Gwendolyn M. (Robertson) Powers

Gwendolyn M. (Robertson) Powers of Novi, Michigan; formally of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Saginaw, Michigan

Beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend passed away on Monday, July 13, 2020, at her home. Gwendolyn Mae Robertson was born on September 29, 1938 in Saginaw, Michigan, to the late James and Julianne (Mattes) Robertson.

Gwen began her lifetime Community service by “supervising” the construction of the Court Street Bridge from her buggy. Her dedication to Saginaw and the State of Michigan was a non-stop adventure. Gwen’s greatest accomplishment in her own words: “raising her remarkable, independent and generous family”. A graduate of the St. Andrews Academy, a brief stint in the U.S. Marines and three accredited certifications later, Gwen became the first Director of the Council on Aging. She then entered the real estate field becoming a real estate broker with her own corporation. Trusted for her integrity, Gwen was often the first woman in non-traditional fields or activities making life very interesting. She relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan in the late 1980’s to specialize in retirement housing.

In Grand Rapids, she continued supporting the elderly by initiating and facilitating the development of the Spring Lake Senior Housing Cooperative setting seven national precedents. While with the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Gwen was the Director of the Employer Assisted Housing Program. She was a Director and Officer on the Greater Michigan Foundation, the sponsor of Michigan Week for thirty years and numerous other community organizations. At the time of her death, she was a lifetime member of Quota International Grand Rapids.

Surviving are two twin daughters and a son: Heather (William) Wisniewski of Northville; Wendy Powers of Northville; Bryan Powers of Longmont, CO; grandson, Collin Wisniewski of Northville; brother, Jeffery (Lorna) Robertson of Kalamazoo; nephew, Troy Betz of Northridge, CA; and niece, Lisa (Robertson) Selke of Dublin, OH. Gwen was preceded in death by two sisters, Janet Betz and Julie Cline.

A Memorial Liturgy will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2020 at Christ the Good Shepherd Parish, St. Helen Church, 2445 N. Charles Street, Saginaw. Rev. Fr. William Rutkowski will officiate. Rite of Committal will follow at St. Andrew Cemetery. Friends may visit the family from 10:00 a.m. until the time of mass on Thursday at the church. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Planned Parenthood, American Diabetes Association or Quota International Grand Rapids.