Clare Russell Applebee, a long time resident of Ovid, died at home in the care of his family on May 5, 2024 after a brief battle with cancer. He was 91 years old.
Born in St. Johns, Michigan on May 27, 1932, the son of Howard Joseph Applebee and Helen Yerrick Applebee, Clare grew up in Ovid where he was a 1950 graduate of Ovid High School. Following high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served his country for four years during the Korean War. When he returned from service, he worked at Federal Mogul and studied at Western Michigan University, where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree.
It was at Federal Mogul where he met Isedeane Swagart. They fell in love and married in the St. Johns United Methodist Church on July 13, 1957. Clare later worked as a salesman and marketing representative with Marathon Oil Co. for fifteen years. In 1975, he and Isedeane moved home to Ovid to be near family and they purchased the Ovid Oil Company. They later expanded with the purchase of Strauss Oil in St. Johns and Stevenson Oil in Owosso and in 1979 re-branded the company to Applebee Oil Company. They later added the corner convenience store and deli in Ovid which they operated for many years, and in 1989 they added propane services. In 2007, they retired and proudly passed the reigns of the family business to their son, Shane.
Throughout his life Clare enjoyed hunting deer and pheasant with his German Short Hair Pointers, and was a member of the Big Falls Hunting Group in Tahquamenon Falls for over thirty years. He loved 4-wheeling and many snowmobile trips in Michigan and out west over the years. He loved to camp with his family, and enjoyed travel throughout the United States and Canada with their motor homes.
Clare was a member of the Michigan Knights of the Highway Motor Home Group, the St. Johns-Ovid Masonic Lodge #105, Elsie Masonic Lodge #238, the Lions Club, Shriners, Moose Lodge, Ovid VFW Post, and the Shiawassee Hunting Club. He dearly enjoyed the camaraderie of it all.
He was ever proud of his kids and grandsons. He was a fixture at their sporting events and enjoyed opportunities to take them hunting and share his love of the out-of-doors. He was always up for an adventure and his family will dearly miss his “what’s our adventure today?”
In addition to Isedeane, his beloved wife of over sixty-six years, he leaves his son, Shane (Linda) Applebee; his daughter, Sheri Applebee (Jeff Cannon); grandsons, Logan (Laura Corp) Applebee and Conner Applebee (Sadie Layher); his sister, Barbara Groom (Fred Meyer) and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Friends may gather at the United Church of Ovid, 131 W. Front St., Ovid, on Thursday, May 9, from 6-7PM, with Masonic Services at 7PM. A Memorial Service will be held at the church on Friday, May 10, at 11AM with visitation beginning at 10AM. A luncheon will follow at the church. Memorials may be made in his name to St. Johns-Ovid Masonic Lodge #105 or to Elsie Masonic Lodge #238.
