Lynda Lee Mangene

Lynda was born on October 17, 1957 in St.Ignace, the daughter of William Patrick and Doris (Schlehuber) McLeod. Lynda graduated from Les Cheneaux Community Schools in Cedarville, in 1975, she went on to attend Lake Superior State University between 1975 and 1977 where she received her Associates Degree in Office Administration. Lynda was an employee for the E.U.P. Employment and Training Consortium for 8 years.

She married Michael R. Mangene on August 18, 1978. Michael passed away unexpectedly on December 4, 1988. After a brief respite from work, Lynda was hired by Lake Superior State University, as an Engineering Technology Department office Manager until 1991. She then pursued higher education through attendance at Northwestern Michigan College from 1994 to 1996 and received her Associates Degree in Business Administration. She also continued her education through Ferris University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in English with both a Vocational Business and a Social Studies Minors, and also a Special Education Endorsement. Lynda proudly graduated in 2000 from Ferris State University. After graduation, from Ferris, Lynda began substitute teaching at schools such as: Elk Rapids, Charlevoix, and Mancelona; while also working as a summer school teacher at Mill Creek schools. Lynda additionally spent many hours tutoring students after school and during the summer. She worked in the Early childhood Educational program, at the Traverse Bay Area Career Tech Center from 2000-2003. Lynda loved education, and prided herself on helping children learn and reach their potential. At the time of her passing Lynda was employed as a Special Education teacher for the Kalkaska Public Schools since 2007. She always stressed the importance of education to her children, and was a great role model proving that with determination and endurance goals can be achieved at any age or phase of your life.

Lynda enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, swimming, boating, cross-country skiing, gardening, crafts, baking, and cooking. She was a very creative and artistic person. She was also an amazing and inventive cook. Lynda was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Elk Rapids. She was a wonderful, loving, devoted, and nurturing daughter, mother, sister, and friend. Lynda always thought of everyone else’s needs first, and made it her priority to take care of others with total understanding. Lynda was the type of mother that all her children’s friends gravitated to for advice because she was so empathetic, and easy to talk to while doling out terrific advice. She was loved dearly and will be deeply missed by the many people whose lives she enriched.

Lynda is survived by her children; Jacqui (Mangene) Shumaker, Michael W. Mangene, and Gwen Johnson. She also leaves behind her brother Jeff McLeod, sister-in-law Jill McLeod (Izzard), brother Greg McLeod, beloved companion Curt Johnson, grandson Tyler Schumaker, nieces Maddie McLeod, Lindsay McLeod, Mallory (Billie) McLeod, and Morgan McLeod, and also nephews Connor McLeod and Shane McLeod. Lynda was preceded in death by her father William Patrick McLeod, her mother Doris Darlene McLeod, her husband Michael R. Mangene, and sister-in-law Kelly McLeod (Doran). Memorial

Services to celebrate Lynda’s life will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, 404 Spruce, Elk Rapids on Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 11am followed by a luncheon; and at Our lady of the Snows Parish in Hessel on Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 11am with visitation one hour prior also followed by a luncheon. As per her wishes cremation has taken place and burial will be in Oak lawn Chapel Gardens Cemetery, Sault Ste Marie. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Lynda’s memory to: Fifth Third Bank, 120 Ames St. Elk Rapids, MI 49629 for a future donation to Education at the Kalkaska Public Schools.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Home in Elk Rapids, Michigan.