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Richard R. Shong

Charles Orson

Charles Orson died October 27, 2000 at the age of 79. He was born in Ovid on February 8, 1921, the son of Benedict and Rozalia (Jancik) Orson. He married Del in Pennsylvania on July 21, 1960 and she preceded him in death on November 17, 1998 . Charles was in the U.S. Army with the 82nd & the 101st Airborne division serving in 3 Wars, W.W. II, Korean War and in Vietnam. His medals include: Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, American Defense Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars and 1 Bronze Arrowhead. 

Surviving are two brothers, Frederick (Doris) Orson and John Orson, both of St. Johns, two sisters, Mary (Bill) Wilckens of Phillipsburg, NJ and Stephanie Kowalski of Belleville, NJ, and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Benedict Orson in 1951. 

Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, October 31, 2000  at the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns, burial at Fort Custer National Cemetery with Pastor Matt Olson officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association and the American Cancer Society.

Richard R. Shong

Age 74 of Lake Odessa formerly of Portland died Friday, October 27, 2000 at the Mid-Michigan Hospice House in Lansing. Richard retired from General Motors, Oldsmobile Plant in Lansing in 1979.

Services will be held at the Smith Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel on Monday, October 30, 2000 at 11:00 A.M. Visitation will be Saturday from 5-8 P.M. and Sunday 2-8 P.M. with the family present 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. Rev. Merlin Pratt will officiate and burial will be in Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns, Michigan.

Richard was born in Lansing, Michigan on May 28, 1926 the son of John and Irma

(Routherford)Shong. He attended Portland High School, and then in 1944 he entered the US Army before he graduated. On May 12, 1956 he married Doris A. Randall in Portland where they resided until moving to Lake Odessa in 1987.

Richard served his country in WW2 in the US Army and was a member of VFW Post #4461 in Lake Odessa. He was a member of St. Edward’s Catholic Church.

Survivors include: his wife, Doris Shong of Lake Odessa, MI; 1 daughter, Jane & Ken Scutt of Portland, MI; 5 sons, Jim & Sharon Adair of St. Johns, MI; Bill & Pam Adair of St. Johns, MI; Dennis & May Shong of Lake Odessa, MI; Tom & Barb Shong of Gowen, MI; David Shong & special friend Pam of Kentucky; 13 grandchildren & 12 Great Grandchildren, a special niece Pat Vroman of Portland, MI.

He was predeceased by: his parents, 4 sisters, Cluris Poppienburg, Dorothy Brodrik, Marian Barrett, and Katherine Catt.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Mid-Michigan Hospice House of Lansing, Michigan.

Jean Ann "Omie" Ostrander

Jean Ann "Omie" Ostrander, 54, of St. Johns and formerly of Lansing and Grand Ledge, passed away Oct. 21, 2000. She was born Nov. 2, 1945 in Quincy Ill., the daughter of Ivan and Rose (Schieferdecker) Richmond.

She was a baptized member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints. Jeannie's passions in life were her family, grandchildren and animals. She was admired for her love of nature and she brought "LIFE" to everything she touched. She will deeply missed.

Surviving are her husband, James L.; children, Ginger (Todd) Cooper of St. Johns, Cindy (Dave) Heightchew of Elsie, Holly (Bruce) Carpenter of Onondaga, Tracy (Lisa) Ostrander of Lansing, Derrick (Jody) Ostrander of Ovid, and Aaron (Tere) Ostrander of Bath; 13 grandchildren; mother, Rose E. Richmond of Owosso; brothers, John (Luanne) Richmond of Lansing, and Jerl (Beth) Richmond of Madison Wis.; and two nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, C. Ivan Richmond.

Memorial services were held Oct. 28 at the First Congregational Church, Owosso. Memorials may be made to the Capital Area Humane Society, 7095 West Grand River Ave., Lansing, Mich. 48906. Arrangements were by the Palmer-Bush Lansing Chapel.