Obituaries

March 12, 2013

LeOna M. Karber, a feisty, loving, and very classy lady left this world peacefully March 11, 2013 to join the Lord, family, and many special friends in heaven. She was born April 30, 1919 in St. Johns, Michigan the daughter of George and Vi Lettie May (Crandell)Purvis. LeOna married Joseph Karber on July 29, 1944 in St. Johns and...

March 11, 2013

Arlene Dionise, age 93, of Ithaca, born March 26, 1919, in Ithaca, the daughter of Paul and Mary (Fortino) Dionise, died Monday, March 11, 2013, at her home in Ithaca.

Ms. Dionise graduated form Ithaca High School in 1937.  She worked with her father, brother, and sister operating Dionise Market for the next 50 years, until their...

March 7, 2013

Michael D. "Mike" Johnson II, age 42, of St. Johns, MI died Thursday, March 7, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family after a very courageous battle with cancer. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns, MI, at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, March 9, 2013 with Pastor Russ McCoy officiating. Visitation will be held...

March 6, 2013

William A. Gray, age 82, of Ithaca, MI died Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at Ashley Care Center in Ashley, MI. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI on Friday, March 8, 2013 at 2:30 P.M., with Jo Jones officiating. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 8, 2013 from 1:30 until time of service with...

March 5, 2013

Don Arens passed away on March 5, 2013 at the age of 91. He was born July 12, 1921 in Westphalia, the son of Albert and Philomena (Nau) Arens. Don married Gertrude (Schueller) Arens in Fowler on November 20, 1950 and she survives him.

Don is also survived by three children, Ann (Tom) Rademacher of Eagle, MI,...

March 4, 2013

Rex R. Crumbaugh, 68, Bethany Township, passed away at home, Monday, March 4, 2013, from cancer. Rex was born June 19, 1944 at the old Smith Memorial Hospital in Alma. He was the second child and first son of Robert and Marcelle (Oswald) Crumbaugh. He was a life-long resident of Bethany Township where he worked with passion at his faming...

March 1, 2013

Phillip D. Maurer, age 77, passed away on February 28, 2013 in Lansing, Michigan. Phil was born October 26, 1935 in Springport, Michigan, the son of Leslie and Marguerite ( Cochran) Maurer. He married Barbara Martens on May 29, 1965 in Riley Township, Michigan and she survives him. Phil was a retired postal worker, member of St. Johns Lutheran...

February 28, 2013

Iolene Edith Hyde, age 92, of Ithaca, Michigan died Thursday, February 28, 2013 at Carson City Hospital. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI, on Monday, March 4, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. with Mr. Thomas Bradley officiating. Burial will take place at North Star Cemetery, North Star, MI. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March...

February 28, 2013

Elaine Whitford, age 75, of Perrinton, Michigan died Thursday, February 28, 2013 at Laurels of Fulton, Perrinton, Michigan. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI on Monday, March 4, 2013 at 2:00 P.M., with Rev. Bill Dye officiating. Burial will take place at North Star Cemetery, North Star, MI. Visitation will be held on Saturday,...

February 27, 2013

Beverly Edith "Bev" Shock, age 81, of St. Louis, MI died Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at Masonic Pathways, Alma, MI. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Louis, MI on Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. with Jean Ann Thrush officiating. Burial will take place at Chapel Garden Cemetery, Seville Township, MI. The family will...

February 27, 2013

Margaret Agnes Smith, age 92, of Breckenridge, MI passed away Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at her home. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Ithaca, MI on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. with Pastor Gary Miller officiating. Burial will take place at Emerson Township Cemetery, Gratiot County, MI. Visitation will be held on Friday March...

February 27, 2013

Robert L. DeBolt, Sr., age 71, of St. Louis, MI passed away Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at MidMichigan Medical Center-Gratiot, Alma, MI. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Louis, MI on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 11:00 A.M., with Rev. Scott Thrasher and Pastor Jonathon DeBolt officiating. Burial will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery,...

February 26, 2013

Richard Walter "Rich" Gruenewald, age 73, of Dewitt, MI died Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at his home. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, 2057 N. Lansing, Street, St. Johns, MI on Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Desmond Bell officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, MI. Visitation will be...

February 25, 2013

Roman Rademacher passed away February 24, 2013 at the age of 87 in Lansing, Michigan. Roman was born on October 11, 1925 in Fowler, Michigan, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Knoop) Rademacher. He was a member of Most Holy Trinity Parish, retired supervisor at Sealed Power and a member of the V.F.W. Post #3733. On July 3, 1950...

February 25, 2013

Rose T. Kienitz, age 82, of Ithaca, MI passed away Monday, February 25, 2013 at Davis Hospice Center, Cheyenne, WY. Memorial Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI on Saturday, July 20, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. Burial will take place at the Marion Springs Township Cemetery, Marion Springs, MI. Rose was born in Saginaw, Michigan on...

February 25, 2013

Eulah Marie Blemaster passed away on February 24, 2013 at the age of 84. Born January 14, 1929, in Perrinton, she was the daughter of Cecil and Marjorie (Smith) Woodbury. She was a member of Maple Rapids United Methodist Church, Maple Rapids United Methodist Women, and the Rebekah Lodge #517. Eulah married Jack Falor in 1951, and they were...

February 24, 2013

Walter J. Ruessmann, age 90, of Manassas, Virginia, formerly of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, died Sunday, February 24, 2013. Walter was born April 27, 1922 in Cologne, Germany, the son of Hubert and Johanna Ruessman. Following graduation from General Motors Institute, he served two years of active duty in the Navy during World War II. He worked for 42 years...

February 24, 2013

Marie Augusta Neitzke, age 100, four months and 16 days, of rural Breckenridge, MI, passed away Sunday, February 24, 2013 at her home. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, February 28, 2013 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wheeler, MI at 11:00 A.M. with Pastor Paul Houser officiating. Visitation will take place from 10:00 A.M until the time of the service...

February 24, 2013

Geneva Elizabeth "Toot" Reeves, age 91, of Carson City, MI passed away Sunday, February 24, 2013 at Eaton Community Palliative Care, Charlotte, MI. Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca Chapel Ithaca, MI on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 1:00 P.M. Pastor George Showers will officiate. Burial will take place at North Star Cemetery, North Star,...

February 24, 2013

Larry Alan Eiseler, age 54, of Maple City, MI passed away on February 22, 2013. Born July 2, 1958 in Delaware, OH, he was the son of John A. and Esther (Hufnagel) Eiseler. Larry was a retired General Motors electrician. He is survived by his wife, Ann Pasichnyk.

Also surviving are his children Dr. Nicole Eiseler, Dr....