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Obituaries

Alger J. Theis

Gerald S. Parks

Dorothy Mae Abshagen

Lillian D. Foot

Ann Dettman

M. Lois Nunemaker

Bruce B. Kramer

Lucille M. Boak

Lucille M. Boak died March 23, 2001 at the age of 84. Arrangements will be announced.

Lauren D. Parks

Lauren D. Parks died March 23, 2001 at the age of 68. He was born in Pewamo on March 24, 1932, the son of Kenneth and Dorothy (Hattis) Parks and lived most of his life in Maple Rapids. He was a retired Oldsmobile employee and a graduate of Pewamo High School. Lauren married Doris Wilson in Maple Rapids on June 21, 1958 and she survives him. 

Also surviving are three children, Dennis (Tamie) Parks, Laurie (Matt) Baker, and Michael (Tosha) Parks, all of Maple Rapids, seven grandchildren, two brothers, Laurence (Donna) Parks of Manistique and David Gene (Kathy) Parks of Ionia, and two sisters, Harriett (Gary) McQuillian of Lyons and Beverly (Louis) Simon of Pewamo. 

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, March 26, 2001 at the Abbott Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, burial at Union Home Cemetery with Pastor Charles Farnum officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. Saturday and Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made for family wishes.

Alger J. Theis

Alger J. Theis died March 22, 2001 at the age of 69. He was born in Westphalia on October 11, 1931, the son of Anthony and Rosella (Fedewa) Theis and lived in Pewamo most of his life. He retired from Saylor Beal and a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Pewamo. 

Surviving are sisters, Alice (Herm) Klein of Pewamo, Gladys (Harold) Smith of Pewamo, Doris (Ray) Stanley of Lansing, Eileen (Ken) Trierweiler of Eagle, and Connie (Dennis) Carr of Charlevoix and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Richard Klein. 

Memorial Mass will be celebrated 10:30 A.M. Monday, March 26, 2001 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Pewamo, with Rev. Fr. Charlon Mason officiating. A time to receive friends will be 2-6 P.M. Sunday at the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns. 

Lillian D. Foot

Lillian D. Foot, 83, originally of Red Wing, Minn. and resident of Brooklyn, Mich., passed away March 20, 2001.

Lillian was a graduate of the University of Tennessee, and was one of the founding members of the Carousel Theater in Knoxville, Tenn. She was a proud member of the Chi Omega Sorority, an economics and science teacher, and was very involved in community theater. She was a courageous women and was loved by all who knew her.

Surviving are her daughter, Evie (Paul) McNamara of Jackson and St. Johns; eight grandchildren, Dan (Kelly) Tejada of Virginia, Jean Tejada of California, Carrie (Brain) Glick of Jackson, Melissa Tejada of North Carolina, Kyle (Nicole) McNamara of Plymouth, Kellee McNamara of St. Johns; five great-grandchildren, Alex, Erik, Lucas, Jazman and Shawn; and special friend and care giver for eight years, Dottie (Ron) Peterson. She was preceded in death by her husband, Hawley Foot, and son-in-law, Paul Tejada.

A memorial service was held March 22 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Jackson, with the Rev. Elise Cole officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Paul Tejada Memorial Scholarship Fund, through the Jackson Community Foundation.

Age 92 of St. Ignace, Michigan passed away Monday, March 19, 2001 at the Ashley Healthcare Center in Ashley.

Funeral services will be Saturday, March 24, 2001 at 1:00 P.m. at Smith Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel. Rev. Jana Jirak will officiate. Burial will take place at Brevort Cemetery, St. Ignace, Michigan. Visitation will be held Friday 2-9 with the family present from 2-4 and 7-9 P.m.

Ann was born in Ashley, Michigan on July 24, 1908 the daughter of James and Ann (Matousek) Skaryd. She graduated from Ashley High School with the Class of 1926 and attended Ferris Institute and received her teaching degree. On June 22, 1929 she married Harold L. Dettman at the family farm in Bannister, Michigan. He passed away on January 4, 1980. After they were married they moved to St. Ignace, Michigan where they built a lob cabin at 898 N. State St., which was the site of the original Dettman Cabins. She originally taught in the Gratiot Community Schools in 1927 until moving to St. Ignace where she did substitute teaching for many years. In 1934 they started Quick Service Café in St. Ignace, then in 1936 they opened Dettman’s Cabins, which later expanded to Dettman’s Motels. They were one of the first Motels in Michigan and they ran this until retirement in 1969. Ann was a member of the United Methodist Church in St. Ignace. She was a Lodge member of the CZBJ Lodge #225 in Bannister since 1924, and a member of Michigan Business & Professional Women’s Association in St. Ignace, Michigan. She also enjoyed playing Bridge.

Survivors include two sons, H. James Dettman of Deming, NM, and Prenstiss M. & Evelyn (Hollingsworth) Dettman of Fort Meyers, FL, seven grandchildren, Cindy Figueroa of Omaha, NE, David & Lauri Dettman of Nebraska City, NE, Brian & Denise Dettman of Omaha, NE, James & Veronica Dettman of West Nyack, NY, Mark & Izzy Dettman of Wixom, MI Matthew & Theresa Dettman of Bowling Green, KY, and Ann Dettman of Gramercy, LA, twelve great grandchildren, two sisters, Martha Maxa of Ashley, MI, and Vlasta Kopta of Merrill, MI, and one brother, John & Mamie Skaryd. She was predeceased by her husband Harold, one sister Mildred Bradley, and one brother Joe Skaryd.

Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church in St. Ignace, Michigan.

The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel.

M. Lois Nunemaker

M. Lois Nunemaker died March 18, 2001 at the age of 85.  Born December 8, 1915 in Whiteside County, Illinois, she was the daughter of Samuel E. and Margaret M. (McCulloh) Nunemaker.  She was a graduate of Ithaca High School, a member of the Bethel Mennonite Church, the Christian Business and Professional Womens Council of Lansing, the DeWitt Township Senior Citizens, and retired as a secretary for Community First, formerly Capitol Federal, of Lansing.  

She is survived by one brother, Milford (Miriam) Nunemaker of Glendale, AZ and a sister-in-law Minnie Nunemaker of St. Johns, several nieces and nephews. 

Funeral services will be held 2:00 P.M. Thursday, March 22, 2001 at the Bethel Mennonite Church, burial at Washington Township Cemetery with Pastor Joe Pendleton officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6–8 P.M. Wednesday at the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns. Memorials may be made to Bethel Mennonite Church.

Gerald S. Parks

Gerald Stanley Parks, age 76 of Laingsburg, died March 7, 2001 at Sparrow Hospital.   He was born on May 12, 1924 in St. Johns, the son of William Earl and Ola (Ordiway) Parks.  Gerald attended St. Johns schools.  He resided in Laingsburg since 1957.   Gerald married Rosemary Elizabeth Casteel in St. Johns on February 14, 2946.   He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and is a member of the American Legion in Bath.  Gerald worked in bridge construction and was a master mechanic.

Survivors are his wife,k Rosemary; children, Geraldine Marie Fulkerson of Perry, Linda Kay (Ronald) Gruesbeck of Perry, Gary Lee Parks of Florida, and Nathan Edward (Cathy) Parks of Flint; none grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; four sisters, Margarete Salters of St. Johns, Audrey Dumond of Owosso, Ethel (Ersel) Dunsmore of Alma, and Maudann (Q.T.) Melton of Mississippi; and two brothers, Robert (Sheri) Parks of St. Johns, and Etheager (Dutch) Parks of Ithaca.  Gerald was predeceased by his parents, a son, Billy Parks, and two brothers, Johnny Parks and James (Jim) Parks.

Funeral services were held February 10 at Watkins Brothers Funeral Home, McDougall Chapel in Laingsburg with Pastor Gerald Sever officiating.  Place of burial is at Laingsburg Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to the Sparrow Hospital CCU.

Bruce B. Kramer, age 75 and a lifelong resident of Pewamo, passed away March 11, 2001 after a long and courageous battle with lung cancer. He was born on January 8, 1926 in Pewamo, the son of Carl and Regina (Thelen) Kramer. As a young man, Bruce was a pitcher for the Washington Senators professional baseball team. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving during World War II in the Philippines.

He was member of the VFW Fowler-Westphalia-Pewamo Post 3733.  Bruce was known to many as the proprietor of Kramer's Tavern in Pewamo, which was in the Kramer family for almost 50 years.  He enjoyed golfing, walking, playing cards, traveling and P-W Pirate sports.  Bruce was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Monica.

Surviving are his wife of over 54 years, Lucille (Fedewa); sons, Bruce (Cathy of Baltimore, MD, Rex (Debbie) of Muir, and Dan (and friend Connie) of Crystal; a daughter, Brenda (Dennis) Aanderud of Manassas, VA. and many grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by the Rev. Charlon O. Mason, Pastor on March 15 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rite of Committal following at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.  military graveside honors were provided by the VFW Fowler-Westphalia-Pewamo Post 3733.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Ionia Area Hospice, 117 N. Depot, Ionia MI 48846 or to the St. Joseph Educational Trust Fund, C/O St. Joseph Catholic Church 106 E. Main, PO Box 37, Pewamo MI 48873.  Arrangements were entrusted to the Schrauben-Lehmann Funeral Home, Portland.

Age 90 of Maple Rapids, Michigan died Friday, March 16, 2001 at Ovid Healthcare Center, Ovid, Michigan. She was a Retired caregiver with Home Health Care Services.

Funeral services will be Monday, March 19, 2001 at 1:00 P.M. at St. Johns Episcopal Church, in St. Johns, Michigan. The Rev. Fr. Howard Simpson will officiate and burial will be at Grand Lawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan. Visitation will be Monday 11:00 A.M. until the time of services at St. Johns Episcopal Church.

Dorothy was born June 24, 1910 in Detroit, Michigan the daughter of William Conrad & Florence V. (Barker) Abshagen. She resided most of her life in Detroit until moving to Maple Rapids in 1979. She was a published poet and songwriter and was a member of The Poet & Song Writers Association of America. She was also a member of St. Johns Episcopal Church.

Survivors include her sister in law, Muriel Abshagen of Maple Rapids, a nephew Gary & Ellen Abshagen of Perrinton, a number of cousins and her church family. Her parents, 2 brothers, Albert and Edwin, predeceased her. Memorials can be made to St. Johns Episcopal Church, St. Johns, Michigan.

The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel.