Obituary for PAULINE C. "Polly" TIPSWORD
Pauline Constance ‘Polly’ Tipsword, 83, of Negaunee Township, passed away Sunday afternoon, August 28, 2022 at UP Health System Marquette.
Pauline was born on November 30, 1938 in Saginaw, MI to Nickolas and Georgia (Milionis) Barris. She graduated from Saginaw High School, Class of 1956 and then went on to attend Eastern Michigan University, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She and her husband, Gary Tipsword were married in 1961. After living in Detroit, MI and Garrettsville, OH, they moved to Ishpeming, MI in 1969 and later to Negaunee Township in 1978.
Polly pursued her calling as a teacher in the Ishpeming Public Schools for 27 years, primarily as a first-grade teacher at Birchview Elementary School. She was active in her community as well in many professional and social organizations, especially enjoying her activities with the Lady Elks of the Negaunee Lodge and her association with the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Marquette, MI.
In her free time Polly enjoyed reading, swimming clubs, playing Mahjong and Canasta, and snowmobiling and boating around their home near the Dead River Basin and throughout the U.P. In more recent years she and Gary would spend the winters down in Greenacres, FL where she was active in her community’s Women’s Club activities and would often travel with groups to Miami to attend plays, concerts, and shows.
Her greatest passion by far was her love, dedication, and devotion to her family. She was always at her happiest when surrounded by loved ones and would frequently travel across the country to visit family members who had moved away. She was excited and thrilled with each new addition to the family and she couldn’t wait to see them in person and welcome them. She was the matriarch of the family, and nothing ever brought her more joy than bringing family together.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Gary Tipsword of Negaunee; her brothers: Steve (Marlene) Barris of Highlands Ranch, CO, Greg Barris of Saginaw, MI, and Thomas (Angela) Barris of Naples, FL; her children: Lisa (Kenton Potila) Tipsword of Ishpeming, MI, Dave (Dawn) Tipsword of Palmer, MI, Chris (Kathy) Tipsword of Grand Blanc, MI, and her former son-in-law, Eric (Tami) Stott of Lancaster, CA; her nieces and nephews: Jennifer (John Buescher) Barris of Colorado Springs, CO, Nick Barris of Highlands Ranch, CO, Cheryl (Bryan Quinn) Barris of Morrison, CO, Georgia (Michael DeJager) Barris of Highlands Ranch, CO, Nick (Jennifer) Barris of Freeland, MI, and Scott (Julie Barris) Cookenmaster of Grand Blanc, MI; her grandchildren: Allana (Mike Bush) Stott, Eric (Jennie) Stott Jr, Cassie Stott, Erin (Cameron Allman) Stott, Connal Potila, Allen (Ana) Tipsword, Alex Tipsword, Meghan Tipsword, Jordyn (Hunter Stiff) Tipsword, and Joshua Tipsword; her grand-nieces and grand-nephews: Joshua (Jessica) Buescher, Samuel (Jessica) Buescher, David (Margo) Buescher, Luke Buescher, Nickolas Barris, Drew Moore, Peyton (Jordan) Moore, Grace (Ryan Russell) Moore, Luke Quinn, Brandt DeJager, Avery DeJager, Hayden DeJager, Alexander Barris, Stephanie Barris, Thomas Cookenmaster, and Sydney Cookenmaster; her great-grandchildren: Layla Bush, Ethan Bush, Ezra Bush, Sophia Stott, Ben Stott, Selena Dix, Aria Allman, Allora Tipsword, and 1 more pending; and her great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews: Eva Buescher, Yosef Buescher, Anya Buescher, Avalina Buescher, Jane Buescher, Iyov Buescher, Dalya Buescher, Quetzal Buescher, Atticus Moore and 1 more pending. She will also be missed by a multitude of other family members and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her niece, Julie (Scott Cookenmaster) Barris; her great-grandson, Elijah Pontel (Stott); and her great-grandnephew, Israel Buescher.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, October 4th at Koskey Funeral Home in Negaunee. A luncheon will be held immediately following at the Negaunee Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Pauline’s name to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 235 W. Ridge St., Marquette, MI, 49855; or to UPAWS, 815 South State Hwy. M-553, Gwinn, MI 49841.
Polly’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com
Pauline was born on November 30, 1938 in Saginaw, MI to Nickolas and Georgia (Milionis) Barris. She graduated from Saginaw High School, Class of 1956 and then went on to attend Eastern Michigan University, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education. She and her husband, Gary Tipsword were married in 1961. After living in Detroit, MI and Garrettsville, OH, they moved to Ishpeming, MI in 1969 and later to Negaunee Township in 1978.
Polly pursued her calling as a teacher in the Ishpeming Public Schools for 27 years, primarily as a first-grade teacher at Birchview Elementary School. She was active in her community as well in many professional and social organizations, especially enjoying her activities with the Lady Elks of the Negaunee Lodge and her association with the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Marquette, MI.
In her free time Polly enjoyed reading, swimming clubs, playing Mahjong and Canasta, and snowmobiling and boating around their home near the Dead River Basin and throughout the U.P. In more recent years she and Gary would spend the winters down in Greenacres, FL where she was active in her community’s Women’s Club activities and would often travel with groups to Miami to attend plays, concerts, and shows.
Her greatest passion by far was her love, dedication, and devotion to her family. She was always at her happiest when surrounded by loved ones and would frequently travel across the country to visit family members who had moved away. She was excited and thrilled with each new addition to the family and she couldn’t wait to see them in person and welcome them. She was the matriarch of the family, and nothing ever brought her more joy than bringing family together.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Gary Tipsword of Negaunee; her brothers: Steve (Marlene) Barris of Highlands Ranch, CO, Greg Barris of Saginaw, MI, and Thomas (Angela) Barris of Naples, FL; her children: Lisa (Kenton Potila) Tipsword of Ishpeming, MI, Dave (Dawn) Tipsword of Palmer, MI, Chris (Kathy) Tipsword of Grand Blanc, MI, and her former son-in-law, Eric (Tami) Stott of Lancaster, CA; her nieces and nephews: Jennifer (John Buescher) Barris of Colorado Springs, CO, Nick Barris of Highlands Ranch, CO, Cheryl (Bryan Quinn) Barris of Morrison, CO, Georgia (Michael DeJager) Barris of Highlands Ranch, CO, Nick (Jennifer) Barris of Freeland, MI, and Scott (Julie Barris) Cookenmaster of Grand Blanc, MI; her grandchildren: Allana (Mike Bush) Stott, Eric (Jennie) Stott Jr, Cassie Stott, Erin (Cameron Allman) Stott, Connal Potila, Allen (Ana) Tipsword, Alex Tipsword, Meghan Tipsword, Jordyn (Hunter Stiff) Tipsword, and Joshua Tipsword; her grand-nieces and grand-nephews: Joshua (Jessica) Buescher, Samuel (Jessica) Buescher, David (Margo) Buescher, Luke Buescher, Nickolas Barris, Drew Moore, Peyton (Jordan) Moore, Grace (Ryan Russell) Moore, Luke Quinn, Brandt DeJager, Avery DeJager, Hayden DeJager, Alexander Barris, Stephanie Barris, Thomas Cookenmaster, and Sydney Cookenmaster; her great-grandchildren: Layla Bush, Ethan Bush, Ezra Bush, Sophia Stott, Ben Stott, Selena Dix, Aria Allman, Allora Tipsword, and 1 more pending; and her great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews: Eva Buescher, Yosef Buescher, Anya Buescher, Avalina Buescher, Jane Buescher, Iyov Buescher, Dalya Buescher, Quetzal Buescher, Atticus Moore and 1 more pending. She will also be missed by a multitude of other family members and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her niece, Julie (Scott Cookenmaster) Barris; her great-grandson, Elijah Pontel (Stott); and her great-grandnephew, Israel Buescher.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 10:00 AM until 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, October 4th at Koskey Funeral Home in Negaunee. A luncheon will be held immediately following at the Negaunee Elks Lodge. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Pauline’s name to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, 235 W. Ridge St., Marquette, MI, 49855; or to UPAWS, 815 South State Hwy. M-553, Gwinn, MI 49841.
Polly’s memorial page may be viewed at koskeyfuneralhome.com