Obituaries

Jan 8, 2014

Ella L. Bancroft, of Maple Rapids, died January 8, 2014 at the age of 92. Born November 22, 1921 to Dee and Bernice (Parkinson) Elwood, Ella worked as a homemaker and ran the family farm. She married AD Wellington Bancroft in 1943 and he preceded her in death in 2005.

Surviving are her children; Juddson (Joan) Bancroft,...

Jan 8, 2014

Kerri (Thelen) Tipps of Fowler, MI died January 8, 2014 at the age of 35. Born June 15, 1978 to Kenneth and Barbara (Ward) Thelen, Kerri was the youngest of four children. She was a 1996 graduate of Fowler High School and worked as an administrative assistant in the insurance industry. Kerri was a member of Most Holy Trinity...

Jan 7, 2014

Constance "Connie" Marie May, age 70, of St. Johns, Michigan died Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at Hospice House of Shiawassee County, Owosso, Michigan. There will be a memorial service in the spring. Connie was born in Pontiac, Michigan on November 6, 1943, the daughter of Pete and Olga (Sarkon ) Panoff. On May 6, 1983 she married Bill D. May...

Jan 6, 2014

Donald Lee Salters, age 89, of Lansing, MI passed away Monday, January 6, 2014, at his home. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Johns, MI on Friday, January 10, 2014 at 2:00 P.M., with Rev. Brad Lockwood officiating. Burial will follow at South Bingham Township Cemetery St. Johns, Michigan. Visitation will be held on Thursday,...

Jan 6, 2014

Evelyn M. Graham, of St. Johns, MI died January 4, 2014 at the age of 94. Born December 20, 1919 in Livonia, MI to Charles Ernest and Anna Marie (Rossow) Schmidt, Evelyn worked as a cook in a local restaurant. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fowler. Evelyn was an avid Tigers fan and loved...

Jan 5, 2014

Paul "Babe" Surdenik, age 87, of St. Johns, MI passed away Sunday, January 5, 2014. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Johns, MI on Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 11:00 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Michael Williams officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 8,...

Jan 4, 2014

Delmas Johanne Moldenhauer age 86, of St. Johns, MI, was promoted home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 4, 2014. She was born February 5, 1927 in Sault Saint Marie, MI and was the oldest child of Percy and Sarah "Sadie" (Morrison) Wallis. Delmas grew up on Spruce Grove Farm between Rudyard and Pickford,...

Jan 4, 2014

Mary Paksi, of Ovid, MI died Friday January 3, 2014 at the age of 89. Born May 2, 1924 to Joseph and Elizabeth (Thread) Deming, Mary was a homemaker who enjoyed reading and spending special time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She also enjoyed attending the Senior Citizen luncheons weekly with her 2 year old great granddaughter, Abby....

Jan 3, 2014

Wilmer Allen Barber, age 62, died January 1, 2014. He was born in Greenville, MI, July 17, 1951, the son of Arthur and Carol (Lehman) Barber. Wilmer attended Mt. Hope Church in St. Johns and was a member of U.A.W. Local #952. He married Wanda Baker and she preceded him in death on June 16, 2008.

He...

Jan 2, 2014

Jeramy L. Ramirez, age 38, of Ovid, MI passed away Thursday, January 2, 2014 after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie, MI, on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Audie Clairmont officiating. Visitation will be held on Monday, January 6, 2014 from 2-8, with the family present...

Jan 2, 2014

Larry I. Miller, Jr., age 67, died January 1, 2014 in the arms of his wife after a short battle with cancer. He was born January 22, 1946, the son of Larry and Alice (Ordway) Miller Sr.

Larry grew up in Ovid on his family farm. He made his Varsity Football and Track teams his freshman year...

Jan 2, 2014

Imogene Heuer, age 85, went to be with the Lord on December 31, 2013. She was born in Pontiac, MI, on November 16, 1928, the daughter of Walter and Charlene (Paris) Beaudin. She married Doyne Heuer on June 25, 1949 and he preceded her in death on February 15, 2009. Imogene attended First Baptist Church of St. Johns, was...

Dec 29, 2013

Owen D. Wingle, age 76, of Bannister, Michigan peacefully passed from this earth to his eternal home on Sunday, December 29, 2013. His hard fought battle with Parkinson disease has ended. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Cyril's Catholic Church Bannister, MI on Friday, January 3, 2014 at 10:00 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Rick Bokinskie officiating....

Dec 25, 2013

Michael C. Leydorf, age 67, of Beaverton, MI died Wednesday, December 25th, 2013 at Mid-Michigan Medical Center, Midland, Michigan. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI on Monday, December 30th at 12:00 P.M. , Pastor Kathy Leydorf-Keck will officiate. Burial will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery Harrison, MI. Visitation will be held on Sunday...

Dec 24, 2013

Alfred J. Lounds passed away on December 24, 2013 at the age of 86. He was born on October 7, 1927, in Sault Saint Marie, the son of George and Lillian (Pagett) Lounds and lived in St. Johns most of his life.

Al was a retired millwright from Oldsmobile, retiring in 1987 after 40 years. He was...

Dec 23, 2013

Garlan Everett Denning, age 62, of Lansing, MI died Monday, December 23, 2013 at his home. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns, MI, on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 1:00 P.M., with Dr. Michael Hixson officiating. Burial will take place at Gunnisonville Cemetery in DeWitt Township, MI. Visitation will be held on Friday, December...

Dec 21, 2013

Dec 19, 2013

Opal Piggott, age 100, passed away on December 18, 2013.

She is survived by her children, Donald (Liz) Piggott, Nancy Burns, Denny (Linda) Piggott and Donna Rae (Richard) Fox. Opal has 23 grandchildren, Barb, Pam, Vicky, Bob, Terry, Tony, Rick, Vicky, Mark, Jennifer, Connie, Cathy, Cheryl, Joe, Jim, Eric, Susan, Nick, Bill, Penny, Andrea, Scott and Melissa,...

Dec 19, 2013

Mark H. Pung, age 83, passed away December 18, 2013 in St. Johns. He was born in Westphalia, on January 23, 1930, the son of Norman and Martha (Simon) Pung. Mark married Daria Rademacher on May 5, 1951 and she preceded him in death on February 2, 2013. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the K...

Dec 18, 2013

Anthony "Ted" Thelen of Fowler, MI died Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at the age of 81. Born December 30, 1931 to Andrew and Leona (Arens) Thelen, Ted served in the US Army, worked as a pipe fitter, and was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler and the Knights of Columbus. But most of all, Ted...