Tillie Patricia Seidl

Tillie (Person) Seidl slipped away peacefully in her home on October 8, 2024, at 92 years young. 

Tillie was born in Cheboygan, Michigan on August 22, 1932, to Thor and Anne (Westburg) Person. While she grew up all around northern Michigan, she eventually settled down and remained in West Branch for most of her life. 

Tillie was surely greeted at those pearly gates by her beloved husband of 69 years, Eugene Seidl, eldest daughter, Cynthia Smith, and her best friend and sister, Teckla Baskin. Unless of course there was any sort of sporting event or game on…then Gene would be late. Tillie knew it was time to part, as Gene’s celestial diet had gone unsupervised for far too long. 

Tillie kept her sharp wit and sense of humor until the very end. Which was probably a good thing, as she jokingly indicated her daughters wouldn’t make it in the nursing field. She was the unwavering matriarch for her family. Tillie was fiercely protective of family and friends, and was strong, intelligent, and generous. However, Tillie didn’t have much of a poker face…she either loved you or you were…”whatever” with a wave of her hand. For those of us that she loved, she made us her whole world. She never missed a birthday or Christmas card. Tillie also took in all her daughters’ and grandkids’ friends as her own. “May I put it that way…”

Tillie’s legacy will live on through her kitchen skills. She never had a hungry guest and was always eager to make someone a sandwich. No kid left her house without some sort of candy, pie, or something from her cookie jar. Her chicken noodle soup had magical healing powers that could likely bring world peace, and her pasty recipe could make anyone want to be a Yooper. Her loved ones will never again be able to have a Squirt without thinking of her. 

Tillie is survived by her three amazing daughters, Susan (Jeff) Wangler, Kristina (Kevin) Benjamin, and Karla (Michael) Montgomery. But her heart truly belonged to and will remain with her greatest achievements in life, her grandchildren and great-grands (which she would tell her girls jokingly, were the only things they got right) She leaves behind: Josh (Trisha) Treat of Grand Haven; Jodi (Michael) Coe of Williamston; Jessica Smith (Dr. Micheal Oglivie) of Chicago; Courtney McGirr (Thomas O’Farrell) of West Branch; Nikki Zvonar of Caledonia; Aaron (Dr. Denise Monahan) Smith of Chicago; Jon Treat (Michelle Coleman) of Las Vegas; Samantha Wangler of Middleville, and TJ McGirr (Stacy Sunell) of West Branch; and 17 great-grandchildren. 

Her family will hold a private gathering following her cremation, and she will be laid to rest in St. Ignace with Gene by her side. In lieu of flowers, Tillie asked everyone to make a huge donation to St. Jude’s Hospital. 

Arrangements were handled by Steuernol & McLaren Funeral Home in West Branch. www.steuernolmclaren.com