Celebrating 90 in a dune buggy
From staff reports
The usual comment when meeting Jack Baad, a Glen Lake resident for many years, is that he looks fit and in great health. This is always followed by disbelief when it is revealed that he just had his 90th birthday.
Jack has had a rough year; first losing his wife Frances Johnson Baad in January, and also turning 90 years old. Frances had been coming to Glen Lake since birth, thanks to her mother’s foresight in investing in property on the west side of Big Glen Lake. Then in March, Jack had a total knee replacement, approaching recovery in the way he does everything — with hard work and determination. His success was evident when he, along with his daughter and nieces, climbed the Sleeping Bear Dune Climb and made the 2.5-mile walk across the dune to Lake Michigan, and then along the beach to Glen Haven.
Jack was a teacher in Battle Creek for 30 years, then a substitute teacher until he officially retired at age 87, for a total of 62 years.
But in the summers (removed comma) to supplement his income raising five children, Jack drove dune cars for Louis Warnes out of Glen Haven. He did this for 12 years.
On Aug. 11, family and friends gathered to celebrate this special man on his 90th birthday. While Jack and his son-in-law Bill Carlson fished for perch, Jack’s favorite pastime, a few surprises took shape for his special day. A connection was made through Facebook. Tom Plasman and David Taghon of the Empire Area Heritage Group and Museum, arranged a “chauffered” ride for Jack in Plasman’s 1956 Oldsmobile convertible dune car. The memories of many hours driving tourists across the Sleeping Bear Dunes, telling tales and answering all kinds of interesting questions, flooded back as the ride took Jack and guests back to Glen Haven. Jack finished his career as a dune car driver in a 1965 Ford dune truck, and one was provided for photos by friends Jim and Meghan Munoz, of Manitou Transit in Leland.
The birthday evening ended with one last surprise. Jack was born in Colon, Mich., known as the Magic Capital of the World, so naturally there was magic. Jack and the 40 guests were dazzled by the magic stylings of Michael Belitsos of Traverse City, having just returned from “Magic Live” in Las Vegas.
Jack had a day of surprises, celebration, and love from family and friends. It would have been a big day even for someone half his age!
