Clara C. Wirth, Donald Dennis, Jr., Debra D. Bishop, Judith L. Hannah, Hilda P. Kennedy, Jennifer J. Hoag, Murray Keith Clark, Dorothy Jean Sirrine
Clara C. Wirth
Clara C. Wirth, 99 of Westphalia died at her home on Wednesday, July 8, 2015. She was born in Dallas Twp. on August 12, 1915, the daughter of John and Regina (Ott) Schmitt and lived most of her life in the Westphalia area. She was a homemaker, a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Christian Mothers Association, Rosary Society and The Catholic Order of Foresters. Clara married Herman E. Wirth in Westphalia on May 7, 1941 and he preceded her in death on August 27, 1999.
Surviving are four daughters, Diane (Larry) Kohagen, Donna Schafer, Darlene (Maurice) Schmitz all of Fowler and Daria (Joseph R.) Thelen of Westphalia, 13 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 3 step-great grandchildren and sister in law, Agnes Wirth. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by three sons, Dale, David and Joseph Wirth, grandson Neil Kohagen, and son-in-law Leon Schafer; 7 brothers and 1 sister, Rev. Fr. Albert Schmitt, Isadore Schmitt, George Schmitt, Louis Schmitt, Martin Schmitt, Julius Schmitt and Anthony Schmitt, and sister Mary Spitzley.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, July 13, 2015 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church beginning at 10:30 A.M. with Rev. Fr. Eric Weber officiating. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives at St. Mary’s Chapel on Saturday, July 11, 2015, 6-8 p.m. and Sunday, 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Rosaries will be prayed at 7 pm on Saturday and 3 and 7 p.m. on Sunday. Memorials may be given to Westphalia Fire Dept. or the charity of the donor’s choice.
A special thank you to Amber Yott, her caregiver, for an outstanding job.
The family is being served by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns, MI.
Donald Dennis, Jr.
Donald Dennis, Jr., 48, of Moro, Ill., passed away at 1:05 p.m. Monday, July 6, 2015 at Christian Hospital Northeast in St. Louis, Mo. Born June 13, 1967 in Owosso, Mich., he was a son of Donald Dennis, Sr. and Joette (Jelinek) Dennis, both of Ovid, Mich. He served in the U.S. Army for 15 years and continued civil service, then retired. He married Bella Vergara April 9, 1996 in Vicenza, Italy. She survives.
In addition to his wife and parents, also surviving are his 2 children, Steven Dennis and Samantha Dennis, both of Moro; a brother, Eddie Dennis of Ovid; a sister, Tonya (Brent) Heyer of DeWitt, Mich.; and a niece and nephew, Jacob and Jenna Heyer of DeWitt.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 pm Sunday, July 12, 2015 at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes with a Mass of Christian burial at 11:00 am, Monday, July 13, 2015 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Ovid, MI followed by burial with military honors at Middlebury Cemetery.
Debra D. Bishop
Debra D. Bishop died Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at the age of 59. She was born January 10, 1956 in St. Johns the daughter of James W. and Maxine (Hall) Fedewa. Debra was a graduate of St. Johns High School, Class of 1974 and worked for many years in the dietary department at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor. She enjoyed gardening and raising flowers, doing puzzles and was an avid Detroit Tiger fan. On July 16, 1988 she married Doug Bishop and he survives her.
Also surviving is her son, Jim; two sisters, Carol (Richard) Briggs of Houghton Lake and Kathy (Eric) Halitsky of Gaylord; brothers and sisters-in-law, Thomas Bishop of Ithaca, Cheryl (Bob) Pritchard and Geri Bishop all of St. Johns and Lorraine Douglas of Florida. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother Steve Fedewa.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, July 11, 2015 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns with Pastor William Tate officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM Friday, July 10, 2015 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the family.
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.
Per her wishes, cremation has taken place and a celebration of Life will take place Friday, July 24, 2015 from 1-5 p.m. in the Edward C Grace Memorial Pavilion at the Elk Rapids Marina. Parking will be on the Cedar Street public lot (there will be signs) and shuttles will be provided for those who need it.
Donations of can goods, clothing or household goods will be appreciated for her favorite charity The Father Fred Foundation in Traverse City.
Hilda P. Kennedy
Hilda P. Kennedy, age 101, passed away on July 7, 2015. Born October 22, 1913, in Sciota Twp., MI, the daughter of Austin and Irene (Decker) Ridsdale. She graduated from Ovid High School in the Class of 1933. Hilda married Kenneth Kennedy on August 27, 1933 in Ovid and he preceded her in death on August 17, 1977. She worked at Universal Electric in Owosso for 20 years.
Surviving are daughter-in-law, Marilyn Kennedy of Dewitt, three grandsons, Lynn (Georgette) Kennedy of Ovid, Keith (Deborah) Kennedy of Flowery Branch, GA., Lee (Harriett) Kennedy of Lansing, four great grandchildren, Lynn Kennedy Jr. of Grand Rapids, Brad Bierschbach of Ovid, Christopher (Terri) Kennedy of Flowery Branch, GA., and Michelle (Aaron) Vinyard of Virginia, six great-great grandchildren, four nephews, Felix (Connie) Ridsdale, Gary (Sue) Whitesell and Garth Whitesell of Owosso and Kenneth (Sharon) Ridsdale of Maine. In addition to her parents and husband, Hilda was preceded in death by her son, Richard Kennedy, grandson, Jimmy Kennedy, three brothers, Basil, George and Raymond Ridsdale and sister, Grace Whitesell.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, July 10 at 11:00 am at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes in Ovid; burial following at Maple Grove Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, July 9, 4:00-8:00 pm at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.
Jennifer J. Hoag
Jennifer J. Hoag died unexpectedly Sunday, July 5, 2015 at the age of 46. She was born August 8, 1968 in Carson City, MI the daughter of John and Arlene (Pope) Hoag. Jennifer was a graduate of St. Johns High School, Class of 1987 and a member of First Congregational Church of St. Johns.
Surviving is her mother, Arlene; a brother, Kevin (Patrice) Hoag of Dundee, MI; a nephew, Josh Ellsworth of TN and very special friends, Eric, Marilyn and Kyle O’Connell. She was preceded in death by her father, John in July of 1991.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Friday, July 10, 2015 at First Congregational Church, 100 Maple St. St. Johns with Rev. Matt Olson officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM Thursday, July 9, 2015 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns. Memorials may be made to First Congregational Church of St. Johns.
Murray Keith Clark
Murray Keith “Keith” Clark, age 97, of St. Johns, formerly of Ithaca, MI went to be with the Lord, Friday, July 3, 2015 at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, St. Johns, Michigan.
Funeral Services will be held at the Church of the Nazarene, St. Johns, MI on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at 11:00 A.M. Burial will take place at North Star Cemetery, North Star, MI. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns, Michigan.
Keith was born in Ithaca, Michigan on December 7, 1917, the son of Ernest J. and Lena Mae (Sensabaugh) Clark. On May 22, 1959 Keith married Lora Holcomb. Lora passed away on April 6, 2015. Keith was a lifelong farmer. He and Lora spent most of their life in Ithaca on the farm, moving to St. Johns 6 years ago. He enjoyed woodworking and enjoyed parades with his buggy that he handcrafted. Keith was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in St. Johns.
He is survived by 3 sons; Russell and Janis Clark, Mark and Denise Clark, Dale and Wendy Clark, 5 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and a brother Reo Clark. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lora and 2 sisters.
Memorials may be made to Church of the Nazarene, St. Johns, Michigan. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns, Michigan.
Dorothy Jean Sirrine
Dorothy Jean “DJ” Sirrine died July 3rd, 2015, just 3 days short of her 93rd birthday. Born in St. Johns July 6, 1922, Dorothy was the first of four children of Glenn W and Gladys Fay (Stitt) Osgood. DJ was an advanced student and completed Rodney B Wilson High at the age of 16. She earned a Home Economics Degree from MSU in 1942.
Dorothy Jean married a local Navy pilot named Robert Sirrine on August 13, 1944. Returning from the war Bob and DJ eventually worked together and acquired the family funeral business from the Osgood family.
DJ had a lifetime interest in music, getting started early as a church bell ringer. She had a wonderful voice and was a regular church and funeral soloist and taught music in area country school houses. She spent much of her time as a 50’s and 60’s homemaker while regularly involved in serving others through funeral and church service.
Dorothy’s later years focused on her grandchildren and giving care to both her husband Bob and her extended family as they needed. Bob died in 2003 after 59 years of married partnership.
The couple’s four children, John, Bill, Mary Pat and Angela all survive as do nine grandchildren and many great grandkids.
Her family will hold a birthday reception at Osgood’s on DJ’s birthday, Monday, July 6th from 4-8 pm with funeral services from Osgood Funeral Homes in St. Johns at 11 am on Tuesday, July 7, 2015.
To recognize the generations of community support for her family, memorial contributions may be made to the endowment at the St. Johns Area Community Fund, PO Box 33, St. Johns, MI 48879.
To learn more about Dorothy Jean and view her Life Story film, visit her personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com/memories/108041.
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