| Joseph Koenigsknecht | Anna Bartek |
| Joseph Koenigsknecht Joseph Ignatz Koenigsknecht, 90, of Fowler died February 20, 2000. He was born Nov. 3, 1909 in Dallas Township, the son of Joseph and Ida (Feldpausch) Koenigsknecht. He lived all of his life in the Fowler area. He was the oldest surviving descendant of the Koenigsknecht family which immigrated to this country in 1890. He married Katherine Zimmermann Jan. 7, 1937 in St. Mary's Church in Westphalia. She preceded him in death Sept. 26, 1999. He had deep respect for Katherine and treated her as an equal in a loving partnership which lasted 62 years. He was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Fowler and the Holy Name Society. He was a farmer as well as building and grounds maintenance provider for Fowler Public High School. Joseph was known for his capacity for hard work and took extreme pride in the work he did for the Fowler Public Schools, which he served faithfully for 25 years. He recognized the importance of education in his community and was instrumental in bringing school bus transportation to the local school district serving both the public and parochial schools. Many of his children and grandchildren are educators, this being additional testimony to his high regard for education. Surviving are six sons, Carl (Judy) of Fowler, Roy (Marilie) of Worthington, Ohio, Robert (fiancee Barb) of Warren, Luke (Rosemary) of St. Johns, Joseph (Polly) of West Bloomfield, Donald (Colleen) of St. Johns; three daughters, Kay (Frank) Hufnagel of Fowler, Mary Ann (Roger) Kaminskis of Salinas, Calif., and Jane Fox of Mt. Pleasant; 28 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; brother, Alfred (Anna Rose) Koenigsknecht of Fowler; sisters Regina Schmitt of Westphalia, Veronica Pohl of Pewamo and Irene Harr of Fowler. He was preceded in death by a brother, Anthony Koenigsknecht; sisters, Frances Koenigsknecht and Anna Schmitt; granddaughter, Meg Katherine Koenigsknecht; and great-granddaughters, Amber Rose Hufnagel and Mary Elizabeth Fox. The funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 23 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Msgr. Sylvester Fedewa officiating. The Rite of Committal followed at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery, Fowler. Memorials may be made to the Most Holy Trinity Educational Trust Fund or Clinton Memorial Home Health Care/Hospice. Cynthia M. Jenkins, 48, of Maple Rapids, passed away Feb. 20, 2000. She was a homemaker and attended Hope Bible Baptist Church. Funeral services were Feb. 24 at the Abbott Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Home, Maple Rapids, burial at Payne Cemetery with Pastor Steven Lang officiating. Sam Edgar Prowant, 39, of St. Johns, passed away Feb. 21, 2000. He was born in St. Johns April 17, 1960 to Edgar and Marie (Georgia) Prowant. He graduated from St. Johns High School in 1978 and was employed by Berry Roll Drywall for the last nine years. He liked all animals, especially dogs, loved music, camping, and fishing. He was always willing to give a helping hand and continues to give even in death by donating his organs so that others may benefit. He is survived by his mother, Marie Smith; father and step-mother, Edgar and Betty Prowant, all of St. Johns; two brothers, Ron Prowant of St. Johns, Jon and his beloved sister-in-law Mary Prowant of Ovid; half-brother, Mick Ludwick of St. Johns; two step-sisters, Janie (Brad) Quinn of St. Johns, Mary Jo (Werner) Bartels of Tonganoxie, Kan.; one step-brother, Gary (Louann) Hinton of Lennon; two nieces, Michelle Ludwick Barclay and Jordan Prowant; and one nephew, Mike (Sheryl) Ludwick. There were no services. Arrangements by the Osgood Funeral Home. Donna Rae Pope, 55 went to her Lord Feb. 19, 2000 after a long and courageous battle with Lymphoma at Ingham Medical Center. She was born June 29, 1944 to Donald & Marie (Eisler) Alvord. She attended Elsie Schools and graduated from Elsie High in 1962. For the past 14 years, she was employed by Squires Equipment in Eaton Rapids in the school bus division. Donna is survived by her husband Raymond G. Pope Jr. whom she married Oct. 3, 1964 in St. Johns; daughter Theresa (Phillip) Benson of Augusta N. J.; son David (Heather) Pope of DeWitt. She is also survived by three of her greatest loves, her grandchildren, Logan Phillip Benson, Blake Isabelle Benson and Jacob David Pope; her father Donald Alvord of Houghton Lake, brother Gary(Rita) Alvord of Ovid, sister Monica Stechschulte of Dayton, Ohio; father-in-law and mother-in-law, who loved her like their own, Raymond C. (Irene) Pope of St. Johns. She was preceded in death by daughter, Mary Anne Pope, and mother, Marie Alvord. Funeral services were Feb. 22 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. Kenneth McDonald and Deacon Robert McPhilamy officiating. Burial was at Mt. Rest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Clinton County. Elizabeth "Libby" Ann White, 47, of Lansing, went to be with her Lord Feb. 20, 2000. She attended Everett High School, Lansing Community College (where she worked in the counseling center) and Michigan State University. She was a member of South Baptist Church where she was very active and sang in the choir. She was very artistic and an avid reader. Her love of nature and God's creations were close to her heart. Her smile and outgoing personality showed, she never let her own problems get in the way of loving others and supporting them. She was preceded in death by her step-father, Bruce Hulbert of Ashley, and her grandparents Howard and Esther McColly of East Lansing. She is survived by her husband of 24 years, Gary; brother-in-law, Robert; father, John Clifford of Redding Calif.; mother, Janet McColly Hulbert of Ashley; brothers, D. Bruce Beane of Ashley and Robert Beane of Atlanta, Ga.; aunt and uncle, Margaret and Ron Rybicki of Charlevoix, aunt Patricia Schwartz of Atlanta, Ga.; many cousins and a host of friends. Funeral services were Feb. 23 at the Gorsline-Runciman Co. Lansing Chapel with the the Rev. Lewis Wood, officiating. Memorials may be made to the Ingham County Humane Society. Anna Marie Bartek, 85, of Bannister, passed away Feb. 21, 2000. She was a homemaker. Mass of Christian burial was Feb. 24 at St. Cyril's Catholic Church in Bannister. The family was served by the Smith Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel. Mary E. Nixon, 89, of Bannister, passed away Feb. 22, 2000. She was born Dec. 2, 1910 in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Michael and Anna (Uram) Skriba. She resided most of her life in the Bannister area. She was the former owner and operator of Nixon Grocery in Bannister until her retirement in 1972. She married Ralph Nixon in Ashley March 24, 1934. He preceded her in death in 1962. Survivors include one daughter, MaryAnn (John) Schlarf of St. Johns; two sons, Ralph (Carol) Nixon and Fred (Carole) Nixon, all of Bannister; 14 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, John in 1997; and four brothers. Funeral services were Feb. 25 at Smith Funeral Home, Elsie Chapel, burial at Riverside Cemetery with the Rev. Jana Jirak and the Rev. Jerry Drummond officiating. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice. Beatrice F. O'Dell, 92, of St. Johns, passed away Feb. 17, 2000. She was born Feb. 23, 1907 in Clinton County. She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Wellington J. (November 1995); one son, Carlton; and four grandchildren. Surviving are two daughters, Alice (Alex) Keener of DeWitt and Marjorie Kenroy of Weidman; four sons, Robert (Kathy) O'Dell of Sumner, Rex (Sandra) O'Dell of Mecosta, Dennie (Edna) O'Dell of Perry and Marvin (Donna) O'Dell of St. Johns; 26 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, and seven great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Lloyd (Doris) Nichols of St. Johns, and Mahlon (Lois) Nichols of Weidman; three sisters, Theressa and Leta Nichols and Onalee Gieyer all of Kentucky; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Feb. 22 at the Gorsline-Runciman Co., DeWitt Chapel with the Rev. Timothy Tanner officiating. Interment was at DeWitt Cemetery, DeWitt. Memorials may be made to Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor or Hospice of Clinton Memorial. |
