Faith Alice Stripe

(Submitted and composed by family) Faith Stripe, who died early on August 17 at the age of 94, had a life full of rewarding activity. Born Faith Alice Nebel on October 19, 1912, in Marquette, MI, she went to Northern Michigan College, now NMU, to get a teaching degree in French, which she taught in Ontonagon and Rogers City before marrying Joseph Stripe, then a shop teacher at Grayling, on June 16, 1940. Joe and Faith honeymooned in the Porcupine Mts. Their first meal as a married couple was cooked over a campfire - ring bologna, baked beans, coffee and sliced tomato - so every year on their anniversary they had a picnic of the same things! In their first summer, Joe and Faith lived in a tent at Hartwick Pines while they built their home in Grayling. Faith always liked gardening, though her own father (who was such a keen gardener he had a bunch of carrots among the flowers on his coffin) complained a person "couldn't even raise Hell in that Grayling sand!" Faith made a lot of her own clothes, an activity she taught her daughter Rhea, who in turn became such an accomplished seamstress she eventually landed a job at the Goddard Space Center, helping make insulating jackets for instruments which went up in the space shuttle. Having taught herself Spanish from a book, Mrs. Stripe attended summer schools in Mexico and Spain. She even received a Fulbright grant to study for a summer in Costa Rica. After getting a teaching qualification, she taught Spanish at Crawford-AuSable Schools for over 15 years. Ever open to new things, she was the first teacher in Grayling to wear a pant suit. Her husband Joe, by that Superintendent of Schools, had opposed it, but once his own wife wore one, then it was all right for others! Faith also taught herself German while researching her family tree. Things she wrote about the Nebels were later used in a book about German immigrant families in Wisconsin. In addition, she composed a booklet describing things she remembered from her early life. Among the gems were a description of what she wore as a child - undershirt, underwaist, bloomers, hose supporters, stockings, long underwear in winter, a dress, and high button shoes which needed a button hook to fasten up. Her mother wore a corset, corset cover and petticoat in addition to bloomers, hose, etc. Faith was glad when fashions changed in the '20s! She also wrote that the term "flapper" came from a '20s fad in which girls left their rubber galoshes unbuckled so they flapped as they walked. Faith founded a Girl Scout troop in Grayling in the 1950s. Her involvement with Scouts had begun in her own girlhood, and while living in Marquette she had been a Scout Leader. Her nickname at that time was "Sacky," which her then-beau Joe took to be a reference to the bloomers which, in the '30s, were part of the Girl Scout uniform.... before he was told in no uncertain terms it was short for "Sacajawea" or "the Bird Woman." The relationship survived. Faith's love of birds was a lifelong interest. Researchers and Audubon Society members used to contact her in the '50s, to take them out to Kirtland Warbler nesting areas. This in turn led indirectly to the naming of Kirtland College. In 1966, Joe Stripe was a member of the founding board for the new college. One night he mentioned to his family that they'd been trying to come up with a name it. Their daughter Cathy suggested commemorating something unique to the area - Jack Pine College was considered and rejected ("Jack Pine University"?!?) - before Cathy, remembering Faith's involvement with the warbler, suggested "Kirtland Warbler College." Joe and Bob Bovee then proposed "Kirtland College" at a later meeting. Faith stayed active most of her life. She and Joe took up Cross-country skiing when Rhea bought them some skis after their retirement. The couple were also a familiar sight around Grayling on their bicycles. Faith is remembered by her friends as lively and friendly. She had a quiet, gracious demeanor that disguised a stubborn determination, and was quite opinionated, though as she said, it was often best to "cloak the truth in courtesy." She is survived by two daughters: Cathy Lester of Grayling and Rhea Glisan (Gary) of Columbia, MD; and grandchildren: Henry Lester, Flt. Lt. Arthur Lester (RAF), Julie Glisan, Dena Glisan and Shannon Glisan. She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph Stripe. A celebration of her life will be held at Michelson Memorial United Methodist Church on Sunday, August 26, at 2:00 p.m. The family requests that instead of flowers, donations be sent to the Joseph and Faith Stripe Memorial Scholarship Fund. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Faith Alice Stripe, please visit our flower store.