Obituaries
Maurice Eugene Witteveen
Maury was born in 1933 at home in Zeeland and raised in Holland, Michigan. He was the third of four boys of Martin O Witteveen and Grace Stam Vandenbrink. His higher education started at Hope College and continued with the Signal Corps of the Army and the College of Engineering at the University of Michigan. Later, the Michigan Department of Transportation sent him to Yale University for a Masters degree. Back in Kalamazoo, then St. Johns, work took him to several offices. Rotating among divisions, Maury retired as the head of the Maintenance Division of MDOT in 1991, He moved to Suttons Bay because he loved the Big Lake so much.
Maury’s first marriage (Judy Koning) brought Debra and Lori. In 1961 he married Diantha (Lundin) and raised Peter, Ellen and Sarah. In 2004 he married Elizabeth Stokes. Throughout his life, active social engagement shaped him: in sports, at school and well into retirement, outdoor volunteer work (handyman, Inland Seas school ship, Sharecare jobs, Michigan Ski for Light founding organizer), community boards and committees, and leading or participating in church events and projects.
A memorial service will take place on Saturday, February 6, at 2 p.m. Visitation that day will be at Suttons Bay Congregational Church from 10 a.m. to noon, 218 W. Madison, Suttons Bay.
Maury is survived by daughter Lori Stewart (David), son Guven Peter Witteveen (Lesley); daughters Ellen Teisman (William); Sarah Boynton (David); and grandchildren Joel Stewart (Mindy), Phillip and Ana Witteveen; Ben, Emily, and John Teisman; and Justin, Mason, and Evan Rohrback; brother Gerald Witteveen (Phyllis), sister-in-law Phillis Witteveen, and several cousins. He was predeceased by his parents, brothers Donald (Edna) and Norman, and daughter Debra.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that Maury be remembered by contributions to Inlands Seas Educational Association; Sharecare of Leelanau County; or the Suttons Bay Congregational Church. Arrangements by Reynolds-Jonkhoff.
Inland Seas Educational Association, P.O. Box 218, Suttons Bay 49682
ShareCare of Leelanau, 7401 E. Duck Lake Rd., #600, Lake Leelanau, MI 49653-8701
Suttons Bay Congregational Church, P.O. Box 70, Suttons Bay 49682
Patricia Ann (Benson) Gomulinski
Patricia Ann Gomulinski, age 78, of Petersburg, Michigan, passed away January 24, 2016, at her daughter’s home with her loving family by her side. She was the daughter of Dr. Robert E. Benson and Elizabeth K. Bancroft. She was born in St. Johns, Michigan on January 5, 1938. She grew up in St. Johns and attended Ferris State University. She worked for the Michigan Department of Health Division of Laboratories for 10 years.
She met her husband, Melvin Gomulinski, in Lansing and they were married in 1968. Following her husband’s job relocation, they moved to Petersburg, Michigan in 1972. There they started a family, as well as a Christmas tree farm. The family are members of St. Michael’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, Toledo, Ohio, where Pat was a choir member. She was also a member of the River Raisin Order of Eastern Star. She enjoyed playing bridge and was an avid golfer, but most of all she cherished her time with family and grandchildren.
She is survived by her daughter, Natasza (Dan) Walker and her son, Andrzej (Patty) Gomulinski, her sister Jean (Richard) Weaver as well as grandchildren, Nathan, Lauren, Lindsey, Nolan, Mikayla, Mitchell, Morgan, Madeline, and Mallory and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 29th, from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Reeb Funeral Home, 5712 North Main St., Sylvania, Ohio with a 7:30 pm prayer service. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 30th at 11:00 am at St. Michael’s in the Hills Episcopal Church, 4718 Brittany Road, Toledo, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael’s in the Hills Episcopal Church or to Whiteford Music Boosters, 6655 Consear Road, Ottawa Lake, Michigan 49267.
Lynn Paul Ruestman
Lynn Paul Ruestman passed away on January 23, 2016, at the age of 56. He was born in St. Johns on July 8, 1959, the son of Delmar and Gladys (Silm) Ruestman. Lynn was a proud Veteran of the U.S. Army.
He is survived by his four children, Lindsay Teems, of Armada, MI, Nicholas Ruestman of Grand Rapids, MI, Megan Ruestman of St. Johns, MI and Alexa Ruestman of East Lansing, MI, two grandsons, Michael and Dustin Teems, mother, Gladys Ruestman of St. Johns, one sister, Evelyn Peterson and a niece and a nephew. Lynn was preceded in death by his father, Delmar Ruestman, brother in law, Gary Peterson and son in law, Mark Teems.
Funeral Services will be held 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 27, 2016, at the Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns, with Dr. Brian Salminen officiating, cremation to follow. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial contributions to Al-Anon/Alano Club East, 220 S. Howard St., Lansing, MI 48912, or St. John’s Lutheran Church Building Fund, 511 E. Sturgis St., St. Johns, MI 48879.
The family is being served by the Osgood Funeral Homes.
LaVelda I. Lentz
LaVelda I. Lentz died January 21, 2016. Belle was born in Fort Wayne, IN on February 22, 1928, to Clifford C. and Dorothy (Biggs) Smith. She spent her very early years in Fort Wayne before moving to Churubusco, IN with her parents, two sisters (Joy and Nancy) and one brother (James) where she graduated from Churubusco High School then moved back to Fort Wayne. After high school Belle secured a secretarial position at a Department of Defense war material manufacturer in the Fort Wayne area.
In 1946 the Smith family moved to the Traverse City, MI area where Belle’s dad had secured a new position making eye glass lenses. They rented a house from people who would one day become her in-laws – the Oliver and Mary Lentz family. Soon after, in 1947, Belle met the love of her life, Blaine Lentz. Not long after on September 19, 1948, they were married… and thus began their 67 year romance. Their son Kenneth was born 1949 in Frankfort, MI. Blaine returned to MI State College in September 1950 to continue his college education and shortly thereafter their daughter Cynthia was born at Sparrow Hospital. The family moved to Onaway, MI where Blaine taught, and the following year they moved to Elsie, MI where their second son, Michael, was born in 1960 followed by a daughter, Tonya, in 1963.
Belle took on the role of stay-at-home mom pursuing activities that enhanced the growth of their children as well as herself including flower and vegetable gardening, canning, art classes, crafts, participation and memberships in school and community organizations, and whatever else would keep her busy and involved. She was also an avid golfer and member of the Clinton County Country Club, and the Elsie Lioness Club. Mom was a good artist and very crafty creating many memorable Christmas scenes for all to enjoy.
Belle and Blaine lived in Elsie for 43 years and cherish their memories of the community and all the friendships and acquaintances, both young and old. All four of their children graduated from Ovid-Elsie High School and most remain in this area. In 1998 they moved to St. Johns into a smaller more manageable home and to be closer to their children.
She is survived by sons Kenneth (Donna), Michael (Lauri) and daughters Cynthia (Kim) Brewbaker, and Tonya Myers; Grandchildren Angela (Jamie), Jason (Laree), Kayla, Katelin, Courtney (Gregg), Rick (Cindy), Laurie (Jason), Kati, Logan, Emily; Great-grandchildren Bailey, Brandon, Blane, Scott, Breckin, Brooke, Paige. Belle was preceded in death by her parents, brother Jim, and beloved husband Blaine.
Funeral services will be held at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home in St. Johns on Monday January 25, 2016 at 3:00P.M. with Pastor Kathy Leydorf-Keck officiating. The family will receive friends and relatives at the funeral home onSunday January 24, 2016, 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. Burial will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery in St. Johns, MI. Memorials may be made to the St. Johns American Legion Post 153, 110 E. Walker St., St. Johns, MI 48879 or the charity of choice.
Marriage licenses filed the week of January 22, 2016
Jamison Richard Fedewa, 24 of Fowler and Bethany Jo Smith, 24 of Fowler
James Patrick Young, 56 of Laingsburg and Annette Marie Foster, 56 of Laingsburg
Feng Lin, 32 of East Lansing and Na Zhang, 38 of East Lansing
Richard Keith Cooper, 59 of Lansing and Debra Jo Thurkettle, 47 of DeWitt
David Douglas Barnett, 51 of DeWitt and Lisa Marie Braska, 40 of DeWitt
Divorce decrees filed the weeks of January 11, 2016
Banaszak, Craig David and Melissa Dawn
Therrien, Theodore N and Michele Lynn
Cosby, William Oliver and Khadija Hiraa
DeShaw, Roni Layne and Alexander Earl
Rogowski, Christine L and Ryan A
McCauley, Justine Elizabeth and Brian Grey