Thelma Kresnak

Thelma (Molly) Kresnak April 4, 1919 - January 26, 2016 Second of three children with brothers Leo and Jack, Thelma was born in 1919 in Mancelona to Ray and Wilma Nothstine. Her father, who had named her, gave her the nickname, "Molly," almost from the day she was born and that name stuck with her to the extent that most family members and friends are unaware of her birth name. With brothers involved in high school sports, it was not a surprise that Molly excelled in high school basketball. She graduated from Mancelona High School and went on to graduate from the County Normal School in preparation for a brief stint as a schoolteacher in the one room country school on Alden Road where she singlehandedly taught nine grades. She held other positions of employment at the Antrim Iron Company, Parrish Lumber Company, The Mancelona Herald newspaper, and the Antrim County State Bank. After the end of WWII, she became reacquainted with Mancelona resident and returning soldier, Paul Kresnak. During wartime Paul served in Panama and in the European theatre until the end of the war. In 1950 Molly and Paul married and they remained married for 61 years, until Paul's death in 2011. They have three children, Hilda Standley (Tom) of Rockport, TX, Martha Richardson (Jerry) of Green Cove Springs, FL, and Steven Kresnak (Gloria) of The Philippines; four grandchildren, Paul Standley (Tiffany) of Greeley, CO, Anna Meadors (Chase) of San Antonio, TX, James Kresnak of Mancelona, and Robert Kresnak (Justine) of Taylor, MI; and two great grandchildren, August and Zaidan Kresnak, all surviving. Paul Kresnak was a building contractor and built numerous houses and cottages in the Mancelona and Big and Little Twin Lakes area. Molly kept the books for the family business and, through practice, became proficient in designing house and cottage plans to meet the needs of clients. Molly enjoyed doing several kinds of handwork including knitting, crocheting, tatting, sewing, and quilt making. She made several beautiful quilts with geometric block piecing and quilting done entirely by hand. She was an accomplished pie baker and, as to her pie crusts - definitely not to be left behind after the filling is eaten - she had refined the recipe to perfection. In retirement, Molly and Paul spent many happy years together during which they were glad to escape a few months of the Michigan winters by trips to Florida and Texas. Molly is also survived by her brother Jack Nothstine. He and his wife Zelda live in Naples, Florida. Funeral services will take place Saturday, February 6, at 2 p.m. at the Mancelona Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. The family will receive friends from Noon until the time of service. Interment will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Mancelona this spring. Memorial gifts may be made to St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, Mancelona. Please sign her online guestbook www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com.