Charlene Bidwell Obituary

Charlene J. Bidwell
Died January 16, 2025
NORTHPORT – Charlene Jean Bidwell, 83, of Northport, passed away Thursday, January 16, 2025, at the Northport Highlands.
Charlene was born May 26, 1941, in Ann Arbor the daughter of Norman and Violet (Clausen) Wollenweber.
Charlene graduated from Mackenzie High School in Detroit with the Class of 1959. After graduation she started working at American Airlines and through her work ethic and skills, she rose up the company ranks. She worked in reservations for American Airlines, then went to stewardess school and became a stewardess.
Charlene worked at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport where she was the passenger service manager. American Airlines sent her to South America to take the lead in organizing new flight terminals. Charlene ended her career with American Airlines as the General Manager of the grand Rapids branch.
Charlene and her mother, Violet owned a cottage on Lake Leelanau and the family would gather there in the summers. Charlene was generous to her siblings with airline flight passes. She took her mother to Norway, Australia, Morrocco and Istanbul, Turkey.
Charlene is survived by her three siblings, Bette Lou (Richard) Bastian, Ronald (Sharon) Wollenweber, William (Sue) Wollenweber and many loving nieces and nephews,
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, Frank Jurik and Max Bidwell; a sister in infancy, Karen Wollenweber, a brother, Norman Wollenweber Jr., and two nephews, Eric and Gregory Wollenweber.
Private family burial will be held at a later date in Leelanau Township Cemetery.
Please share your memories and condolences with the family at www.martinson.info.
Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.
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