Sophia Susan Bucholtz, age 87, of Gladstone, formerly of Marquette passed away on Friday, October 23, 2009 at the Christian Park Health Care Center in Escanaba.

Sophia Susan Bongartz was born to Henry and Susan Bongartz in Marquette, Michigan on October 19, 1922 and had three sisters, Yvonne (Ron) Merkel, Evelyn (Ike) Weiger and Betty Stack.

Sophia married James R. Bucholtz of Trenary on November 25, 1948. They enjoyed raising their four children, James H. (Marilynn) Bucholtz of Marquette, Paulette (Thomas) Ciociorka of Alpena, Michigan, Mary Lou (Dean) Krieg of Safford, Arizona and Judy (John) Davidson of Schaumberg, Illinois. She was blessed with nine grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Sophia’s early employment included Getz’s Department Store, Piggly Wiggly Grocery Store and Dr. Cooperstock’s office. In the mid 50’s Sophia and husband Jim built and for eighteen years operated the Westwood Best Western Motel in Marquette. Sophia and Jim were an accomplished and enterprising business couple. They retired to Gladstone, Michigan in 1976. Over the years she and Jim enjoyed their faith, family, flower gardens, boating, building antique cars, snow mobiling and traveling to Arizona in the winters.

Sophia was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Evelyn and Betty.

A private Memorial Life Celebration will be held by family at a later date. In lieu of flowers please make donations to OSF Hospice. Sophia’s family is being assisted by the Skradski-Boyce Funeral Home in Escanaba. For additional information or to leave the Bucholtz family a message of condolence, go to www.skradski-boycefuneralhomes.com.