Nina Lingaur – veteran of the U.S. Navy

Savannah “Nina” Lingaur is a current Omena veteran. She is a 2011 graduate of Suttons Bay High School and enlisted in the United States Navy later that same year. She desired to gain experience in law enforcement, earn money for college and travel to new places. Her recruiter was from Suttons Bay and that was a contributing factor to why she chose the Navy; that connection to home is always strong. Nina served as an M.P. at Walter Reed Hospital and at Sasebo, Japan. She achieved the rank of E5-MA2 and served for 6.5 years.

Nina is the daughter of Jeff and Sheila Lingaur of Omena. Her Grandparents are Jon Smith and the late Alice Middleton (descendant of Joshua Middleton, Civil War veteran) and Eunice and the late Louis Lingaur of Lake Leelanau. There are many military veterans in Nina’s family tree.

Sheila and Jeff continue to live in the house where Nina grew up, it is right next to the Tamarack Gallery. This home was Sheila’s grandparents’ home (Geneva Putnam & Chippy Smith.) It was built by Renaldo and Mary Putnam when they decided to move into the village  from their farmhouse. They built their farmhouse on land purchased from George Armstrong and Libbie Custer. Later the house and the land became part of the Villa Marquette property.  In June 2004 the farmhouse was moved  into the village and became the Putnam Cloud Tower House Museum and the home of the Omena Historical Society.

We thank Nina for her service in the U.S. Navy and to all her family members who have served. We also are grateful to Sheila and Jeff Linguar for donating photographs and archival materials to the Omena Historical Society.

We invite you to tell us about the veterans you know who have at one time called Omena home. We are building a collection of our collective veteran history. Please send us an email!