Obituaries

December 11, 2016

Anthony David Bontrager (age 14) the youngest of 11 children was born on February 11, 2002 to Henry and Ida Bontrager.  On December 11, 2016, at approximately 1 P.M., he was tragically killed in a weather related auto accident.

Anthony loved constructing things with Legos, playing on his Wii, free-hand drawing, tinkering with electronics, spending time with...

December 10, 2016

Florence Evelyn DeVuyst 94 of Ithaca went to be with her Heavenly Father on December 10, 2016 at the Laurels of Carson City.  Florence, daughter of Hugh and Bessie Boling, was born on March 25, 1922 in North Star Township.  She graduated from Fulton High School in 1940.

On June 13, 1942 she married Arshane DeVuyst in...

December 10, 2016

Robert E. "Bob" Byrnes age 88, of Ovid, MI, passed away Saturday, December 10, 2016, at Welcome Home Assisted Living, Elsie, MI.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, Ovid, MI, on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Fr. Raymond Urbanek officiating.  Burial will take place at Maple...

December 10, 2016

Mark William Smith age 47, of Ashley, MI, passed away Saturday, December 10, 2016, at his home.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, on Tuesday December 13, 2016 at 12:00 P.M., with Pastor Suzanne Rasmussen officiating.  Visitation will be held on Monday, December 12, 2016 from 2-8...

December 7, 2016

John Mojica age 68, of Lansing, MI, formerly of St. Louis, MI, passed away Wednesday, December 7, 2016, at Sparrow Health Systems, Lansing, MI.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes 117 North East Street, St. Louis, MI, on Monday, December 12, 2016 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Thomas Ewer officiating.  Burial will take...

December 6, 2016

Lawrence Fidler, age 95, of Ithaca, passed away at Woodland Hospice in Mt. Pleasant, with his family by his side, on Tuesday, December 6, 2016.

Lawrence was born in Marion, Michigan, on September 15, 1921, the son of Mahlon and Elma Elizabeth (Stahl) Fidler.  His mother preceded him in death when he was 9 years old, and...

December 5, 2016

Randy Lee Doyen age 59 of Trufant, MI, passed away Monday, December 5, 2016 at his home.

A Memorial Service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, on Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 1:00 P.M., with Pastor Mona Kindel officiating.  Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 10, 2016 from...

December 4, 2016

Benjamin Charles "Gentle Ben" Rolfe age 64 of Chapin, MI, passed away Sunday, December 4, 2016 peacefully at his home with his family surrounding him.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI, on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 1:00 P.M with Wild Bill officiating.  Burial will take place at Wildwood Cemetery, Chesaning,...

December 3, 2016

Mary Ellen LaRose age 75, of St. Louis, MI, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2016, at Mid Michigan Medical Center, Midland, MI.

A Memorial Service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, MI, on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 12:00 P.M., with Pastor Justin Daron officiating.  Visitation will be held from 10:00 A.M. until...

December 2, 2016

Eilene Marie Cole age 79, of Oxford, AR, passed away Friday, December 2, 2016, at her home.

A Memorial Service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at 2:00 P.M., with Pastor Kathy Leydorf-Keck officiating.  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 from...

November 30, 2016

Paul Louis “Sprocket” Krauter age 66, of Laingsburg, MI passed away Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at his home.

Funeral Services will be held at the Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI on Sunday, December 4, 2016 at 1:00 P.M. Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 3, 2016 from 2-8 P.M. with family...

November 29, 2016

Life long resident of Ithaca, Ruth Foster Sparks, age 94, passed away on November 29, 2016 with her family by her side  in Rockville, Indiana. Ruth was born at home on the Earl Davis farm in Emerson Township, Gratiot County, to Elmer Ray and Rosa Belle (Barnard) Foster on 19 March 1922. The location of her birth was less...

November 28, 2016

Gunner Steven Thelen, age 2 months old, of Fowler, MI, passed away Monday, November 28, 2016, at Sparrow Clinton Hospital, St. Johns, MI after complications due to Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome).

A Graveside Service will be held at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery, Fowler, MI, on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 10:00 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Dennis Howard...

November 28, 2016

Richard Joseph Schueller age 73, of Lyons, formerly of Fowler, MI, passed away Monday, November 28, 2016 at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, St. Johns, MI.

A Memorial Mass will be held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler, MI, on Friday, December 2, 2016 at 10:30 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Michael Williams officiating.  Burial will take...

November 26, 2016

Denzil G. Allen, age 90, passed away November 26, 2016 at Ashley Care Center.

Born to Howard Wing Allen and Blanche Yarnell Allen in rural Shepherd on February 14, 1926. He leaves behind his wife of 69 years, Rebecca Buchanan Allen - together they raised four children, Ricky (Lana) Allen of Ithaca, Patricia (Florian) Chirra of Pioneer,...

November 25, 2016

Richard David "Stub" Biddinger age 88 of Ithaca, MI, passed away Friday, November 25, 2016 at his home.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Liz Long officiating.  Visitation will be held on Monday, November 28, 2016 from 2-8 P.M. with family...

November 25, 2016

Jack Gordon “Jasper” Craig age 85, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Friday, November 25, 2016 at Rosewood Adult Foster Care, Ithaca, MI.

A Time of Sharing will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. with Military Honors to follow.  Visitation will be held from 2-8 P.M. with...

November 23, 2016

Mary Virginia Anderson age 60, of Perrinton, MI passed away Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at her home.

Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns on Tuesday, November 29, 2016 from 2:00 - 4:00 P.M.  A memorial service for Mary will be held at a later date.

Mary was...

November 22, 2016

Kenneth Robert Hill age 87, of St. Louis, MI, passed away Tuesday, November 22, 2016, at Mid Michigan Medical Center-Midland, MI.

Private Family Services will be held.

Kenneth was born in Dearborn, Michigan on June 13, 1929, the son of Frank and Ruth (Bryans) Hill.  Ken married Reenee Gallagher on February 17, 1951 in Dearborn,...

November 21, 2016

Delphine Rae Lippert, 92, formerly of Ithaca,  passed away Monday, November 21, 2016 at home with family in Rothbury, Michigan.  Her home-going celebration will be on Saturday, November 26 th at 11:00 a.m. at Oasis Community Church, 1250 E. Washington Road, in Ithaca.   Burial will be at the Ithaca Cemetery.  Visitation will be Friday, November 25, at Oasis Community...