Check here for new deaths throughout the week

Obituaries

James Miller

Michael V. Ladisky, Sr.

Eleanor P. Groom

Ernest L. Palsco

Bonnie Lou LaBrie, 70, of Sparta and formerly of St. Johns, passed away unexpectedly at her home June 29, 2001.

She is survived by her husband of 48 years Robert; children, Mary (Roger) Snider, Theresa (Terry) Thelen, Michelle (Gregg) Feindt, Stephen LaBrie and Geri Ann, Robert (Valerie) LaBrie; grandchildren, Heidi, Adam, and Kelly Snider, Christopher Halliday, Brie, Jami and Jessica Thelen, Heather and Monica Feindt, Sara, Chelsea, Josef and Brandon LaBrie; sisters, Barbara Moffatt and Mary Campbell; and several nieces and nephews.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, July 2, at Holy Family Catholic Church, Sparta, with Fr. Phil Shangraw as Celebrant. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m., Sunday, July 1, at the Hessel-Cheslek Funeral Home, Sparta, (616)

887-0731. Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m., Sunday.

Mrs. LaBrie will lie in state on Monday morning at the church one hour prior to the Mass. Memorials may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church.

Cecile M. Ritz

Cecile M. Ritz died June 26, 2001 at the age of 85. She was born in Montcalm County on August 16, 1915, the daughter of Egbert and Mary (McCullough) Claypool and lived in St. Johns most of her life. She was a member of First United Methodist Church and was an avid bowler serving as league secretary for many years. Cecile married Lester Ritz in Palo, MI on August 23, 1936 and he preceded her in death on December 12, 1999. 

Surviving are two sons, Robert (Dorothy) Ritz and Paul Ritz, all of St. Johns, two daughters, Mary (Bill) Elsea of St. Johns and Barbara (Steve) Bucsi of Oakley, fourteen grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, one sister, Jessie Boice of Dearborn, and two sisters-in-law, Lora Ritz of Saranac and Arvilla Ritz of Fenwick. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a grandson, Duane Ritz and daughter-in-law, Kaye Ritz. 

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Thursday, June 28, 2001 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Crystal Cemetery at 1:30 P.M. with Rev. Carol Floyd officiating. The family will receive friends 6-8 P.M. Tuesday and 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice for Clinton County.

Eleanor P. Groom

Eleanor P. Groom died June 25, 2001 at the age of 92. She was born in Ionia, MI on December 1, 1908, the daughter of Donald and Pauline (Hart) Coppens and lived most of her life in Ovid. She graduated from Olivet College and was a teacher. Eleanor married Hershall Groom and he preceded her in death in 1966. 

Memorial services will be 1:00 P.M. Thursday, June 28, 2001 at 207 S. East St., Ovid, MI. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements by the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes. 

James Miller

James L. "Jim" Miller, 60, of DeWitt, passed away June 24, 2001. He was born Aug. 26, 1940, in Lansing, the son of Dorothy and Blake Miller of DeWitt.

Jim was an electrician by trade, working for the IBEW 665 for 15 years before becoming an electrician for General Motors for 15 years, retiring in September,1998.

Surviving are his ex-wife of 35 years, Mary Jane; two daughters, Brenda Robinson of Haslett and Michelle Miller of Chicago, Ill.; two grandchildren, Tyler and Morgan Robinson both of Haslett; brother and sister-in-law, John (Shirley) Miller of DeWitt; sister and brother-in-law, Joanie (Vernon) Kowalk of DeWitt; brother-in-law, Lyle Thill of Fayetter; several nieces and nephews.

He will be sadly missed by his family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Jayne Thill.

Funeral services were held June 27 at the Gorsline-Runciman Co. DeWitt Chapel with the Rev. Verne Summers officiating. Interment was at Deepdale Memorial Gardens, Lansing. Memorials may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Michigan Chapter, 26111 Evergreen, Suite 100, Southfield, Mich., 48076-4448. Arrangements were by the Gorsline-Runciman Co. DeWitt Chapel.

Ernest L. Palsco

Ernest L. Palsco, 67, died Sunday June 24, 2001.  He was born on May 24, 1934 in Ovid Township, the son of Joseph and Julia (Kovacs) Palsco.  Ernest graduated from Ovid High School and served in the U. S. Army.  He was a farmer. 

He is survived by sister Grace (Gordon) Stanton of Owosso. 

There will be no visitation or services. Arrangements by Osgood Funeral Home.

Michael V. Ladisky, Sr.

Michael V. Ladisky, Sr. died June 22, 2001 at the age of 85. He was born in Bingham Township on February 25, 1916, the son of Stephan and Martha (Kolstolny) Ladisky and lived all his life at his current residence. He retired from Fisher Body in 1976, was a farmer, a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, was an avid hunter and fisherman, and loved the outdoors. Michael married Bonita Yerrick in St. Johns in March 1941 and she preceded him in death on June 24, 1982. 

Surviving are one daughter, Martha (Larry) Brown of St. Johns, three sons, Michael (Wendy) Ladisky, Jr. of Laingsburg, Thomas (Barbara) Ladisky, and Patrick Ladisky, all of St. Johns, five very dear grandchildren, eight very dear great grandchildren, and five sisters, Mary Volek of Owosso, Sister Prudentia of New Jersey, Frances (Paul) Skok, Margaret (John) Skok, all of Owosso, and Martha (Henry) Mason of Gaylord. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by four brothers and two sisters. 

Funeral mass will be celebrated 10:30 A.M. Monday, June 25, 2001 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev. Fr. Gilbert Rahrig officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Saturday and Sunday at the Osgood Funeral Home with a rosary prayed 7 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.