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Chris Allen Ordway
Chris Allen Ordway, a long time resident of St. Johns, went to be with his Lord and Savior on July 13, 2022 after having been diagnosed with cancer two months ago.
Chris was born in Owosso on July 30, 1963, the son of Richard “Dick” and Sandra (Gilliland) Ordway, and grew up in Owosso where he attended Owosso schools. He graduated from Laingsburg Christian High School and went on to enjoy a long career as a welder with Woodard furniture in Owosso.
On October 5, 1996 he wed Laurie Sue Crowell whom he’d met through his aunt Bonnie, and with whom he’d exchanged letters of courtship and fell in love. They were blessed with the births of a son and a daughter and made their home in Ovid Township where he enjoyed keeping a grand garden. Chris loved being with family, fishing for pan fish, family trips ‘up north’, excursions to Leelanau, and adventures to State Parks around Michigan which were filled with special family memories.
Chris was a gifted musician, and he will be fondly remembered for his ability to hum, whistle, and sing. He played the accordion, the piano, and served as a long time song leader at the First Baptist Church in St. Johns. He also deeply enjoyed opportunities to sing with his friends in a Quartet.
Above all, he lived his life as a loving follower of Jesus and, encouraged by his Savior, shared his faith and love for Christ through his music and Christian service to others.
In addition to Laurie, his beloved wife of over twenty-five years, he is survived by his daughter, Anna; his son, Grayson; his mother, Sandy Cuddy; sisters, Marna Gasche, Janena (Kevin) Kregger, and Debbie Lingle; brother, Brandon Cuddy; step-mother, Wanda Ordway; mother-in-law, Beverly Crowell, and many other extended family members and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard “Dick” Ordway, step-mother, Pat Ordway, and father-in-law, Melvin Crowell.
Visitation will be held at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel, 1500 Waterford Pkwy, St. Johns on Monday, July 18, 2022 from 2 – 8 PM. A Funeral Service will be held at Immanuel Baptist Church, 2680 E. M21, Corunna on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 at 1 PM. Friends may visit the church on Tuesday from 11 AM until the time of the service. Burial will follow at South Ovid Cemetery, St. Johns.
Michael William Keilen
Michael William Keilen, 70, of Elk Rapids, passed away July 11, 2022 at home. He was born August 10, 1951 in St. Johns, MI, the son of Francis and Hildegard (Simon) Keilen.
Mike was a man of many talents. He loved to be on the water whether it was sailing or fishing, and could fix just about everything. While living in St. Johns Mike proudly served on the fire department. He volunteered his time at St. Vincent DePaul and was a member of Knights of Columbus in both St. Johns and Elk Rapids.
As time went on Mike continued serving his community through Meals on Wheels in Northern Michigan. He worked for the Michigan Department of Transportation for 30 years and would eventually retire there.
Mike loved his family and grandkids. He was a devoted man of faith and attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns and Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Elk Rapids after moving north.
On April 21, 1979 he married Cynthia Maier, who survives. Also surviving are his children, Matthew (Brooke) Keilen of Las Vegas, NV, Brian (Eva) Keilen of Camp Hill, PA, five grandchildren, William, Adalyn, Lucy, Samuel, Zoe, brothers and sisters Joe (Janean) Keilen of St. Johns, Ron (Jill) Keilen of Dewitt, Sharon (Ed) Moinet of St. Johns, Ellen (Chris) Halfmann of Grandville, Steve (Lori) Keilen of Sudbury, MA, Gary Keilen of Round Rock, TX, Julie Schmidt of St. Johns, brothers and sisters in law Terry (Marti) Maier, Barb (Robert) Harte, Tim Maier, and many nieces and nephews. Preceding Mike in death are his parents.
Visitation will be held on Friday, July 15 from 4-6 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Elk Rapids. A rosary will take place at 6 p.m. Mass from the Order of Christian Funerals will be celebrated on Saturday, July 16 at 11 a.m with a visitation taking place from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass. Interment will follow Mass at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Kewadin. Father Robert J. Zuchowski will be presiding.
Memorial Donations in Mike’s honor can be made to Meals on Wheels (Antrim) or St. Vincent dePaul in St. Johns. Arrangements are in the care of the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.
Sharon Louise Williams
Beloved Sharon Louise (Schneider) (Cole) Williams, 79, passed away peacefully in her home with family at her side on Friday, July 8, 2022. Sharon was born in Pewamo, Michigan, on April 20, 1943 to Clarence and Dorothy (Wohlscheid) Schneider. She was the fifth of their family of 13 children, whom she frequently counted off on her fingers – Don, Carol, Dolores, Mike, Patti, Sharon, Joann, Kay, Arlene, Clair, David, Donna, and Dottie. Her siblings provided a great many nieces and nephews as well as great-nieces and nephews, and she prided herself on knowing the many names.
With her first husband, Robert Cole, Sharon had three children, Shirley (Robert) Walsh, Karen (Jeffry) Pung, and Duane (Joyce) Cole. Sharon married her second, treasured husband, Richard Cleo Williams in 1978. Richard and Sharon were deeply in love and enjoyed each other to the fullest until tragic illnesses struck.
With Richard Sharon had three step-children, Judy Williams, Richard (Natasha) Williams, and Asa (Danielle) Williams. Between them, they had eight grandchildren, Trevor Barker, Kelsey (Pung) Bridinger, Claire (Barker) Kammers, Richard Williams III, Aubrey Williams, Asa Williams Jr., Destiny (Williams) Slaughter, and Grace Williams as well as thirteen great-grandchildren. Sharon was preceded in death by Richard, her parents, sister Carol (Schneider) McQueen, brothers-in-law Vern McQueen and Larry Keiffer, niece Gwenn (Schneider) Thelen, and nephew David Schneider.
Sharon was a member of the last graduating class of Pewamo High School. She began her work career with Michigan School Service in Lansing then Fedewa Builders of Westphalia, Michigan. After many years of faithful and fun-filled service, she retired from secretarial work for the State of Michigan’s Department of Corrections.
In addition to her deep love for her family, Sharon enjoyed the out-of-doors, especially driving about the countryside in her golf cart with her dogs, tending her flower gardens, harvesting her vegetable garden, bird watching, and enjoying the earth beneath her always bare feet. With her Richard, she loved listening and dancing to the music of the 70s. She did not like to read. Sharon will be remembered with love and laughter, and her legacy will live on through the family she raised so lovingly.
A Memorial Mass will be held for Sharon at St. Joseph’s Church in Pewamo on a date to be confirmed. A Celebration of Lives for both Sharon and Richard will be held the evening of Friday, July 22, 2022 at St. John the Baptist Church Hall in Hubbardston, Michigan. Dinner and music will begin at 6:00 p.m.
For further information contact McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel.
Virginia R. Eisler
Virginia R. Eisler, 90, of St. Johns, Michigan, went to be with her Lord on Sunday, July 10, 2022, at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, St. Johns.
In following Virginia’s wishes, a cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later date. She will be buried alongside her husband at Mount Rest Cemetery, St. Johns.
Virginia was born in Fowler, Michigan on June 6, 1932, the daughter of Albert M. and Dorothy J. (Schomisch) Pung. She graduated Fowler High School. On June 16, 1951 Virginia married Louis G. Eisler. They enjoyed nearly 58 years of marriage prior to his death on June 15, 2009.
Virginia loved sports, playing cards and spending time at Houghton Lake with family and friends. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and a lifelong member of the VFW Ladies’ Auxillary. She worked in the cafeteria at St. Johns High School for 20 years and after retirement volunteered at St. Vincent DePaul for several years.
Virginia is survived by her son Dean Eisler, daughter Shirley (Mike) Sipkovsky, 3 grandchildren: Monica (Jeff) Sloan, Jordan (Tina) Sipkovsky and Nathan Sipkovsky; 2 great grandchildren: Aydin and Hudson; brother Donald (Bea) Pung, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Louis, daughter Linda Arent, 6 brothers: Leonard, Virgil, Jerome, Gerald, Leon, and Donald Pung; and 2 sisters: Rita Harr and Bernadette Klatt.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Lawrence Fritz Kruger
Lawrence Fritz Kruger, a long time resident of Dewitt, Michigan died on Friday, July 8, 2022 at the age of 95.
He was born on July 18, 1926, in Carrington, North Dakota, the son of Emmett and Daisy (Fritz) Kruger. He grew up in central Indiana and served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1950-52. On March 17, 1951 he married Delores Smith in Winamac, Indiana. They settled in DeWitt, Michigan where they raised their five children.
He was a long time member of the First Baptist Church in St. Johns, and a man of deep faith. Lawrence began his plumbing career working with his brother, Verlen Kruger Plumbing & Heating before opening his own plumbing business, Lawrence Kruger Plumbing. Before retirement he served Clinton County as a plumbing and mechanical inspector. Throughout his life he enjoyed fishing trips to Canada, riding four-wheelers, and excursions to his cabin in Kalkaska.
He is survived by his two sons; Larry Kruger of Higgins Lake, MI and John and Pam Kruger of Flushing, MI; his three daughters; Jean and David Woods of Ada, MI, Joann and John Prohaska of St. Johns, MI, and Judy Kruger of Santa Monica, CA; fifteen grandchildren, and twenty-five great grandchildren; sister, Marilyn Curtis, and many extended family members and dear friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of fifty-five years, Delores Kruger in 2006, seven siblings, grandson, Curtis Prohaska, and daughter-in-law, Karen Kruger.
A Memorial Service will be held at the First Baptist Church, 512 S. Whittemore Street, in St. Johns, on Monday, July 11, at 3 PM with Pastor Tim Knaus officiating. Family and friends may visit from 1 PM until the time of service. A luncheon will follow. Memorials may be made in his name to Lansing City Rescue Mission.
For further information please contact McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel, St. Johns.