Obituaries
Martha Wagner Cooper
Martha Wagner Cooper died Sunday, August 18, 2019 at the age of 75. She was born November 19, 1943 in Chicago, IL the daughter of Edward J. and Eunice L. (Johnson) Wagner. Martha was an active advocate and volunteer for the Clinton County Arts Council especially the Clinton Northern Railroad and Museum. She also was an enthusiastic supporter of the Capital Area Humane Society.
Surviving are three daughters, Amy Cooper Cary (Tim), Bethanie Smith (Craig), and Tracy Cooper Bollman (Chuck); three grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Lewis, Mallory Susan Smith and Garrett Cooper Smith; two sisters, Diana Sommerville and Alexandra DiMarco; one brother, Kurt Wagner (Jan) and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother-in-law, Donald Booth.
Memorials may be made to the Clinton County Arts Council or the Capital Area Humane Society. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. The family was assisted with these arrangements by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns.
Marilyn C. Megarah
Marilyn C. Megarah died Saturday, August 17, 2019 at the age of 84. She was born July 31, 1935 in Beaverville, IL, the daughter of Sylvanus and Cizerie (Marquis) Cote. Marilyn attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lansing and worked as a switchboard operator for Jackson National Life Insurance Company and for University Oldsmobile. Marilyn married Richard Megarah and he preceded her in death in 2009.
Surviving are three daughters, Cynthia (Clare) Ruff, Cheryl (Tom) Johnston and Brenda Sherman; six grandchildren, Amanda (Daniel) Fess, Nicole (Tim) Harmon, Zachary (Karen) Johnston, Zane Johnston, Zeke Johnston and Kasey (Jeff) Stewart; five great grandchildren, Emma, Olivia, Reese, Zander and Zaidey; two brothers, Sylvanus (Geraldine) Cote Jr. and Joel Cote. She was predeceased by five brothers, Lawrence, Leonard, Robert, James and Meryl Cote, and five sisters, Constance Peters, Elaine Hunt, Patricia Witt, Carol Mueller and Margaret Forsthoefel.
A memorial service for Marilyn will be held at 2:00 PM Sunday, August 25, 2019 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns. The family will receive relatives and friends from 1:00 PM until service time at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Arthritis Foundation.
Cheryl Lee York
Cheryl Lee York, age 72 of St. Johns, MI, passed away Saturday, August 17, 2019 at her home.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.
Cheryl was born in Carson City, MI on September 16, 1946 the daughter of Elmer and Anna (Whitlock) Cutler. Cheryl worked at Lansing General for many years, then moved to the McLaren Campus and did discharge planning. Cheryl had a strong love of birds, especially humming birds. She will be remembered for her smile that lit up a room. She was able to whip up a meal at a moments notice to feed guests. Cheryl loved spending time at the cottage with her best friends, John & Diane Kohn. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed hunting. Cheryl had a love for dancing. She loved having lunch with the girls every Tuesday. Cheryl resided most of her life in Ovid.
She is survived by her son Larry Braden of St. Johns, MI; daughter Chantelle “Shawnee” and Scott Polash of Ashley, MI; step son Zeno Budd Jr. of Dansville, MI; step son Forest and Ginny Budd of Ovid, MI; 8 grandchildren: Sheena and Ross, J. Budd Jr., Erin and Jeff, Calvin and Taylor, Scotlin and Steve, Chaz, Chelsea and Mike, Alexis; and 6 great-grandchildren Adaleigh, Keira, Parker, Joshua, Braden and Aubrie. She is also survived by her nephew Darrell and Shirley, special cousins: Mike and Melanie, and Chris and Dan all of Ohio and many close friends. Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ray York, brother Duane Cutler and her best friend Kit Collins.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI.
Jodie Sue Laverty Haas
Jodie Sue Laverty Haas, age 41, of St. Johns, MI, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, August 17, 2019.
A Memorial Service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Houghton Chapel, Ovid, MI on Friday, August 23, 2019 at 2:00 P.M. with Pastor Lisa Freeman officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday an hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Jodie was born in Owosso, MI on June 23, 1978 the daughter of Jack and Joyce (Freeman) Laverty. She was a graduate of Ovid Elsie High School and resided most of her life in Owosso, Elsie and St. Johns.
Jodie is survived by her mom and dad, Joyce and Jack Laverty; brother Jerry Laverty; sister Jackie Laverty; her children: Lexi Sanchez, and Greg (Baylie Harder) Sanchez; and beloved granddaughter Arya Davis. She is also survived by special friends Jonny Q, Pam Davis, Kim Berghuis, Neil and JoAnn Ryan and Nichole Cherpes.
Jodie loved Arya more than life itself. She was proud of her name “GiGi” and she showed Arya what love and kindness was all about. Jodie worked for Adviscare for the past three years, caring for her dad, which she took great pride in.
Jodie went through something that not many people can overcome. Jodie was alcohol and drug free for the past four years and was represented as a Clinton County Resident as a graduate of the Swift and Sure Program. Jodie was a very strong person and lived her life every day with confidence and determination to succeed. Jodie’s life was a living example of love. Jodie loved everyone, and it showed through her every day life. She will be missed.
Memorials may be made to her granddaughter Arya’s Educational Fund. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Houghton Chapel, Ovid, MI.
Donna J. Pasch
Donna J. Pasch (Britten) formerly of St. Johns, MI died peacefully in the arms of her devoted daughter and caregiver Lori Pasch at the age of 86 at her home in San Diego, CA on Aug. 6, 2019.
She was born the daughter of Don and Margaret (Hoover) Britten on October 21, 1932. She graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School with the “Nifty” class of 1950. She married Frederick E. Pasch on April 8, 1951, and he preceded her in death on November 24, 1979.
Surviving are one brother Richard J. Britten, Denver, CO two sons Pastor Rodney (Judy) Pasch, Slidell, LA and Darren (Michele) Pasch, Sugar Hill, GA, two daughters Patricia (Anthony) O’Callaghan, Port Chester, NY and Lori Pasch, San Diego, CA; eight grandchildren Alan (Yonna) Pasch, Andrew (Katy) Pasch, Adam Pasch (Courtney Cantu), Anthony O’Callaghan, Julia (Mark) Wright, Bonnie O’Callaghan, Daniel Pasch and Devin Pasch; four great-grandchildren, Amsden, Jaidyn, Logan and Austin Shae; three sisters-in-law Jeanette Page and Ruth Pasch both of St. Johns, MI and Mary Britten, Onondaga, MI; several Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and Friends. In addition to her husband Fred E. Pasch, Donna was predeceased by her parents Don and Peg Britten, son Randy Pasch, brother Wayne Britten, parents in law Herman and Dorothy Pasch, brother in law Kenneth Page and sister in law Gerry Britten.
Donna was a faithful wife and caring mother to their five children while moving from base to base with her husband who was a career Navy man. She loved being a homemaker and stay at home mom. After her husband died and her children were grown she attended Mesa College in San Diego and became a certified pre-school teacher, a position she held for many years. She was a Christian woman who spent many hours doing the Lord’s work and she particularly loved singing in her church choir. Even though she loved her home she enjoyed traveling to visit her extended family.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday August 21, 2019 at 11:00 AM at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Riley Township with her son Pastor Rodney Pasch officiating. Memorials may be given to Donna’s church Prince of Peace Lutheran Church c/o Lori Pasch, 6452 50th St., San Diego, CA 92120 or a charity of your choice.
Eunice D. LaBar
Eunice D. LaBar, 76, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, August 15, 2019 with her husband, Denny, by her side. She was born October 2, 1942 in St. Johns, MI the daughter of Tony and Clara (Halfmann) Wieber. Eunice graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns, Class of 1960. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns and was an avid Notre Dame Football fan.
On October 28, 1961, she married her high school sweetheart, Dennis LaBar and he survives her. Together they provided a loving, fun filled home and many good memories at their cottage on Houghton Lake. Eunice loved spending time with family and friends but especially loved her time as “Mimi”, doting on her grandchildren. She worked for the St. Johns Public Schools as a secretary at East Olive Elementary School where she made lifelong friends and had a positive impact on many students’ lives. She retired in 2005 after 20 years of service.
Also surviving to cherish her love, are her children, Julie (Bill) Eisler, Brooke (Dan) Dorn, Brent (Christine Shutes) LaBar and Mike LaBar; grandchildren, Courtney (Ryan) Lousma, Madison Scutes, Brianne LaBar, Olivia Eisler, Brogan Eisler, Camille LaBar, Ian LaBar, Jacob Dorn and Karlie Dorn; three sisters, Edna Eaton, Donna Kus and Kathleen Endres; one brother, Melvin (Julia) Wieber; sisters-in-law, Linda Wieber and Susie Hardman and brother-in-law, Mike LaBar. Eunice was preceded in death by two sisters, Geraldine Sipka and Ann Marie Slamka and brothers, Lloyd, Herbert, Tony and Elvin Wieber.
The family will receive relatives and friends 2-4 and 6-8 PM Sunday, August 18 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home , St. Johns. A private funeral will be held. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Daniel John Fedewa
Daniel John Fedewa, age 67 of Ocala, Florida passed away Thursday, August 15, 2019, at Oakhurst Nursing Home in Ocala, Florida.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler, Michigan on Friday, August 23, 2019 at 10:30 A.M. with Rev. Fr. Dennis Howard officiating. Burial will take place at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery.
Daniel was born in St. Johns, Michigan on August 31, 1951, the son of Stephen and Martha (Schafer) Fedewa. He graduated from Fowler High School with the class of 1970. Dan enjoyed coin collecting, reading, flea markets, and traveling. He was a self-made man, whose business endeavors took him to such places as: China for jewelry, Turkey for clothing, and many other places. Daniel had a very strong faith in the Lord and always ended his phone calls with “See you in Heaven.”
He is survived by 4 sisters: Debra and Richard Rehmann of Fowler, MI; Linda and Robert Shannon of Fowler, MI; Cheryl and Gerry Arens of Fowler, MI; Colleen and Terry Organek of St. Johns, MI. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents.
The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Goerge Chapel, Fowler, Michigan.
Divorce decrees filed August 5, 2019
Lounds, Caleb and Sheana
Stewart, Alan C and Sandra K
Evans, Shannon Leigh and Darwin Michael John
Polanco-Alimonos, Lorely and Alimons, Thomas
King, Zachary James and Rosemarie
Brewer, Amy M and Glenn E
Divorce decrees filed August 12, 2019
Shevrovich, Billy J./Shevrovich,Amanda
Bresnahan, Christina M./Bresnahan, Martin J.
Lee, Robin J./Lee, James K.
Wilkins, Mark S./Wilkins Sandra L.
Moody, Karen A./Moody, Robert M.
Wyble, Laurey K./Wyble Frederic M.
Briggs, Leanne E./Keegan, Kerwin K.
Wright, Kendra D./Wright, David E.
Hilgendorf, Owen L./Mahler, Tamara J.
Schleman, Kristin N./Schleman, Robert E.
Seibert, Briana F./Seibert, Larry L.