Obituaries
Joan Christine Newman
Joan Christine Newman (née Ballantine), a longtime resident of Hilton Head, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 14, 2018 at age 91 surrounded by a noisy group of family and friends celebrating stories of her life and times. Cause of death was satisfied completion of a life well lived.
She was born in Lansing, Michigan, June 7th, 1926 to Ralph Wyckoff Ballantine and Beulah Christine (Soule). She grew up in St. Johns with her older brother Ralph (Bal), a former longtime resident of Hilton Head, her sister Betty (Luft) of Dallas, Texas, and her younger sister Barbara (Bobby Spicer) now of Sun City.
When it came time for college, her first plan was to go to Purdue and study aeronautical engineering, but her father did not think that was something young ladies should do. Instead, she went to Ohio Wesleyan and in 1947 received, ironically, a degree in home economics. She became a dairy farmer’s wife when she married Richard A. (Dick) Newman, formerly an Army Air Corps pilot in WWII. Together, they built a house and a family on her husband’s family farm in Dewitt from trees cut nearby. She had three boys who learned to work the farm, and attended the local one-room country school. Eventually, she did not find fulfillment in coaxing the best from cattle and followed her mother’s example by going to work for the American Red Cross and running their Blood Donor Program.
In 1969 she and her husband gave up the farm and followed brother Bal across the turnstile bridge onto Hilton Head, opening an Insty-Prints business on the island and in Savannah. She continued her Red Cross work with the local chapter and then as a Reserve National Director of Family Services. At the ring of the phone, she would head to California after an earthquake, Fargo for a flood, or Puerto Rico and the Gulf Coast for a hurricane. Leaving for weeks at a time, she led teams providing shelter and feeding services for those forced from their homes.
She inherited from her mother the role of “hub of the family” by keeping an open door, and never offering gossip or advice on politics, child-rearing or religion. One of her most prized possessions was a living room plaque that proudly proclaimed “Dull Women Have Immaculate Homes,” and she was far from dull. She and her cat ruled together for 35 years in the house she designed. Joan completed daily NYT Crosswords in ink, was the reservationist for the Sea Grass Grille, kept up on current events and shared only the good news across the family whenever you called. Her home was always a Come As You Are party, and all were welcome any time to stay as long as they wanted (as long as they brought their own food and loaded the dishwasher on the way out). And they did so by the dozens.
She is survived by her three sons, Rob (wife Robin, Chadds Ford, PA), Chad (Hilton Head, SC) and Joel (wife Annie Ballance, Beaufort, SC); two granddaughters, Kailey Swift (husband Rob, Los Angeles) and Walker Newman (Beaufort, SC); and two step-granddaughters, Jordan Delgadillo (husband Daniel, West Reading, PA) and Regan Taylor (husband Nick, Culpeper, VA).
The family is planning a Celebration of Life for later in the year. They ask that in lieu of flowers, individuals make generous and regular donations to the American Red Cross of Beaufort County or the Deep Well Project of Hilton Head to extend her lifetime of service to those in need. She was well-loved by a wide circle of friends and family and will be deeply missed. The family is being served by The Island Funeral Home and Crematory.
Sheryl Marie Huss
Sheryl Marie “Sherry” Huss, age 69 of Ovid, MI, passed away Monday, March 19, 2018 at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, St. Johns, MI.
Funeral Services will be held at the United Church of Ovid on Friday, March 23, 2018 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Robert Nystrom officiating. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Elsie, MI. Visitation will be held on Friday at the church from 10:00 A.M. until the time of the funeral service.
Sherry was born in Owosso, MI on September 9, 1948 the daughter of James and Mary Jane (Evans) Wassa. She graduated from Elsie High School with the class of 1966. Sherry worked at Fifth Third Bank in St. Johns for 20 years. She was an avid sports enthusiast. Sherry enjoyed time spent with her friends and family. She was a member of the United Church of Ovid.
She is survived by daughter Julie and Steve Maynard of Elsie, MI; son Kyle and Karen Huss of Spring Arbor, MI; 5 grandchildren: Keith Huss, Katie Maynard, Grant Maynard, Kyler Huss, and Karissa Huss. She is also survived by sister Carol and Ralph Nixon of Bannister, MI, and brother Jack and Joyce Wassa of Beulah, MI. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Memorials may be made to the United Church of Ovid, MI. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Houghton Chapel, Ovid, MI.
Jerry L. Bishop
Jerry L. Bishop, 76, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, March 18, 2018 at his home. Jerry was born March 9, 1942 in St. Johns, MI the son of Lawrence and Alice (Krebel) Bishop. Jerry was a member of First Baptist Church in St. Johns since 1955. Jerry served his country in the United States Coast Guard. He enjoyed camping and spending time with his family and he loved serving his Lord in the church. Jerry worked for the Clinton County Road Commission, retiring in 2000 with 33 years of service.
Surviving is his wife of 42 years, Sue; three daughters, Mary (Justin) Pouch, Michelle (Jeremy) Brook and Ann (Andrew) Brown; his seven precious grandchildren, Mason, Alice, Avery, Hazel, Grant, Nora and Rose; his brother, Larry (Carol) Bishop; mother-in-law, Dorothy Merignac; brothers and sisters-in-law, Doug (Holly) Merignac and Lynn (Ken) Nisewanger; five nieces and one nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law, Louie Merignac and brother-in-law, Lynn Merignac.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, March 22, 2018 at First Baptist Church 512 S. US 27 St. Johns with Pastor Tim Knaus officiating. Private interment will take place at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly, MI. The family will receive relatives and friends 4:00 to 7:00 PM Wednesday at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns. Memorials may be made payable to First Baptist Church with the memo, Beacon of Hope Family Center.
Marriage licenses filed the week of March 12, 2018
Himanshu Sahasrabudhe, 28 of East Lansing and Tanvi Ashwarya, 26 of East Lansing
Elisha Talin Basinger, 33 of DeWitt and Tiffany Elizabeth Neely, 29 of DeWitt
Eric Arnold Cooper Jr., 31 of East Lansing and Ashley Renee Vankoevering, 32 of Lansing
Divorce decrees filed March 5, 2018
McBride, Shawn Robert and Trisha Christine
Sherwood, Jeremy Blaine and Karen Marie