Obituaries

Duane Wilkie

Duane W. Wilkie, 79, of Lansing, died Sept. 3, 1998. He was born July 10, 1919 in St. Johns, the son of William G. and Rose M. (Barnhart) Wilkie. He was a resident of Lansing for over 50 years.

He was a graduate of St. Johns High School, class of 1936. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Air Corps. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service in Lansing after over 20 years of service. He was a volunteer fireman with the Lansing Township Fire Dept., a member of the VFW Post 701 and VFW Clown Band in Lansing, Michigan Antique Phonograph Society, and the Island Hunting Camp.

Duane is survived by twin children, Doris (Steven) Tokarski of Madison Heights, and Donald Wilkie of Marquette; three grandchildren, Leo, Emily, and Casimir Tokarski; three brothers, Wilmer (Connie) Wilkie of St. Petersburg, Fla., Richard (Elaine) Wilkie of Cadedonia, and Bernard (Shirley) Wilkie of Calgary, Alberta, Canada; two sisters, Claribel (Fred) Mayers of Perrinton, and Phyllis Wilkie of East Lansing; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one son, Douglas, who was killed in Vietnam, and one brother, Garth.

The funeral service was held Sept. 8 at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns, with the Rev. Steve Weinberger officiating. Burial was at Mt. Rest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Diabetes or Heart Fund.

Lucio Rodriguez

Lucio "Louie" Rodriguez, 58, of St. Johns, died Sept. 6, 1998, at his home. He will be greatly missed by those whose lives he touched. He was born Dec. 13, 1939 in Bannister, the son of Ponciano and Rosa (Cruz) Rodriguez. He was a resident of Ovid and St. Johns for the past 15 years.

He worked as a special caregiver at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, and enjoyed fishing and tinkering with automobiles.

Louie married Karen Rivest July 30, 1994 in Ovid, and she survives him. Also surviving are three sons, Louis Rodriguez of Clinton Twp., Tony (Michelle) Rodriguez of Ovid, and Michael Rodriguez of Bannister; three step-daughters, Kelly and Melinda Miller at home, and Patty (Marty) Barrett of Ovid; four grandchildren, Cruz and Cierra Rodriguez, and Tanna and T.J. Barrett of Ovid; two sisters, Beatrice (Danny) Clock of Stuart, Fla., and Mary Rodriguez of Bannister; three brothers, Robert (Ellen) Rodriguez of Orange, Calif., Joe (Glenda) of Big Pine Key, Fla., and Tom Rodriguez of Ovid. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Chris.

The funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 9 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. Robert Lunsford officiating. Memorials may be made to the family, Hospice for Clinton County, or the Alzheimers Association. Arrangements were made by the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns.

Wendell Law

Wendell W. Law, 78, of St. Johns, died Sept. 9, 1998. He was born Aug. 25, 1920, in Clinton County, the son of Thomas and Maude (Kaltrider) Law. He lived most of his life in Clinton County.

He was a 1937 graduate of St. Johns High School, and a 1947 graduate of DePaul University. He started his career with the Social Security Administration in 1941, and retired as Operations Supervisor in 1975. Wendell married Dorothy Parks Oct. 12, 1940, in Angola, Ind. She preceded him in death Sept. 8, 1997.

Wendell and Dot started square dancing with the Hoedown Club in St. Johns in 1958, and started working on square dance calling in 1962. They were charter members of the Shootin' Star and Maple Twirlers Square Dance Clubs, and Wendell cued rounds until the 1989-90 season.

Wendell was past president of the St. Johns Hoedown Club, Lansing Area Federation of Square and Round Dancers, Michigan Square Dance Leaders Association, and the Lansing Area Callers and Cuers Association, as well as holding other offices and chairing various committees in the clubs. He was a member of Callerlab, the International Association of Square Dance Callers, and received the Quarter Century Award for calling at their convention in 1987. He served on committees for Mainstream and Plus Committees, and Mainstream Quarterly Selection and Plus Quarterly Selection.

Wendell was Riley Township Supervisor and Assessor from 1976-90, was past president of the Clinton County Assessors Association, past secretary of Clinton County Area Ambulance Service, past president of the Lansing Chapter of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, secretary of the Mixed Doubles Bowling League for 16 years, and trustee of the Clinton Area Care Center. He was also director of Chapman School, Riley Township, for a number of years.

Surviving are two brothers, Allen (Louise) Law of St. Johns, and Lloyd (Ruth Ann) Law of Grand Ledge; two sisters-in-law, Margaret Law of Charlotte, and Lillian Law of St. Johns; brother-in-law, and sister-in-law, Dean (Arlene) Parks of Lansing; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Wilbur and Robert Law.

The funeral service was held Sept. 12 at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns with the Rev. Jeffrey Heimsoth officiating. Burial was at Mt. Rest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Peter Lutheran School, or Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor.

Kenneth VanAmburg

Kenneth J. VanAmburg, 79, of Roscommon and formerly of Owosso and St. Johns, died Sept. 9, 1998. He was born April 28, 1919 in St. Johns, the son of Joseph and Bertha (Scott) VanAmburg.He lived in Roscommon for 21 years, Livonia for 19 years, Detroit for 12 years, and in St. Johns.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and served in the Navy Reserve. He was a life member of Charles M. Engel VFW 4159 of Roscommon, life member of the National Home in Eaton Rapids, and a member of the American Legion Posat #57, Owosso.He was a die setter. He was a member of the Higgins Lake Baptist Church.

He was married to Lucille Teall July 23, 1938 in St. Johns, and she survives him. Also surviving are one brother, Leon (Betty) VanAmburg of Owosso, and one sister, Geraldine Gorton of Owosso. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a daughter, Shirley Ann VanAmburg. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., Sept. 14, at Smith Funeral Homes, Corunna Chapel with Pastor Dean Cathcart officiating. Burial will be at South Bingham Cemtery, Bingham Township. Visitation is from noon to 9 p.m., Sept. 13, at the funeral home.

Leona Bierstetel

Leona M. Bierstetel, 82, of Westphalia, died Sept. 9, 1998. She was born May 3, 1916, in Dallas Township, the daughter of Tony and Lena (Tilman) Lenneman. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, Westphalia. Leona married August Bierstetel in 1937. He preceded her in death March 9, 1997. Surviving are seven sons, Leon (Annette), Jim (Jane), all of Westphalia, Ben (Chris), Paul (Kathy), Bob (Susie) all of Fowler, Dave (Judy), and Al (Jan) all of Pewamo; two daughters, Shirley (Bill) Halfman of Pewamo, and Monica (Harry) Hersch of Vanderbilt; 22 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister, Florence Luna.

The funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 12 at St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. William Ashbaugh officiating. Burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery. Arrangements were made by the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns.

Esther Smith

Esther R. Smith, 95, of Goshen, Ind., and formerly of St. Johns, died Sept. 10, 1998. She was born March 18, 1903, in Low Point, Ill., the daughter of John P. and Mary (Smith) Oyer. She spent most of her life in St. Johns, and the last 15 years in Goshen.

Esther was a member of the Bethel Mennonite Church, the Waterford Mennonite Church, and the MARSP.She was married to Cyril Smith Aug. 23, 1942, in St. Johns. He preceded her in death Jan. 12. 1997.

Esther is survived by one sister, Edna Bachman of Goshen, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Emma and Lydia; and four brothers, Edward, Daniel, Noah, and Elmer Oyer.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m., Sept. 13, at the Bethel Mennonite Church with the Rev. Joe Pendleton officiating. Burial will be at Washington Township Cemetery. Arrangements were made by the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns.Memorials may be made to the Greencroft Foundation, or Bethel Mennonite Church.

Leonard Thelen

Leonard Joseph Thelen, 79, of Fowler, died Sept. 9, 1998. He was born June 6, 1919 in Westphalia, the son of Edward and Clotilda (Miller) Thelen. He lived in the Fowler area most of his life. He was a truck driver and was retired from Motor Wheel. He was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and Holy Name Society.

Leonard married Rose Schomisch Nov. 27, 1943 in Fowler, and she survives him. Also surviving are three sons, Richard (Pat) Thelen, Gary (Susan) Thelen, and Dale (Dottie) Thelen, all of Fowler; two daughters, Judy (Dave) Finkbeiner and Sandy Thelen, both of Portland; 18 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Julie (Norbert) Feldpausch, Evelyn (Eugene) Thelen, and Ermaline Fedewa; four brothers, Louis (Monica) Thelen, Eugene (Margie) Thelen, Clement (Jo) Thelen, and Ken (Char) Thelen. He was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Jeffrey Parsons and Brent Thelen; daughter-in-law, Barb Thelen; one brother, Melvin Thelen; and two sisters, Marina Feldpausch and Delores Kentfield. The funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 12 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. Raymond Rademacher officiating. Graveside military services at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery were provided by VFW Post 3733. Arrangements were made by the Goerge Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Home, Fowler.

Norval Thornton

Norval "Nub" Thornton, 76, of Elsie, died Sept. 5, 1998. He was retired from Thornton & Sons Construction. The funeral service was held Sept. 9 at Smith Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel.

Helen Phaneuf

Helen M. Phaneuf, 80, formerly of Corunna, died Sept. 8, 1998. She was a retired elementary school teacher for the Corunna Public Schools. Mass of Christian Burial was held Sept. 12 at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Owosso. Arrangements were made by Smith Funeral Homes, Corunna Chapel.

Edmund Galazka

Edmuch G. Galazka, 42, of Vernon, died Sept. 4, 1998. He was a physicians assistant. Private family services were held. Arrangements were made by Smith Funeral Homes, Corunna Chapel.