Henrietta Ann Spiris

Henrietta Ann Spiris passed away peacefully on October 16, 2024 at the age of 93 in Williamson, MI. Henri, as she was known to friends and family, had a special appreciation for the great outdoors that spanned throughout her life. She was Born in Gladwin, MI on Aug 9, 1931 daughter of Hedwig "Hattie" Theresa Knake (1906-1944) and Henry Frederick Knake (1890-1971). As a child, Henri grew up on the farm her father settled in 1930 with her siblings Henry, Dorothy (Clark), Betty (Wolf), and Alice (Hoffman).

Henri graduated from Gladwin Rural Agricultural School in 1949 and left the farm to pursue an education at Central Michigan University, where she became involved in campus organizations like the Chippewa Christian Fellowship. After college, Henri began her career working as a bookkeeper in Lansing, Mt. Pleasant, and Lubbock, TX. She later returned to education, working as a librarian and secretary for Holt Public Schools where she retired with a lifelong membership to the Michigan Education Association.

During retirement Henri embraced the opportunity to dive into her passion for nature photography. She traveled the Great Lakes, Alaska, New Mexico and beyond, with her grandchildren and camera lenses in tow, on a search to capture the full essence of waterfalls, lighthouses, monarch butterflies, and other natural wonders. When she wasn’t traveling to them, the butterflies visited Henri by way of the beautiful flower gardens she was known for tending.

Henri is survived by her brother Henry (Glenda) Knake of Clarksville, TN; daughters Kristine (Terry) Salter of Chelsea, MI, and Debbie (Stephen) Brown of Commerce, GA; grandchildren Charles (Mary) Hoffmeyer of Grand Ledge, MI, Melissa (Oliver) Baird of Loganville, GA, Aaron (Eske) Hoffmeyer of San Francisco, CA, and Grant Young of Lansing, MI; great grandchildren Miller Baird and Diego Hoffmeyer Eske; and dear friend Karen Ostermiller of Bath, MI.

To honor Henri’s wishes, a private memorial will be held at The Lake of the Clouds in the summer. A heartfelt thank you to Zize Gashi at Divine Nest and Katie Haviland at Careline Hospice for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, Henri’s family hopes you’ll go on a nature walk and take photos of the butterflies you encounter.