Kathryn Anna Buehrig

Kathryn A. Lundell Benzin Buehrig of Grosse Pointe Woods, died in the early morning of Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2012, at her home at the age of 97. A long-time resident of Grosse Pointe known for her persistence, and loyalty by her large family and many friends, she had attended an annual Valentine's Day luncheon the day before at the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church on Vernier Road, where she and her family have long been active. Kay, as her friends called her, or Mrmr, as she was known by her grandchildren and most others, lived a full and committed life marred by the loss of dear family members. She was born in Rockford, IL, in 1914, the first of five children of Anna Gertrude and Otto Amandus Lundell, who were born and married in Sweden. A Swedish educated engineer, Mr. Lundell moved his family to the Detroit area soon after Kathryn's birth, where he became a founder of Michigan Tool Company among others, and headed a socially committed family active in Immanuel Lutheran Church in Detroit and later the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club (founded in 1914). After graduating from Penn Hall Preparatory School for Girls in Chambersburg, Pa., Mrs. Buehrig attended the University of Michigan briefly before marrying her love, Elmer A. "Benny" Benzin, when she was 19, and settling in Grosse Pointe Woods. Together they raised daughters, Joanne and Carolyn, until Mr. Benzin's untimely passing at the age of 37, when Kay cared for her girls with the loving help of her family. In 1971, she married the noted automobile designer, Gordon Miller Buehrig, an early friend of Benny and Kay's, years after Benny's death in 1950, and after the death of Buehrig's first wife and Kay's good friend, Betty Whitten Buehrig of Auburn, Indiana. This marriage led to Mrs. Buerhig's enthusiastic involvement with her husband in the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club, other classic car events and their occasional appearance in Grosse Pointe in a 1936 classic Cord of his design, which she later donated to the Auburn Cord Deusenberg Museum in Auburn. After Mr. Buehrig died in1990, Mrs. Buehrig kept her classic car bonafides partly by purchasing a sleek, black Auburn Speedster replica of Gordon's design. Teamed with a nephew-in-law, she and her speedster became a hit of the Woodward Dream Cruise for a number of years. Between her marriages, Mrs. Buehrig traveled widely, often with family to Sweden, and once taking a trip around the world in 80 days. For those who knew her, she was a devout Christian, social, loyal and generous, fun-loving and Swedish through and through, maintaining relationships with those she loved, but rarely losing her innate dignity and reserve. Her other activities included the Jenny Lind Club, IBEX, the Libra Club, among others. She enjoyed meeting the king and queen of Sweden when they visited Detroit many years ago. Mrs. Buehrig is survived by her daughter, Joanne Benzin (Hira) Herrington and stepdaughter, Barbara Buehrig (Joe) Orlando. She was predeceased by her daughter, Carolyn Benzin (Tymon) Totte, who passed away in 2001. Her grandchildren are Hira (Cathy) Herrington, David (Tracy) Herrington, Kenneth Herrington, Benzin Totte, Tyra Totte (John) Bone, Britta Totte (Mark) Ewald, Jordan and Logan Elizabeth Orlando. Her great-grandchildren are Alicia, Ashley, Olivia, Cole, Payton, Mackenzie, Kaleigh, Cary, Jack, Caroline and Allison. Mrs. Buehrig is also survived by her sister, Mary Lundell (Charles, deceased) Brown and sister-in-law, Mary (Arvid, deceased) Lundell, She is also prececeased her sister Jane Lundell (Walter "Bill," deceased) Wood and her brother Earl Lundell died at the age of two. A memorial service was held Feb. 18 at First English Lutheran Church. She will be interred in the Lundell family mausoleum. Donations may be made to First English Evangelical Lutheran Church, 800 Vernier, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236 or to Save the Children, 54 Wilton Road, Westport, CT 06880.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236