TRAVERSE CITY — Jeremy Jelinek was a family man at heart.
Jelinek lived in Suttons Bay and ran a beekeeping business there. He had an excellent reputation among those in the Leelanau County agricultural community, but those close to him said his world revolved around his three young children.
"He was the kind of father everyone would wish for," said his wife, Mandy Jelinek. "The kids were his life. They were everything to him."
Jelinek, 27, died Monday evening in a traffic crash along M-37 near Norton Road in Grand Traverse County's Blair Township. He was driving a semi truck with a load of bees when a pickup truck driven by Zachery Charles Boyer, 22, of Manton, crossed the center line and collided with Jelinek's truck at about 6:30 p.m., authorities said.
Boyer also died in the crash. The lone passenger in Jelinek's truck survived and suffered non life-threatening injuries. Authorities would not identify that passenger.
It appears Boyer passed a vehicle in front of him just about the time of the crash. It's not clear if the collision happened as he passed the other vehicle or shortly after, Grand Traverse sheriff's Lt. Chris Clark said.
M-37 was closed for about six hours to allow for investigation and clean-up.
Joe Send, a Benzie County sheriff's deputy, went to high school with Jelinek in Suttons Bay and remained good friends with him afterward.
"When somebody dies, people always say he was a great guy," Send said. "But he was genuinely that kind of person. He was just a great guy. He'd do anything for you, even if he didn't know you. He'd give you the shirt off his back."
Send said Jelinek was an extremely devoted husband and father. He had three children, ages 4, 3 and six weeks.
"He was a family man, he absolutely loved it," Send said. "He was probably one of the best husbands I've ever heard of."
Jelinek was a third-generation beekeeper. He sold honey and honey-related products, and his bees were used by area fruit farmers for pollination. The close-knit agricultural community in Leelanau County was hit hard by Jelinek's death.
"Our heartaches are very great at this point in time," said Bob Gregory, co-owner of Cherry Bay Orchards.
Gregory knew Jelinek for years and once employed him. Jelinek was friendly and had a very solid business reputation, Gregory said.
"He was super energetic, always kind and considerate and looking for ways to help people," he said. "He had an excellent reputation for doing what he said he'd do and doing it in a timely manner."
Alan Spinniken, another Leelanau County fruit farmer, agreed.
"He was a very kind young man, and he was always quick to offer help in any way he could," he said. "I don't know anybody who didn't like Jeremy."
Boyer's family couldn't be reached for comment.
Region
Related Photos
-
Jeremy Jelinek
Suttons Bay man died Monday in a traffic crash in Blair Township
-
-
Accused stalker faces more charges
A Grawn man who already is facing stalking charges is accused of breaking into the home of the female victim and attempting to take her dog.
Continued ... -
Victory for medical marijuana patients
Medical marijuana patients and advocates scored a victory after the state’s top court issued a decision on a long-running Grand Traverse County case.
Continued ... -
Parking lot argument chills Bardon's
Robin Bisel and Jean Cline licked ice cream cones at Bardon’s Wonder Freeze off Front Street and wondered how they’d maneuver through traffic when finished with their treats.
Continued ... -
Presidential Scholar has struggled with illness
Nicole “Niki” Tubacki doesn't remember much about her early childhood except for swinging outside in the sun.
Continued ... -
Man said to trade drugs for sex
A man arrested in Leelanau County for violating probation is accused of trading drugs for sexual favors with young women in Missaukee County.
Continued ... -
Car crashes into rocks near house
A Glen Arbor woman told deputies she fell asleep before she ran a stop sign and crashed her vehicle into a row of boulders near an Empire Township home.
Continued ... -
Local educators honored
The Outstanding Educator Award, sponsored by the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District, the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce and TBA Credit Union, is given annually to a handful of public, private and parochial educators in the Grand Traverse region.
Continued ... -
Man enters guilty plea in assault
A man accused of beating his live-in girlfriend in East Bay Township pleaded guilty to assault charges.
Continued ... -
Memorial Day-related services in Traverse City region
Memorial Day-related services and programs in the Traverse City region:
Continued ... -
Clearing the Record: 05/23/2013
Because of a clerk’s error, an incorrect address was listed in a news brief in the Sunday Record-Eagle.
Continued ... - Wednesday, May 22, 2013
-
Traverse City steps up parking enforcement
Barb Meredith recently had an expensive downtown Traverse City breakfast, but not from anything on the restaurant’s menu.
Continued ... -
Snyder, GOP lawmakers agree to budget targets
Republican Gov. Rick Snyder and leaders of the GOP majority in the Legislature reached a budget agreement Tuesday for next fiscal year that doesn’t include an expansion of government health insurance for low income-adults and puts Michigan’s unexpected surplus toward funding roads and K-12 education.
Continued ... -
TCAPS contract talks continue
Traverse City Area Public Schools educators picketed outside the district’s main office building in a display of opposition to TCAPS administrators’ proposed collective bargaining contract.
Continued ... -
Panera Bread is on its way
A Panera Bread franchise likely will rise in Garfield Township despite what some planning officials consider a stale project design.
Continued ... -
Woman retraces father's steps to Indian marker trees
Dennis Downes traveled 200,000 miles over three decades, a journey to locate Indian trail tree markers around the Great Lakes, including two in Traverse City – one at the Civic Center and another at a Washington Street residence.
Continued ... -
Police looking into assault find 960 pot plants
Investigation into a domestic assault complaint led Antrim County authorities to a "sophisticated" marijuana grow operation and nearly 1,000 plants.
Continued ... -
Man gets prison for heroin possession
An Antrim County man found in possession of about 20 packets of heroin will spend at least 18 months in prison.
Continued ... - Tuesday, May 21, 2013
-
Bear sighted at Mancelona Middle School
Chad Culver, the school's principal, spied the large mammal on Monday about 9 a.m. when he looked out his window as he met with a teacher.
Continued ... -
Property owners sue over flooding
A group of Boardman River property owners filed a lawsuit over removal of the Brown Bridge Dam, saying their property values dropped when the river’s water levels rose.
Continued ... -
TCL&P may spend $15K on land it doesn't want
The city’s electric utility will spend up to $15,000 on a piece of property it hopes to never own — just in case public opposition foils its preferred location for an electrical substation.
Continued ... -
Teens admit to lewd elevator act
Traverse City police are investigating a report of sexual contact between two teens in a Traverse City Central High School elevator.
Continued ... -
Fired Munson clinic employee settles lawsuit
A former Munson Medical Center worker recently settled a lawsuit that alleged her civil rights were violated when she was fired from her job at an HIV-AIDS clinic.
Continued ... -
Free yard waste drop-off offered in Garfield
Garfield Township residents can dispose of yard waste for free starting later this month. No-charge waste passes will be available at Garfield Township Hall starting today through June 4.
Continued ... -
Forecast: More storms followed by cool temps
Meteorologists say to expect more severe thunderstorms coming through the Grand Traverse region.
Continued ... -
TC resident wins $5K Art Van Award of Hope
Cecilia Chesney, executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwestern Michigan, received $5,000 for her organization and was given the chance to compete for an additional $25,000 through the Art Van Charity Challenge.
Continued ...
-
