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| Alkire at Pleasanton's Memorial Day services, 2011 |
In high school civics, a required course in Michigan, we were taught that government is formed at three levels – federal, state and local. But in today’s world, much governmental work is done by combinations of local units. Several of our governors have encouraged such cooperation.
Alkire, supervisor of Pleasanton Township, for years chaired the Manistee County chapter of the Michigan Townships Association, where township supervisors gathered to learn the latest changes in their working laws and the latest money-saving ideas. For example, Pleasanton and Bear Lake townships formed a joint trash collection program from the 1990s until 2009, where they employed one collection point with one contractor’s trucks to collect two towns’ trash on the same Saturday morning.
When the Bear Lake community received a private grant in 2001 for a new branch library building, Alkire chaired a three-unit panel – the two townships and the Village of Bear Lake – to build the new Keddie-Norconk branch library. The county provided the books, materials and staff, but local units provided the building. All three local units provided members of the library board, which Alkire led, and got its job done, with much volunteer labor, two years earlier than another community with a similar grant.
When invasive species, notably Eurasian milfoil, were found in the waters of the 1,800-acre lake, the affected local units established a lake improvement board to attack the problem. Alkire provided a major spark to ignite this saving of a natural resource.
When lakefront dwellers sought to establish a sanitary sewer system, Alkire chaired the three-town Bear Lake Area Utilities Board. After years, the protestors shot down the assessment rolls for the projects and wiped out the board, Alkire was undoubtedly saddened, but the engineering work is still available some place, and the federal government may yet be interested in financing it.
A business-citizens group called the Promoters guided many beautification and entertainment projects to fruition. Alkire chaired it for about 10 years. Committees always got appointed and gave timely reports in his tenure. And he did his share of the scut work at the baked potato stand. His venison sausage sold well at the Christmas table.
Alkire’s skills were calling meetings, preparing agendas, guiding discussions to votes, and getting things started. He was by no means a one-man show.
"He charged into things others were afraid of," recalled Joanne Schroeder, a former village official and now Promoters officer. "He did more for this community than this community realizes," said Don Brisbin, a former Lion, now Lake Improvement Board chair and another Promoters’ officer.
To many public officials, their world is a 36-square-mile square with walls around it. To Alkire, the world was the size of a watershed, and often it took several units – working together – to attack a problem.
Here is Alkire's obituary --Eds.
Here is Alkire's obituary --Eds.
Longtime Boy Scout leader passes
Fred Edward Alkire, age 80, of Bear Lake went home to be with his Valentine Joyce, on Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012 at West Shore Medical Center in Manistee.
He was born on Oct. 6, 1931 in Manistee County’s Pleasanton Township, the son of the late Harold E. and Beatrice (Reed) Alkire.
He was a graduate of Bear Lake High School, Class of l950. On May 30, 1953 Fred married P. Joyce Fauble at the First Baptist Church in Bear Lake. She preceded him in death on July 12, 2011.
Fred was employed as a postal carrier at the Bear Lake Post Office for 40 years, was Command Sergeant Major with the Michigan National Guard-Retired, serving 41 years, was Pleasanton Township Supervisor for 38 years, drove bus and did janitorial services for the Bear Lake Schools, as well as being self-employed in the pulp wood business for many years.
Fred was Scoutmaster of Troop #106 for 46 years, mentoring 44 Eagle Scouts, was an active member and past president of the Bear Lake Promoters, was a member and past master of the Bear Lake Lodge #416 F&AM.
He enjoyed decorating his home for Christmas with his well-known light display. Alkire was also well known for his homemade sausage. He enjoyed spending time with family.
He is survived by his children Terri Lynn (Bob) Alkire-Schmidt, Douglas Edward (Linda) Alkire, David Scott Alkire, Mary Rebecca (Todd) Zalud, Nancy Ann (Allan) Ackerman and Amy Sue Elizabeth (Lupe) Garcia all of Bear Lake; 14 grandchildren Marissa (Christopher) Milliron, Christa (Calvin) Lutz, Steven (Amber) Milliron, Stacie (Travis) Kober, Jessica, Jarred, David, Donovan and Katie Alkire, Jacob Zalud, Lacey Cat, Sylvia, Angelia, Eliseo and Enrique Garcia; five great grandchildren Kylie, McKenna, Taylor, Bailey and Carter; his brother Edwin (Diana) Alkire of Bear Lake; brother-in-law John Keenan(Elaine) Fauble of Manistee and sister-in-lawDoris Higley (Mike) Kaskinen of Bear Lake.
Numerous nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services for Fred E. Alkire will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012 at 11 a.m. at the Bear Lake United Methodist Church with Pastor Dan Ingersoll officiating. Military honors will follow with burial to take place at the Pleasanton Township Cemetery later.
The family will receive friends at the Bear Lake United Methodist Church on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. and again at the church on Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of service.
Memorial contributions in Fred’s name may be directed to the Bear Lake Boy Scout Troop #106, the Bear Lake Promoters or the Bear lake School Playground Fund.
The family has entrusted the Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Bear Lake with funeral arrangements.
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