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Thomas Sherwood Benson
Thomas Sherwood Benson, age 80, passed away on August 21, 2022 at his home after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Tom, the oldest of 5 children, was born to Harold and Margery (Roberts) Benson on November 28, 1941. He grew up on his family farm north of St. Johns and was commonly seen working in the fields as a young boy.
He graduated from Rodney B Wilson High School in St. Johns, class of 1960. He then attended Michigan State University and earned a degree in agricultural economics in 1966. He remained a loyal MSU fan and especially enjoyed watching MSU basketball and football games.
He met his beloved wife Florence while attending a Bible class, and they were married June 18, 1971. They celebrated 51 years of marriage in June 2022. Together they welcomed 2 daughters, and 6 grandchildren. He was a devoted member of Pilgrim United Methodist Church and his Christian faith was a large part of his life. He spent many years as an usher and enjoyed attending Sunday School.
Tom spent years farming as well as being a successful real estate agent and was a partner with the REMAX Clinton Group in St. Johns. He was a member of Clinton Area Ambulance for 20+ years. He served as a board member of Hazel Findlay Country Manor.
Summers had a special meaning for Tom. He was a fan of NASCAR. He especially enjoyed dirt track auto racing and you would find him at a local racetrack on a Saturday night with his racing buddies. Sponsoring local drivers brought him great joy.
Tom will be remembered as a fiercely loyal father to his 2 daughters, a wonderful grandfather and loving husband. Many people in his community have been impacted by his friendship, kindness and generosity. He was a recipient of the William Patton award in 2015 for his outstanding work in his business and community contributions. He was a well-known prankster and truly enjoyed making others laugh.
Tom is survived by his wife Florence, daughters Sarah Daniel of Lake Oswego Oregon, and Beth Pelletier of St. Johns, MI. Grandchildren Hannah and Jonah Daniel, Isaac, Grace, Eli, and Luke Pelletier. Siblings Carol (Larry) Bishop, Jean (Gerald) Seltzer, Helen ( Robert) Whipple, Russell ( Dawn) Benson and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Harold and Margery Benson.
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Pilgrim United Methodist Church, 2965 W. Parks Road, St. Johns, at 11AM. Visitation will be held at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel, 1500 Waterford Parkway, St. Johns, on Friday, August 26, from 2-30 PM – 8:00 PM and on Saturday from 10 AM until the time of ceremony at the church. Memorials may be made in his name to Pilgrim United Methodist Church, Clinton Area Ambulance Service Authority, or to the Benson Scholarship Fund at Hazel Findlay Country Manor. For further information please call 989-224-4422.
Charles Edward Miller
Charles Edward “Chuck” Miller, age 53, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Sunday, August 21, 2022, at Sparrow Health Systems, Lansing, MI.
Cremation will take place and a celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Charles was born in St. Johns, Michigan on July 3, 1969, the son of Charles and Sherry (Purvis) Miller. Chuck graduated from St. Johns High School.
Chuck was employed with Speedway in St. Johns for 11 years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and working on cars with his dad in his younger years. Most of all, Chuck loved his family and extended family and looked forward to spending time with them.
He is survived by his children: Sharee Miller, Hunter Miller, and Schyanne Roberts, father Charles and Jeanne Miller, mother Sherry Miller, siblings: Kristy Pickell and Shawn Ewing. He is also survived by grandchildren: Braxton and Rayanna, niece Rikki Avery, nephew Michael Pickell and great niece Harley Avery. He was preceded in death by his grandmother Ruth Risley, and nephew Timothy Pickell.
The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Houghton Chapel, Ovid, Michigan.
Caroline Doris Pung
Caroline “Carol” Doris Pung, age 90, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Friday, August 19, 2022, at Gunnisonville Meadows Senior Assisted Living, Lansing, MI.
Carol was born in Isabella County, Michigan on August 5, 1932, the daughter of Russell and Esther (Irwin) Stanley. She married Adelbert “Del” Louis Pung on April 22, 1961 in Isabella County, MI. They were blessed with 55 years of marriage prior to his passing on May 23, 2016.
Carol was a fun-loving and devoted wife, mom, grandma, great-grandma, favorite aunt and babysitter of many neighborhood kids throughout the years. She loved to polka, play baseball, Euchre and Bingo, and was proud of her success on the bowling lanes. Her grandchildren and nieces and nephews enjoyed many years of being spoiled at the cottage on Duck Lake and with an endless supply of her oatmeal-chocolate chip and sugar cookies with sprinkles.
She continued to cheer on the Detroit Tigers into her final days and was quite proud that she was still soft-tossing pitches to her great-grandchildren well into her eighties. She passed on a love of reading to her children and grandchildren and was a regular patron of Briggs Library. She and her beloved husband Del were regular noon Mass attendees at St. Joseph Church and volunteered regularly at the parish office for many years.
She is survived by daughters: Julie (Mike) Heuer and Sue (Dennis) Parker of St. Johns, and Sandy (Kurt) Brandt of Kings Mountain, NC; 13 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, brother Andy Stanley, sister-in-law Ruby Stanley, and brothers-in-law Ray and Jack Pung. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Adelbert Pung, daughter Bonnie Konopka, brothers Russell and Donald Stanley and sisters Marguerite Stanley, Marion Moore and Diana Pung.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Catholic Community of St. Jude, 801 North Bridge Street, DeWitt, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, August 23, 2022 with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop presiding. A luncheon hosted by the St. Jude parish will follow immediately at the church. Burial will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery in St. Johns. Visitation will be held on Monday, August 22, 2022 from 6:00-8:00 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI. A time of sharing memories will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Monday at the funeral home. Visitation will continue on Tuesday at the church from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service.
Memorials may be made to Briggs Public Library, St. Johns, MI. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Douglas B. Hankey
Douglas B. Hankey, of Lansing, died at home on Friday, May 27, 2022. He was 77 years old.
Doug was born on August 20, 1944, the oldest of two children born to Robert and Mary Helene (Bryant) Hankey. He was a 1962 graduate of Rodney B. Wilson High School and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Michigan State University. Following his time at MSU, Doug was drafted in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany. He worked for the United States Post Office for over forty years until his retirement in 2012.
Doug Hankey and Sandra Masarik were introduced by Sandra’s brother in 1980. They were the perfect match; their personalities complemented each other, and they were inseparable. Doug and Sandra married on March 18, 2000 and made their home in Lansing. Doug was devoted to his family and especially cherished time spent with his granddaughters, Audrey and Gemma.
Doug was a lifelong avid and talented golfer and played daily at the Emerald Golf Course in St. Johns. He first stepped on the Emerald Golf Course at the age of four, played golf in High School and at MSU and won many local tournaments. He had many hole in ones throughout the years, most recently at the 8th hole at the Emerald. His proudest accomplishment was winning the Michigan Amateur Open in 1964 as a student at MSU.
He will be missed by many, especially his wife, Sandra Masarik; son, Jason (Sharon) Thurston; granddaughters, Audrey and Gemma Thurston; his brother, Dennis (Karen) Hankey; mother-in-law, Lila Masarik; brothers-in-law, Ross Masarik and Gary (Karen) Masarik, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and many dear friends.
A Celebration of Life and Military Honors will be held on Doug’s birthday, Saturday, August 20, 2022, 1 PM at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel, 1500 Waterford Pkwy, St. Johns. Friends may visit from 12 Noon until the time of the service. A luncheon will follow.
Memorial contributions may be made in his name to American Cancer Society
Divorce decrees filed the week of August 1, 8 and 15, 2022
Blanchard, Daniel / Blanchard, Lisa
Nolan, Derek Michael / Nolan, Heather Lynne
Reed, Kaitlynn / Reed Jr, Dennis
Bancroft, Dayna / Bancroft, Ryan
Poster, Cynthia / Poster, Brien
Moore, Rebekah D. / Moore, Carl J.
Adkins-Korson, Megan Marie / Adkins-Korson, Zackary
Reynolds, Lindsay Ann / Reynolds, Michael Shane
Mayle-Baker, Ivan Robert / Lindsay, Michele Rene
Rumley, Christine / Rumley, Keith
Alexander, Michael Joseph / Alexander, Kimberly Sue