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Susan Irene Yelden
Susan Irene Yelden, of St. Johns and a native of Prince George, B.C., Canada, went to her heavenly home on May 7, 2023, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, faith, and service. Born on October 21, 1952, she was the youngest of six children to parents John and Estella (Kaufman) Yelden.
Throughout her life, Sue was known for her unwavering commitment to her faith and her community. She was a devoted member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, where she shared her love of music and teaching with children. She started her teaching career first at Emmaus Lutheran in 1973 in Drayton, Alberta Canada then moved to teach at St. Matthew Lutheran in Stoney Plane, Alberta. She finally moved to St. Johns in 1988 where she taught at St. Peters until retiring in 2008. As a teacher, she impacted the lives of countless students, teaching kindergarten through second grade for twenty years. She also served as the organist, the choir director, and the director of Christian Education, and she organized many successful Vacation Bible School events.
Sue’s love for learning was evident in all aspects of her life. She earned her master’s degree from Concordia University, which helped her become an even more dedicated and knowledgeable teacher. Her passion for art was also evident, and she enjoyed painting, crafting, and making Christmas ornaments for everyone she knew.
Outside of her work at the church, Sue worked for Quest in St. Johns, where she continued to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Her kind and independent nature was admired by all who knew her.
She is survived by her brothers, John (Velma) and Robert (the late Patricia) Yelden; her sister, Ruth (Paul) Cordes; brother-in-law, Ken Green, as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family members. Our sister in Christ will be dearly missed by her St. Peter Lutheran Church family. She was preceded in death by her brother, Richard Yelden and sister, Carolyn Green.
Visitation will be held at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel on Friday, May 12, 2023 from 4-8 PM.
A Funeral Service will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 8990 Church Road, St. Johns on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 11 AM. Friends may visit the church hall from 10-11 AM. Burial St. Peter Lutheran Church Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter Lutheran Church or to the American Cancer Society.
Zachariah J. Riggle
Zachariah J. “Zach” Riggle, age 34, of Austin, Texas, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 5, 2023 in Austin, Texas. Zach was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, on July 8, 1988, the son of James and Michelle (Searles) Riggle.
Zach spent his childhood growing his love for travel and living across the country before his family eventually settled back in Michigan. As a precocious child, he attended Creative Arts Academy and graduated from Lakeshore High School in 2006. He attended Michigan State University majoring in computer science, learning through internships that led to his career in cyber security. After graduating from Michigan State University in 2011, he pursued his passion for cyber security by working for the NSA and Google, before landing his dream job with Apple, Inc. He enjoyed working as a Security Engineer and Researcher, his capabilities highly valued by his coworkers and friends alike.
Zach enjoyed exploring new places, experiences, and he made friends everywhere he went. Zach enjoyed traveling, even spending an entire year on what he called the “Zach is Homeless Tour” as he traveled the U.S. looking for a new place to live that checked all the boxes, settling on Austin, Texas. He cultivated a passion for music; he enjoyed introducing friends and family to new bands, genres, and music festivals. His other passion was photography, his photogenic skills, and travels allowed him to capture many extraordinary images.
He is survived by his parents: Michelle Riggle and James and Michelle (Smith) Riggle; his sisters: Alicen (Ben) Perry, and Ashley Zelvis; his brothers: John Zelvis, and Alex Zavoral; his nephew and nieces: Phoenix, Savannah, Lilliana, and Addison; his grandparents: Marilyn Jensen, Carol Riggle, and Mike and Nora Riggle; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Zach is also survived by friends who became family that understood the true meaning of friendship: Steven, Michael, Kat, Tara, Quinn, Andre, Ben, and many more. He was preceded in death by his grandfather William “Bill” Searles, and step-grandparents William “Bill” and Dottie Smith.
Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Mona Kindel officiating. Visitation will be held at 10:30 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Zach’s name to NAMI Southwest Michigan or the Michigan and NW Ohio Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Online Condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Kenneth Lloyd Love
Kenneth Lloyd Love, age 75, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Thursday, May 4, 2023, at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI.
Cremation has taken place as per his request and no services will be held.
Kenneth was born in St. Johns, Michigan on May 27, 1947, the son of Lloyd Carlton and Donna Marie (Clark) Love. He was a graduate of St. Johns High School and later he graduated from Ferris State University. Kenneth taught Automotive at Lansing Community College and at the Boys Training Facility with the State of Michigan. He was quite successful as a race car driver on oval tracks.
He is survived by his brothers: Norman and Lila Love of Jackson, MI; and Keith and Becky Love of Ovid, MI; sister-in-law Kathy Love of St. Johns, MI. Kenneth is preceded in death by his parents and his brother John R. Love.
The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Marceda H. Vail
Marceda “Markie” H. Vail, age 94, died on Sunday, April 30, 2023 in Arizona, after having been surrounded by family and friends as they kept vigil in her last days.
Marceda was born on Sept 15, 1928 in Bengal Twp, the daughter of Harold and Doris (Leach) Shafley. Markie, as she was commonly known, grew up in and around St Johns, graduating from Rodney B. Wilson High School in 1946.
She wed Donald Harper and they were blessed with five wonderful children. Together they enjoyed over forty-seven years of marriage until Donald’s death in 1995. She later married Howard Woodbury, with whom she was married three years before his death in 2004, and later Ted Vail with whom she was married ten years before his death in 2018.
She enjoyed many blessed years with her large family, which was ever important to her. She has enjoyed spending time in Arizona since 1948, and playing golf there since 1980 when she purchased a home and began wintering there. Her children all realize and appreciate her as a loving and wonderful mother, and they all loved her very much.
Marceda is survived by her children, Linda Shobe, Tom (Caroll) Harper, Dave (Diane) Harper, Dean Harper; Howard’s children, Wayne (Diana) Woodbury, Rhonda (Bill) Hambleton, Marie (the late Chuck) Bengel; and Ted’s son, Thomas (Vickie) Vail; daughter-in-law, Maralyn Woodbury, and her many grandchildren, great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, her sister, Joanne Bayhan, sister-in-law, Geraldine Wyble, brother-in-law, Bill Biergans, and many nieces, nephews, extended family members and dear friends.
Along with her parents, Marceda was preceded in death by husbands, Donald Harper, Howard Woodbury, and Theodore Vail; sons, Steve Harper and Brian Woodbury; daughter, Susan Edward; granddaughter, Kristie Harper; son-in-law, Lloyd Shobe; siblings, Keith Shafley and Jeanette Biergans.
A Memorial Service is planned for Thursday, July 13, 2023 at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel, 1500 Waterford Parkway, St Johns, at 11 AM with gathering from 10 AM until the time of service. Burial of ashes will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery in St Johns. A. luncheon will be held at Pilgrim Church following the interment. Memorials contributions in her name are suggested to Genesis Project Relief Fund for the Homeless in Apache Junction, AZ, to the Pilgrim Church Funeral Luncheon Fund, or to the family to support a special project in her name at the Village Green Retirement Center.