Obituaries

January 11, 2023

    Mervin Eugene Flegel, age 92, of Ithaca, MI, passed away Wednesday, January 11, 2023, at Rosewood Adult Foster Care, Ithaca, MI .

     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes Ithaca, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, January 16, 2023, with Pastor Mona Kindel officiating.  Burial will take place at Ithaca Cemetery. Visitation will be...

January 9, 2023

    Dennis Elton Hunt, age 67, of Laingsburg, MI, passed away Monday, January 9, 2023, at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI. 

     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Houghton Chapel, Ovid, MI, at 1:00 P.M., on Friday, January 13, 2023, with Pastor Mona Kindel officiating.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2023, from...

January 8, 2023

     Bonnie Lynn Barrett, age 60, of Ithaca, MI, passed away on Sunday, January 8, 2023, as a result of an automobile accident.  Her husband Scott was also injured in this accident and is currently at Michigan Medicine, formerly, University of Michigan Hospital.  Arrangements are pending at this time and an obituary will be forthcoming in the next few days....

January 7, 2023

     Dwight Dean Shepherd, age 68, of Alma, MI, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023, at MyMichigan Medical Center - Midland, MI, with his family by his side.

     A Memorial Service will be held at North Star Township Hall, North Star, MI, on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at 1:00 P.M.

     Dwight was born in Alma, Michigan...

January 5, 2023

     Ronda Marie Gorney, age 55 passed away the evening of January 5th, 2023, at the University of Michigan Hospital, in Ann Arbor, MI.

     Ronda was born in Saginaw, MI on May 5th, 1967. She is the daughter of Ron & Jean Gorney of Elwell, MI. She graduated from Alma High School. Ronda worked in the office of Pine...

January 5, 2023

     Barry Lynn Hallead, age 75, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Thursday, January 5, 2023, at his home with his wife and family by his side.

     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, January 9, 2023, with Pastor Mona Kindel officiating.  Burial will...

January 4, 2023

Helen Esther Daymon, age 89, of Sumner, formerly of Flat Rock, died Wednesday, January 4, in New Haven Township, Sumner.

Helen was born in Alma on January 9, 1927, the daughter of Louis Raymond and Henrietta Marguerite (Riggs) Nevills.  She married Lavern Roy Daymon and they made their home in Flat Rock where she lived for almost...

January 2, 2023

Robert Strong of Ithaca, Michigan passed away on January 2, 2023 at the age of 85. Bob was born on June 5, 1937. He was the eldest son of Helen (Kellogg) Strong and Delbert Strong. He attend Yound Country School (a one room country school) of Newark Township in Gratiot County from kindergarten to the eighth grade. He then...

December 30, 2022

     Gary Brian "Gip" Snyder, age 77, of Maple Rapids, MI, passed away on Friday, December 30, 2022, at his home.

     A Memorial Service will be held at the First Baptist Church, St. Johns, Michigan, on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 1:00 P.M. with Pastor Tim Knaus officiating.    Visitation will be held from 11:00 A.M. until the time of...

December 30, 2022

     Paul Arnold Esch, age 82, of Fowler, Michigan, passed away Friday, December 30, 2022, at Green Acres Retirement Living , Ionia, Michigan. 

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler, Michigan, at 10:30 A.M. on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, with Rev. Fr. Eric Weber presiding. Burial will take place at...

December 29, 2022

     Helen Lena Mitosinka, age 95, of St. Johns, MI, passed away Thursday, December 29, 2022, at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor, St. Johns, MI. 

     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes - Osgood Chapel, St. Johns, MI at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, December 31, 2022, with Pastor Andy Croel officiating.  A private burial will...

December 26, 2022

     Douglas Arthur Williams, age 80, of St. Johns, MI, passed away on Monday, December 26, 2022, at Sparrow Hospital, Lansing, MI.

     A Celebration of Life will be held in the spring, and details are forthcoming.

     Doug was born in St. Johns, Michigan on May 17, 1942; he was the eldest son of Arthur and Leona (Strouse) Williams....

December 25, 2022

        Rita Delores Zapata, age 58, of Gratiot County Michigan, passed away with her family by her side, on Sunday, December 25, 2022, at McLaren Central Michigan Hospital, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

     A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Nativity of the Lord Parish, Mt. St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Louis, Michigan, on Tuesday, January 3, 2023,...

December 24, 2022

      Lyle Robert Huntoon, age 91, of Ovid, MI, passed away Saturday, December 24, 2022, at Ovid Healthcare Center.     A Private Graveside Service was held at Ford Cemetery, Elsie, MI.  A Celebration of Lyle's Life will be held from 1:00-4:00 P.M. with a time of sharing at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Chapin United Methodist...

December 22, 2022

     Jeanne Marie Swanchara, age 87, of St. Johns, Michigan, passed away Thursday, December 22, 2022, at Sparrow Hospital, St. Johns, Michigan.

     Family services will be held at a later date.

    Jeanne was born in St. Johns, Michigan on September 24, 1935, the daughter of Charles Frank Bensinger and Wilma Pearl (Whitaker) Bensinger.  Jeanne graduated from...

December 20, 2022

Jennie Elizabeth (Beach) Caris, 96, was born to Otto and Lydia (Snyder) Beach on January 26, 1926.  Liz, as she was known to family and friends, was taken home by her Lord and Savior December 20, 2022.  She is survived by her sister, Luella Arnold, Lansing, MI, and one son Roger (Helen) Caris, Vestaburg, MI.  She also has one...

December 19, 2022

     Frederick Allen “Fred” Crandell, age 75, of Ovid, MI, passed away Monday, December 19, 2022, at his home with his family by his side.

     In keeping with Fred's wishes, a cremation has taken place and there will be no services.

     Frederick was born in Lansing, Michigan on June 29, 1947, the son of Frederick Joseph and Margaret Ann...

December 16, 2022

     Triston Robert Guy Yaklin, age 24, of Ithaca, MI, passed away Friday, December 16, 2022.

     Memorial Service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes,  Ithaca, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 14, 2023, with Pastor Doug Strait officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service beginning at 10:00 A.M.

     Triston was born...

December 16, 2022

      Michael W. "Mike" Hanley, Sr., age 39, of Elsie, MI, passed away Friday, December 16, 2022.

     Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes,  Elsie, MI, at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, December 21, 2022, with his brother Pastor John Hanley officiating. Burial will take place at Ford Cemetery, Elba Township, MI. Visitation will be held...

December 16, 2022

     Coleen Ann Trexler, age 90, of Ithaca, Michigan, passed away on Friday, December 16, 2022, at Maple View Assisted Living, Ithaca, Michigan.

       Coleen was born on January 24, 1932, to Bernard and Nilah Cumming of Ithaca, Michigan. She was a lifelong resident of Ithaca, MI. She graduated from Ithaca High School and Central Michigan College. Her time working...