Clyde Van Dusen

Clyde Joseph Van Dusen, 90, of St. Ignace passed away Friday morning at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey following a short illness. He was born in the Soo on July 25, 1929 to Anthony J. and Florestine (Piche) VanDusen. He graduated from Sault High School in 1947 and married Elsie ("Bim") on June 18, 1949; they had several children. After divorcing, he married Patricia Kasper on Feb. 17, 1965. Clyde was the founder of Clyde's Drive-Ins, very popular "car hop" style restaurants in the area. He began the first in the Soo in 1949, followed by others in Manistique, St. Ignace, and Rudyard, and just celebrated the 70th Anniversary of the founding of Clyde's. He was very active in and a former Governor of Moose Lodge #999 in St. Ignace; a member of the Elks, the Eagles, and of St. Ignatius Loyola and Immaculate Conception (Moran) Catholic Churches. He loved to play cards, routinely playing at the Moose and around the family card table. He has lived in Evergreen Shores since 1970. Interestingly, Clyde was named after the horse that won the Kentucky Derby in 1929. Family was very important to him, even starting "Clyde's Kids" as a company to keep the kids close, currently operating tourist shops in the Straits Area. He was very active in the business with the kids until his death. They also ventured together to fulfill Clyde's longtime wish of attending The Price is Right, with Jon being called to "Come on Down!" His last days were filled with attending Dale's Washington, DC Air Force retirement ceremony, a 90th Birthday Weekend with nearly the entire family attending, his 72nd high school reunion, Clyde's Kids business meeting, and, fittingly, was playing Euchre at the Moose his last evening. He is survived by sister Rita Spencer in the Soo; brother-in-law Bill Cook, Indiana; sister-in-law Merrial Kasper, Cedarville; his children, Larry and Mary Van Dusen, Necedah, WI; Bob and June Van Dusen, Rudyard; Joy Van Dusen, Soo; Jill Hazel, Peoria, AZ; Greg VanDusen and Alex Zavala, St. Ignace; Colonel Dale and Annette VanDusen, St. Ignace; Jon and Kim VanDusen, Cedar Springs, MI; Linda and John Jesionowski, Oswego, IL; Steve and Pamela VanDusen, Hudsonville, MI; 21 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild. He was preceded in death by wife, Pat, in 2016, a daughter, Cheryl, at birth, and sisters, Dorothy Cook and Edna Kulczyk. Friends may call at St. Ignatius Loyola Church on Friday, August 9th, from 10 am to 11 am, then Mass of Christian Burial will be held with Fr. Frank Ricca and Deacon Tom McClellend officiating. Burial will be in St. Ignatius Cemetery next to Pat. Lastly, friends are invited to a final wish of Clyde's at the St. Ignace Moose Lodge at 5pm. Dodson Funeral Home and Cremation Center of St. Ignace assisted the family with arrangements.

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Clyde Van Dusen

August 2, 2019