Obituaries
Richard B. Miller
Richard B. Miller, of St. Johns, MI died Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at the age of 79. He was born October 20, 1936 at Clinton Memorial Hospital in St. Johns, MI the youngest of four children born to Carlton and Augusta (Kohagen) Miller. Richard was stricken with polio at age nine and endured years of surgeries and treatment. He graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns, Class of 1956 and maintained his childhood friendships throughout his life; he was a loyal friend.
In 1958 he graduated from Ferris State University with an Associate’s Degree in printing. During much of his working career he was employed by the Clinton County News as a linotype operator and printer. Late effects of polio led to an early retirement.
In the early 1960’s he owned a 1937 Ford coupe which he used for drag racing, with good friend Paul Armbrustmacher driving. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and loved harness and thoroughbred horse racing, always with friends. His love of horse racing, lead him to attend every Kentucky Derby for 25 years.
In 1998 he married Marilyn LeVee and together they traveled around the United States and enjoyed wintering in Florida. Richard was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and he looked forward to an eternal life with his Lord and Savior.
Surviving is his wife, Marilyn; nieces and nephews, Dave (Kriss) Salters, Sue McIntyre, Debra (Jeff) Lecato, Marcia (Paul) Droege; six great nieces and nephews and many great greats. He was preceded in death by his father when Richard was a teenager. He was also predeceased by his mother; an older sister who died in infancy, as well as sisters, Maxine (Mike) Galvach and Katherine (Don) Salters who died in recent years as well as his two oldest nephews, Dan Salters and Michael Galvach.
Funeral services will be held 11:30 AM Saturday, September 3, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Church 511 E. Sturgis, St. Johns with Rev. Dr. Bryan Salminen officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends, 9:30 AM until service time on Saturday at the church. Interment will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church or Shriners Hospitals for Children, www.lovetotherescue.org. The family was assisted with these arrangements by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns.
Betty Marie Marks
Betty Marie Marks passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at the age of 84. She was born January 11, 1932 in Lynn Township of St. Clair County, MI the daughter of Howard and Ethel (Thomas) Murray. Betty was a member of the Ogemaw Hills Free Methodist Church in West Branch, MI. She was an accomplished pianist who also taught piano. Betty was a very talented seamstress, loved to quilt, crochet and do needlepoint.She was a voracious reader and loved to birds-watch, especially hummingbirds. She taught Bishop Sewing Classes for Owosso Adult Education for many years. She was a member of the American Business Women’s Association and retired from Old Kent Bank as a senior auditor in 1994. On June 28, 1952 she married C. William “Bill” Marks in Port Huron, MI and he survives her.
Also surviving are her children, Ann M. Marks of St. Johns, Dennis (Lyn) Marks of Adrian and Melanie Rae Marks of Lansing; daughter-in-law, Carol (Jim) Demis of Owosso; grandchildren, Steven (Stephanie) Byrnes of Adrian, Deidre Rae Marks of Portage, Erica (Bruce) Clark of Ithaca, Amber Lynne Marks of Lansing, Katelyn (Rev. Michael) Watson of Fort Walton Beach, FL, Erica (Aaron) Huck of Adrian; great grandchildren, Alastair and Keira Watson of Fort Walton Beach, FL, Andrew Huck of Adrian, Spencer Clark of Adrian, Lexi and Austin Clark of Ithaca; one brother, Howard (Donna) Murray of Port Huron, and a favorite nephew Joe (Judy) Murray of Brown City with whom she shared a birthday. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Max, Carl, Ray and Roy Murray.
Funeral services will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at Eureka Christian Church, Eureka, MI with Pastor Tim Cockroft officiating. Interment will follow at Eureka Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 6:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, September 6 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Vigil Volunteers of Hospice House of Mid-Michigan P.O. Box 30480 Lansing, MI 48909. The family was assisted with these arrangements by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns
Gladys M. McKay
Gladys M. McKay, age 98, passed away Sunday, August 28, 2016, at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, St. Johns, MI.
A Memorial Service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 12:00 P.M., with Pastor Tim Knaus officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will take place Maple Grove Cemetery, Ovid, MI at a later date.
Gladys was born in Fremont Township, Michigan on August 7, 1918 the daughter of Delos and Linnie (Melinda Flansburg) Orwig. Gladys married Arnold McKay on January 21, 1938; he passed away October 16, 2011. Gladys loved playing bingo, crocheting and any crafts. Her most favorite times were family get togethers and all celebrations. She resided most of her life in Farwell, MI.
She is survived by son-in-law Keith Irish of St. Johns, MI, 2 granddaughters; Dawn and Russ Benson and Deb Galloway of St. Johns, MI, 5 great grandchildren; Phillip and Megan Benson, Paula and David Sattler, Trisha and Bryan Feldpausch, Amber Galloway, Richie Galloway, and11 great great grandchildren. Gladys was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, daughter Shirley Irish, son Duane McKay, 6 brothers; Elbert, Harrison, Homer, Ivan, Ted and Lee Ross, and 3 sisters; Joyce, Donna and Betty.
Memorial Contributions may be made to Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor or Great Lakes Caring Hospice. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes– Osgood Chapel, St Johns, MI.
Louise Rees
Louise Rees, age 88, of Ovid, Michigan, also known as “The Blueberry Lady” passed away Sunday, August 28, 2016, at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, St. Johns, MI.
Funeral Services will be held at St. Philip Lutheran Church, Owosso, MI, on Thursday, September 1, 2016 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Brian Heidt officiating. Burial will take place at DeepDale Memorial Gardens, Lansing, MI at 2 P.M. Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Houghton Chapel, 232 E. Oak St, Ovid, MI on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M., and on Thursday prior to the service for one hour from 10 – 11 A.M. at the church.
Louise was born in Lansing, Michigan on November 3, 1927, the daughter of Jacob E. and Hilda E. (Carstensen) Walimaki. Louise married the love of her life, Charles R. “Dick” Rees, on March 19, 1949; he preceded her in death on February 6, 2015. Louise was a secretary at John Bean in Lansing. She was also the owner operator of Oak Ridge Blueberry Farm in Brant, MI., and D & L Strawberries in Ovid, MI. Louise lived most of her life in Ovid, MI. She was a member and former Choir Director at St. John’s Lutheran Church in St. Johns and member of CMI Concert Choir as well as a Member of the Michigan Blueberry Growers Association.
She is survived by her daughter Mary Ann Rees of Ovid, MI, sons; Richard (Kathy) Rees of Beaverton, MI, and James (Martha) Rees of Lexington, IL. Also surviving are seven grandchildren and two great grand daughters and many nieces and nephews. Louise was preceded in death by her parents, husband Dick and two brothers and one sister.
Memorials may be made to Ovid Healthcare Center Activities Department 9480 E-M21 Ovid, MI 48866 or Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor Garden Club, 1101 South Scott Rd, St. Johns, MI or Sparrow Hospice, 1215 E. Michigan Avenue, Lansing 48912. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Houghton Chapel, Ovid, Michigan.
Walter F. Seidel
Walter F. Seidel, 65 of Ovid, MI died unexpectedly on Thursday, August 25, 2016. Walt was born on April 13, 1951 in Saginaw, MI the son of Frank and Esther (Ludlum) Seidel. He graduated from Ovid-Elsie High School in 1970 and was a true farmer all his life. Walt was a hardworking man who loved collecting agricultural hats and signs, and attending auctions to find scrap metal and other treasures.
He is survived by his children, Mike Seidel of Ovid, Peggy (Ralph) Schlusler of Bancroft, Paula (William) Honke of Byron, Bruce (Megghan) Seidel of Ovid, and Kathy Seidel of Ovid. Special companion Sue Furman; grandchildren, Jaklyn, Ralph III, and Frank Schlusler, Chloe and Brice Honke; brothers George (Carol) Seidel and Carl (Pat) Seidel both of Ovid and many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends and relatives at the Ovid VFW/Lions Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2016, 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. and on Wednesday, August 31, 4-6 P.M. with a funeral service following the visitation on Wednesday, Rev. Dr. Bryan Salminen officiating. There will be a dinner immediately following the funeral service. The family suggests memorial may be directed to the family to honor Walt’s legacy.
Services are provided by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns, MI.
Marriage licenses filed the week of August 22, 2016
Trevor Patrick Murphy, 26 of Ann Arbor 48108 and Chelsea Ann Lancaster, 24 of DeWitt
Schuyler Robert Foster, 43 of St. Johns and Teresa Marie Henry, 44 of St. Johns
Michael Allen Roy Jr., 34 of Lansing and Rachael Marie Wells, 35 of Lansing
Jeffrey Michael Parkinson, 22 of DeWitt and Morgan Rae McLane, 22 of Marysville
Norman Joseph Noble, 74 of Lansing 48906 and Debra Sue Edgar, 58 of Lansing
Shawn Quinton Norris, 25 of Bath and Megan Marie Murdoch, 25 of DeWitt
Daniel William Hill, 21 of Laingsburg and Kelsey Faith Warren, 21 of Lansing
Donald J Straub, 76 of Elsie and Donna Lois Kent, 75 of Elsie
Jacob Gerold Kissling, 27 of Maple Rapids and Julia Rae Contreras, 25 of Fowler
Michael Robert Tomlinson, 52 of Eagle and Karen Marie Leach, 48 of Eagle
Andrew Michael Richard, 26 of Laingsburg and JoLynn Danielle Cobb, 33 of Laingsburg
Christopher Michael Glazier, 48 of East Lansing and Amy Lee Yvonne Boose, 40 of East Lansing
Kameron Miles Keener, 25 of Ovid and Alyssa Jean Ann Forbes, 25 of St. Johns
Jose Jesus Mendoza Jr., 36 of Elsie and Coalette Michelle Allen, 34 of Elsie
Ross Henry Parsons, 24 of DeWitt and Erika Renee Heston, 24 of Haslett
Kevin Lee Loomis, 36 of Bath and Jessica Marie James, 27 of Bath
Jordan Michael Whitford, 23 of St. Johns and Caroline Jane Bellant, 24 of St. Johns