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Ernest James Kitson
Ernest James (“Jim”) Kitson, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at Grace Haven Assisted Living Center. He was born September 5, 1930 in Centerline, MI, the son of Clarence and Armande (Picard) Kitson. He graduated from Pontiac High School, obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan, and his Master’s degree from the University of Michigan. He married Nancy Homeister on June 29, 1957. Jim worked for the Lansing School District as Director of Food Services and Director of the Ebersole Environmental Center in Wayland, MI.
Jim was a member of the Kiwanis Club in Royal Oak and the Rotary Club in Cheboygan, MI. He was a member of Redeemer Church of St. Johns. He loved collecting pudding stones in Cheboygan and was known for the beautiful wooden boats he made. He was a great husband, father, brother and friend, feisty until the very end. The family wishes to extend our sincere and heart-felt gratitude to all the staff at Grace Haven for the wonderful care you gave him.
He is survived by his beloved wife Nancy; children Janice (John) Schuske of North Carolina, Edward (DeAnne) Kitson of Tennessee, and Barbara (Ken) McClure of Ovid, MI; grandchildren Alexandra McClure, Jami (Michael) Maltby, Rebecca
McClure, Karen McClure and one great grandson. He is also survived by his dear friend and brother Clarence Kitson Jr. of Clarkston. He was preceded in death by his son Ernest J. Kitson Jr., sisters Jeanne Duran, Marcelle Schmidt, Denise Nord, and grandson Steven McClure.
Following his wishes, cremation has taken place. There will be no services due to COVID. Arrangements handled by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home.
William J. Horman
William J. Horman died Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at the age of 63. He was born January 11, 1957 in St. Johns, MI the son of Charles and Juanita (Hoyt) Horman. Bill was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church and enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing cards. He was a graduate of St. Johns High School, Class of 1975 and worked for Goodyear Tire Company as a commercial sales representative. On September 16, 1978 he married Cindy Rogers and she preceded him in death in November of 2019.
Surviving is a son, Jacob (Jamie) of Sheridan, MI; three daughters, Jennifer Horman of Huntersville, NC, Stacey (Peter III) Kurncz of Elsie, MI and Erica (Joel) Edwards of Franklin, TN; five grandchildren, Kirk, Nolan and Margo Edwards and Brody and Kooper Kurncz; two sisters, Debbie (Steve) Pytlowanyj of St. Johns and Rita (Jim) Jenks of Clark Lake, MI and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandson, Peter Kurncz IV.
Funeral services for Bill will be held 1:00 PM Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at St. Peter Lutheran Church 8990 Church Rd. St. Johns with Pastor Timothy Bayer officiating. Interment will follow at St. Peter Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 2-4 and 6-8 PM Tuesday, December 15 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns. Due to COVID-19 restrictions those in attendance for the visitation and funeral service will be required to wear face coverings and to social distance as best possible. Memorials may be made to Peter’s Sunny Day Foundation 12741 Ospreys Way, DeWitt, MI 48820 / www.peterssunnyday.com or St. Peter Lutheran Church.
Darlene L. Dawson
Darlene L. Dawson died Saturday, December 5, 2020 at the age of 64. She was born February 13, 1956 in Ludington, MI as the daughter of Melvin and Evelyn (Jensen) Claypool. Darlene was devoted to her husband, children and grandchildren. She loved animals, bird watching, gardening, and was an excellent seamstress. She was a jack of all trades with immense talents. She married Jeffrey Dawson in 1979 and he survives her.
Also surviving is a daughter, Jennifer Dawson and a son Stephen Dawson; two grandchildren, Ellie and Evan Dawson; her father Melvin Claypool and a brother, Ralph (Debbie) Claypool. She was preceded in death by her mother, Evelyn Claypool and a brother, Richard Claypool.
Following Darlene’s wishes cremation has taken place and there will no visitation or service at this time. The family will be planning a Celebration of Life at a later date. The family was assisted with these arrangements by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns.
Gerald August Burgtorf
Gerald August Burgtorf, age 76, of Fowler, MI, passed away suddenly Tuesday, November 17, 2020, at Sparrow Health Systems (ER) due to a terrible accident.
Gerald was born in Ionia County, MI on June 4, 1944, the son of William August Burgtorf and Nellie (Sherman) Kellogg. After high school, 1962, he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Washington State aboard the USS Wright. After returning home he had learned his life long skill of a master welder, fabricator and maintenance man. Back home he had a small farm next to his dad’s property. He raised corn and pigs. In the summers, Gerald and his kids showed pigs for 4-H at the Ionia County Free Fair. He also worked very long hours at Federal Mogul Corporation in St. Johns for almost 30 years. He was always there to help people in need, friends, neighbors and even strangers.
Gerald came to the Fowler area when he married Carol (Kloeckner) Baese on May 6, 1994 in St. Johns, MI. They resided south of Fowler on the corner of Wright Rd. and Dexter Trail, just past the Fowler Conservation Club. After coming to Fowler he never missed a beat helping people. Gerald was always busy, building large smokers (furnace size) for the Hengesbach’s Meat Market in Westphalia. Gerald worked with many projects; some special ones were with his friend (Bill VanElls) at Bill’s farm. He also made trailers for all 3 of his children and their spouses. Jerry loved time spent on family property in Cheboygan.
From pulling people out of ditches or fixing cars, trucks, flat tires, etc. He enjoyed all of it. He loved Sunday afternoons waiting for the races to be on with friend Phil P. and other NASCAR fans, cards, eating quick food, laughing, telling stories, jokes and just being happy with his family and especially his friends. He enjoyed playing cards and drinking coffee at the VFW in the morning (he also served as treasurer at the VFW for several years.) He attended many military funerals and VFW activities. Gerald also helped fix many things for the Fowler Conservation Club.
It was very important to Jerry to spend time with his step children and step grandchildren. He liked playing all kinds of crazy games, cards (Skip-Bo), rides on his green machine, and doing wacky sport things. He also would take them to school in the morning; help take them to practices and to games where he would watch them play. They would be there for Jerry and he would try to be there when they needed him, to show love and support together as a family.
Gerald is survived by his wife Carol (Kloeckner) Burgtorf, his children: Audra (Brian) Gorby, Tanya (Jason) Denyes, Darren (Nicole) Burgtorf, grandchildren: Blake (Kara) Gorby, Zane (Siara) Gorby, Morgan, Gavin, and Skylar Deyes, and Teagan Burgtorf. He is also survived by step children: Brent Baese of Portage, Jill Baese Ruiz and fiancé Tony Taul of Fowler, step grandchildren: Jonathan and Amber Ruiz, Landon Baese, and Tanner Taul, half sisters Pam Chubb and Vicki Kellogg of St. Johns. He was preceded in death by his parents, children William and Andrea Burgtorf (twins), brother Robert Burgtorf and sister Patricia Mull, step father James Kellogg and step mother Lillian Burgtorf.
Per his wishes cremation has taken place and no services will be held. Some of his ashes will be buried at place Woodard Lake Cemetery, Ionia County, MI by his father and twin children’s graves. The remainder of ashes will be scattered at a Naval Base Harbor in the state of Washington by his nephew Brian (Charles Burgtorf) sometime in 2021.
Donations made in Gerald’s honor can be designated to: E.J. Werner VFW Post 3733, 126 South Maple Street, PO Box 52 Fowler, MI 48835 or the Fowler Conservation Club, 3580 S. Wright Rd, PO Box 262, Fowler, MI 48835 or to the Fowler Fire Department and Rescue Service, 225 S. Main Street, Fowler, MI 48835. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Goerge Chapel, Fowler, MI.
Walter Paul Suchek, Jr.
Walter Paul Suchek, Jr., began his eternal life with our Lord and Savior on Friday, December 4, 2020 at the age of 79, in the care and comfort of his daughter-in-law, Karen.
A funeral service for Walter will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns with Rev. Fr. Douglas Osborn officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 2-4 and 6-8 PM on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 and one hour prior the service on Wednesday at the funeral home. Anyone is welcome at the cemetery since it’s open air. Due to COVID-19, the family respects everyone’s choice to attend at this time or not. No luncheon is planned at this time, but there will be an open air Celebration of Life picnic held at a later date.
He was born on the family farm in Bengal Township, Clinton County on March 2, 1941 to Walter Sr. and Irene (Bandt) Suchek. The story goes he could fit into a shoebox when they took him to the hospital and his mother even milked cows that day. He attended Harper Country School through the eighth grade.
Our dad was a worker. He worked on the family farm from a young age and also helped with the Sipkovsky brothers in mint and potatoes, and at the lumber yard unloading lumber and coal. As he got older, he was a factory worker, employed at Woodards in Owosso and then the Motor Wheel Corporation in Lansing where he retired in 1996 after 33 years of dedicated service. He was one of the last men to leave the floor of Motor Wheel as it closed its doors.
On February 9, 1963, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in St. Johns, he married Margaret Ann Glowacki. They enjoyed 23 years of marriage until Marge’s death due to breast cancer in 1986. Their marriage resulted in the birth of five children. He is survived by those children, Paul (Karen) Suchek of St. Johns; Linda (Ernie) Walters of Grandville; Karol (Gene) Sanborn of Pewamo; Steve (Kim) Suchek of Lansing; and Robert (Nicole) Suchek of Hubbardston; grandchildren, Amy (Todd) Gronowski, Tess (Pat Savoie) Suchek, Sam (Victoria Hegbloom) Suchek; Rachel and Michelle Walters; Avery, Austin and Adam Sanborn; Cheyenne Suchek; and Karyssa and Kylie Suchek. Great granddaughters, Anna Rose & Emma Marie; and Valerie Morgan with another expected to arrive in 2021; sisters, Roberta Mageli, SueAnn (Dan) Olson; and brother-in-law Doug Burl. Brothers and sisters-in-law, Stan Glowacki, Mary VanBurger, Veronica (Bill) Rozen, Jane (Larry) Randolph, Bill (Diane) Glowacki; and many loved and loving nieces and nephews; goddaughters Theresa Owen, Kristen Chapman and Jill Simmons. He was predeceased by his wife Margaret; parents; parents-in-law, Frank (Anna) Glowacki; one grandson, Ashton Sanborn; sister, Deb Burl; in-laws Sidney Mageli, Frank (Jan) Glowacki, Kay Glowacki, Gale VanBurger, James Glowacki and extended loved and loving family members.
He lived all of his life in St. Johns and in 1996 went back to the farm where he was born to help care for his mother. After her death in 1998 he was glad to have bought the family farm that is now in the care of his son Paul, and hoped to see it become a centennial farm someday in 2027.
Most importantly dad liked spending time with his family and adored his grandkids and great-grands. He enjoyed going to the casino where he was remarkably lucky, Lotto scratch offs, hunting, steam/tractor shows and flea markets, Tigers and Lugnuts games, grandchildren’s sports, spending time in the UP, gardening, canning, bowling, playing cards, and hosting holiday dinners for his family. He loved to exercise at McClaren Cardio Rehab, and his rehab friends/family were very important to him. Dad was a simple, selfless and content man. Due to his beard only and straw hat he was often mistaken as being Amish. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
In lieu of flowers or memorials, the way to remember Dad best would be to spend time doing something you enjoy with your family creating memories, donating to your local food bank or buy yourself a Lotto scratch off ticket to enjoy. Address for sympathy cards may be sent to 4550 N. Hubbardston Road, Pewamo, MI 48873. The family wishes to thank the heroes of 7W, 9W and 10W at Sparrow Hospital for the care and comfort given to our dad. He fought Covid-19 for the last month of his life. It may have ravaged his body, but it didn’t touch the fun-loving and giving spirit that lives on for all eternity. He was truly a treasure to his family.