Victor G. Schwenke

Victor G. Schwenke, 98, of Elk Rapids, passed peacefully on Sunday, January 29, 2017, at home with family by his side. A resident of Elk Rapids since 1983, he was born in Detroit to Victor and Harriette (Nootbar) Schwenke.

Victor graduated from Northern High School in Detroit in 1936, and attended Detroit Business College and studied advertising at Wayne State University. In 1939 Victor began employment with Ford Motor Company. He began selling industrial chemicals in 1955 in his parents’ garage, then created Victa/Chem Products Corp. in 1967, which manufactured industrial chemicals in Detroit.

In 1942 in Detroit he joined in holy matrimony with Elizabeth (Betty) Dawson. They were married 56 years. The family grew with the birth of their son Victor (Chip) Schwenke III, daughter Joanne, and daughter Margaret.

Victor retired in 1983 and moved with Betty from Bloomfield Hills to Elk Rapids, where they had vacationed for many years. Victor loved to tell stories of road trips north beginning as a youth in his beloved Model A sedan, and taking family fishing trips to Canada on gravel roads, where they camped and caught trout. Victor’s father was a cowboy in South Dakota and he told many stories of his family who lived near the Sioux Indians of the Rosebud tribe.

Victor cherished the outdoors and his life on Elk Lake, enjoying fishing, hunting, camping, and boating with his family. He loved a good story and good food. Victor developed many life-long friends, and was honored in 1999 as Volunteer of the Year for the Elk Rapids Chamber of Commerce. He became the image for Rickles Pickles, his image appearing on labels and advertising media in a chef’s hat. He was well known and loved by many.

Victor was a past member of the Chemical Society, Economic Club of Traverse City, Red Run Golf Club, Parallel 45 Vines and Wines Club, and served over 16 years on the Board of Trustees of the Elk Rapids District Library. He was also a long-time volunteer with the Elk Rapids Chamber of Commerce.He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty, and his beloved son, Chip. Victor is survived by his daughter Joanne Teague (Les) of Elk Rapids and Naples, Florida, and his daughter Meg Russell (John) of Traverse City; grandchildren Kimberly Carrington, Darryl Schwenke; and Jill Kruger; great-grandchildren Sumner Carrington, Max Schwenke, Zack Kruger and Liam Kruger.

An extended family and many friends are left to fondly remember Victor, along with close and special friends Rick and Loretta Young.

Above all, he loved and cherished his family

Services for Victor will be Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the First Presbyterian Church of Elk Rapids, with viewing at 10 a.m. and services at 11 a.m., the Rev. Dr. Tom Cook officiating. A luncheon will follow in the Fellowship Hall.

Burial will be in Royal Oak, next to his wife and son, in the spring.

In lieu of flowers, Victor requested contributions to the First Presbyterian Church, 404 Spruce Street, Elk Rapids, MI 49629.

Arrangements were entrusted to Covell Funeral Home of Elk Rapids.