The Royal Connection of Northern Michigan
Tucked away in the serene St. Wenceslaus Cemetery in Leelanau County lies an unexpected yet fascinating piece of European history. His Imperial and Royal Highness Archduke Stefan of Austria, Prince of Hungary, Bohemia, and Tuscany, rests beside his former wife, Mary Jerrine Soper. In this remote Northern Michigan cemetery is a connection to royalty that many are surprised to discover.
A Life of Royal Heritage and American Roots
Born on August 15, 1932, in the suburban community of Mödling, Vienna, Archduke Stefan was the eldest son of Archduke Anton of Austria and Princess Ileana of Romania. His early life was marked by upheaval. His family moved several times during his youth due to the volatile political climate in Europe. During World War II, the family lived in Bran Castle in Romania, a historic structure often associated with Count Dracula. However, the rise of communism in 1947 forced the family to flee Romania. They went to Switzerland, then Argentina, and eventually the United States.
Stefan’s life took a dramatic turn when he pursued higher education at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). There he earned a degree in mechanical engineering. This journey brought him to Michigan, where he began working for General Motors, later becoming a U.S. citizen in 1961.
Love and Life in America
While attending MIT, Stefan met Mary Jerrine Soper, a student at the Massachusetts School of Art. They married in 1954, marking a significant departure from his royal lineage. The couple had five children and spent much of their life together in Michigan, where Stefan built a career in automobile design and engineering.
After his death in 1998, Stefan was buried in St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, situated in a region known for its Bohemian population, fittingly connecting his European roots to the American Midwest. Years later, his wife Mary passed away and was laid to rest beside him in this peaceful Michigan cemetery.
A Royal Engineer
Though born into European royalty, Stefan’s life in the United States was far from the grandeur of castles and crowns. At General Motors, he helped spearhead advanced automotive research, contributing to the development of innovative technologies, including gas-turbine powered cars. His unique background as a European royal working in American industry made him an intriguing figure—one who seamlessly blended two vastly different worlds.
A Piece of Royal History in Michigan
Visitors to the area can explore the quiet beauty of St. Wenceslaus Cemetery, where this unique piece of history lies hidden in plain sight. Nestled between Suttons Bay, Omena, Northport, and Leland, this peaceful resting place offers a glimpse into the life of a man who, though born into royalty, found his home in the heart of Michigan.
St. Wenceslaus Church and Cemetery
Industry and Invention (1875-1915) – Registered in 1989 and erected in 1990- ID #L1671A
Located at County Roads 626 and 637 – Lat: 45.06224500 / Long: -85.67275900
In the 1860s and 1870s settlers from Bohemia (now part of Czechoslovakia) came to this area and worked at the Leland Lake Superior Iron Foundry and the Gill sawmill. Catholics attended mass at Holy Trinity Church in Leland until the church burned in 1880. In 1890 the first St. Wenceslaus Church was built and the cemetery established. Ornate metal grave markers reflect the Bohemian heritage, as do the names Bourda, Houdek, Hula, Jelinek, Kalchick, Kirt, Kolarik, Korson, Kovarik, Maresh, Novotny, Reicha, and Sedlacek, which appear in the cemetery. The church membership doubled by 1908. In 1914 volunteers hauled bricks and other materials to this site and built the present church. This Late Gothic Revival church was completed during that year.
Learn more about the rich history of the Northwest Lower Peninsula.
