ALPENA — The Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan is proud and pleased to announce the receipt of a legacy gift from the estate of Robert and Jacquelyn Granum.

The gift has been entrusted to Community Foundation of Northeast Michigan to assist the museum with preserving and interpreting Alpena’s long and rich history.

The Community Foundation will manage the endowment fund’s assets, and each year 5% of the fund will be available for Besser Museum’s use for establishing and improving permanent indoor exhibits which are held within the main museum building depicting local history.

Robert Granum was an industrial entrepreneur in the Alpena area, founding Panel Processing with a small group of local investors in 1971. Prior to founding Panel Processing, he was a plant manager at a local hardboard manufacturer. In late 1970, the hardboard company decided to stop all customized processing operations and that is when Granum decided to establish his own manufacturing plant to undertake and expand the customized processing service. In 1971, Panel Processing was incorporated, and they built their own processing plant. Granum served as senior chairman of Panel Processing from 1971 to 1994.

Jacquelyn Granum supported her husband throughout his career. Adopting Alpena as their home, Jacquie involved herself in the community in which they lived. The couple loved the area and raised their two sons, Gregory and Robert in Alpena. Embracing all Alpena had to offer, Bob and Jacquie enjoyed many friends and social activities throughout their lifetime. They were life partners for 59 years.

As Alpena was a special place to the couple, they made various significant contributions for the betterment of the community, including the Robert and Jacquelyn Granum Theatre at Alpena Community College.

The gift to the Besser Museum is truly a testament to their commitment and love of Alpena.

Besser Museum Executive Director Christine Witulski said, “We are honored to receive this legacy gift from the Granum family. As a nonprofit, cultural institution, the Besser Museum will benefit from the generosity of the Granum family now and well into the future. Their vision and commitment to the museum and the community is not only truly inspiring but very humbling also.”

She added that the fund could yield approximately $50,000 annually and is only to be used for establishing and improving permanent indoor exhibits which are held within the main museum building depicting local history.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, our patrons, visitors, and staff, we are so very thankful for this wonderful gift and thank the Granum family for their generosity and commitment to Alpena,” Witulski said.

The Besser Museum has been working on a plan to revitalize the Native American exhibit along with adding more history on the Thunder Bay region.

“These endowed funds will be foundational to the success of this project,” she added.