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Jessie Jeanette Landis

COOKS — Jessie Jeanette (Weigandt) Landis, 86, of 1051 S. Co. Rd. 442, Cooks, was called home to her Lord on Feb. 2, 2017, from the Schoolcraft County Medical Care Facility in Manistique where she had resided for the past two years.

Jessie was known by her middle name — Jeanette — to most people. She was born Sept. 16, 1930, in Saginaw, and would be the oldest of five daughters born to Alexander and Mary (Gray) Weigandt. The family moved to Cooks in 1939 to take over the Cooks Telephone Exchange from her mother’s parents, George Washington and Jessie (Rivers) Gray. Jessie Jeanette would become a switchboard operator for the family business, a job which would lead to finding her future husband.

Jessie joined the Cooks Congregational Church on March 30, 1947, where she publicly confessed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and was received by Pastor Serge F. Hummon. She held the longest membership in the church until her passing. She was very active throughout the years: she taught Sunday school and Vacation Bible School, was a deaconess, served on the East Delta Parish Council, and was a member of the Ladies Aide. She attended services regularly until she became physically unable. She loved to sing the “old” hymns, a favorite being “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.”

Jessie attended school at Cooks graduating with the class of 1949. During her high school years she spent the fall, as did many of her schoolmates, earning money by picking potatoes for local farmers.

Jessie married her best friend and love of her life, Bernard Roy Landis, on Sept. 24, 1949, first by Justice of the Peace Henry Ranguette in Escanaba, and later at the First Congregational Church of Isabella by the Reverend Derryl Abbot. Their over 67 years of marriage and devotion for each other were a beautiful gift to their family. They resided for a short time at Nahma Junction, but soon moved to Cooks where they built their family home. Jessie loved her home and always made it a welcoming place to all who entered. She was a stay-at-home Mom/homemaker whose children appreciated coming home from school to fresh bread, cake, or cookies, and someone who was genuinely interested in their day. Jessie put the “home” in homemaker whether it was at her residence, in a little trailer by the lake, or in a Soo Line boxcar converted to a living car. She was an excellent cook and baker, and her Sunday and holiday dinners were memorable family gatherings for a family that she treasured.

Jessie had many interests including raising flowers, preserving food (especially canning tomatoes), visiting casinos, playing cards and cribbage, solving crossword puzzles, fishing, traveling to many states including Alaska, watching television (especially game shows and figure skating), and reading poetry. She loved to crochet, and do other needlework and crafts until arthritis made it too difficult. She absolutely loved baseball and encouraged both sons in Little League. She spent many hours watching their games and practicing with them. The Detroit Tigers were HER team, and she spent countless hours listening to their games on the radio, watching them on television, and attending games. The Tigers now have an angel in the outfield.

Jessie was an active member of the Cooks Community Club in the 1960s, librarian for a satellite library in Cooks for the Mid Peninsula Library Federation, worked on many election boards, and was an employee of the News Nook in Manistique.

She was very proud of her five grandsons who earned the Eagle Scout rank. She had so wanted to learn to dance when she was a girl, but being a part of a large family during the Depression put an end to that dream. She was thrilled when her grand/great-granddaughters took dance lessons and one even became a dance instructor. She had a generous, giving spirit and never forgot family/friends birthdays and other special days. She will be greatly missed.

Jessie is survived by her devoted husband, Bernard Roy Landis of Cooks; daughter, Laurie (Doug) Rasmussen of Gladstone; son, Bryan (Sherry Boudreau) Landis of Cooks; special daughter, Barb Landis of Manistique; sisters, Joann (the late Leonard) Lund of Swartz Creek, Jeri (the late Darryl) Bertrand of Manistique, and Jeanine (the late Jim) Zellner of Manistique; sister-in-law, Lorraine “Betty” Piippo of Rapid River; six grandchildren: Christina (Gary) Knutson of Kinchloe, Robert (Jackie) Landis of Sault Ste. Marie, Bryan (Julie) Landis of Green Bay, Brad (Ashley) Landis of Escanaba, Lance Rasmussen of Bethel, ME, and Heidi (Andy) Bunch of Marinette, Wis.; great-grandchildren, Mackenzie Knutson, Robbie and Lexie Landis, and Jacob Landis; and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Allan Roy Landis; and her sister, Joyce Cousins.

Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 11, at Cooks Congregational Church in Cooks, Mich. The funeral service will follow at 1:00 p.m., at the church, with Pastor Darryl Pizzala officiating. A luncheon will follow. Burial will be in the Inwood Township Cemetery in the spring.

Memorial donations may be directed to the charity of your choice.

The Messier-Broullire Funeral Home of Manistique is assisting the family.