Wayne K. Ward Memorial Service, Hiram “Bud” Sage, Suzanne Lebrato-DeHaan, Betty C. Brown, Kenneth L. Norcross, Harold H. Witt
Wayne K. “Bud” Ward Memorial Service
Wayne K. “Bud” Ward, went to be with his Lord on December 1, 2013 at the age of 89. He was born on April 22, 1924 in Allegan, MI, the son of Homer and Bertha (Chase) Ward. Wayne was a WWII Veteran serving as an Aviation Cadet in the Army of the U.S., a member of the American Legion Post #153 of St. Johns, MSU Alumni Assoc., American Society of Professional Engineers and the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers. He married Helen Mayer on May 10, 1950 and she preceded him in death on February 24, 2009.
Surviving him are his children, Wendy Ward of St. Johns, William Scott (Jeri) Ward of Tucson, AZ, 5 grandchildren, Todd, Nicholas, Kaelyn, Dylan and Sarah, many nieces and nephews, brother in law, Stan (Dottie) Sylwestrak, sister in law, Sue (Milo) Bernardon, Ursula “Uschi” Itschner (Swiss exchange student) and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Helen, 3 sons, James, John and Stephen and sister, Maureen Sylwestrak.
Memorial Services will be held Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at 2:00 pm with visitation 1-2 p.m. at Osgood Funeral Home, 104 East Cass St, St. Johns, MI., 48879. Following the Memorial Service, there will be a graveside service at Mt. Rest Cemetery. Military services provided by the St. Johns Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Wayne’s name to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. of MI.
The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.
Hiram “Bud” Sage
Hiram Acial “Bud” Sage, age 86, of St. Johns, MI died Sunday, April 6th, 2014 at Sparrow Health Systems in Lansing, MI.
A Graveside Service will be held at Mount Rest Cemetery in St. Johns, MI on Thursday, April 10th at 12:00 P.M.
Bud was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 23, 1927, the son of Hiram A. and Evelyn (Crandal) Sage. He served in the U.S. Army during WW II. Bud retired from Fisher Body. He married Helen Ernst on May 24, 1980. He enjoyed racing, and welding in the garage.
Bud is survived by his wife Helen Sage of St. Johns, MI; step son Roger Hansen of Dewitt, MI; step daughter LuAnn Hansen-Visser of St. Johns, MI; 12 grandchildren; and many great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife MaryLou, son Gary Alan Sage, daughter Bonnie Lou Sage, stepdaughter Karla Bishop, granddaughter Sherri Fraser; and great granddaughter Schyler Sage.
The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns, Michigan.
Suzanne Lebrato-DeHaan
Suzanne Lebrato-DeHaan (Suzi) died unexpectedly Sunday, April 6, 2014. Born January 8, 1943 to Gordon and Elizabeth DeBoy in Layfayette, Indiana, she attended Butler University in Indianapolis. In 1966 she married Ralph Lebrato of Fort Wayne Indiana. They had four children. Ralph and Suzi made their home in St Johns, Michigan for 14 years where Suzi taught school, coached track and owned Century 21. Ralph passed away in 1981.
Suzi married William DeHaan of Escanaba, MI in 1985. They have made Higgins Lake their home for almost 20 years. Suzi taught for both Roscommon Area Public Schools and Houghton Lake Community Schools. She sang with the Mikenauk Chorale and The choirs for both St Hubert’s and St James Catholic Parishes. She was very active with St Hubert’s and volunteered many hours of service. Suzi’s absolute passion of the last few years has been working on the construction of the Roscommon Area District Library where she served as a board member. Suzi loved cooking, gardening and reading. One of her joys was being surrounded by family.
Suzi is survived by her Husband, Bill; her children, Joseph (Sheila) Lebrato, Mary Lebrato, Katy (Dan) Boehman, Matthew Lebrato, step-children, Peter (Marie) DeHaan, David DeHaan, Paul, DeHaan, Rachel DeHaan; 12 grandchildren and two sisters, Karen (Mike) Lester, Janice (Donald) Leuenberger.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 8, at St. Hubert’s Catholic Church, Higgins Lake, from 4-8 p.m. with a Rosary Service at 7:00. A Mass will be held Wednesday at 11:00 at St. Hubert’s. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Roscommon Area District Library, c/o Roscommon County Community Foundation, P.O. Box 824, Roscommon MI 48653.
Arrangements by Sorenson-Lockwood Funeral Home of Grayling, MI.
Betty C. Brown
Betty C. Brown died Friday, April 4, 2014 at the age of 68. She was born September 25, 1945 in St. Johns, MI the daughter of Gordon and Ruth (Carey) Hodge. She attended Grove Bible Church, was a member of T.O.P.S. and was a sewing leader for Victor 4-H. She also enjoyed bowling, sewing and flower gardening.
Surviving is one daughter, Teresa Brown of Pewamo; two sons, Kevin (Emily) Brown of St. Johns and Shawn Brown of Pewamo; five granddaughters, Makayla, Shelby, Klorissa, Allie and Maddison; two sisters, Shirley (Harold) Dockham of Lansing, Dorothy Southward of Kentwood and several aunts, uncles and cousins. On July 20, 1967 she married Daniel Brown and he preceded her in death in 2003. She was also predeceased by her parents, a brother, Richard Hodge and an infant sister, Judy.
Funeral services will be held 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns. Interment will follow at Reed Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, April 7 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1755 Abbey Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823.
Kenneth L. Norcross
Kenneth L. Norcross, 67, of St. Johns, Michigan, left our worldly life peacefully at his home on March 28, 2014. Ken was diagnosed with primary brain cancer in June 2013. The cancer had stabilized; however, he never regained his strength following illnesses this winter.
Ken was born at home, on November 27, 1946, near Kalkaska, Michigan. He was the son of Elwood and Inez (Borden) Norcross. Ken loved growing up in Traverse City and frequented Bryant Park to swim in the Grand Traverse Bay as a kid and an adult. A 1966 graduate of Traverse City High School, Ken was immediately drafted into the U.S. Navy and trained in the medical laboratory field. Ken served stateside from 1966 to 1972, mainly at the Chelsea U. S. Naval Hospital, during the Vietnam conflict. From 1972 to 1978, Ken worked as a medical laboratory technician at Sheridan Community Hospital, meeting Karen Grace at a cast party for the Sidney Barn Theater in September 1976. Ken and Karen married in May 1977.
In June 1978, with $2, 000 in the bank, Ken and Karen surprised their families and friends by quitting their jobs and moving to Central Michigan University. Ken used his G.I. Bill benefits, working toward a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Ken graduated in 1981 and the couple moved to St. Johns. Ken worked in many rural hospitals during his 40 year career as a medical laboratory technologist and was a proud member of the MSSAMT.
Their children are Nicholas (Michelle), Katherine (Sarah Murphy), Genevieve (Nolan Dole) and Grace (Jonathan Gere) and one grandson, Landon Norcross. All of his children had a special place in Ken’s heart and Landon made him smile just by walking in the door. Ken’s nephew, Jaime Norcross, and his family have become members of our immediate family. Ken was preceded in death by his parents and sisters: Flora Ostrander, Carol Norcross, Eleanor Gammon, Marilyn Molmen and Janet Wilson. Ken’s siblings still living are Carl Norcross of Owosso; Phyllis Landsberg of Bates City, MO; Diana Hickman of Traverse City; Susan Cranson of Grawn and Beverly Tuller of Rapid City.
Ken was an attendee of the ROMEO (Retired Old Men Eating Out) breakfasts. He enjoyed attending CMU football and baseball games and Ithaca High School Football State Final games. His passion was collecting old rural Michigan postcards and oak furniture. Each of his children owns an oak rocker from his collection. Ken proudly participated in many Labor Day Mackinac Bridge Walks and took sailing lessons after he was 60 years old. During the last three years, Ken and Karen took trips to Alaska, the Western Caribbean, and a 13 day Route 66 trip to the Grand Canyon last April. Above all, Ken enjoyed Harry Chapin music and trying to play golf with his best friend, Dan Findlay.
Ken is buried near Karen’s parents in the Maryknoll Cemetery in Carson City. Contributions in Ken’s memory may be made to Clinton Transit, c/o New Freedom Caravan, 304 N. Brush Street, St. Johns MI 48879, which made it possible for Ken to reach physician appointments during his illness or the Paine-Gilliam-Scott Museum, 106 S. Maple Street, St. Johns MI 48879, where Ken volunteered his time working in their postcard collection.
The Norcross Family was served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel.
Harold H. Witt
Harold H. Witt died Friday, April 4, 2014 at the age of 88. He was born January 27, 1926 in Riley Township, Clinton County, MI the son of Herman and Marie (Martin) Witt. He was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, the Farm Bureau and was a retired farmer.
Surviving is a brother, Gerald of Dimondale, MI; nieces and nephews, Mary (Tom) Kennedy of Leslie, David (Lora) Gass of Grand Rapids, Chris (Jennifer) Gass of Nashville, TN and special friends Dave and Judy Huhn of St. Johns.
Funeral services will be held 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, 2014 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns with Pastor Paul Clark officiating. Interment will follow at DeWitt Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 2:00 – 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday, April 7 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society 1755 Abbey Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823.
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