2025 Bridging History Celebration honoring Janis Holle
Please mark your calendar for Wednesday, July 16, 2025, when we will celebrate the contributions of Janis at the MHS Bridging History Celebration at Little Bear East.
The MHS Bridge Award for Historical Impact is given to those who inspire use with their outstanding philanthropy, community involvement, and dedication to preserving history so that others may learn from it. We are honored to celebrate the contributions of Janis Holle. Her impact on Gros Cap has been felt by many, and we proudly celebrate her dedication to making the community a better place.
Janis Buckley Holle, with her parents and siblings, traveled to the U.P. of Michigan every summer as her mother's, Vernis Brown White (LeBlanc), parents lived in Gros Cap.
In 1956 Janis married the late Ralph Cheeseman, and together they had a son, Col. Curtis (Caroline Brown) Cheeseman. In 1982, she married the late Dr. Robert "Doc" Holle. She and Dr. Holle held elected offices in Moran Township. Their positions enabled them to highlight the history of Moran Township, including its records, documents, and mapping of cemeteries. This research is documented in a book titled "Moran Township, When the Moon is High," the sesquicentennial edition. Published in 1997, the book is a treasured resource for genealogists, researchers, history enthusiasts, and those with personal ties to Gros Cap.
Her research prompted a monumental effort to restore and preserve the Sacred Heart Mission Church (Gros Cap) Church, which in 2006 secured its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The church no longer holds regular religious services but is now used for special events such as weddings, special programs, and the annual Christmas Caroling Progam.
Since her retirement as the Moran Township Clerk and a remedial math teacher from Gros Cap School, Janis has more time for competitive duplicate bridge. She is a Ruby Life Master, and an American Contract Bridge League Director and Teacher. Her friends commend her talents as a fabulous entertainer, baker, cook, and classic dresser who loves the color purple.
Please join us in celebrating Ms. Janis Holle and her many lasting accomplishments in the Michilimackinac area.
The net proceeds of this event go toward completing the Straits Cultural Center.
