Obituaries
Carl J. Witt
Carl J. Witt, 83, passed away Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, MI. He was born June 1, 1936 the son of Otto and Grace (Bronson) Witt. Carl was a warehouse manager for George Worthington Co. for over 25 years until they went out of business. He then worked as a warehouse manager for Montgomery Ward for several years, retiring from there to stay home and put his granddaughter, Kay on the bus for school. Carl loved horses and had horses all his life. He had a 10 horse hitch that he put in the 4th of July parade in Westphalia and a 4 horse hitch he put in the St. Johns Mint Festival Parade for many years. He and his daughter, Diane showed draft horses at county fairs throughout Mid-Michigan for over 35 years and Carl and his children were active with horses in 4-H for many years.
On June 28, 1958 he married Dorothy VanElls, and she survives him. Also surviving are five children, Diane Witt, Terry (Joanie) Witt, Daniel (Jan) Witt, David (Sally) Witt and Debra (Gordon) Carman; 21 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parent, three brothers, Jay, Clare and Fred; three sisters, Katherine, Anna and Betty and a great grandson J.R. Hehrer.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Monday, June 24, 2019 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home , St. Johns with his grandson, Rev. Randy Peterson officiating. Interment will follow at Wacousta Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home 4-6 PM on Saturday, June 22 and 2-4 and 6-8 PM on Sunday June 23.
Carolyn Sue Lynch
Carolyn Sue Lynch, 85, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, formerly of St. Johns MI., died June 15, 2019.
She is survived by son Michael (Lisa); daughter Catherine (Michael) Feeney; 4 grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; sister, Joyce Griffin; and sister-in-law, Beverly Griffin. She was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Lynch; two sons, Thomas and James; and brother, Robert Griffin.
A private memorial service will take place later this summer.
David Edward “Ed” Bushre
David Edward “Ed” Bushre, 72, of Rochester Hills passed away in his home June 13, 2019. He was born in Saginaw, MI on May 28, 1947. Ed graduated from Rodney B. Wilson High School in 1966 and joined the U.S. Air Force where he served during the Vietnam War. Educated in computer systems during his time in the military, Ed worked as a customer engineer for Hewlett Packard for 23 years. He married his sweetheart Jean Lavonne Lewis on Sept. 28, 1974. They had two sons and had a wonderful life together.
In 1996 Ed put his faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sins, and the grace of God transformed him. He began writing poetry as a way of expressing his love for the Lord and as a way of sharing his faith with others. He published a volume of his poetry and short stories entitled A Whisper Stirred Leaf. He received the Editor’s Choice Award for Outstanding Achievement in Poetry from the National Library of Poetry in 1997, with his first poem, Rowboat, published in their volume A View From Afar. His poem Were You There was awarded Best Poem of 2006 by the Society of Christian Poets.
Ed is survived by his wife Jean, his sons Kevin and Kyle (Rachel) Bushre, his sister Billie Bushre, and his four grandchildren: Flora, Garrett, Samuel, and Alethea. He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Ethel Bushre, and his siblings Dick Bushre, Maryellen Saxton, and Tom Bushre.
Visitation will be held on Friday, June 21, 2019 from 11 AM – 1 PM, with a Funeral Service beginning at 1 PM, at Eureka Christian Church, 2619 E. Maple Rapids Rd., Eureka, MI 48833. Interment to follow at Eureka Cemetery.
The family is being served by the Pixley Funeral Home.
Joseph Vincent Lorenc II
Joseph Vincent Lorenc II, age 87 of St. Johns, MI, passed away Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at his home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Johns, MI on Monday, June 24, 2019 at 11:00 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Douglas Osborn officiating. Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 23, 2019 from 2-4 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns. A Vigil and Rosary will be prayed at 4:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home.
Joseph was born in Beaver Falls, PA on August 5, 1931 the son of Joseph Vincent and Maria (Matuska) Lorenc. He married Sally Ann Knaus on October 5, 1957 in Bannister, MI. He retired from Federal Mogul. Joe resided most of his life in St. Johns. Joe enjoyed raising, and training his pigeons; and going to many pigeon shows. Taking care of the lawn and tending to the flowers was one of his favorite pastimes. Joe enjoyed listening to Czech music and loved sharing stories about when he lived in Czechoslovakia. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns. Above all else, he loved his family.
He is survived by his wife Sally Ann Lorenc of St. Johns, MI; daughter Lorraine and Gregg Granger of Middleville, MI; son Joseph and LeAnn Lorenc III of St. Johns, MI; son Jonathan and Gwen Lorenc of Alma, MI; 8 grandchildren: Emily Granger of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Amanda Granger of Pasadena, CA; Gregg Granger II of Grand Rapids, MI; Sara Ann and Jonathon Manzullo of Perry, GA; Joseph Lorenc IV of St. Johns, MI; Kevin and Amy Hoople of Gaithersburg, MD; Laura Dankovic and Matthew Lambert of Alma, MI; Samantha Hoople and Kris Crane of Chino Valley, AZ; and 7 great-grandchildren: Kayden, Gage, Dexter, Cannon, Marcus, Carrick and Vincent. Joe was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Mirek Lorenc.
Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI.
Robert Neil Walling
Robert Neil Walling age 78, of Blue Springs, MO, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2019, at Select Specialty Hospital, in MO.
A Prayer Service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, on Monday, June 24, 2019 at 12:00 P.M. Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 23, 2019 from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. and on Monday, June 24, 2019, from 10:00 A.M. until the prayer service at the funeral home.
Neil was born in St. Johns, MI on February 9, 1941 the son of Robert Perrin and Neila Glee (Falor) Walling. Neil proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy. He loved to work on his home and in his yard. He was a business executive for most of his adult working life. Neil loved to fly and held a private pilots license.
He is survived by his children: Robert and Sandra Walling of Eagle, MI; Randy Walling of Haslett, MI; Doug Walling of MI; Denise and Keith Jones of GA; Tonya and Anthony Strange of GA; the mothers of his children: Mary Harger, and Francis Walling; several grandchildren and great grandchildren; siblings: Jeanne and Al Leckrone, Tom and Leanne Walling, Mark and Erin Walling, Terry and Margie Griffith, Janet and James Nash, Diana Parker; and many nieces and nephews. Neil was preceded in death by his father Robert Perrin and Letha J (Ambrook) Walling, mother Neila Glee (Falor) and Merlyn Griffith, and brother David Walling.
The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI.
Joan K. Kurka
Joan K. Kurka, 77, of Elsie, MI, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2019, at Memorial Healthcare, Owosso, MI.
Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI, on Monday, June 17, 2019 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Kathy Leydorf-Keck officiating. Burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Elsie, MI. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 16, 2019 from 6-8 P.M. at the funeral home.
Joan was born in Owosso, MI on December 10, 1941, the daughter of Jerry and Mary (Zvonek) Kurka. She attended Fox Country School and graduated from Elsie High School with the class of 1959.
Joan worked at Strawsine Manufacturing for 18 years and in housekeeping at Hazel Findlay in St. Johns. She was a lifetime member of the ZCBJ Lodge and attended the Elsie United Methodist Church. Joan was a hard worker and she loved to relax watching television. Joan kept a diary her entire life, enjoyed flower gardening and spending time with her nieces, nephews and extended family.
She is survived by her sisters: Dorothy Baese, and Karlene Enos. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, sister Geraldine and brother in law Lawrence Graham, and brothers in law: Lewis Baese and Fred Enos.
Memorials may be made to ZCBJ Lodge, Bannister, MI. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI.
Dolores Helen Houser
Dolores Helen Houser, age 83 of St. Johns, MI, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2019, at Grace Haven Assisted Living, St. Johns, MI
Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI. on Monday, June 17, 2019 at 11:00 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Douglas Osborn officiating. Burial will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI. Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 16, 2019 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. at the funeral home.
Dolores was born in Portland, MI on September 18, 1935, the daughter of Peter and Helen (Fernholz) Gensterblum. She was a graduate of Portland St. Pat’s High School. Dolores married Allen Houser in 1956; he passed away in 2013. Dolores resided most of her life in St. Johns. Dolores retired from Federal Mogul and managed the St. Vincent dePaul store in St. Johns for many years. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church. Dolores loved playing cards, jigsaw puzzles and watching birds. Mostly, she loved having visitors.
She is survived by her son Scott and Reva Houser of St. Johns, MI; son John and Jennifer Houser of Fort Wayne, IN; 6 grandchildren: Matthew, Danielle, Michael, Emily, Alex and Spencer; brother Jim and Louise Gensterblum of Portland, MI; her sister Sr. Bernita Marie Gensterblum of Kalamazoo, MI; sister Louise and Bill Hanses of Westphalia, MI; sister Eleanor Peake of Portland, MI; sister Barbara and Pete Densmore of Portland, MI. Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and 12 siblings.
Memorials may be made to St. Vincent dePaul. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI.
Charles E. Bates
Charles E. Bates, age 77 of St. Johns, MI passed away at Grace Haven Assisted Living Center on Wednesday, June 12, 2019. He was born on September 24, 1941 in Brady, MI the son of Charles and Lilian (Louth) Bates. Charlie graduated from Ovid High School in 1959 and was a veteran of the U. S. Army. On August 7, 1965 he married Jean M. Nemcik in Bannister, MI. He had worked as a die maker for General Motors and had retired in 2003. Charlie was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the St. Johns American Legion, and he loved hunting and fishing.
Survivors are his wife Jean, children, Brian (Julie) Bates of Livonia, Lori (Richard) Noechel of Okemos and Bruce (Melissa) Bates of Black Creek, WI; grandchildren Jenna, Lauren and Brandon Bates, Nicole, Richard and Elizabeth Noechel and sister, Beverly (Lee) Bolton of Ovid. He was preceded in death by a sister Shirley Moore and brothers Robert and Bill Bates.
The family will receive friends and relatives at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home on Monday, June 17, 2019, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Rosary being prayed at 7:30 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 10:00 A.M. with Rev. Fr. Tom Thompson officiating. Burial will follow at Ford Cemetery, Elsie. Memorial contributions may be made to The Care Team Hospice, 5401 Gateway Center, Suite D, Flint, MI 48507.
Divorce decrees filed June 10, 2019
Myers, Catherine/Myers, Scott
Hanson, Kathleen R./Hanson, Gregory
Sadler, Scott D./Sadler, Kirstie
Romberg, Cynthia L./Romberg, Kevin M.
Gamelin, Ellen E./Gamelin, Joseph L.
Launer, Victoria/Launer, Clifton
Burns, Lori Ann/Burns, Christopher
Badge, Kevin M./Badge, Amanda L.