Mildred I. Smith, Louis K. Minarik, Denis Rademacher, Ruth Ann Kochensparger, Judith L. Hannah, Rita C. Cuthbert, Donna Mae Karber
Mildred I. Smith
Mildred I. Smith, age 106, passed away on December 15, 2014. She was born in St. Johns on November 16, 1908, the daughter of John and Stella (Price) Gilson. Millie moved back to St. Johns in 1995 after living in the Detroit area and working for Decorative Interiors for 17 years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, and a former volunteer for Hazel Findlay Country Manor and Huron Valley Hospital in Commerce Twp., and Open Door in Union Lake.
She is survived by two grandchildren, Gail (Dennis) Shilling of Stigler, OK, Larry (Peggy) Bacon of Pheonix, AZ, three great grandchildren, seven great great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Her marriage to Reginald Bacon in 1927 ended with his death in 1946. She then married Earl Smith in 1950 and he preceded her in death in 1992. She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Marilyn Graff, son, Richard (Henrietta) Bacon, granddaughter, Kandi Graff and brother, Lawrence Gilson.
Funeral Services will be 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2014 at the Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Pastor Ellen Zienert officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church in memory of Millie.
The family was served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.
Louis K. Minarik
Louis K. Minarik, 81, of St. Johns, retired Oldsmobile production employee, died Nov. 28. Memorial services 2 p.m. Saturday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, St. Johns.
Arrangements by Mowen Funeral Home, William A. Scarlett Memorial Chapel, Owosso.
Denis Rademacher
Denis Rademacher, 88, passed away Dec. 16, 2014. He was born in Westphalia, MI on June 22, 1926 to William and Frances Rademacher, the 4th of 9 children. On April 11, 1950 he married Mary Lou Simmon, and together they raised 10 children on their farm near St. Johns. Denis was a veteran of the US Army and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, he cherished his wife and was proud of his large family.
Denis is survived by sons Larry (Carol) and Leon (Nancy), daughters Dee (Kevin) Thelen, Sandy (Ernie) Steffen, Deb (Gary) Hufnagel, Marcia (Dan) Whitmore, Linda (Dan) Rademacher, Karla Bellingar, daughters-in-law Diane Rademacher and Rose (Darryl) Schmitz. He also leaves 29 grandchildren and their families, and his sisters Agatha Feldpausch and Eugenia (Alban) Arens and sisters-in-law Mary and Sally Rademacher. Denis was preceded in death by his beloved sons Ron and Dave. He was also preceded in death by brothers Eldred, Rod and Harold and sisters Antoinette Hafner, Margaret Schneider, Daria Pung.
Visitation will be at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home in St. Johns on Dec. 18th from 2-4 and 6-8. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Friday, December 19th at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Fr. Michael Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI. Military honors will be provided by the St. Johns Honor Guard. Vigil/rosary services will be held at 7:00 P.M. Thursday evening. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic School or the charity of the donor’s choice.
Ruth Ann Kochensparger
Ruth Ann Kochensparger, age 63, of Ashley, died Saturday, December 13, 2014, at Hospice House of Mid Michigan in Lansing.
Ruth was born April 30, 1951, in St. Johns, the daughter of Cloyce and Erma (Shepherd) Kochensparger. She graduated from Fulton High School in 1969 and began working at Ashley Care Center, where she continued to work for the next 44 years, until her health started failing. Ruth loved to cook and could make anything. She also enjoyed crocheting afghans and dishcloths.
Ruth is survived by her brothers, David (Julie) Kochensparger and John (Cathy) Kochensparger, both of St. Johns; her nieces and nephew, Ashley, Michael, Danielle, and Janelle; 2 great nieces; and 1 great nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Funeral services for Ruth will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 16, at the Ashley United Methodist Church, with Pastor Mona Dye officiating. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Judith L. Hannah
Judith L. Hannah, age 71, of Elk Rapids formerly of St. Johns passed away Friday, December 12, 2014 from a courageous battle with cancer. She was born April 11, 1943 in St. Johns to Glenn and Eleanor (Little) Lewis. She graduated from St. Johns High School in 1961 and went on to have a long career in banking. She worked in banking for 37 years retiring as Vice President of Capital National Bank in Lansing in 2001.
Judith married the late John Hannah on February 29, 1980 in Las Vegas, NV. After John’s retirement they built a home in Elk Rapids. Judith spent the last 15 years of her career commuting on weekends to Elk Rapids. Judith was a founder and early board member of Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan, she was a member of The 100 Club, she was President of the Financial Women International of Michigan, a member of The National Association of Career Women, a member of the Red Hat Society, and she volunteered at the Father Fred Food Pantry in Traverse City for the last 5 years. In her spare time she enjoyed sunbathing, basket weaving, painting, going to arts and craft shows, and boating with her friends.
Judith is survived by her daughter Bambi Hannah of Pennsylvania, step daughter Sandy (Richard) Leweke of California; 3 grandchildren, sister: Sharon (Ed) St. John, brother: Ted (Nancy) Lewis, and several cherished nieces and nephews. Besides her parents, Judith was preceded in death by her husband in 2002.
Per her wishes cremation has taken place and a memorial service is being planned for the summer. A memorial luncheon in celebration of Judith’s life will be held Thursday, December 18, 2014 at the Town Club in Elk Rapids from 2-4 pm. Memorial contributions in Judith’s name may be directed to Munson Hospice (Munson Home Health 1150 Medical Campus Drive, Traverse City, Mi 49684) or the Father Fred Food Pantry (Father Fred Foundation, 826 Hastings, Traverse City, Mi 49686) .
Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Home of Elk Rapids.
Rita C. Cuthbert
Rita C. (Faivor) Cuthbert, age 93, passed away on December 12, 2014. She was born on Sept. 25, 1921, in St. Johns, Michigan, the daughter of Louis and Rose Anna (Heiler) Faiver. Rita was a loving wife, mother, and homemaker. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the St. Rita’s Guild. Rita married Ronald James Cuthbert on July 26, 1952, and he preceded her in death on August 6, 2014.
Surviving are her children, Ronald G. (Bonnie) Cuthbert of Ithaca, Don Cuthbert of Lansing, Dick (Debbie) Cuthbert of St. Johns, Patrick James (Sandy) Cuthbert of DeWitt, Mark (Christine) Cuthbert of Farmington Hills and Jeff Cuthbert of St. Johns; daughter-in-law, Jean Cuthbert of St. Johns; 10 grandchildren, Angie (Bob) Moon, Amy (Chris) Western, Mathew, Derek (Erin), Daniel (Maria), Justin, Chris, Sonya, Adam (Becky) and Cheryl Cuthbert; 9 great grandchildren, Jacob, Cain, Dana, Taylor, Chloe, Camren, Karigann, Madisyn and Peyton; her Siberian Husky, Koda, and many nieces and nephews. Rita was preceded in death by her parents; son, Jack Cuthbert; step-father, Ferdinand Miller; five brothers, John, Tom, Charles Faivor, Leon and Joey Miller.
Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns, with burial to follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Fr. Michael Williams presiding. The family will receive friends at Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns, on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., with a Vigil service being prayed at 7 p.m. Contributions may be made to St. Joseph Educational Trust Fund in memory of Rita.
The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.
Donna Mae Karber
Donna Mae Karber died Thursday, December 11, 2014 at the age of 84. She was born September 20, 1930 in Pewamo, MI the daughter of Donald and Laurina (Werner) Droste. Donna was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns and enjoyed cooking, reading and spending time with family. On April 30, 1949 she married Richard Karber and he preceded her in death in 2010.
Surviving are three daughters, LeAnn (Brent) Blackman of Tulsa, OK, Carmen Karkau of Ithaca, Barbara (Jeff) Feldpausch of St. Johns; three sons, Michael (Sharon) of DeWitt, Wayne (Cam Bond) of St. Johns, Ken (Deb) of Raleigh, NC; thirteen grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; two sisters, Lucille Howard of Lansing and Julaine Snater of St. Johns; four brothers, Jim Droste of Georgia, Art (Pat) Droste of St. Louis, MI, Mick (Cathy) Droste of St. Johns, Paul (Bernie) Droste of Lansing; sister-in-law, Ruth Mabie of St. Johns. She was predeceased by her parents, a brother, Roy Droste, grandsons, Jacob Cantrell and Brice Blackman and mother-in-law, Leona Karber.
Private services will be held. Memorials may be made to a charity of donor’s choice. The family was assisted with these arrangements by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns.
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