Wife of late U.S. District Court judge passes away at age of 95
Annabel Irene (Ann) Churchill died on February 15, 2025, one day after her 95th birthday.
She was born on February 14, 1930 to Jay and Anna Agnes Muir of Imlay City, Mich. She worked at the Imlay City Oil Co, after high school until she married James P. Churchill, her husband of 69 years who served on the U.S. District Court bench from 1974-89. He preceded her in death in 2020 at the age of 96.
Early in their marriage, the couple moved to Vassar, Mich. where they raised three children: Nancy Ann, David James, and Sally Jo. James became a Circuit Judge in Tuscola and Lapeer Counties and later became a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, serving as Chief Judge in 1989. They had many friends in their Michigan hometowns of Imlay City, Vassar, Grosse Pointe, Bay City, Good Hart, Harbor Springs, and her beloved Perry Farm Village community.
Ann was a warm, kind and generous person who always greeted everyone with a smile. She enjoyed bridge, golf, oil painting and crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She was an extraordinary homemaker and was expert at sewing, embroidery, cross stitch and especially quilting, which was all done by hand. Her many dozens of quilts are all beautiful works of art. Through a local quilters’ guild, she made and donated many quilts to the local hospice. She also enjoyed the Lake Shore Study Club, the Lake Michigan beach, and the beauty of northern Michigan.
Ann loved her family, who adored her. She is survived by her children Nancy Nyquist (Mike Blohm), David (Kathy) Churchill, and Sally Churchill (Edward Kulka); grandchildren David (Melanie) Nyquist, Sara Nyquist (Alan) Aichner, Joe Churchill, (Ajay Mani), Katherine Churchill, Emmet Kulka and Helen Kulka; great grandchildren Ryan (Meg) Nyquist, Holly (Anthony) Condie, and Gabriel Shaw; great-great-granddaughter Eleanor Condie; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by siblings May Muir, Ivaleen David, Margaret Churchill, and Merlyn Muir.
She will be interred at Island View Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Readmond Friendship Cross Village (RFC) Fire and Rescue Association, 8338 Robinson Road, Harbor Springs, MI 49740 or the Little Traverse Conservancy, 3264 Powell Road, Harbor Springs, MI 49740.
She was born on February 14, 1930 to Jay and Anna Agnes Muir of Imlay City, Mich. She worked at the Imlay City Oil Co, after high school until she married James P. Churchill, her husband of 69 years who served on the U.S. District Court bench from 1974-89. He preceded her in death in 2020 at the age of 96.
Early in their marriage, the couple moved to Vassar, Mich. where they raised three children: Nancy Ann, David James, and Sally Jo. James became a Circuit Judge in Tuscola and Lapeer Counties and later became a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, serving as Chief Judge in 1989. They had many friends in their Michigan hometowns of Imlay City, Vassar, Grosse Pointe, Bay City, Good Hart, Harbor Springs, and her beloved Perry Farm Village community.
Ann was a warm, kind and generous person who always greeted everyone with a smile. She enjoyed bridge, golf, oil painting and crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She was an extraordinary homemaker and was expert at sewing, embroidery, cross stitch and especially quilting, which was all done by hand. Her many dozens of quilts are all beautiful works of art. Through a local quilters’ guild, she made and donated many quilts to the local hospice. She also enjoyed the Lake Shore Study Club, the Lake Michigan beach, and the beauty of northern Michigan.
Ann loved her family, who adored her. She is survived by her children Nancy Nyquist (Mike Blohm), David (Kathy) Churchill, and Sally Churchill (Edward Kulka); grandchildren David (Melanie) Nyquist, Sara Nyquist (Alan) Aichner, Joe Churchill, (Ajay Mani), Katherine Churchill, Emmet Kulka and Helen Kulka; great grandchildren Ryan (Meg) Nyquist, Holly (Anthony) Condie, and Gabriel Shaw; great-great-granddaughter Eleanor Condie; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by siblings May Muir, Ivaleen David, Margaret Churchill, and Merlyn Muir.
She will be interred at Island View Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Readmond Friendship Cross Village (RFC) Fire and Rescue Association, 8338 Robinson Road, Harbor Springs, MI 49740 or the Little Traverse Conservancy, 3264 Powell Road, Harbor Springs, MI 49740.
Law school hosts Happy Hour in Ferndale, Feb. 25
Wayne State University Law School and the Mike Ilitch School of Business will host a Happy Hour at Syndicate Ferndale on Tuesday, February 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
To register, visit https://law.wayne.edu and scroll down to “events.”
To register, visit https://law.wayne.edu and scroll down to “events.”
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