Obituaries

Geraldine M. Fleck, Lesla M. Bancroft, Marie Plaza, Jack Eugene Dean, Terry C. Lane, Angeline Barbara Kentfield, Dewey Russell Custer, Dorothy T. Coger, Joan Feldpausch-Pohl
Geraldine M. Fleck
Geraldine M. Fleck, age 82, passed away April 2, 2014. She was born on June 7, 1931 in Alma, MI. Geraldine worked in Grand Rapids for many years and retired from DW Foods.
Private family graveside services will be held at a later date. Donations may be made in memory of Geraldine to any Veteran’s association.
The family was served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.


Lesla M. Bancroft
Lesla M. Bancroft, 92 of St. Johns, MI died at her home on March 31, 2014. Lesla was born on December 19, 1921 in Ithaca, MI the daughter of Samuel E. and Ada B. (Brown) Carmon. She was a homemaker and worked for Kroger’s for 17 years, enjoyed quilting and porcelain painting. She loved her flowers and gardening and cooking for family and friends.
She is survived by her son Kim of St. Johns; grandchildren, Sara (Rick) Sillman, Jessica (Brian) Fox, Lyle Parker, Trevor (Kim) Bancroft, Lora (Phil) Spears and Richie Beachler and 13 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Kyla Beachler, 5 brothers and 6 sisters. Lesla married Lyle Bancroft on Nov. 16 1940 in Duplain Twp. He preceded her in death in 1992.
Funeral services will be held at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home on Thursday, April 3, 2014 at 12:00 Noon with Pastor Gil Burgeson officiating. Burial will be at Duplain Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives at the funeral home on Thursday, 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 Noon. Memorial contributions may be made to Great Lakes Hospice.


Marie Plaza
Marie Plaza died March 31, 2014 at the age of 92. She was born in Chicago, IL, on August 13, 1921, the daughter of John and Mary (Charnota) Spess and lived most of her life in the St. Johns area. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Sylvia Guild, and served as a Clinton Memorial Hospital volunteer in the gift shop and as a puppet lady. Marie married Stanley Plaza in Bannister on October 5, 1940 and he preceded her in death April 18, 1997. She loved playing cards at the Coming Home Senior Center and also loved her dogs, especially Dutchess and Stella. She spent retirement years in Harrison, MI and Zephyrhills, FL., prior to returning to Michigan.
Marie is survived by her daughter Jerry Ann Beaufore of St. Johns and special friend, Paul Shauger of Sanford, two granddaughters, Nicole (Ho Ba) Le of Leland, IL, and Andrea Lynne Beaufore of Ypsilanti, two great granddaughters, Jessica (Dave) Worby and Ginni Rae Brzak, two great grandsons, Dillon Thomas Day and Casey Patrick Day, great great granddaughters, Lily Skye Worby and Jordan Paige Worby, and great great grandson, Henry Arnold Lewis Worby. In addition to her husband, Marie was preceded in death by son in law, Lynne Beaufore, brother, Steve Spess, sister, Ann Brown, two half-brothers, Frederick Koshko and John Koshko, Jr., and four half-sisters, Elaine and Rose Koshko and two infant sisters.
Funeral Services will be at 3:00 p.m. Friday, April 4, 2014 at Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Fr. Michael Williams officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home 6-8 p.m. on Thursday. Memorials may be made to Coming Home Senior Center or St. Joseph Church. The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.


Jack Eugene Dean
Jack Eugene Dean, age 87, of Ovid, MI passed away Saturday, March 29, 2014 at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, St. Johns, Michigan.
A Memorial Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 from 4-7 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns, MI.
Jack was born in Maple Rapids, MI on June 8, 1926, the son of Levi and Adeline (Thurston) Dean. He served in the U.S. Navy as a Seaman 1st Class in WW II. He enjoyed fishing and playing golf. Jack was a retired Machine Operator for gas pipeline companies.
He is survived by son Terry Eugene and Kathy Dean of St. Johns, MI, daughter Karen Dean and Rich Hersick of Plymouth, IN, 4 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, life partner Mary Kathryn Borton of Ovid, MI and many nieces and nephews. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, wife Virginia “Ginny” Dean and 8 brothers.
Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Johns, Michigan.


Terry C. Lane
Terry C. Lane, age 62, died March 27, 2014 at Sparrow Clinton Hospital in St. Johns. Terry was born February 26, 1952 to Arthur Arlo and Josephine Pearl (Smaltz) Lane in Carson City, Michigan. He married Margaret Elaine (Peggy) Miller on August 14, 1971.
Terry was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving for four years during the Vietnam era. Following the war, he was employed at Aircraft Precision in Ithaca for 40 years. Terry loved to make things. He was an avid woodworker making book shelves, end tables, ottomans, and sleighs. He also enjoyed working with leather, making purses, belts, and wallets. He built a model of the U.S.S Constitution and built his own sailboat in which he sailed for one summer.
Terry is survived by his wife, Margaret; his children Jennifer (fiance Ken Desloover) of Potterville, Kristina (Craig) Morrison of Middleton, Jon (Sonya) Lane of St. Louis; grandchildren Joshua Dean and Laura Ann Morrison, and Zachary, Cameron, and Olivia Lane; his father, Arthur Lane; his brothers Dick (Mary) Lane of New Mexico, Rodney (Janet) Lane of Perrinton, Pat (Sue) Lane of Pompeii; and his sister Melanie (Barney) Barnett of Ohio. He was preceded in death by his mother, Josephine.
Funeral services for Terry will be 11am, Monday, March 31, 2014 at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca with Dana Lane officiating. Burial will follow at Collier Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8pm Saturday, March 29, and 2-4pm and 6-8pm, Sunday, March 30 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warrior Project.


Angeline Barbara Kentfield
Angeline Barbara “Bunny” Kentfield died Friday, March 28, 2014 at the age of 87. She was born July 25, 1926 in Pittsburg, PA the daughter of Anthony and Katherine (Marnich) Rauch. Bunny enjoyed playing Bridge and was a member of a Bridge Club. She was an excellent cook, loved gardening and earlier in her life she enjoyed golfing and knitting.
Surviving is one daughter, Cindy Kentfield of St. Johns; one son, Jeffrey (Gail) Kentfield and one granddaughter, Carrie Kentfield all of Clarkston, MI. On July 11, 1948 she married Leon C. Kentfield and he preceded her in death in 2007. She was also predeceased by an infant son, Raymond.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns with Rev. Matthew Olson officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday March 31at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to a charity of donor’s choice.


Dewey Russell Custer
Dewey Russell Custer, age 78, of Perrinton, MI passed away Thursday, March 27, 2014 at Carson City Hospital, Carson City, MI.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Cyril’s Catholic Church, Bannister, MI on Tuesday, April 1, 2014 at 10:00 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Rick Bokinskie officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery Elsie, MI. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 31, 2014 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI. A Scripture Service will be held on 7:00 P.M. Monday evening at the funeral home.
Dewey was born in Marshall, Michigan on July 1, 1935, the son of Russell and Wealtha Iona (Gettys) Custer. He graduated from Elsie High School with the class of 1953. On May 4, 1957 he married Carole A. Chmiko at St. Cyril’s Catholic Church. Dewey served his country in the U.S. Marines. He worked for Federal Mogul for 37 years retiring in 1997. He farmed and raised cattle. Dewey was a huge Detroit Tiger fan, and enjoyed bowling, golfing, fishing. He had a special love for his dogs, Barron and Shadow. He resided most of his life in Elsie and Ashley moving to Rainbow Lake in 2002. Dewey was a member of the American Legion Post, St. Johns, Michigan, and a member of St. Cyril’s Catholic Church, Bannister, MI.
He is survived by his wife Carole Custer of Perrinton, MI, 4 children; Cindy and Steven LeDuke of Carson City, MI, Wendy Denovich of Ashley, MI, Mark Custer of Oregon, IL, Jeff and Loralyn Custer of St. Johns, MI, 11 grandchildren; Steven, Jessica, Mary Jo, Daniel, Michael, Christopher, Alicia, Calvin, Karina, Jamison and Jackson, 8 great grandchildren; Jaiden, Bryson, Ethan, Kylee, Ryplee, Claire, London, and Lincoln, and sister Phyllis Custer of New Braunfels, TX. He was predeceased by his parents, granddaughter Tiffany, great grandson Devon, and son in law Jeff Denovich.
Memorials may be made to St. Cyril’s Catholic Church or WOES Polka Palace Radio. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, Michigan.


Dorothy T. Coger
Dorothy T. “Dot” Coger, age 84, passed away March 28, 2014. She was born in Washtenaw County on August 20, 1929 the daughter of Oscar and Alice (Hankerd) Ulrich. Dorothy was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She married Raymond L. Coger on December 1, 1964 and he preceded her in death on November 8, 1993.
Dot is survived by her children, Tom Hoskins of Mt. Dora, FL, Joe Hoskins of St. Johns, Kent (Monica) Hoskins of Ovid, Linnette Cook of Mt. Dora, FL, Elizabeth (John) Casey of Apollo Beach, FL, stepson, James (Colleen) Coger and stepdaughter, Patricia (John) Gordon, 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 3 brothers and 2 sisters.
Dot’s wishes were to be cremated with no visitation or services. The family was served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.


Joan Feldpausch-Pohl
Joan Feldpausch-Pohl, age 85, passed away March 27, 2014 in St. Johns. She was born in Westphalia on September 3, 1928, the daughter of Anthony and Gertrude (Simon) Halfman. Joan married Louis Feldpausch, August 17, 1949 and he preceded her in death in September of 1989. She married Gerald Pohl on September 2, 1994 and he preceded her in death in February of 2014. Joan was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, an active member of the Confraternity of Christian Mothers and the Daughters of Isabella. She loved quilting and embroidery work, providing her family with many heirlooms throughout the years and donating items for parish festivals. She played all sorts of card games, enjoyed fishing with Louis and traveling with Gerald. In later years her family, as well as Gerald’s children and grandchildren, were her pride and joy.
She is survived by her children, Marcia (Ray) Roberts of Ishpeming; Karen (Alan) Kalis of DeWitt; Ellen (Glen) Feldpausch of Fowler; Robert (Tami) Feldpausch of Fowler; and Gene (Brenda) Feldpausch of Westphalia; brother, Joseph (Marjorie) Halfmann of St. Johns and sister, Marie Thelen of Westphalia; 13 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Anthony and Gertrude, brothers, Leon and Allan, her husbands, Louis and Gerald and infant daughter, Janet.
A Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 31, 2014 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler with burial following at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery, with Fr. Dennis Howard presiding. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Sunday, with a rosary being prayed at 3 p.m., and a Vigil service being prayed at 8 p.m., at the Goerge Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, 11112 W. Ionia St., Fowler, MI. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Most Holy Trinity Educational Trust Fund, 545 N. Maple St., Fowler, MI 48835.
The family is being served by Osgood Funeral Homes.


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