Obituaries
William P. Richards
William “Bill” Palmer Richards Jr., age 89, died August 17, 2016.
Bill is survived by his six children; Polly, Lynn (Tom), Chris (Martha), Jill (Rick), Jay (Kristin), and Jeff, six grand-children, and three great grand-children, and extended immediate family.
He was born on February 11, 1927 to William and Helen Richards in Mason, Michigan where he spent his boyhood. In 1946 he moved to St. Johns with his family where they established Richards Dairy. Bill married Jennie Dale Hutton of Yale, Michigan in 1948. They made their home in St. Johns where they raised their children.
Bill/Dad lived his life profoundly and simply, expressing the ethic by one of his favorite mentors The Little Prince who said, “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
A memorial service will be held Sunday, September 25, 2016 at 2:00 pm. Place to be announced. Memorials may be sent to Community Resource Volunteers, 304 North Brush Street, St. Johns, MI 48879 or “Bill Richards Higgins Lake Forever” Peckham, Inc. 3510 Capitol City Blvd. Lansing, MI 48906.
The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Tony A. Slamka
Tony A. Slamka of St. Johns, died Wednesday, August 17, 2106 at the age of 85. He was born June 10, 1931 in Elsie, MI the son of Stefan and Viktoria (Gombar) Slamka. Tony was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns and the Knights of Columbus. He was an Army veteran and one of the founding members of St. Johns Youth Baseball. Tony enjoyed dancing, playing cards, going to the casino and restoring old tractors. He farmed for many years and especially loved John Wayne movies and westerns. Tony retired as an electrician from General Motors and Federal Mogul. In November of 1953 Tony married Ann Marie Wieber and she preceded him in death in 2012.
Surviving is one daughter, Lori (Steve) Dupuis; four sons, Chris, Gary (Bernadette), Eric, Kurt (Laurie) all of St. Johns; fourteen grandchildren; two great grandchildren; one sister, Ally (Joe) Fabus of Bannister and special friend, Marion Kurncz of St. Johns. He was predeceased by a son, Thomas, one brother, Steve and three sisters, Stacia Krcmarik, Margaret Guyski and Theresa Stefil.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 AM Friday, August 19, 2016 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 109 Linden St. Johns. Rite of Committal will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery with military honors provided by the St. Johns Honor Guard. The family will receive relatives and friends 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM Thursday at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns with a Rosary prayed at 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Great Lakes Hospice.
Carl F. Stump
Carl F. Stump of St. Johns, died Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at the age of 76. He was born June 5, 1940 in Eagle, MI the son of Henry and Helen (Koenigsknecht) Stump. Carl was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler and a member of the Knights of Columbus and Catholic Order of Foresters. He enjoyed bowling, harness racing and playing cards, especially video poker. Carl retired from General Motors in 1993 with 33 years of service and was a member of UAW Local 1618. On April 11, 1964 he married Shirley Mayers and she survives him.
Also surviving are his children, Dean (Sherri) of Fowler, Carla (Dan) Eckley of Grand Rapids, Monica Stump (Jay Dunkel) of St. Johns and Darren of St. Johns; eight grandchildren, Lindsey, Haleigh, Justin, Danielle, Michelle, Dylan, Brandi and Jason; three great grandchildren; siblings, Jerome (Helen) Stump of Owosso, Martha (Bernard) Simon of Westphalia and Hilary (Joy) Stump of Fowler and many nieces and nephews.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:30 AM Friday, August 19, 2016 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler with Rev. Fr. Carl Simon as Celebrant. Rite of Committal will follow at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 PM Thursday at Most Holy Trinity Church Activity Center 11159 W. Kent St. Fowler. A Rosary will be prayed at 3:00 PM and a Scripture Service will be held at 7:00 PM on Thursday at the Activity Center.
The family is being served by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns.
Richard Ettinger
Richard Ettinger, age 86, of St. Johns, MI passed away Sunday, August 14, 2016 at his home.
He leaves behind his wife of 51 years Lee (Leona Warner), 2 sons; Richard Jr. of DeWitt, and Russell (Tonia) of Grand Rapids, 3 grandchildren; Jon-David, Rachel and Abigail Ettinger, 2 brothers; Ray (Kathy) of Atlanta, MI, and Roland of DeWitt, 3 sisters; Donna Sawer of Henderson, Nancy (Richard) Smith of Morrice, and Patricia (Robert) Mitchell of Cadillac as well as many nieces and nephews. Richard was preceded in death by a sister Claudine and 2 brothers; Leo and Robert.
Richard served his country in the U.S. Air Force for 3 years, then worked at Oldsmobile in Lansing for 35 years and was co-owner/operator of Ettinger Orchard and Cider Mill in St. Johns for many years.
We will celebrate his life at Pilgrim United Methodist Church, St. Johns on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 from 11:00 A.M. to 12:45 P.M. followed by a service and Military Honors beginning at 12:45 with luncheon after. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Sparrow Hospice or Pilgrim United Methodist Church.
The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Sandra I. Thelen
Sandra I. Thelen, age 71 of Fowler, Michigan, passed away Saturday, August 13, 2016, at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI.
Sandra was born in Ionia, Michigan on November 16, 1944, the daughter of Joseph and Maxine (Phelps) Melvin. She was a graduate of Lyons High School and resided most of her life in Fowler. Sandra married Alan Thelen on August 8, 1964 in Fowler, MI. Sandra especially loved spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and her dog, Bo. She enjoyed playing Bingo and playing cards with her friends. Sandra also enjoyed traveling, going to Houghton Lake and going to the Casino. She was an avid Detroit Tiger fan. Sandra was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary Post #3733 in Fowler and was a member of Most Holy Trinity Church Fowler, MI.
She is survived by her husband Alan Thelen of Fowler, MI, daughter Melinda and Mark Halfmann of Fowler, MI, daughter Lynnette Feldpausch of Grand Ledge, MI, daughter Dianna and Steve Bauer of Fowler, MI, son Steven Thelen and Kristy Kelly of Maple Rapids, MI, daughter Cindy and Jesse Kolp of Fowler, MI, son Dennis and Sandie Melvin of Chelsea, MI, son Bryan Thelen of Fowler, MI, son Jeremy and Georgina Melvin of Ionia, MI son Joseph Thelen and Rachael Watson of St. Johns, MI, 22 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and 2brothers; Keith and Valerie Melvin of Lansing, MI, and Bruce and Joy Melvin of Florida. Sandra was preceded in death by her parents, father and mother-in-law, Alvin and Loretta Thelen, granddaughter Samantha Wohlfert, and brother Dennis and Sondra Melvin.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler, MI on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at 10:30 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Carl Simon officiating. Burial will take place at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery Fowler, MI. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 15, 2016 from 6-8 P.M. and Tuesday, August 16, 2016 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Goerge Chapel, Fowler, MI. A Rosary will be prayed at 3:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home.
The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Goerge Chapel, Fowler, Michigan.
Marriage licenses filed the week of August 8, 2016
Daniel Lewis Bell, 54 of East Lansing and Gail Ann Hubble, 57 of East Lansing
Shannon Brett Forbush, 50 of Eagle and Dawnn Marie Gibson, 43 of Eagle
Scott Lee Slocum, 25 of Bath and Kaycee Lynn Miller, 25 of Bath
Eric John Barnes, 26 of St. Johns and Cara Suzanne Havens, 24 of St. Johns
Joeseph Lee Barnard, 26 of Elsie and Cynthia Ann Brown, 27 of Elsie
Gerald Philip Stead, 65 of DeWitt and Darlene May Jaquays, 68 of DeWitt
Russell Edward Fitzgerald, 54 of Lansing and Kelly Lynn DiMarzio, 44 of Pleasant Lake, Indiana
Luke Gabriel Mardigian, 31 of DeWitt and Sarah Lindsay Graham, 25 of Haslett
Kevin Peter Wilkie, 32 of Caledonia 49316 and Joanna Lynn Costigan, 30 of DeWitt
John Paul Kelly, 28 of Thornton, Colorado and Natalie May Williams, 23 of Denver, Colorado
Gary Frederick Carl, 59 of Troy 48085 and Donna Marie Milnes, 50 of DeWitt
Justin Wayne Reed, 33 of Fowler and Laura Elizabeth Dunn, 36 of Fowler
Alex Michael Ovenhouse, 24 of Lansing and Katana Rae Hoene, 25 of Lansing
Zachary William Schmidt, 20 of St. Johns and Jensen Nicolle Houska, 21 of St. Johns
Garth Randall Colvin, 47 of East Lansing and Lisa Jane Young, 40 of East Lansing
John Xiong, 25 of St. Johns and Nalee Vang, 24 of St. Johns
Robert Allen Hoffman, 47 of East Lansing and Michael Edward Nauss, 54 of East Lansing
Noah Lyndon Curl, 25 of DeWitt and Brittney Marie Burke, 24 of DeWitt
Anthony Lamont Evans, 45 of Baltimore, Maryland and Kimberly Lynn Mohnke, 30 of St. Johns