KARI JEAN SCHELLIE

On May 13, 2024, God called up one of his most beloved children with the sudden passing of Kari Schellie. Kari was dedicated to her friends and family, especially her husband Tom and their four beautiful pets Kai, Oliver, Harbor, and Port, who were the pride and joy of her life.

Kari was born in Rogers City on March 3, 1975, to Patrick and Marcie (Stone) Seelye. She graduated from Alpena High School in 1993. Being a person that loved to continually expand her knowledge, Kari went on to earn several degrees after high school. First earning her Associate of Art (AA) degree from Alpena Community College she then went on to receive two additional degrees. A Bachelor Degree of Arts (BA) Management from Spring Arbor University, and then the degree she was most proud of, her Master of Science (MS), Electronic Ecommerce from National University. Her thirst for knowledge continued throughout her life, most recently receiving a Digital Marketing Certificate from Michigan State University in the summer of 2021.

Kari built a very robust professional life that spanned over 25 years. Equipped with the knowledge she acquired in school and life, along with a work ethic second to none, Kari went out and took on the world. She started her career at Besser in Alpena, notably as a third-generation member of the Seelye family to work there. Kari worked her way up the ladder to eventually become the Director of Marketing & Information Technology in 2011. From there, Kari moved south to Grand Haven starting a career at Meijer in 2015. In 2018 she transitioned over to Behler-Young as their Senior Marketing Manager, and then in 2022 she started the final stage of her career at ETNA Supply Company as their Director of Marketing.

While Kari had a fulfilling professional life, her true passion was her family and friends. She loved spending time with her immediate family, which included many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Her mind was always focused on their needs first and never her own. She particularly loved to spoil her nephews, nieces, and cousins. After COVID Kari missed seeing her family so much she hosted a three-day event at her and Tom’s home and invited everyone to attend. In true Kari fashion the party was well organized and enjoyed by all. Kari also had a strong close-knit group of friends that she enjoyed being with. Whether it was just hanging out or going on vacation together you could usually find them together doing something they enjoyed.

Kari loved all holidays, but her favorite was Halloween. She loved handing out candy and seeing all the kids dressed up in their costumes. After living in the countryside for several years, last year she was particularly excited about moving into a new subdivision so she could hand out candy to all the kids and decorate her front porch. Wouldn’t you know it though, we got over 12″ of snow last year for Halloween! That didn’t stop Kari – she made sure Tom came home early from work to clear the driveway and she brought a heater onto the front porch and placed her full-size candy bars beside her and was ready for action. She didn’t like just watching it, she loved participating in Halloween as well. Her and Tom would dress up every year and go out on the town or a party for some Halloween fun. Kari even had a live band to perform at one of the parties she threw at her and Tom’s house where costumes were always required along with a good time.

Television and movies were not Kari’s thing, but she did enjoy the Golden Girls which would be on the television every weekend as Kari worked around the house. Kari wasn’t big on music either, but when she did listen to music you can be sure it was Jimmy Buffett. She finally got to see him in concert in Vegas in 2023 and loved every minute of it. She recently also took a liking to Jesse Rice who she said was a lot like Jimmy. As long as it was beach music, it would be OK with Kari.

Kari loved to travel for work and pleasure. During her career with Besser, she had the opportunity to travel to Australia, Europe, and Canada several times. During her most recent career at ETNA Supply she traveled throughout the states of Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan on a regular basis visiting many customers for marketing events. For pleasure travel, Kari loved the sun and warm weather. Many vacations were to the Caribbean to destinations like Saint Maartin and of course Jamaica, where she and Tom were married on March 30, 2007, and returned for their 10th wedding anniversary in 2017. Most recently she traveled to Kauai for 10 days with friends which was the longest vacation she had ever taken. Even on vacation she rose early every morning to work, staying on top of things back at ETNA. The place that Kari loved the most was Florida. She loved visiting friends and family there whenever she could and had long-term plans of moving there full-time so she could enjoy the warm weather year-round, go for long walks, gardening, and for her beloved dog Kai to enjoy a swimming pool once again in his life.

When not working or traveling Kari loved to be on the water. She was most proud of her tri-toon boat the Grand Entertainer, which will now be renamed Kari’s Grand Entertainer, a tri-toon would make most skippers with million-dollar yachts take a second look! She loved inviting people out on it so she could show them the beautiful shores of Lake Michigan while entering them along the way. Often her and Tom would just go out on their own with their two dogs Kai and Oliver for a short trip up the Grand River or to close by ports for lunch or dinner. At times they have even taken the boat North to Traverse City, Indian River, and Alpena to explore new destinations with family and friends.

Words cannot explain the hole that the loss of Kari has left in the lives of all that knew her, especially her husband Tom. Kari was the most kind and giving person you would ever know. She was loyal to no end and had a passion for living life to the fullest. This short obituary cannot cover all the things she was to us and will ever be. Our hearts are broken, but somehow, we need to figure out how to move forward. That is what Kari would have wanted, a celebration of her life. Life without her will never be the same, but her family and friends will pull together and support each other through this tragic event in our lives. Kari, we know you are now in Heaven looking down on us and we will forever cherish the time we had with you. Trust that we will take great care of Kai, Oliver, Port, and Harbor, and that one day we will see you again. Until then we will always love and miss Kari AKA: Babelicious, Kari Jean, KJHQ, and Kari Assist.

Kari is survived by her loving husband of 17 years Tom Schellie along with their four pets Kai, Oliver, Harbor, and Port; her mother Marcie Seelye; two brothers Patrick (Katiefaye) Seelye, Nathan (Crystal) Seelye; brothers-in-law, Rodney Kasubowski, Mike (Alison) Schellie; nieces and nephews, Matthew Seelye, Madison Seelye, Trent Seely, and Owen Seelye, Joseph Kasubowski & Brittany LaTulip, Jenna (Mark) Pagels, Anthony Schellie, Elizabeth Schellie, Ashely (Jimmy) Kodet, several aunt and uncles; Ken & Kim Williams, Ken & Kelly Kott, Kathy Gagnon, Alice Modrzynski, Gerri (Terry) Hahn; several cousins, Daniel Misiak and Grant Bruland, Kevin (Trisha) Hahn, Shannon (Jeremy) Sager, Robbie (Rob) Lister, Ashley Gagnon & Dan Szejbach, Connie (Rod) Gibson, Sam (Chelsea) Kott, Collin (Paige) Gagnon, and Teresa Ducsay. Kari also leaves behind several close friends Dathan & Jennifer Zang, Patrick Boruta & Casey Nousain, Annette & Bob Nelson, Mike & Robecca Tober, Howard & Sharon Meyer, Kevin & Paula Curtis.

Kari was preceded in death by her father Patrick Seelye; grandparents Robert and Mary Stone, stepfather Duane Brandel, in-laws Donald and Betty Ann Schellie, and her Aunt Margaret Stone-Scofield.

Visitation will take place at the Bannan Funeral Home in Alpena on Friday, May 17, from 2 to 8 p.m. with a parish prayer service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday at St. Anne Church of All Saints Parish from 10 a.m. until the time of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Aloysius Okpala officiating. Kari’s final act of kindness was to give the gift of life through organ and tissue donation.

Memorials: Second Chance Animal Shelter or Friends Together