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Clarence Thomas Barks
Clarence Thomas “Tom” Barks, age 93, of DeWitt, MI, passed away Monday, August 15, 2022 at his home.
Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Tim Knaus officiating. Burial will take place at South Bingham Township Cemetery, St. Johns, MI. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2022 from 4:00-8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.
Tom was born in South Bend, Indiana on March 10, 1929, the son of Clarence Isaac and Ada Ella (Sult) Barks. Tom graduated from John Adams High School, South Bend, IN with the class of 1946. He married Betty Lea Dean on March 28, 1964 by her father at the Pilgrim Holiness Church on Ruth Street in Flint, Michigan. They were blessed with 58 years of marriage.
Tom retired from Oldsmobile after 44 years of service. After retirement he became interested in clock repair. He would purchase clocks at flea markets to fix up and give to family and friends. Tom enjoyed tinkering and was able to repair most anything. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He proudly served his country in the United States Army. He was a member of St. Johns First Baptist Church, St. Johns, MI 48879.
He is survived by his wife Betty Barks, daughter Nancy House; daughter Sara Smith; son Paul Thomas and Jeanine Barks; son Bryan John and Kris Barks; seven grandchildren: Brad Barks, Tiffany Barks, Zachary Barks, Sarah Barks, Anne Barks, Rachel House, and Jennifer Barks; great-grandchildren: Aiden Miller, and David Onishi. He is also survived by his sister Edna Blackstone and sister-in-law Kay Barks. He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Andrew Barks, great-granddaughter Brimley Barks, and siblings: Dora (Atley) Moffett, Alice (Sam) Knox, and Edward Barks.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 512 S. Whittemore St., St. Johns, MI 48879 or to Sparrow Hospice, 1210 W. Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48195. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Frances R. Thelen
Frances R. Thelen, age 91, of Fowler, MI passed away Saturday, August 13, 2022 at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler, MI on Saturday, August 20, 2022, at 10:30 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Eric Weber presiding. Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Goerge Chapel, Fowler, MI, on Friday, August 19, 2022, from 2-8 P.M. with the family present 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. with a Rosary being prayed at 7:30 P.M. at the funeral home. Burial will take place at a later date at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Westphalia, MI.
Frances was born in Fowler, Michigan on February 24, 1931, the daughter of Arthur and Cora (Cook) Simon. On April 4, 1951 Frances married Joseph V. Thelen at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church. They were blessed with nearly 55 years of marriage prior to his passing on March 29, 2006.
She lived all of her life in the Fowler and Westphalia area. She was a homemaker and a bookkeeper for her son Mark at Mark’s Auto Service for 15 years, retiring in 1997. Frances was a member of the Christian Mothers and Catholic Order of Foresters. She loved playing cards with her family, friends and grandchildren. She was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
She is survived by three sons: Mike (Marie) Thelen of Franklin, TN; Marty (Pam Shaw) Thelen of Westphalia, MI; and Mark (Cathy) Thelen of Eagle, MI. She is also survived by nine grandchildren: Brendan Thelen, Brigid (Jarod) Nealey, Joseph (Chelsea) Thelen, Joel Thelen, Zachary Thelen, Emily Thelen, Abigail Thelen, Amy (Ryan) Akin and Dawn (Joshua) McFarland; seven great-grandchildren: Nash, Tyler, Gage, Ethan, Michael, Macey, Millie; three sisters-in-law: Regina Simon, Joan Simon, and Eileen Thelen; and many loving nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Joseph V. Thelen, son Ken (Ann) Thelen, daughter-in-law Deanne Thelen, one sister Dorothy Motz (Larry Motz and Marion Bradley), four brothers: Clarence (Gen) Simon, Ronnie (Josie) Simon, Leon Simon, Eddie Simon, Bernard (Delores) Simon, and Philip Simon; and brother-in-law Bernard Schueller.
Memorials may be made to Clinton County Meals on Wheels or Fowler Fire and Rescue and First Responders. In lieu of thank you cards, the family will make a donation to Clinton County Meals on Wheels. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Goerge Chapel, Fowler, Michigan.
Rose Marie Welton
Rose Marie Welton, age 87, of Elsie, Michigan, passed away Friday, August 12, 2022, just two days short of her 88th birthday.
Funeral Services and visitation will be private at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, with Mr. Everett Smith officiating. Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, Michigan.
Rose was born in St. Johns, Michigan on August 14, 1934, the daughter of Jesse and Marian (Frink) Sturgis. She graduated from Elsie High School with the class of 1952. On June 26, 1954 she married Bruce Edwin Welton in Elsie, Michigan, and they were blessed with 68 years of marriage.
Her family was most important to her and she was always there for them. Rose had worked for Universal Electric, in Owosso, Michigan and Ovid-Elsie Public Schools. She was also a member of Duplain Church of Christ, where she was a secretary there.
She is survived by her husband Bruce Welton of Elsie, Michigan; two children: Brett and Cheryl Welton of St. Johns, Michigan; Rosanne and Chuck Harden of St. Johns, Michigan; her grandchildren: Craig and Jessica Welton, Kyle Welton and Sherry Cho, Derrick and Alexa Welton, Michael and Sarah Harden, Brianna and Craig Kinney, Jonathan and Mallory Harden. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, son Brian Kent Welton, and her nine siblings.
Memorials may be made to Parkinson Foundation, 200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, Michigan.