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Obituaries

Robert Leroy Cressman

Lawrence E. Stephenson

Lester Cook

Jack Waterbury

Joshua D. Redman

Norbert E. Schafer

 Arlene Behrens

Daniel Siel

 

Joshua D. Redman

Joshua D. Redman died August 1, 2001 at the age of 22. He was born in Carson City on January 8, 1979, the son of Gregory and Joanna (Kyser) Redman and lived all his life in Maple Rapids. He was a 2000 graduate of Fulton High School, was employed by Bornor Construction and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and motor cross.

Surviving are his mother and stepfather, Joanna and Rick Telfor of Shepherd, father and stepmother, Gregory and Cynthia Redman of Maple Rapids, two sisters, Jamie (Michael) VanEtten of St. Johns and Rachelle (Derek) Witt of Goldsboro, N.C., three stepbrothers, four stepsisters, maternal grandmother, Laura Lyon of Mt. Pleasant, two nieces, Taylor and Saleena VanEtten, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 7, 2001 at the Abbott Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Maple Rapids, with burial at Payne Cemetery. The family will receive friends 6-8 P.M. Sunday and 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation.

Robert Leroy Cressman

Robert Leroy Cressman died July 30, 2001 at the age of 70. He was born in Clinton County on April 26, 1931, the son of Ernest and Ellen (Worden) Cressman and lived most of his life in St. Johns. He retired from General Motors in 1996 after 41 years of service, was a member of U.A.W. Local #652, a lifetime member of V.F.W. Post #671 in DeWitt, and was a veteran of the Korean War. Bob married Young Ja Hong in St. Johns
on December 31, 1980 and she survives him.

Also surviving are four children, Linda (Robert) Matheny of St. Johns, Vicki Stebbins of Elsie, Felice Blankenship of St. Johns and Frank Leroy Cressman of Lansing, three grandsons, two granddaughters, three sisters, Betty (Bruce) Harlow of Wacousta, Bonnie (Wesley) Smith of St. Johns and Tamra Roy of Gladwin, three brothers, Donald (Priscilla) Cressman of St. Johns, Gary (Joyce) Cressman of Prudenville and Terry (Jane) Cressman of North Muskegon, aunt, Alpha (Floyd) Drake of Ovid, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Joe Leroy Youngs.

Funeral services will be 1:00 P.M. Thursday, August 2, 2001 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev.  Lyle Heaton officiating. The family will receive friends 7-9 P.M. Tuesday and 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home. Military graveside services will be provided by V.F.W. Post #4113 and American Legion Post #153. Memorials may be made to V.F.W. Post #671 in DeWitt.

Lawrence E. Stephenson

Lawrence E. Stephenson died July 30, 2001 at the age of 83. He was born August 27, 1917 in Alcona County, MI the son of Alexander and Molinda M. (Rifenbark) Stephenson.   Lawrence was farmer, a veteran of the U. S. Army serving in World War II and was a member of Grove Bible Church. Lawrence married Marie Erbe on October 4, 1975 in Lansing and she preceded him in death in 1996.

Surviving are his step-daughter Sharon (Neil) Gregg of Lansing, step-son Dwight (Nancy) Erbe of Swartz Creek, MI, 4 grandchildren, 5 greatgrandchildren, sister Julia (Nevin) McIntyle of Bad Axe, brother Les (Doris) Stephenson of Bad Axe, and special friend Iva Keys. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by 3 brothers and 1 sister.

Funeral services will be 1:00 P.M. Thursday August 2, 2001 at Grove Bible Church, St. Johns, burial at Washington Cemetery in Carsonville, MI with Pastor Larry Smith officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. Wednesday at the Osgood Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to Grove Bible Church.

Norbert E. Schafer
Norbert E. Schafer, died July 28, 2001 at the age of 84. Born in Westphalia on February 18, 1917, he was the son of Joseph and Dora (Schueller) Schafer. He was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Holy Name Society and a World War II Veteran. He retired from Saylor Beal and enjoyed farming. Norbert married Mary (Thelen) Schafer February 5, 1946.

He is survived by his wife Mary of St. Johns, three sons, Robert (Suzanne) Schafer of Dewitt, Jerome (Deb) Schafer of Fowler, Dennis (Tammy) Schafer of Fowler, three daughters, Marie (Dan) Halsey of Arizona, Kathy (David) Berquist of Lansing, Theresa (Michael) Walker of Lansing, 23 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. Also surviving, four brothers, Mark (Arleta) Schafer of St. Johns, Jerry Schafer of St. Johns, Tony (Rose) Schafer of South Carolina, Joe Schafer of Fowler, two sisters, Anna Fedewa of Westphalia, Rita (Carl) Schaefer of Pewamo, two brother-in-laws, Roman Thelen of Fowler and Ronald Schrauben of Westphalia. Norbert was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Jeanne Schafer, granddaughter, Trisha Schafer, two brothers, Jim and Paul Schafer, three sisters, Bertha Fedewa, Florence Schrauben and Joanne Schafer.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, July 31, 2001 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler with burial to follow at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery with Rev. Fr. Raymond Rademacher officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 & 7-9 P.M. Monday at the Goerge Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Home with a Rosary on Monday at 3:00 P.M. & 8:00 P.M. Memorials may be made to Clinton Memorial Hospital or Most Holy Trinity Educational Trust Fund.

 Arlene Behrens
 Arlene Behrens, 88 died Sunday July 29, 2001. Born April 18, 1913 in Ortonville, Michigan the daughter of Harl and Helen (Ormes) Hunt.  She was a member of Price United Methodist Church.  On April 10, 1934,
Arlene married Robert Behrens and he preceded her in death September 20, 1990. 

She is survived by three sons, Stanley (Nancy) Behrens of Ovid, Raymond (Marge) Behrens of Houghton Lake, and Doug (Linda K.) Behrens of Ovid, eight grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, and one sister, Jean (Harold) Crowley of St. Johns.     Arlene was preceded in death by one son, Roger Behrens and 2 grandsons Mark and Tim Behrens.

Funeral Services will be Wednesday August 1, 2001 at 11:00A.M. at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes, Ovid, burial at South Bingham Cemetery with Rev. Kay Pratt officiating.  The family will receive friends 6-8 P.M. Monday and 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Price United Methodist Church or Ovid Area Ambulance.

Daniel Siel

Daniel L. Siel "Danny", 39, of DeWitt Township, passed away. He was born April 29, 1962 in Lansing.

Danny was employed with American Towing. He has gone to join his parents, Wilbur and Eileen; brothers, Dennis and Doug; and sister, Debbie.

Surviving are Ellen; son, Jeremy; daughters, Danielle and Breanne; brothers, Don (Sherri) and Ozzie Siel; sisters, Doreen (Jimmy) Siel and Darlinda (Sam) VanEtten; half brother, R.J. (Bonnie) Gardner; grandmothers, Mary Siel and Wilma Bradley; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Funeral services were held Aug. 1, at the Gorsline-Runciman Co. DeWitt Chapel with the Rev. Nancy Besemer, pastor of Gunnisonville United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment was at Gunnisonville Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the family in memory of Danny. The family was served by the Gorsline Runciman Co. DeWitt Chapel.

Lester Cook

Lester A. Cook, 69, of New Smyna Beach, Fla., died July 28, 2001 at the Conway Regional Health Center. Mr. Cook had been living with his sister Marion Cook Monroe of Greenbrier during his final illness. He was born Oct. 14, 1932, in DeWitt, the son of Lester G. Cook and Mary Seguin Cook.

He graduated from DeWitt High School. He was an accomplished violinist, percussionist, pianist, ham radio operator, private pilot and a 40-year member of AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association).

During his extended service in the U.S. Air Force, he was trained for radio operator and instructor responsibilities before being trained for the F-80 "Shooting Star" jet fighter. As an officer in the Air Force he served as a pilot of an F-84 jet fighter assigned to flying protective cover duty for many bases in the U.S. during the Korean War. He also volunteered as chapel organist during his tours of duty. After his flying duties he served as an information co-coordinator assigned to duty in the Pentagon.

Upon completion of his military service he became a medical and surgical assistant at Lansing General Hospital in Lansing. He received training for a commercial pilot's license in Reno, Nev., before making his home in New Smyna Beach. There he held the position of scheduling dispatcher for over 20 years for several farm produce brokers in Florida and North Carolina.

Surviving are his brothers James M. Cook of Portland, Ore., and Robert J. Cook of Rockford; nieces, Cindy Wildes, Michelle Jordan, Judy Brady, Sherri Collins; nephew, Chris Slamka; two grandnieces, and one great-grandnephew. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Jack Waterbury

Jack L. Waterbury, 36, of Las Vegas, Nev., and formerly of Ovid, passed away July 5, 2001 in Las Vegas where he had lived the last 18 years. He was born July 8, 1965.

Surviving are his wife of seven years, Alicia; four sisters, Julie (Tim) Duffield, Janice (Wendell) Mouton, Joan Waterbury, Jill (John) Kjergaard;

10 nieces, Christina, Sarah, Kathrine, Laura, Amanda, Savannah, Alexis, Selena, Jessica, Jaclyn; three nephews, David, Anthony, Todd; grandmother, Theo Waterbury; several aunts and uncles. He was preceded in death by his father, Jack Waterbury, in 1985, and his mother, Juanita Waterbury, in 1997.

An "Open House" memorial was held July 21.