Stella Manski

MANSKI, Stella
Kalamazoo Stella Manski passed away on Saturday, May 12, 2012, after a lifetime of happiness and accomplishment. Stella was born in Kalamazoo, MI on December 12, 1920. Her parents, Michael and Pauline Manski, immigrated to America from Poland and demonstrated to both Stella and her sister, Mildred, that it takes hard work to succeed in life. After graduating from Kalamazoo Central High School and Mahers Business College, Stella began a successful 40-year accounting career, retiring in 1983. Although an outstanding athlete in many sports, Stella will always be remembered for her achievements in golf. She became well known in and around Kalamazoo, wearing her saddle shoes instead of regular golf shoes, as she won championship after championship, Stella was the record holder as a nine time champion of the city's women's match play tournaments between 1951 and 1965. This was so extraordinary that the famous Paul Harvey mentioned it on one of his radio programs! Stella was awarded a lifetime membership to the Kalamazoo Women's Golf Association in 1994. She had been a member of the KWGA for over fifty years at that time. The Kalamazoo Golf Hall of Fame was established in 1995 and Stella was among the inaugural group of inductees. Her initial interest in golf started while she was employed at Sutherland Paper Company when she met Frank Kennett, a golf professional at the Kalamazoo Country Club. His method of instruction meant that Stella did nothing but practice swinging a golf club until Frank was satisfied that she had learned the proper way to do so; then, and only then, was she allowed to start hitting golf balls. She always played the Titleist brand golf ball and during her years of playing, she had three aces, using Titleists 1, 2, & a MAX-FLI No. 3 ; she finished her career playing a Titleist 4, always expecting that next hole-in-one. Over the years, Stella was mentored by Greg Matthews, at various golf courses in the area, and became close, longtime friends with the Matthews family. She and Greg collaborated in initiating the Golden Girls golf tournament which was designed for older ladies who could no longer hope to compete with the younger, stronger golfers who emerging into prominence while competing in KWGA events and tournaments. Stella was immensely proud to have won the Golden Girls tourney six times, first competing in the 70-74 age group and later advancing to the 75-79 year age group Stella and Greg were instrumental in promoting ladies golf for all ages and for a few years, they brought members of the LPGA to our area to play exhibition golf. These were wonderful events held at the Pineview Golf Course and Stella personally sponsored participation in them for some of the younger, local players so they could be exposed to upper level golf talent. Although golf was Stella's claim to fame, she will also be remembered for her talent in telling seemingly never-ending shaggy dog stories about her life experiences. Stella loved to play poker and was part of a group of young women who played together for years. When she moved to Crooked Lake Texas Township in 1970, she purchased a pontoon and christened it "The PolishPrincess" which she proudly piloted backwards around the lake for her introductory float. It was a perfect demonstration of Stella's quirky sense of humor. Stella has been part of a ladies coffee group that has met for over 30 years for the purpose of not only solving the problems of the world but also for the purpose of enjoying the diversity of personalities within the group. Her favorite quotation has always been "The only trouble with being a good sport is you have to lose to prove it." Over a good, long lifetime Stella didn't have too many opportunities to prove that she was a good sport. Stella was preceded in death by her mother, father and her sister, as well as her beloved cats Divot, Moocher and Mickey. She is survived by several cousins in the Detroit area and her best friend, Christina Ballingall of Mattawan. She also leaves behind many local friends and her friends in Florida. A service to celebrate Stella's life will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 3:00 PM in the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th St., with Rev. James Dyke officiating. Prior to the service, a time of visitation for family and friends will begin at 1:00 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Sue's Loving Care, 2827 Courtland Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49004