R. G. “Dick” Fenner, James M. Grost, M.D., Martha L. Falk, Russell E. Johnson, Helen L. Skinner, Edward L. “Ferd” Schafer
R. G. “Dick” Fenner
R. G. “Dick” Fenner, age 88, of Jackson, Michigan died Monday, December 19, 2011 at Heartland Health Care Center, Jackson, Michigan.
Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel on Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Mona Dye officiating. Burial will take place at Eureka Cemetery, Eureka, MI. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 from 6-8 P.M. and on Thursday, December 22, 2011 from 10 A.M. until the time of the service.
Dick was born in Duplain Township, Michigan on August 29, 1923, the son of Louis W. and Estella E. (Beebee) Fenner. He graduated with the class of 1941 from Elsie High School. Growing up in Eureka, Dick had a paper route and worked for the grocery store there. Dick worked for Kroger Grocery for 35 years in St. Johns, Michigan until his retirement. He resided most of his life in Eureka, St. Johns, Laingsburg and Jackson, Michigan.
Dick treated all of his nieces and nephews like they were his own and he made sure the holidays were special for all of them. He was a generous man to many charities and donated time to many of them.
He is survived by his sister Margaret Coon of Bannister, 3 nieces; Nancy and Marvin Arnst, Janice and David Robinson, Pam and Rod King, 5 nephews; Giles Douglas and Mary Coon, Kurt and Georgann Coon, Ken and Peggy Coon, Lars and Kathy Andersen, Bruce and Connie Andersen. Dick also had a second family, Ray, Joyce and Dan and Gayle Duncan, and many great nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, 2 sisters and brother in law; Marjorie and Lars Andersen, Dorothy Fenner.
Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Association. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie Chapel Elsie, Michigan.
James M. Grost, M.D.
James M. “Jim” Grost, M.D., 84, of Traverse City, died at Cherry Hill Haven, Traverse City, on December 18, 2011.
Jim was born in Lansing on October 2, 1927, the son of the late Martin and Anna (Fedewa) Grost. He was a graduate of Resurrection High School in Lansing; Michigan State University; and University of Michigan Medical School in 1952. He was a member of the Medical Corps of the United States Army. He married Inge Kuehl on June 23, 1952, in Utica.
Jim practiced family medicine serving central Michigan area residents for more than four decades, where he also held several leadership positions in community organizations. While in St. Johns, he was a member of American Medical Association; charter member of Academy of Family Practice; member of Knights of Columbus; member of Parish Council St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, St. Johns; member of Rotary International; board member and Chief-of-Staff at Clinton Memorial Hospital; and served on St. Johns City Council. During this time he also enjoyed spending quality time with family and friends at Higgins Lake. He transitioned from his family practice after 40 years to serve for four years as a Medical Director for BlueCross BlueShield of Michigan, and was also a member of American College of Physician Executives.
In 1996, he retired to the Traverse City area, where he continued his service with community organizations including: board member on the Commission on Aging; board member for Area Agency on Aging; Inland Seas Association; and Chairman of Pastoral Council at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mapleton. In addition to spending time with his family, Jim enjoyed sailing, boating, skiing, and all sports.
Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Inge (Kuehl); seven children, Kathy (Ron) Sergeant, Mike (Ann) Grost, Lynne (Bob) Frye, Eric (Dee) Grost, Mark Grost, Tim (Colleen) Grost, Karen (Jerry) Taylor. He dearly loved his 16 grandchildren, Nicholas (Amber), George, Mariah, Scott, Joe, Brian, Chloe, Kaitlin, Jimmy, Daniel, Jake, Tim, Jessica, Matthew, Bradley, and Max; and one great-grandchild, Julia Sergeant. Siblings include Jeanette Baumgartner, Maxwell Grost and Marie (Jack) Bower; sisters-in-law, Cora Grost, Elsie (Al) Benson, and Marlit (Ed) Chmiel. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Tom; brother-in-law, Fred Baumgartner; and sister-in-law, Loa Lea Grost.
Visitation will take place December 20, from 5 to 8 p.m., with a Vigil service to begin at 7:30 p.m., led by Deacon Rene Hoenscheid at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Traverse City.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Traverse City.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, www.lbda.org; Munson Hospice and Palliative Care, www.munson.org; or Father Fred Foundation, www.fatherfred.org.
The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.
Martha L. Falk
Martha L. Falk of St. Johns, formerly of Fowler, died December 17, 2011 at the age of 92. Born March 8, 1919 in Bengal Township to Fred and Mary (Martin) Rowell, Sr. and lived near Fowler until 1996 when she moved to St. Johns. Martha was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aide in Fowler. She also worked as a Senior Companion in addition to being a homemaker. Martha married Edmund Falk on June 6, 1950 and he proceeded her in death on December 14, 1971. She was also proceeded in death by four brothers; Frank, Fred, Carl and Alfred Rowell; sister, Minnie Martens; and nephew, Lloyd Martens.
Martha is survived by her nieces and nephews, Ray (Catherine) Rowell, Lee (Sally) Rowell, Gale (Mary) Rowell, Paul (Shirley) Weber, Betty Montague, Stephen (Cheri) Rowell, Willard (Rosalyn) Martens, Elwin (Jane) Martens, Marilyn (Mel) Argersinger.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fowler with Pastor Paul Clark officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery in St. Johns. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 2:00-8:00 PM at the Goerge Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes in Fowler. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or Great Lakes Hospice.
Russell E. Johnson
Russell E. Johnson, age 65, passed away on December 15, 2011. He was born on March 31, 1946, in Bingham Twp., the son of Guy and Mardell (Claypool) Johnson. He was the owner of Cherry Blossom Manor. Russ married Sharon Bratton on Sept. 27, 1986, and she survives him.
Also surviving are children, Jennifer Garrod, Scott (Melva) LaBar, grandchildren, Courtney LaBar, Amanda and Emily Garrod, step-children, Rick (Christina) Moreno, Jeff (Cynthia) Moreno, Christopher Moreno, 9 step-grandchildren, 4 great step-grandchildren brother, Doug Johnson, in laws, Jim (Jackie) Bratton, sister-in-law, Linda (Mike) Buckley, brother-in-law, Mark Cockrum and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Dave, sister, Joanie, two sisters-in-law, Vicky Cockrum and Pam Cripps, nephew, James Buckley and niece Nicole Boron.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 19, 2011, at the Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St. Memorials may be made to Cherry Blossom Manor, 611 E. Main St., Hart, MI 49420. The family was served by Osgood Funeral Homes.
See Helen Skinner to turn 105
Helen L. Skinner
Helen L. Skinner, 105 of St. Johns, formerly of Owosso, MI died Thursday, December 15, 2011 at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor. Helen was born in Poland on July 15, 1906 the daughter of Konstanty and Estello (Baranowski) Jenc. At the age of 6 she and her family came to America. On Dec. 29, 1938 she married Earl Skinner. He died in 1976. She had worked at Redmond’s in Owosso for several years. She enjoyed decorating, making doilies and afghans.
She is survived by her daughter, Constance Cronkhite of St. Johns, 3 grandsons, 1 granddaughter, 6 great grandchildren and 3 great great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her step son Don Skinner and son in law Richard Cronkhite, 3 sisters Beatrice Smith, Jennie Steavens and Evelyn Manas, and 3 brothers Casimer Jenc, Alex Jenc and Bogus Jenc.
The family will receive friends and relatives at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home on Sunday, December. 18, 2011, 2 to 5 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor. Funeral services will be held at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home on Monday, December 19, 2011 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Kathy Leydorf-Keck officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery, Henderson, MI.
Edward L. “Ferd” Schafer
Edward L. “Ferd” Schafer, 84, died, December 14, 2011. Born on January 18, 1927 in Fowler Michigan. He was the son of Edward and Laura (Goerge) Schafer. Ferd Served in Germany and Korea and retired from G.M. in 1984.
Ferd is survived by his brothers, Michael (Irene) Schafer, John Schafer, Jerome (Connie) Schafer, sisters, Agnes Schafer, Theresa Stump and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Elizabeth Kramer, Rita Walker, Martha Fedewa, one brother, Joseph Schafer, and brothers-in-law, Clayton Kramer, Bernard Walker, Steve Fedewa, Delbert Schafer, and Leon Stump.
Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated, 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 19, 2011 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler, with Fr. Dennis Howard presiding. Burial will follow at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday, 7-9 p.m. with rosary being prayed 8 p.m. and Sunday, 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. with rosary being prayed at 3 p.m., and a scripture service at 8 p.m., at the Goerge Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes in Fowler. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Most Holy Trinity Educational Trust Fund.
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