Martha J. "Petey" Semmens

Petey Semmens, 99, died on May, 25, 2025 in Duluth, MN. She was born in Glens Falls, NY, October 10, 

1925, to Helen (Rowe) and Edwin Van Saun Bogert and given the name Martha Jane but came to be 

called Petey.  She was raised in Closter, NJ, graduating from Closter Jr. Sr. High School in 1943.   She was 

active in the community with the Girl Scouts and served as a crew member of the WW II Ground 

Observer Corps, reporting plane locations within the area from the roof of the Municipal Building.  Upon 

graduation she worked in New York City, rising to the position of Resident Buyer for Marshall Field & 

Company New York office.  In WW II she also volunteered as a USO Hostess at the Tappan, NY club by 

Camp Shanks. 

 On October 4, 1952 she married George Nelson Semmens of Harrington Park, NJ. George’s work 

required them to live in various communities, mostly Midwest, usually for a period of four years each.  

These included Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Montana.  During this time 

four children, Holly, Kenneth, Fred, and Laurie were added to the family.  

 In 1979 George retired and they returned to Escanaba, MI where they had been assigned previously.  

Both became involved in community activities. Volunteering came naturally to Petey, particularly 

working with church choirs and musical choruses including NY Oratorio Society with performances in 

Carnegie Hall.  Petey’s efforts in Escanaba included the Bay de Noc Choral Society where she served on 

the board for 25 years and enjoyed participating in one of the Choral Society’s presentations at Carnegie 

Hall in New York City. Petey joined the Escanaba Woman’s Club which kept her busy planting trees and 

17 years of highway pick up. She served as President and board member locally, District President later, 

and then President of the GFWC Michigan Education Foundation for 4 years.  The Escanaba Woman’s 

Club honored her as Mrs. Federation and Woman of Achievement. In June 2013 she won the Jenny 

Award as OUTSTANDING CLUB MEMBER for the State of Michigan.  The Bonifas Art Center was also very 

dear to Petey’s heart. She volunteered at the Art Center, served on the Board, and was elected President 

of the Board in 2004.  

Tennis was the sport she enjoyed, and she was active with others, playing the game regularly all during 

the retirement years living in Escanaba until she was 88 years old! 

 Thirty-five years of retirement came to an end when George died in 2014 and Petey moved to Duluth, 

MN to be closer to her children, Laurie and Fred. Since that time, she has lived at Duluth Heights Lodge 

(formerly Primrose) making new friends and having new experiences.  

 Petey was preceded in death by her husband George and is survived by her children, Holly (Larry) 

Wilson, of Jenison, Michigan, Kenneth (Beth), of Frankfort, Kentucky, Fred, of Duluth, MN, Laurie (David) 

Ostrowski of Superior, WI, and her nine grandchildren:   Adrian, Callista, and Garrett Wilson and Shannon 

Anderson;  John, Stephen, and Benjamin Semmens; and Kevin and Jenny Ostrowski.  She is also survived 

by five great grandchildren, Liam, Drew, Ransom, Cormac, and Ronan with another arrival expected this 

fall.  

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Bonifas Art Center in Escanaba. (https://bonifasarts.org/)

Funeral arrangements provided by Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba, 

Michigan with a memorial service scheduled for July 22, 2025 in Escanaba. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at the Anderson Funeral Home in Escanaba. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon at the Anderson Funeral Home Chapel with a luncheon being served, following the services in the Ludington Room located in the Anderson Funeral Home. The Anderson Funeral Home is assisting the Semmens family with the arrangements.  Burial will be in Ford River.

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