Check here for new deaths throughout the week

Marion M. Sohn

Robert J. VanSice

Lucille I. VanGieson

Chester N. Vandegriff

Marie Randall

Ivan Fidler

Waldo Richards

Marion M. Sohn

Marion M. Sohn died March 31, 2000 at the age of 89.  Born in Clinton County, Michigan July 21, 1910, she was the daughter of Anthony and Christina (Mueller) Motz. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Altar Society, and lived all of her life in St. Johns.  Her marriage to Francis J. Sohn ended with his death in 1953.   

Surviving are one daughter Janet (Leon) Lewis of Elsie, 7 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 3 great great grandchildren, two sisters, Hilda Hufnagel and Beatrice Jorae, both of St. Johns, three brothers, Ronald & Georgia, Arthur & Rita, all of St. Johns, and Jack & Barbara of Missouri, many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her husband, parents, one daughter (Patricia Pasch), two brothers (Francis & Herman Motz), and one sister-in-law (Magdaline Motz).  

The funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 A.M. Monday, April 3, 2000 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev. Fr. Jose Mundadin officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday 7-9 PM and Sunday 2-4 PM & 7-9 PM at the Osgood Funeral Home, with a Vigil Service held 4:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Educational Trust Fund.

Robert J. VanSice

Robert J. VanSice, 75, of Ovid, died Friday, March 31, 2000 at Memorial Healthcare Center. He was born August 17, 1924 in Owosso, the son of James and Flossie (Snyder) VanSice. He was a veteran of the Army Air Corp, a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, Owosso Knights of Columbus, and the Ovid V.F.W. On May 26, 1945 he married Maxine Ruff in Owosso, MI. For 50 years Bob and his brother, William, owned and operated VanSice Quality Motors in Owosso. 

Survivors include his wife, Maxine, one son, James (Michelle) VanSice of Owosso, two daughters, Lynn Ann (James) Weldon of Boulder, CO and Marilee (Wayne) Neal of Grand Ledge, five grandchildren, Jennifer (Ryan) Hect of Grand Ledge, Todd Neal of Florida, Lindsey Neal of Grand Ledge, Zachary VanSice and Larissa VanSice, both of Owosso, two great great grandchildren, Joshua Hect and Haley Marek, one brother, William (Marion) VanSice of Owosso, and one sister, Jeanette (Jim) Gordon of Lake City, MI. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Roberta VanEffen in 1976. 

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 A.M. Monday, April 3, 2000 at Holy Family Catholic Church, burial at Maple Grove Cemetery in Ovid with Rev. Fr. Paul Cummings officiating. The family will receive friends at 5-9 P.M. Saturday and 2-9 P.M. Sunday at Holy Family Catholic Church. Memorials may be given to Holy Family Catholic Church or American Diabetes Association. The family is being served by the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes.

Ivan Fidler

Ivan L. Fidler, 80, of St. Johns, passed away March 28, 2000. He was born in Ithaca on Nov. 5, 1919, the son of Galon and Daisy (Bish) Fidler. He lived in St. Johns since 1967, coming from Ithaca.

He retired in 1987 as a truck driver for Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizer. He was a World War II veteran, and was a member of the American Legion Post #153 and the Disabled American Veterans.

He married Belva Gardner in Ithaca July 21, 1945. She preceded him in death Sept. 17, 1997.

Surviving are one daughter Sandra Washburn of St. Johns; one granddaughter, Connie (Miguel Jr.) Martinez of St. Johns; three grandsons, Geoffrey (Laura) Washburn of Fort Gratiot, William (Renee) Washburn, Jr. of Tigoa, Texas, and Kenneth Washburn of St. Johns; 12 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; one sister, Evelyn (James) Boyce of Maple Rapids; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father, James Foote; two sisters, Beatrice Hoard and Irene Olson; and four brothers, Clair Fidler, Orlan Fidler, Lyle Foote and Lionel Foote.

Funeral services were March 31 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with the Rev. Wendy Sue Earle officiating. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Clinton County.

Waldo Richards

Waldo S. Richards, 83, of Charlotte, formerly of Ovid, passed away March 29, 2000. After working for Sealtest Dairy for 20 years, he became an independent trucker for several years. Funeral survices were held April 1 at Houghton Chapel-Osgood Funeral Home with the Rev. Rob McPherson officiatin, burial at Maple Grove Cemetery, Ovid.

Emil J. Verlinde

Emil Joseph Verlinde died March 27, 2000 at the age of 80. Born to Leo and Rosalie (Roose) Verlinde on October 3, 1919 in Deluth, Minnesota.  He leaves behind with a feeling of great sorrow and loss, his wife of 59 years, Winifred (Curtis) Verlinde whom he married October 12, 1940.  He is also survived by four sons, Donald (Kathleen) Verlinde of Sand Creek, Michael (Kathleen) Verlinde, Paul Verlinde, and Thomas (Lorri) Verlinde, all of St. Johns.  Emil also has ten grandchildren, Scott (Kelli), Kevin, all of Bath, Brian (Linda), Michael (Chris), all of Adrian, Mary (Sheldon) Lange of Gambia, Africa, Michelle (Dan) Goodrich, Jessica, Joshua, Eric, and Christopher, all of St. Johns, and three great granddaughters, Taylor and Mariah Verlinde, and Amber Goodrich, and and one sister, Elma Kingsley of Saranac, fourteen nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, son, John Royce Verlinde, and his sister, Zelma Vroman. 

Emil served in the Army during WWII.  Before and after his time in the service, he operated a portable feed mill in the Clinton County area.  He made many long lasting friends.  When he could no longer take the dust of grinding grain, he farmed full time on land he and Winifred had purchased on Taft Road in 1944.  He was always at the ready to help anyone in trouble and could always be relied upon to keep his word.  He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.  Emil was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. 

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 A.M. Friday, March 31, 2000 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev. Fr. Timothy D. Krzyzaniak officiating.  The family will receive friends 7-9 P.M. Wednesday and 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Thursday at the Osgood Funeral Home with a K of C Rosary being prayed 7 PM Wednesday and a Vigil Service at 7:00 P.M. Thursday.  Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Education Trust Fund or Clinton County Home Health. Military graveside services provided by V.F.W. Post #4113 and American Legion Post #153.

Lucille I. VanGieson

Lucille I. VanGieson died March 24, 2000 at the age of 85. She was born in Lansing on March 15, 1915, the daughter of Robert and Josephine (Lane) Lingo and lived in Ovid most of her life. 

Lucille married Harley J. VanGieson in Elsie on May 30, 1936 and he preceded her in death on June 17, 1978. Surviving are one daughter-in-law, Sharon VanGieson, two grandchildren, Kevin VanGieson of Ovid and Diane (Randy) VanLeeuwen of Grand Rapids, two great grandchildren, David L. Smith and Zoe VanLeeuwen, and one sister, Shirley (Morgan) Porter of St. James City, FL. In addition to her husband, Harley, she was preceded in death by Robert Chant and one son, Robert in 1996. 

Graveside services will be 10:00 A.M. Saturday, April 1, 2000 at Ridge Road Cemetery with Pastor Dennis Boonstra officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Ovid. 

Chester N. Vandegriff

Chester N. Vandegriff died March 24, 2000 at the age of 78 at Leesburg, FL. He was born in Mancelona, MI on July 23, 1921, the son of Alvin and Sarah (Daley) Vandegriff and lived in St. Johns since 1983 coming from Grand Ledge. 

Chester retired in 1980 as a repairman from Fisher Body after 33 years of service and was a veteran of WWII serving with Company B of the 149th Engineers Combat Battalion at Omaha Beach in the Normandy invasion. He was a member of Moose Lodge 2291 in DeWitt, and the Eagle Lodge in Lansing. 

Chester married Luella Misner in Bellaire, MI on May 11, 1946 and she survives him. Also surviving are one daughter, Emojune (Chuck) DeSander of St. Johns, four sons, Chester (Wilma), Gary, Dennis (Sue), all of Grand Ledge, and David (Sandy) of Mason, 16 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and one brother, John Vandegriff of Battle Creek. He was preceded in death by two brothers and three sisters. 

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, March 28, 2000 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev. Steve Weinberger officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 & 7-9 P.M. Monday at the funeral home. 

Hilda Sheldon

Hilda J. Sheldon, 68, of Titusville, Fla., passed away March 23, 2000. She was born in Shepardsville on Sept. 21, 1931 the daughter of Wesley and Helen (Hoeve) Hazle.

She graduated from Fowler High School. She retired as a cashier for A.G. Edwards and was a former owner of Sheldens Packing House from 1953-61, along with her husband and his parents, Dale and Arleen Sheldon.

She married Keith Sheldon June 13, 1953, and he survives her. Also surviving are sons Kim (Kimberly) Sheldon of Titusville Fla., Kurt Sheldon of St. Johns, Kent (Stephanie) Sheldon of Champaign, Ill.; five grandchildren, Kris, Korin, Kayla, Whitney and Kyle; three brothers, Richard (Lee) Hazle of Toledo, Ohio, and George (Shirley) Hazle and Charles (Diane) Hazle all of St. Johns; two sisters, Ruth Milford of Midland and Elaine (Don) Rawlings of Murfreesboro, Tenn. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Kari Ann in 1992 and her parents.

There were no services. A family gathering was held March 31 at the United Church of Ovid. Donations may be made to the Ovid-Elsie Community Fund, Box 454, Ovid, Mich., 48866. The family was served by the North Brevard Funeral Home in Titusville, Fla.

Lucille VanGieson

Lucille I. VanGieson, of Ovid, passed away March 24, 2000. She lived most of her life in Ovid. Graveside services were held April 1 at Ridge Road Cemetery with Pastor Dennis Boonstra officiating. The family was served by the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes.

Evelyn Moulder-Roberts

Evelyn Moulder-Roberts, 54, of Harrison and formerly of Bath, passed away March 23, 2000. She lived most of her life in Bath. She was a housekeeper. Funeral services were held March 27 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Reed Cemetery with Pastor Jerald Wardell officiating. The family was served by the Osgood Funeral Home.

Marie Randall

Marie G. Randall died March 26, 2000 at the age of 82. She was born in Lansing on December 21, 1917, the daughter of Clyde and Ethel (Scott) Sawdy and lived in St. Johns before moving to Harrison and Bushnell, FL. 

She was the owner/operator of Randall Plumbing and Heating Supply in Harrison and was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Eagles Lodge arie #3541 in Harrison. 

Marie married Bernard Randall in Ithaca on June 27, 1937 and he preceded her in death on October 29, 1981. Surviving are three daughters, Janet Smith-Rejimbal of New Smyrna Beach, FL, Nancy (Richard) Armstrong of Harrison, and Diane (Charles) Shappell of Ft. Wayne, IN, 11 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and one brother, Clyde Sawdy, Jr. of Big Rapids, MI. 

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 29, 2000 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Elder Dale Beavers officiating. The family will receive friends 6-8 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home.