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Margaret L. McDunnell
Margaret L. McDunnell, age 86, of Elsie, MI, passed away Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at home.
Cremation has taken place and a service will be held later this summer. Burial will take place at Lowe Cemetery, Essex Twp., MI at a later date.
Margaret was born in St. Johns, MI on December 22, 1936, the daughter of Harold and Flora Louise (Bingham) Dershem. Margaret married William Alvah McDunnell in 1958 in Anchorage, Alaska.
She was a lifetime member of Lowe United Methodist Church and was also a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Defiance, OH.
She is survived by her sons: William Alvah McDunnell III, Eric Harold and Cheryl McDunnell Sr., Kevin Louis and Jennifer McDunnell, and Matthew Vern McDunnell, five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, siblings: Richard Dershem, Marilyn Speer, and Phyllis and Alan Moore, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband William, father and mother-in-law William and Josephine McDunnell, one brother David, one sister Nancy (Gene) Dunkel, sister-in-law Sharon Dershem, brother-in-law Terry Speer, and sisters-in-law: Hazel (Joe) Roscoe, and Willa Joe (Millard) Busch
Memorials may be made to St. Vincent de Paul, St. Johns, MI 48879. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, Michigan.
Susan Hope Marion
Susan Hope Marion, age 76, died Tuesday April 25, 2023, at the family farm in St Johns.
Susan was born on September 2, 1946, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the daughter of Warren and Phoebe (Higley) Bevier. Susan grew up in and around Westland where she earned her GED. Later Susan worked at many factories as well as at a photography studio where she found great enjoyment in working.
During her life Susan enjoyed sewing and crocheting. She will be remembered for her beautiful vegetable garden where you could often find her working in the Summertime. She loved her little garden tractor which she wouldn’t let anyone touch. Her family will always remember her fiery personality and snarky humor. Above all she will be remembered as being a loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who was always there for you no matter what.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children; Maria (Donald) Ranbarger, David (Janice) Rohraff Jr., Steve Rohraff, Brad (Ruth) Rohraff, Doreen (Michael) Riley, and Melinda (Danny) Harrison; Siblings Rosie Hubbard, Patricia Dempsey, Peggy Marz, and David Bevier; as well as many loving grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Phoebe and Warren.
A celebration of life is planned for Sunday April 30 at 1:00 p.m .at the Laingsburg American Legion, 1240 W. Grand River Rd, Laingsburg, MI, 48848. For further information please visit McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel.
George W. Fox
George William Fox, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, teacher, coach, and friend, died in Lansing, Michigan on April 24, 2023 at the age of 88. Born in Fowler, Michigan on June 26, 1934 to Clemens and Martha Fox as the 4th of nine children, George graduated from Fowler High School and attended Alma College for two years. He transferred to Michigan State University where he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees.
George married his high school sweetheart, Theresa (Miller), on June 18, 1955, and they were happily married for over 67 years. He was the adoring father of five children: Gary (Barb) Fox, Mary Beth “Missy” (John) Payne, Patrice “Patty” (Dave) Feldpausch, Jeanna (Ken) Willms, and Sarah (Darin) Baur; with ten grandchildren: Jenny (Marco) Ricotta, Matt (Nicole) Fox, Andrew Payne, Jackie (Melvin) White, Joe (Meghan) Fox, Chris Payne, David (Brittany) Feldpausch, Mark Willms, Joe Payne, and Eric Willms. George also doted on his 5 great-grandchildren, with a 6th great-grandchild due in June 2023.
George started his teaching and coaching career in Fowler, moving to Lansing in 1963 to work at O’Rafferty High School, and then at Everett High School, where he coached the 1976-1977 basketball team, which included Earvin “Magic” Johnson, to the Michigan Basketball Class A State Championship.
George’s accomplishments in basketball earned him many accolades. In addition to coaching the Everett State Basketball Championship team, he was a player on Fowler’s 1952 team that won the Michigan Basketball Class D State Championship. He is a member of the Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame and was twice named the State of Michigan’s Coach of the Year.
George loved his family’s annual summer Fox Family Vacations, in addition to fishing, hunting, and watching sports, especially Michigan State basketball, and the Detroit Tigers. Next to March Madness, deer hunting season was his favorite time of the year. He also enjoyed playing cards, and held a “poker camp” for his 10 grandchildren, playing for peanuts, teaching them the ins and outs of the game, both within the rules and without… He was also a skilled handyman and enjoyed doing errands and chores for many of his neighbors and friends until late into his life. He had a servant’s heart and was a member of the St. Gerard Catholic Church community for nearly 60 years. He was also active with the Knights of Columbus and was on the board of the Rebounders Club at MSU and volunteered for many years at Sparrow Hospital on the cardiac floor.
George loved visitors. In fact, he would leave his garage door open to let everyone know he was home and visitors were welcome.
George lived life to the fullest. His enthusiasm and joy in all that he did was contagious. George was known for his generosity and gratitude to all, as well as his wonderful storytelling abilities and sense of humor. He loved entertaining a room full of people and never met a stranger. He made everyone he met feel as though they were his best friend, and for George, kindness was simply an instinct.
He is survived by his wife Theresa, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as by his siblings Ruth Lucas, Kathy Kramer, and David (Rose) Fox. George is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Alvin (Ernestine), Richard (Marilyn), Leon (Suzanne) and Kenneth, and his sister Janet (Ray).
Visitations will be held on Sunday, April 30, 2023, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., at Palmer Bush & Jensen Family Funeral Homes, Delta Chapel, 6301 W. St. Joseph Hwy, Lansing, with a rosary service at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, May 1, 2023, at St. Gerard Catholic Church, 4437 W. Willow Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in George’s name to the Fowler High School Athletic Department, 700 S. Main St., Fowler, MI 48835, or to Sparrow Hospice House of Mid-Michigan, 1210 West Saginaw St., Lansing, MI 48915.
Live stream link for funeral service.
George will be greatly missed.
Joseph Walter Keilen
Joseph Walter Keilen of St. Johns died peacefully in the loving care of his family on Friday, April 21, 2023. He was 72 years old.
Joe was born on August 2, 1950, the oldest of eight children born to Francis Joseph and Hildegard Theresa (Simon) Keilen. He was a 1968 graduate of Rodney B. Wilson High School, where he starred on the football team and where he met the love of his life, Janean Geller. After a five year courtship, Joe and Janean married on October 19, 1973 at St. Joseph Catholic Church and together raised two children, Melissa and Andy. Joe enjoyed a long career with MDOT, where he worked as a draftsman and traffic signal technician until his retirement in 2002. Following his retirement, he worked for Wilcox Associates for ten years.
Joe was known for his kind and gentle spirit – he always took the time to listen to others or lend a helping hand. He was a farmer at heart and enjoyed spending time on the tractor where he could slow down and appreciate the simple things. He collected farm toys, played on the Slow Pitch softball league for many years and was a talented photographer. He was ever busy and on the go. He also enjoyed hunting, traveling to Colorado and participating in auctions, but most of all, he cherished time spent with his family. He adored his two grandchildren and it was evident that they were a bright light in his life.
He is survived by his beloved wife of nearly fifty years, Janean Keilen; his daughter, Melissa (Brad) Agee; his son, Andy Keilen; his grandchildren, Cooper and Daxton; his siblings, the late Mike (Cindy) Keilen, Ron (Jill) Keilen; Sharon (Ed) Moinet, Ellen (Chris) Halfmann, Steve (Lori) Keilen, Gary Keilen and Julie Schmidt, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members and dear friends.
Visitation will be held at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel, 1500 Waterford Pkwy, St. Johns on Monday, April 24, 2023 from 4—7 PM, with a Rosary at 7 PM. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 109 Linden St, St Johns on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 11 AM. Friends may visit at the church from 10 AM until the time of the mass. A luncheon will follow. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to St. Vincent de Paul or to St. Joseph Catholic School.