Chester Wayne Tinker, 70 years old, resident of Kalkaska County since 1975, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2006, at home with his family.
Chester was born in Lynch, Ky., May 29, 1936. On Sept. 10, 1955, Chester entered into marriage with Nancy Grunewald of Lincoln Park. Chester worked for General Motors Corvair division in Ypsilanti. He moved on to T.H. Eurick furniture in Dearborn as warehouse manager and furniture finisher
Chester moved to South Boardman, MI to pursue his own furniture and upholstery business and served as the outside furniture repair specialist for Montgomery Ward and Wilson Furniture of Traverse City. He retired from his business in 1999, but his love for building and repairing furniture continued throughout retirement as a hobby.
Chester became charter president of Van Pel Home Owner's Association of Taylor and belonged to the Taylor Jaycees where he served as treasurer, vice president, and then president. He received many different awards for his outstanding service to the community. In 1970 Chester was recognized as one of five outstanding young men in Michigan by the State Jaycees. He was a member of the Taylor Police Auxiliary through the 60s and 70s. Chester was an active member of the South Boardman Township Fire Department as a fire fighter from 1975 to 1998, retiring as fire chief.
Chester served on the Forest Area School Board from 1975 to 1993, acting as board president during 1983, 84, 85, 86, 88 and 89. Chester was recognized by the Michigan Legislature for community service.
Chester is survived by his wife, Nancy Ann Tinker; children, Susan (Dean) Frakes of South Boardman, Donald Wayne Tinker of Torch Lake and Tim (Tonya) Tinker of Rapid City; grandchildren, Deanna (Jeff) Royston of Kalkaska, Melissa (Thomas) Steiner of Kalkaska, Curtis Tinker of Broken Arrow, Okla., Lindsey and Chelsey Tinker of Cape Coral, Fla., Kristina West of Kalamazoo, and Tyler and Tommy Tinker of Rapid City; great-grandchildren, Ryan and Brooklin Royston, and Adyson Steiner, all of Kalkaska. He is also survived by sisters, Brenda Smith of London, Ky., and Sandi (Bruce) Parker of Fife Lake.
Chester was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Stanley Shotton.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Dec. 27, from 1 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., at the Wolfe-O'Neill Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 28, at 11 a.m., also at the funeral home.
The family is being served by the Wolfe-O'Neill Funeral Home of Kalkaska.
