Shirley L. Pouch, Eugene Elmer Bellingar, Austin Thomas Blemaster
Shirley L. Pouch
Shirley L. Pouch died Monday, March 18, 2013 at the age of 91. She was born March 21, 1921 in St. Johns, MI the daughter of Leo Kenneth and Edna Doris Stockwell Pouch. Shirley was a graduate of Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns and attended Wayne State University. She was a member of Christ the King Anglican Church in DeWitt, Past President of the Daughters of American Colonists, former board member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and member of the Daughters of the Union. Shirley retired from the State of Michigan Department of Civil Service with 31 years of service.
Surviving are two brothers, Thomas Pouch of CA and John (Patricia) Pouch of St. Johns and 22 nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
There will be no visitation or services per Shirley’s wishes. The family requests that memorials be made to a charity of the donor’s choice in memory of Shirley L. Pouch. The family was assisted with these arrangements by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns.
Eugene Elmer Bellingar
Eugene Elmer Bellingar died Sunday, March 17, 2013 at the age of 73. He was born October 26, 1939 in Winn, Michigan the son of Leo and Dorothy (Young) Bellingar. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and watching baseball. He was an excellent welder and a former member of the Gold Wing Riders. Eugene was a retired truck driver and the founder of Bellingar Packing, which he owned and operated from 1977 to 1991.
Surviving are his children, Michael of Ashley, Gene of St. Johns, Diane (Russ) Knop of Laingsburg, Tim (Colleen) of St. Johns and Bryan (Tami) Of Ashley; 22 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; two sisters, Donna (Kenneth) Wilson of Elsie and Connie Ida of Harrison. He was preceded in death by his fiancé, Lois Anderson two sisters, Rosella Washburn and Bonnie Orweller and two brothers, Dean and Lloyd Bellingar.
A memorial service will be held 11:30 AM Saturday, March 23, 2013 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns with Pastor Larry Nalett officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends 10:00 AM until service time on Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Rennucci Hospitality House at Spectrum Health Foundation 100 Michigan NE, MC004 Grand Rapids, MI 49503.
Austin Thomas Blemaster
Austin Thomas Blemaster was born September 25, 1991 at Clinton Memorial Hospital in St. Johns, Michigan. Surrounded by his family, he left this world on Friday, March 15, 2013 with the utmost of dignity at the end of a valiant fight with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy; a fight with a devastating, debilitating, deadly opponent. Austin graduated in 2010 with honors from Fulton High School and completed 2 years of classes through Lansing Community College.
Left behind to keep his memory alive are his proud parents, Karl and Honey, younger brother Kemper Blemaster from Maple Rapids, older brothers and sisters-in-law; Karl and Kimberly (Boyte) Blemaster from Dewitt, Kevin and Heather (Bleicher) Blemaster from St. Johns, his “brother from another mother” and best friend Kurt and wife Kristina (Hogan) Hug of Alma. Also remembering are Austin’s nephews and nieces; Kamden, Koby, Kallista, Kloey, Bourke, Tucker, Wyatt and Gavyn; his beloved grandma Betty Jernstadt; personal nurse Gerry Giletto; many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
On Monday, March 18, 2013 there will be a celebration of Austin’s life and accomplishments from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home in St. Johns. A graveside service for will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 19 at Beach Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you either commit a random act of kindness for someone keeping Austin in mind when you choose and perform that act or make a contribution to a charity of your choice.
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