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Theodore Berry Slicer
Theodore Berry Slicer, age 76 of Laingsburg, formerly of St. Johns, passed away on Sunday, March 7, 2021 at Sparrow Hospital.
A memorial visitation will be held at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel on March 20, 2021 from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Theodore was born on October 14, 1944 to Charles and Helen (Berry) Slicer in Dayton, Ohio. He married S. LeAnn Gump in 1968, and was married 32 years until her passing in 2003.
Theodore earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Multidisciplinary Social Science and Teaching Certificate from Michigan State University. He worked as a teacher at St. Johns High School for 25 years teaching consumer economics. During that time, he served as the Union president and continuously fought for teacher’s benefits, and a student driver instructor for many years. Theodore became a Certified Financial Planner in 1987, and after retiring from teaching, worked as a Prudential Retirement Services Rep and at St. Johns Business and Tax Service preparing taxes. Outside of work, Theodore enjoyed fishing, playing cards, going to casinos, and traveling throughout the US, hitting all 50 states in his travels.
Theodore is survived by his son, “Chip” Theodore Slicer Jr.; his brothers, Chuck and David Slicer; his girlfriend, Gloria Stack; and nephew Chet Slicer, nieces Michelle Rench, Jennifer Sullivan. He is predeceased by his wife, LeAnn Slicer, and his parents.
Charles Thomas Bengel
Charles Thomas Bengel, age 65, of Lecanto, FL, passed away March 4, 2021 in Hernando, FL after fighting cancer for 8 years.
Charles was born on August 15, 1955 in St. Johns, MI to Thomas C. Bengel and Rosalyn R. (Trierweiler) Bengel. He grew up in Westphalia , MI, attended Pewamo-Westphalia schools and won the title of Class C State Wrestling Champion in 1973. Charles worked for 12 years at various General Motors plants and attended Central Michigan University where he graduated with an Industrial Arts Secondary Education Bachelor’s degree.
He married Marie Woodbury on June 18, 1988. They lived in Williamston, MI and also Lecanto, FL since 2006. Charles was a lifelong woodworker; throughout his life, he worked as woodshop instructor, starting with Portland Adult Education and Big Bay de Noc Public Schools in Cooks, MI. He retired in 2013 as a Trades Instructor for the State of Michigan Department of Corrections, where he taught inmates to make custom oak kitchen and bathroom cabinets for Habitat for Humanity homes. Charles was a Military Police Army Veteran. He was an avid golfer and member of the Brentwood Golf and Country Club. He also loved playing softball, baseball, football, and bowling. Charles was known as the “bird whisperer” as he enjoyed hand-raising tropical birds. He was a gentle and kind-hearted soul and was loved by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Marie (Woodbury) Bengel; his mother, Rosalyn R. (Trierweiler) Bengel; three sisters, Kris and her husband Don Ham, Teresa and her husband Tony Simon, Lori and her husband Gerry Schomisch; one brother, Peter and his wife Kim Bengel; brother-in-law, Wayne and his wife Diana Woodbury; sister-in-law, Rhonda and her husband Bill Hambleton, sister-in-law, Maralyn Woodbury; 18 nieces and nephews, and numerous great nieces and nephews. In addition to his father, Charles was preceded in death by his brother, Timothy Bengel and his brother-in-law, Brian Woodbury.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at McGeehan Funeral Home, Keck-Coleman Chapel. Burial will follow at Mount Rest Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, March 9 from 2:00 to 8:00pm. A memorial service will also be held in Lecanto, FL at a later date.
Dorris V. Frace
Dorris V. Frace, 94, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Sunday, March 7, 2021, at Grace Haven Assisted Living, St. Johns, MI.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Johns, MI, on Wednesday, March 10, 2021 at 10:00 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Michael Williams officiating. Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery St. Johns, MI. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 from 4-6 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI.
Dorris was born in Charlotte, MI on August 30, 1926, the daughter of Scott E. and Velma A. (Miller) Frace. During WWII she and her twin sister worked for the Civil Air Patrol. After graduating from high school she worked in Kodiak, Alaska as a secretary to a Navel Engineer where she converted to Catholicism. She returned to Virginia and she joined the Monastery of Poor Clare-Colettines. Dorris served the Lord as an artist in the Convent, in Alexandria, VA. When her mother and sister became ill she returned to Michigan to care for them and settled in St. Johns, MI where she became active in the Community of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She was a choir member, a CCD teacher and enthusiastic garage sale volunteer.
Dorris is survived by many friends of the Parish of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, twin sister Dorthea and brother Earl.
Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic School Scholarship Fund, 109 Linden Street, St. Johns, MI 48879. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI.
June Birdsley Young
June Birdsley Young, our greatly loved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, March 7, 2021, surrounded by her family. We rejoice that Mom is at peace in body and spirit in the presence of her Lord and Savior, and trust that our memories will help fill the empty place left in our hearts and lives.
Born in St. Johns, MI on June 20, 1925 to Earl C. and Beryl Pilmore Birdsley, Mom graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in 1942. On July 24, 1943, she married Robert G. Young and shortly thereafter moved to the Young family farm in Essex Township. Here she lived for the next 78 years, raising her family, farming, gardening, baking, cooking, sewing, volunteering, and from time to time working outside the home. At a time when her children were reaching self-sufficiency and she could have looked forward to some “me” time, Mom went to work for the U.S. Postal Service in Lansing, retiring after 15 years.
Mom’s loving caretaking included her immediate and extended family, her church, and her community. She provided hours and years of emotional support and physical labor as her children constructed dwellings to create homes of their own. She was a lifelong member of the St. Johns Church of God, volunteered as a Gray Lady, and enjoyed spending time at the family cabin in Harrison, traveling, attending tractor shows and quilt shows, camping, reading, genealogy, and spending time with her growing family.
Among the few remaining practitioners of the art of tatting, Mom created many beautiful decorative pieces and yards of beautiful lace, much of which she incorporated into her great passion, quilting. She made dozens of quilts which she donated to various charities and gifted to family and friends. The cookie jar in the center of the kitchen counter, kept filled with her trademark banana/oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies, was often the first stop for any kids, grands, great-grands, neighbors and visitors. If you didn’t take one on the way in, Mom made sure you had one before leaving.
Her grandchildren were always welcome. Even if she was busy baking or sewing, “Grandma” found ways to include her young visitors whenever they stopped by. No one was ever a bother. She was ever kind and never judgmental if a grandchild made a mistake, in sewing, baking, or even in life decisions.
She is survived by her children: Sarah Young, William E. and Mary Ann Young, Peggy and Rich Tupper, Mark and Brenda Young, Kevin and Kathy Young, and Scott and Brenda Young; grandchildren: Sue (Mark) Nelson, Bobbie Jo (Matt) Kemp, Jamie Paksi (Orion Phillips), Tina (Nick) Dean, Jason (Bailey Fortuna) Young, Aaron (Allison) Young, and Kari Young (Collin Macintosh); and great-grandchildren: Connor Nelson, Emily, Jacob, Levi and Isaac Kemp, Braden Leightner and Evan Paksi, and Aubree and Orion Dean; her sister Shirley Birdsley; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Robert (in 2004), infant daughter Sharon, sisters Jean Vitous and Gayla Walters, and brother Arden (Jack) Birdsley.
The family is deeply indebted to the Compassus hospice team who filled the final months of Mom’s life journey with love, laughter, kindness, dignity and compassionate care. Each of you became part of our family and for that we are forever grateful.
In keeping with her generous and loving spirit, Mom requested that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be to the American Cancer Society, St. Johns Church of God, the Basic Needs Center (St. Johns), or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Visitation will take place at the Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI on Tuesday, March 9, 2021 from 4-8 pm. In following guidelines the family requests that masks be worn. A Private Funeral Service will be held on March 10, 2021. The service will be available to view on the Smith Family Funeral Home Facebook page. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI.
Divorce decrees filed the week of March 1, 2021
Charters, Jamie A. / Charters, Tyler J.
Hart, Amanda L. / Heddens, Timothy S.
Spade, Hiliary E. / Spade, Samuel M.
Lutz, Courtney A. / Lutz, Nathaniel G.
Heath, Kristin A. / Heath, Michael S.
Gionette, Jean S. / Gionette, Shane M.