Sulane Hamilton

Sulane Hamilton, 73, died Friday, January 11, 2019 at her home in Harbor Springs, Michigan.

She was born November 19,  1945, in Rockford, IL to Fay and Marjorie Hamilton. Her father was a World War II Navy pilot and worked for Allstate Insurance. They moved to Arlington Heights, IL in 1953.

Sulane graduated from Arlington Heights High School in Arlington Heights, IL and received her Bachelors of Science from Denison University in Grandville, OH. She and Hagen Manker moved from Crawfordsville, IN to Harbor Springs, MI and married in 1978.

She was an active member of the community, contributing to several area organizations throughout her life. She was the Assistant Director of Charlevoix Performing Arts from 1988-2000, a member of the Charlevoix School Board and Charlevoix Hospital Board, co-founder of the Charlevoix Area Hospital annual hospital fundraiser, Holly Daze, and the Executive Director of Little Traverse Choral Society. She was the founder of the Charlevoix Area Land Conservancy.

Sulane was a passionate advocate for the arts, education, and environmental stewardship. Her family and friends will remember her as fearless, brilliant and unrelenting in her support for her community and family. Her legacy will live on through the countless community members that she has influenced through her decades of work in Charlevoix and Harbor Springs.

Mrs. Hamilton is survived by her husband Hagen Manker; her sister, Sandy Stebe; her daughter, Allison Manker and son, Joshua Manker.

At Sulane’s request, a private ceremony will be held Tuesday, January 15th at Stone Funeral Home in Petoskey, MI. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to Little Traverse Choral Society be made in her memory. The family wishes to invite the community to celebrate her legacy at a gathering over the summer.

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