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Obituaries

Jonathan E. Shinabarger

Jonathan E. Shinabarger died May 25, 2000 at the age of 33 as the result of a motorcycle accident. He was born in St. Johns on March 22, 1967, the son of Eugene and Barbara (Guernsey) Shinabarger and lived in the Ovid area all his life. Jonathan was a truck driver for MPG Transport, was a 1986 graduate of Ovid-Elsie High School, a veteran of the U.S. Army, a former Boy Scout, and loved Harley Davidson motorcycles.

He is survived by his mother, Barbara Shinabarger of Ovid, four sisters, Gloria (Frank) Groves of Owosso, Melissa Richmond of Haslett, Joy (William) Harrison of Owosso, and Bethany (Thomas) Thelen of Westphalia, one brother, Aaron Shinabarger of Ovid, and eight nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Tuesday, May 30, 2000 at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Ovid, burial at Hillcrest Cemetery with Pastor Robert McGee officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Sunday and Monday at the funeral home.

Pauline Martin

Pauline C. Martin, 85, of Westphalia, passed away May 5, 2000. She was born in Fowler Jan. 11, 1915, the daughter of John and Anna (Schneider) Thelen.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Westphalia and the Christian Mothers. Her first love was children. She was a totally dedicated and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She also enjoyed gardening and sewing.

Surviving are her husband of 64 years, Joseph P. Martin of Westphalia; children Josephine (Clem) Thelen, Mary Ann (Maynard) Wirth, Bernadette (James) Fox, Celine (Dennis) Harr, Rita (David) Feldpausch, and Paul (Pam) Martin all of Fowler, Tony (Patricia) Martin, Therese (Leland) Trierweiler, Francis (Marlene) Martin, and Luke (Julie) Thelen Martin all of Westphalia, and Imelda (Wayne) Berger of Williamston; 49 grandchildren and 69 great-grandchildren; sisters Martha Schafer, Hilda Bengel, Agnes Arens, and Mary Ann (Albert) Smith; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son-in-law, James Ruhl; sisters Elizabeth Thelen, Sr. Catherine Thelen, Roseanne Bengal, and Irene Pohl.

Mass of Christian burial was celebrated May 8 by the Rev. William Ashbaugh at St. Mary's Church. Rite of Committal followed at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. The family was served by the Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Home, Portland.

Florence I. VanAmburg

Florence I. VanAmburg died May 24, 2000 at the age of 90. She was born in Clinton Township, MI on May 27, 1909, the daughter of William and Nina (Payne) Mesler and attended country schools in the St. Johns area. Florence married Howard A. VanAmburg in Clinton County in 1926, they moved to Cheboygan upon his retirement in 1972 and he preceded her in death in January 1977. She then moved to Afton in 1997.

Her greatest joy in life were her grandchildren, Vicki Pellenz of Port Charlotte, FL, Gayle (Kim) Wallace of Cheboygan, and Patrick (Kathy) Wallace of Davison, eight great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara Munger in February 1998 and sister, Fannie Mathews.

Funeral services will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, May 27, 2000 at the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns with burial at South Bingham Cemetery. The family will receive friends noon-2 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Merijo Wieber

Merijo Wieber, 39, of rural Owosso, died May 20, 2000 in Lake County, MI as the result of a motorcycle accident. She was born in Owosso on December 6, 1960, the daughter of Robert and Joanne (Byrnes) Hubbard. Merijo graduated from Ovid-Elsie High School in 1979 and received her Masters Degree in Education from Central Michigan University. She taught special education at Emmerson School for Owosso Public Schools. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church and was an avid motorcyclist and cross country skier. Merijo married Martin Wieber in Ovid on October 15, 1985 and he survives her.

Also surviving are her mother, Joanne (Mitch) Das of Ovid, father, Robert (Dianne) Hubbard of Arizona, and two sisters, Ruth Ann (Mark) Dubiel of California and Bobbette (Steve) Lockwood of Rockford, MI. She was preceded in death by two brothers, John in 1978 and Ben in 1993.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11:00 A.M. Thursday, May 25, 2000 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Ovid with Rev. Fr. Paul Cummings officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Ovid, with a vigil service at 7:30 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the Merijo Wieber Scholarship Fund, Shiawassee Foundation Committee with envelopes available at the funeral home.

James L. Maurer

James L. Maurer, 65, of Ovid died Friday, May 19, 2000. He was born September 12, 1934 in Ovid the son of LeRoy and Paulene (Nethaway) Maurer. Jim graduated from Ovid High School in 1965 and he married Joyce Day in DeWitt, MI. He worked at Michigan Milk Producers Association and had retired in 1995. He was a member of United Church of Ovid.

Survivors include his wife, Joyce, daughter, DeEtta Patrick of Kalkaska, Mi, and sister Gwen Kelley of St. Johns.

Private Family services will be held at Houghton Chapel-Osgood Funeral Home on Monday May 22, 2000 with Rev. Rob McPherson officiating. Burial will follow at Fairfield Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to United Church of Ovid.