Obituaries

May 23, 2014

John W. Schafer, age 83, died May 22, 2014. He was born in Fowler, May 19, 1931, the son of Edward and Laura (Goerge) Schafer. John was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church and the Fowler Conservation Club. He was a supervisor with the Department of Public Works in Fowler for 28 years before retiring.

...

May 23, 2014

Rita Marie (Schafer) Schaefer, age 85, died May 23, 2014. She was born in Fowler, May 28, 1928 , the daughter of Joseph and Dora (Schueller) Schafer. Rita was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pewamo and a devoted mother and homemaker. Rita married Carl Schaefer in Fowler on October 18, 1955 and he survives her.

May 20, 2014

Edna passed away May 19, 2014 at the age of 92. She was born on March 17, 1922 to Edward and Emma (Schrader) Luecht, the sixth of seven girls. She was a life-long Lutheran; a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church and St. Johns Lutheran Church. As a young girl, she worked for Roy Briggs, Justice of the Peace,...

May 20, 2014

Richard Frain 'Dick' Wiser, age 85, of St. Louis, MI passed away Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at Pine River Healthcare Center, Pine River Township, MI. A Memorial Service will be held at Peace Lutheran Church Alma, Michigan on Sunday, May 25, 2014 at 2:30 P.M., with Rev. Thomas C. Messer officiating. Richard was born in St. Louis, Michigan on December...

May 19, 2014

Hildegard W. Nacker of St. Johns, MI died Saturday, May 17, 2014 at the age of 97. Born October 23, 1916 to Frederick and Augusta (Ludemann) Garchow, Hildegard was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. She married Russell Nacker in 1941 and he preceded her in death in 1971.

Surviving are her daughter, Carol (Henry) Burkhardt...

May 15, 2014

Dawn Ione Burnham, age 91, of St. Johns, MI passed away Thursday, May 15, 2014 at Sparrow Health Systems, Sparrow Campus, Lansing, MI. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns, MI on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. Pastor Tyler Barlage will officiate. Burial will take place at Eureka Cemetery, Clinton County, Michigan. Visitation...

May 14, 2014

Duane Burl, devoted and loving grandpa to Phinneaus and Dane, passed away, Wednesday, May 13, 2014 at the age of 64. He will be greatly missed by both family and friends, especially those he worked closely with at St. Johns High School.

Duane is survived by his wife, Teresa, and children; Robert, Sara (Jeremi), and Laura; grandchildren,...

May 14, 2014

Hazel B. Johnson of Maple Rapids, MI died Monday, May 13, 2014 at the age of 95. Born August 16, 1918 in Clinton County to Robert J. and Anna Melinda (Roberts) Hicks, Hazel worked in the manufacturing industry. She married Floyd Bishop in November 1937 and he preceded her in death in 1967. She married Roy Stewart and he...

May 13, 2014

Paul F. Fox passed away May 13, 2014. Born in Fowler, Michigan May 22, 1916, the son of Urban and Dorothy (Feldpausch) Fox. he was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Holy Name Society and formerly co-owned Fox Implement for 38 years. He was also a volunteer fireman. He graduated from Fowler High School in 1934. Paul...

May 13, 2014

Joseph Florez Zavala, age 85, of St. Louis, MI passed away on Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at Woodland Hospice in Mt. Pleasant, MI. A Memorial Mass will be held at Nativity of the Lord Parish, Mt. St. Joseph, St. Louis, MI on Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 11:00 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Nate Harburg officiating. Joseph was born in Vernon,...

May 11, 2014

Loren G. "Mike" Rose, age 88, of Alma, MI went to be with his Lord on Sunday, May 11, 2014 at Gratiot Medical Center, Alma, MI. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, May 16, 2014 at 1:00 P.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, MI, with Pastor Randall Mead officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery St....

May 10, 2014

Maxine M. Miller, of St. Johns, died Friday, May 9, 2014 at the age of 92. Born April 17, 1922 in Greenbush Township, Clinton County, MI to Luman Wilcox and Gladys A. (Dunham) Hall, Maxine worked as a cosmetology instructor at the Owosso Beauty Academy and was the Theater Manager and Owner of the Clinton Theater. She was a...

May 9, 2014

Roger Peck Oberlitner, age 69, of Ithaca, Michigan went to be with his Lord on Friday, May 9, 2014 at his home. A Memorial Service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI on Monday, May 12, 2014 at 11:00 A.M., with Mr. Dan Dinsmore officiating. Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 11, 2014 from 4 -...

May 8, 2014

Victor Rasmussen, age 74, of Edmore, MI went to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 8, 2014 at Spectrum Health-Kelsey Memorial Hospital, Lakeview, MI. Funeral Services will be held at Faith United Methodist Church Edmore, MI on Monday, May 12, 2014 at 1:00 P.M., with Pastor Michael Riegler officiating. Burial will take place at Vinewood Cemetery, Edmore, MI. Visitation...

May 5, 2014

Keith Lynn Gager; age 54; of Alma; passed away suddenly on May 5, 2014. He was born on August 16, 1959 the son of Levi and Bonnie Gager. He married Leta McConnell on January 23, 1982. Keith was a member of the Iron Workers Union. He helped his father with farming. He enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, mushrooming, gardening, 4...

May 5, 2014

Karen M. (Bertram) Brockwell, of Lansing and formerly of Fowler, died Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the age of 46. Born February 14, 1968 to Jerry and Barb (Michalek) Bertram, she worked at AIG as a claims adjuster and was a member of St. Gerard Catholic Church. Karen married Brandon Brockwell and he survives her.

Also surviving...

May 4, 2014

Eugene A. Benjamin, of Fowler, MI, died Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the age of 92. Born February 20, 1922 to Fred and Cora (Patterson) Benjamin, he was a farmer and a member of Maranatha United Brethren Church in Perrinton. In 1952, Eugene married Donna (Ruedger) Benjamin and she preceded him in death in 2006.

Surviving are...

May 4, 2014

Thomas D. Thurlby, of Fowler, MI died Saturday, May 3, 2014 at the age of 68. Born January 1, 1946 to Lloyd and Elenore (Hillton) Thurlby, Tom served in the US Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of VFW Post #3733. Tom married Carolyn (Epps) Thurlby in 1964 and she survives him.

Also surviving...

May 2, 2014

William L. Higgins, died May 1, 2014 at the age of 88. He was born on October 6, 1925 in Laingsburg, the son of George and Louie (Bush) Higgins. Bill worked as a heavy equipment operator for Searles Const. for many years.

He is survived by his sister, Virginia Blackmer and brother, Eugene (Rusty) Higgins all of...

April 30, 2014

Hazel Alice Beardslee of Ovid, MI died Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at the age of 95. Born November 3, 1918 to Herman and Agot (Larvick) Ealy, Hazel graduated from Flint Central High School, was a licensed beautician, and the cafeteria director at Westwood Heights Schools in Flint and Ovid-Elsie Public Schools. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and...