Obituaries

May 22, 2024

      Agnes Cecile (Smith) Schomisch, of Fowler, MI, went to be with the Lord on May 22, 2024, at the age of 99. She passed peacefully as her daughters were frantically trying to kill a spider on the back porch. 

     Agnes was born in Westphalia, Michigan, on January 11, 1925, to John and Ida Smith. Agnes raised...

May 21, 2024

      Sandra Mau "Sandy" Kimmel, age 78, of Brant, MI, passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at her home.  Sandy was the heart of our home and family and has left an emptiness that cannot be replaced.    A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2024, from 1-4 P.M. at the Marion Springs Gun...

May 19, 2024

Richard J Merchant of Ithaca, Michigan, was born in Alma on August 9, 1929 and died May 19, 2024. His parents were Beatrice B. (Terry) and Jay Merchant, also step-mother, Elsie (Butzin) Merchant. A sister, Lenna (R.L.) Grandy predeceased him. Richard attended country schools in New Haven Township and Fulton High School.

In 1948 he...

May 19, 2024

      Gerald Paul Schafer, age 82, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Sunday, May 19, 2024, at his home surrounded by his family. 

      A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Johns, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, May 24, 2024, with Rev. Fr. Michael Williams presiding. Burial will take...

May 19, 2024

      Josephine E. “Jo" Gould, age 84, of Breckenridge, MI, passed away Sunday, May 19, 2024, at Woodland Hospice House, Mt. Pleasant, MI.     Cremation has taken place per her request and a memorial service will be held at a later date.       Josephine was born in Richmond, Indiana on April 24, 1940, the daughter of Clarence...

May 16, 2024

      Florine Ethelyn “Flip” Brown, age 94, of St. Louis, Mi passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 16, 2024, surrounded by her family.        Florine was born in Pleasant Valley on December 7, 1929 the daughter of George and Gertrude Bailey.  She was a lifelong resident of the St. Louis area and graduated from St. Louis...

May 15, 2024

      Darrell Dee Breidinger, age 87, of Ithaca, MI, passed away Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Schnepp Health Care Center, St. Louis, MI.

      Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI, at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 18, 2024, with Pastor Carl Cecil officiating.  Burial will take place at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Breckenridge,...

May 14, 2024

      Alberto Leal "Al" Longoria, age 65, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at his home.   

      Alberto was born in Lansing, MI on January 9, 1959, the son of Eufemio Cantu and Julia (Leal) Longoria.  He was a graduate of St. Johns High School.   Alberto served his country in the...

May 13, 2024

      Ruth Ann “Aunt Ruth Ann” Sloat, age 84, of Ovid, MI, passed away Monday, May 13, 2024, at Ovid Healthcare Center, Ovid, MI.

      Ruth Ann was born in St. Johns, MI on March 4, 1940, the daughter of Forest and Marguerite (Wisner) Sloat and lived in the Ovid area her entire life.  Ruth Ann was...

May 10, 2024

 Kurt Dennis Coon

     It was late December 1967. The last exams of the day had been completed earlier in the day.   That evening many students could be found gathering in the Wilson (dormitory) Grill before leaving the following morning for Christmas break. 

     In the style of the day I was wearing tight white Levis as I was...

May 10, 2024

       Glen Quentin Reist, age 54, of Ashley, MI, passed away Friday, May 10, 2024, at his home. 

       Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI, at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 16, 2024, with Pastor Rex Albring officiating. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 12:00 P.M. until the time of...

May 8, 2024

      William Wallace Dennis, age 80, of Ithaca, MI, passed away Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at MyMichigan Medical Center, Alma, MI. 

      Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, with Pastor Mona Kindel officiating. Burial will take place at Mt....

May 8, 2024

Gloria Marion Kleinhans passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 in Lansing, Michigan, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Born to Michael and Regina Binfet on January 18, 1944,...

May 7, 2024

      Patricia Ruth "Pat" MacDonald, age 94, of Ithaca, MI, passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at her home. 

      Funeral Services will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Ithaca at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, with Rev. Dr. Susan Sickelka officiating. Burial will take place at Ithaca Cemetery, Ithaca, MI. Visitation will be...

April 30, 2024

      Beverly Jane "Bev" Geisenhaver, age 73, of Ovid, MI, passed away Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at her home surrounded by her family. 

      Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Houghton Chapel, Ovid, MI, at 3:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 4, 2024.  Burial will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery, Ovid, MI....

April 27, 2024

Gordon Ray Ward, age 88, of Alma, died Saturday, April. 27, 2024, at Country Friends Assisted Living in Sumner.

He was born February4, 1936 in St. Louis, MI, the son of Ralph and Geraldine (Whitehead) Ward.  He graduated from St. Louis High School and entered the Army in 1959, serving in Germany as a medic. Upon his...

April 24, 2024

     Mary Wynn Royce, age 76, of St. Johns, MI, (formerly of Lansing, MI), passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, St. Johns, MI. 

     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, on Friday, May 3, 2024, at 11:00 A.M., with Rev. Fr. Michael Williams presiding. She will be laid to...

April 24, 2024

     Irene Medina, age 96, of Ovid, MI, passed away Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at Hospice House of Shiawassee County, Owosso, MI.  Irene resided most of her life in Ovid. 

    A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church 510 N. Mabbit Road, Ovid, MI 48866 at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 11, 2024,...

April 23, 2024

      Virginia Bell Davis, age 95, of St. Johns, MI passed away Monday, April 22, 2024, at Burcham Hills, East Lansing, MI. 

      Funeral Services will be held at St. Peter Lutheran Church, St. Johns, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, April 27, 2024, with Rev. Timothy Bayer officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until...

April 21, 2024

      Gwendolyn Ruth Nash, age 71, of Elsie, MI, passed away Sunday, April 21, 2024, at her home. 

      Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Elsie, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Thursday, April 25, 2024, with Pastor Kathy Leydorf-Keck officiating. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 from 2-8 P.M. with family...