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Pauline Vail Warren
It is with a heavy heart that we report that Pauline Vail Warren, age 104, passed away on April 14, 2022 at Grace Haven Assisted Living and Memory Care in St. Johns.
A funeral service will be held on Friday April 29, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. at the old Congregational Church in St. Johns. The Family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. until the time of service.
She is believed to have been the oldest and longest living member of the Congregational Church at an estimated 90 years.
Arthur Halfmann
Born December 10, 1923 in Dallas Township, the son of Frank and Elizabeth Halfmann, Arthur Halfmann passed away April 19, 2022 at the age of 98.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He was a Unit Manager at Federal Mogul in St. Johns and retired after nearly 40 years of service.
Arthur married Orel “Pat” Burwell in Fowler on September 16, 1950 and she preceded him in death on December 24, 1989. He enjoyed flowers, golfing, playing cards, casinos and spending time with family and friends.
Surviving is his daughter, Shirley Klemmer of Grand Rapids, MI; sons, Christopher (Ellen) Halfmann of Grandville, MI, Timothy (Linda) Halfmann of Northfield, IL, Daniel (Linda) Halfmann of Alanson, MI; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Also surviving is a very special friend, Josephine Rogers and family. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Isadore, Edward, Clemet and Leo and sisters, Rose Fink, Lorraine Halfmann, and Margaret Pelon.
Visitation will be held at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel, 1500 Waterford Pkwy, St. Johns on Friday, April 22, 2022 from 5-8 PM, Vigil Service 7 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 109 Linden Street, St. Johns on Saturday, April 23, 2022 at 11 AM. Burial to follow at Mount Rest Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in his name to St. Joseph Catholic School, 201 E Cass St, St Johns, MI 48879.
Dale Warren Coffman
Dale Warren Coffman, age 78, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Saturday, April 16, 2022, after a brief period of hospice care at home.
A Private Burial will be held at South Bingham Township Cemetery, Bingham Township, Michigan.
Dale was born in St. Johns, Michigan on August 3, 1943 the son of Warren and Emma Ione (Slater) Coffman. Dale was known for his humor and calm presence. He grew up on his family’s farm, graduated with the R. B. Wilson High School class of 1961 and attended Central Michigan University where he and Patsy both earned B.A. and M.A. degrees. While in school, Dale participated in competitive shooting sports, and he was the Michigan State Position Champion in 1970.
After service in the Army and ten years teaching high school in Ashley, MI, he went on to have a career as an EMT, paramedic, and instructor in emergency medical techniques, working in Lansing, Laingsburg, St. Johns, Charlotte, Lansing Community College and Monterrey, Mexico. He saved many lives, directly or indirectly through training other first responders, and won recognition and awards for his work, including being the 1993 Employee of the Year at Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital in Charlotte, although what he described as his best accomplishment was that none of his pregnant patients ever had to give birth in the ambulance. He was a partner in AI OK MEDIA, LLC, a media production company, and in retirement, he enjoyed fishing, trivia games, and being a very proud grandfather. Near the end of his life, he was legally blind, and was diagnosed with lung cancer less than a week before his death.
He is survived by his wife Patsy (Fenner) Coffman, his son Samuel Coffman, and his son Adam Coffman and daughter-in-law, Kori Engdahl, and their children Daphne Elizabeth and Jonas Emmanuel. He was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Emma Ione (Slater) Coffman and his older sister, Patricia Bunting.
Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) https://umcmission.org/give/. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes– Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, Michigan.
Joann June Martis
Joann June (Baker) Martis, died peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Monday, April 18, 2022. She was 89 years old and a proud, lifelong resident of St. Johns, Michigan.
Joann was born on June 16, 1932 in St. Johns, Michigan, one of four children born to Herb and Agness (Wright) Baker. She graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in 1950 and was active in many musical groups singing vocal leads. On September 5, 1954 she married Paul R. Martis at the First Congregational Church in St. Johns, Michigan, where she was a lifelong member and active in many groups including the church choir for over seventy years. Joann and Paul enjoyed over sixty-seven years together and raised four children. Joann was the executive director of the St. Johns Area of Commerce and part of the group that founded the St. Johns Mint Festival.
She is survived by her beloved husband, Paul Martis; dear children, Paulette Martis, David Martis (Susan), Melissa Fowler (Craig), Christine Martis (JP Hanson); grandchildren, Amanda Mariasy (Stephen), Megan Rzepka, Madison Rzepka, Mitchell Rzepka, Jake Fowler and Rachael Tracy (Tom) and Taylor Hanson, as well as extended family members and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings, Fred Baker (Geneva, Judy), Evonne McCurry (George), Ardis (Max) Haviland.
A Funeral Service will be held at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel, 1500 Waterford Pkwy, St. Johns on Thursday, April 21, 2022 at 11 AM. Friends may visit the funeral home on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 from 2-7 PM and on Thursday from 10 AM until the time of the service.
The Martis family extends a special thank you to the staff at Grace Haven and Corso Care Hospice, especially Jen, Hannah and Angie for their support, care and love.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Joann’s memory to Grace Haven, 1507 Glastonbury Dr, St Johns, MI 48879.
Alphonse Benedict Thelen
Alphonse Thelen, a big-hearted man, lifelong farmer and engaging card player, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2022, surrounded by his family who cherish the memories and countless examples of selflessness.
Alphonse was born May 18, 1929, on a farm two miles north of Fowler, MI, the 3rd of six children raised by Andrew and Leona Thelen. After completing the 8th grade at Most Holy Trinity School, Alphonse worked on the family farm, raced a few cars and trapped for furs.
In 1948, Alphonse gave Marie Platte a ride home from the Friday Night Dance in Westphalia, beginning an inspiring 74-year love story. They were married at St. Mary’s Church on June 14, 1951, and settled on their own farm two miles east of the homestead. With assists from his parents and parents-in-law (each gave them a cow), Alphonse built a successful family-run dairy farm.
He loved farming and exhibited incredible ability to manage a growing dairy herd, raise crops, construct farm buildings, install equipment and fix machinery with a 40-year old welder. Alphonse and Marie raised seven children on the farm, instilling in them the value of hard work and sharing their strong Christian faith. Alphonse also valued fun and adventures, taking the kids to Tigers games, coaching 4-H softball, towing innertubes behind the boat, and hosting the extended family at the Crystal Lake cottage.
Alphonse forged a special relationship with each of his 25 grandchildren, who fondly recall energetic games of aggravation, cards, gifts of tools, and countless grandparent visits. After retiring, Alphonse moved to the town of Fowler, where he joined many card-playing groups and devoted his energy to the community…distributing communion to the homebound, selling Knights of Columbus calendars, and mowing the cemetery. He loved to read, tracked advances in farming and traveled, including cherished winter stays with the Clair Mar community in Central Florida. The arrival of 22 great grandchildren brought him immense joy and ensure that his legacy of generosity, integrity and giving will continue for generations to come.
Alphonse is survived by his wife, Marie; his children: Brian (Mary Ann) Thelen of Ann Arbor, MI, Daniel (Kathy) Thelen of Clarkston, MI, Kevin (Lori) of Columbus, OH, Darryl (Dinean) of Madison, WI, Lori (Chris) Conner of Fowler and Andrew (Kerry) Thelen of Manhattan Beach, CA; son-in-law Ralph (Judy) Wight of Portland, MI; grandchildren Rev. Fr. Mark, Rachel, Bethany, John, Sr. Mary Andre, Judy, Jennifer, Zachary, Hannah, Joshua, Adam, Emily, Michelle, Thomas, Kurtis, Marcus, Isaac, Oakley, Tyler, Holly, Meghan, Nickolai, Camden, Elle, and Hudson; 22 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters Marie (Urban) Weber and Leona (Bob) Bengal; brothers Theodore, Herbert and Daniel; daughter Judy; and sons Joseph and Mark.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 23, 2022, at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler with Rev. Fr. Mark Thelen presiding and Rev. Fr. Dennis Howard concelebrant. Burial to follow at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 2-8 p.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022, at the Smith Family Funeral Homes – George Chapel, 11112 W. Ionia St., Fowler, with the family receiving visitors from 2-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m., and a prayer service at 7 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Most Holy Trinity Educational Trust Fund. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes– Goerge Chapel, Fowler, Michigan.
Divorce decrees filed the week of April 11, 2022
Edmisten, Kathleen / Edmisten, Andrew
Montry, Nicholas / Montry, Danna
Galloway, Trisha / Galloway, Jason
Blackledge, Gwenda / Blackledge, Michael
Orth, Nicole / Coleman, Todd