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Heidi Maureen Scranton
Heidi Maureen Scranton of Rogers City received eternal life on Wednesday, August 16, after a brief battle with cancer. She was 54.
Born June 18, 1969 to Terry and Linda (Dettloff) Scranton in Lansing, she graduated from St. Johns High School in 1987 and from Grand Valley State University in 1993 with a degree in recreational therapy.
After serving an internship at Kent Community Hospital, Heidi worked in nursing home facilities in mid-Michigan. She worked at Tendercare in Lansing, the Ingham County Medical Facility, Eaton Manor in Charlotte, and the Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor in St. Johns. She found great joy in working with residents of the nursing home as activity director, spending hours planning activities suitable for them. In 2022 the Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor honored Heidi by dedicating a recreational therapy room to her.
She was active in her community in St. Johns, serving on the Mint Festival Steering Committee and was parade coordinator for many years. She also served as an ambassador of the St. Johns Chamber of Commerce and was once honored as Ambassador of the Year.
Heidi struggled later in her life with complications caused by diabetes and had to stop working when she required more care. She briefly was a resident at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor before moving to Rogers City to live with her mother in 2016.
She was a fan of the Detroit Tigers and the television series MASH. She loved shopping, going to concerts, live theater productions, and having fun with her nieces and nephew.
Surviving Heidi are her mother, Linda; her twin sister, Heather of Rogers City; her sister Kara of Grand Rapids; her brother, Michael and his wife Marcie of Dewitt; her nieces Hannah and Ella Scranton and nephew Avery Scranton. She was pre-deceased by her father, Terry, and her grandparents.
A memorial service will be held at Beck Funeral Home in Rogers City at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 26. A visitation will be held at 10 a.m. until the time of the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations may be made to The St. Johns Sea Lions Swim Team scholarship fund. Checks may be sent to the St. Johns Sea Lions, 800 S. US 27 #108, St. Johns, MI 48879. More information at: https://www.sjsealions.com/scholarshipfund/
William Paul Fox
William Paul “Bill” Fox, age 82, of St. Johns, MI, peacefully passed away surrounded by the love of his family, on Sunday, August 13, 2023, at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Johns, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, August 18, 2023, with Rev. Fr. Michael Williams presiding. Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI. Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, on Thursday, August 17, 2023, from 2:00-8:00 P.M. and one hour prior to Mass at the church.
Bill was born in St. Johns, Michigan on February 15, 1941, the son of Paul Francis and Helen Josephine (Epkey) Fox. He graduated from Fowler High School with the class of 1959 and earned a Bachelors’ Degree in Social Work from Michigan State University. Bill worked for the State of Michigan for thirty-four years. After retiring in 1997, he enjoyed working for Simons Builders in Fowler.
On September 15, 1962 Bill married Judith Mary Dieter at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler. They were blessed with nearly sixty-one years of marriage.
Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing. He was very talented and always had several projects to work on. Growing up on the family farm, he developed a lifelong love for nature. Bill’s grandchildren meant the world to him; he was known to have many late night texts with them.
He is survived by his wife Judy, four children: Douglas Fox of St. Johns, MI; Denise (Scott) Bates of Merritt, MI; Deanne (Scott) Purtill of St. Johns, MI; and Steven (Rachel) Fox of St. Johns; eleven grandchildren: Alexanne (Brandon) VanDriel, Trevor Bates, Kyle (Kaylyn) Bates, Jarod Bates, Clay (Taylor Warnaar) Purtill, Luke (Jessica Heyer) Purtill, Riley Purtill, Brady Purtill, Taylor Fox, Kendall Fox, and Mason Fox; and three great-grandchildren: Aidrec, Lennon, and Holland. He is also survived by his siblings: Dan Fox, Jane (Steven) Nobis, Susan (Ralph) Pung, and Mary Lou (Alan) Harr; his sister-in-law Marie Cooper, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandson Justin Fox, his sister-in-law Theresa (Robert) Hefty, and his brother-in-law Larry Cooper.
Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic School. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Donald Chris Hansen
Donald Chris “Don” Hansen, age 65, of St.Johns, MI passed away peacefully Friday, August 11, 2023 at his home with his family by his side.
A Celebration of Don’s Life will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, at 1:00 P.M. on Friday, August 18, 2023 with Pastor Mona Kindel officiating. Visitation will begin at 12:00 P.M. prior to the service.
Donald was born in Sheridan, Michigan on August 31, 1957, the son of Alden Jay and Berdetta Isobel (Hillard) Hansen. He graduated from Edmore High School with the class of 1976.
On October 12, 1990 Donald married Debra Louise Brown in St. Johns, Michigan. They were married thirty-two years. Don worked for General Motors for 30 years prior to retiring in 2007.
Don loved taking his 1939 Willies to car shows. He liked hunting and working on older cars. Don was always there for anyone needing help. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, family and friends.
Don is survived by his wife Debra, sons: Calvin (Ashley) Hansen, and David (Jodi) Hansen; step-daughter Kari Wagner, grandchildren: Carter Brooks, Maylee Hansen, and Levi Hansen; twin brother Ronald (Sandy) Hansen, sisters: Mary (Paul) Andrews, and Lynn Lehman; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, step-daughter Kimberly Wagner, and brother-in-law Harold Lehman.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Sister Alice Rademacher, O.P.
Sister Alice Rademacher, O.P., 86, passed away at Siena Center, Racine, Wisconsin on Monday July 17, 2023.
Alice Rose was born November 13, 1936 to Leonard P. and Barbara (nee: Koenigsknecht) Rademacher in Fowler, MI. She graduated from Fowler High School in 1954 and on September 13, 1954 she joined the Racine Dominicans. At her reception in 1955, she was given the religious name Sister Barbara Ann. She professed her first vows in 1957 and her final vows in 1963. In 1968 she returned to using her baptismal name, Alice.
Sister Alice spent many years in service to others as a teacher, principal and LPN. She began her ministry in 1958 at SS. Peter & Paul, Green Bay, WI. Other places in Wisconsin where she served were Holy Cross, Kaukauna; Holy Name and Sacred Heart, Racine; St. Mary Janesville; and St. Mary, Belgium. After becoming a nursing assistant and then an LPN she ministered at St. Catherine’s Infirmary; the Sisters’ Infirmary, and Lakeshore Manor, Racine; and St. Joseph Home for the Aged, Kenosha. She also served in New Mexico, Tennessee and Michigan. She continued to work as an LPN in the Health Care Center at Siena Center until 2020.
Sister Alice is survived by the Racine Dominican Sisters and Associates; her brothers John (Cathy) and James (Mary Ann) Rademacher and sisters Teresa Pung, Lucy Orr, Diane Burns, Ruth (Robert) Thelen and Susan (Hilary) Fedewa; her brother-in-law Henry Hansens; nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents and her sisters Geri Hansens, Janet (Joseph) Barberio and brothers-in-law Carol Burns, Clare Pung and Gerald Orr.
A Remembering Service and Mass of Christian Burial was held on July 24, 2023 at the Siena Center Chapel, Racine Wisconsin with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery.
A Memorial Mass will be held at Most Holy Trinity Parish, 545 N. Maple St., Fowler, Michigan on Friday, October 6, 2023 at 10:30 AM.
Memorials contributions may be made to the Siena Retreat Center, 5637 Erie Street, Racine, WI 53402 (https://www.sienaretreatcenter.org/)
The Rademacher family and the Racine Dominicans would like to extend their thanks to the Supportive Living and Hospice Alliance staffs who cared for Sister Alice at Siena Center.
For further information visit McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel.