitor stopping in to see Larry on his walk home from Good Harbor school. The family had a wood fired cooking stove in the kitchen. Baby Larry was swaddled, warming up from the late October cold, napping on the open door of the stove. Larry loved to tell this story and share that he had legitimately been born and raised on M-22.

Larry learned to love God, love life, and work hard, cherishing family and friends, living with gratitude and wonder of the great beauty around us. He often paused to reflect on the good in his day, sometimes driving to the top of the hill just to enjoy the view. As a parent, grandparent, and greatgrandparent, Larry intentionally taught these same values to his family. He was lit up by his favorite interests, which he worked hard and tirelessly on while passing down skills to the next generation. He loved to teach “shop essentials,” named by his brother-in-law Wayne.

He was an avid gardener, growing fruit trees and vegetables and maintaining many pieces of antique farming equipment he used regularly to manage the work. He loved to teach how to harvest the bounty of the garden, canning fruits and vegetables and making wine. He shared his passion for restoring antique cars and steam engines. He spent hours coaching how to properly pitch a baseball and also passed along his plumbing business. He loved the feeling of going to Good Harbor Beach for a swim after a long day’s work, and appreciating that beauty with family or friends, a tradition that lives on.

Larry was a 1956 graduate of Leland High School, where he excelled at basketball and baseball. Larry played baseball in the Independent League of Leelanau County for many years, played softball, and was a lifelong fan of the Detroit Tigers.

In 1960, he married Marjorie Ann Hazel, formerly of Lake Odessa, MI. They enjoyed 62 years together, raising three children, Kathy, Jim, and Susan. The family first lived in Traverse City. Larry worked for Axtell Plumbing & Heating. In 1968, he went into business for himself, seizing an opportunity to land the job of plumbing the original hotel at Sugar Loaf Resort. He operated Wichern Plumbing & Heating for around 50 years as a Master Plumber with Marge keeping the books.

In 1976 the family returned to the Good Harbor area, where Larry and Marge purchased a portion of Uncle Lyle Eitzen’s farm and built a home. Initially, they tended to 40 Black Angus cows, their calves, and “Fonzie” the bull. Later, they switched to cherry farming. They did all this while running their full-time plumbing business. Larry and Marge had an exceptional marriage, and love for one another. Their shared sense of humor kept them positive through the good times and bad. Larry was heroic in his caregiving of Marjorie, keeping her home and well-loved as she fought illness at the end of her life.

Larry loved cars, his Harley (sold in the ‘60s to build a hunting camp with the Bufka clan in the U.P.), and its predecessor, a motorized “Whizzer” bicycle, which he recently restored. Larry also restored his grandpa Louis Wichern’s 1929 Model A, a 1922 Model T Touring Car, a Model T truck, and several steam engine tractors.

Larry and Marge were active members of the Crankun’ Ts Model T Car Club. With their touring car, they enjoyed many years of friendships and memories from cross country tours, to potlucks, to hosting meetings. They cherished this time together with lifelong friends.

Larry was one of the earliest members of The Northwest Michigan Engine & Thresher Club. Each year Larry looked forward to the Buckley Old Engine Show. He helped establish the club’s railroad. He served as Railroad Committee Chairman for many years, and as an engineer on the steam locomotive. Every year he showed his two Case engines, and taught young people to love steam power, proudly mentoring grandchildren who continue as club members running Larry’s engines and the locomotive. He loved camping with Marge, welcoming family and friends to their campsite, sharing meals, telling stories, solving problems, and laughing late into the evening.

Larry had a genuine admiration for history, people, stories, and machinery of the past, curating his home with pieces saved from family between him and Marge. The walls and ceilings of his shop and basement workspaces are filled with saved, collected, and restored treasures.

Larry deeply loved his family, made friends easily, maintained long-term friendships, embraced experiences, loved nature, loved technical challenges, and helped others to share the same joys. There are so many good memories to think about, and smile. He taught by example to love your family, and face all the highs and lows of life with determination, a positive attitude, a sense of humor, and faith in Jesus. He would want us to remember that his favorite hymn was “Just as I Am” and to know we are loved.

Larry is survived by his three children, Kathy ( Jeff ) Frey, James (Cindy) Wichern, Susan (Gregory) Piro; his two siblings, Jeannine (John) Naslund and Donald ( Julie) Wichern; his grandchildren, Eric (Haneka) Frey, Kimberly (Nick) Bathum, Michael Frey, Andrew Frey, Lee Wichern, Andrew Zeits, Emily (Charles) Ellibee; and his four great-grandchildren, Somi and Kina Frey, Ada and Elliot Bathum.

Larry was preceded in death by his beloved Marjorie.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 24th at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay, The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 25th with the family greeting friends at 10 a.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Good Harbor. Burial will follow in St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery. Pastor Mark Reinsch will officiate.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Larry’s memorial through St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 2943 S. Manitou Trail, Cedar, MI 49621. The direct link can be found here: https://secure.myvanco. com/L-ZY2X/campaign/C-16G61Please share condolences with the family at www. martinson.info Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.