Obituaries

Bonnie LaClair

Bonnie J. LaClair, 47, of Onondaga and formerly of St. Johns, died Sept. 21, 1998. She was born Feb. 19, 1951 in Clinton County, the daughter of Henderson "Hank" and Lillian (Thomas) Casteel. She lived in the Ovid/St. Johns area most of her life, and the past six years in Onondaga.

She was a caregiver at a group home, and was a member of the TIME Group. Surviving are one daughter, Patty (Marty) Barrett of Ovid; three sons, Scott Rodriquez of Clinton Township, Anthony (Michelle) Rodriquez of Ovid, and Charlie LaClair of Lansing; and nephew/son, Frank Worden of Elsie; 13 grandchildren; her boyfriend, Donald "Cody" Coats of Onondaga. She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Darrell Lee; and one sister, Beverly Worden.

The funeral service was held Sept. 24 at the Church of the Living Word in Ovid with Pastor Dale Luth officiating. Burial was at Maple Grove Cemetery. Arrangements were made by the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Ovid.

Thomas Burns

Thomas C. Burns, 65, of St. Johns, died Sept. 17, 1998. He was born Dec. 24, 1932, in Bloomer Township, the son of Lawrence and Mary (Slattery) Burns.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the American Legion Post 153, having served in the Korean War. Tom was a graduate of Rodney B. Wilson High School, and received his associate degree in accounting from Lansing Business University.

He married Jeanette "Jean" Fox Sept. 1, 1956. She preceded him in death April 13, 1990. Surviving are three daughters, Lisa Burns, Linda (Chuck) Biewer, and Brenda (Chris) DeLiso; one son, Kevin (Rhonda) Burns, all of St. Johns; nine grandchildren; one brother, Richard "Dick" (Connie) Burns of California; and one sister, Rosemary (Dave) Hambleton of Lansing. He was preceded in death by his wife; one brother, Harry Burns; and his parents.

The funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 21, at St. Joseph Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. Robert Lunsford officiating. Burial was at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Education Trust, or St. Johns Right to Life.

Lewis Silm

Lewis W.K. Silm, 97, of St. Johns, died Sept. 16, 1998. He was born Nov. 29, 1900, in Riley Township, the son of William and Elizabeth (Martens) Silm. He lived all of his life in Clinton County.

Lewis was a life-long farmer, and a mechanic for Oliver Montague. He was a life-long member and the oldest living member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, Riley. He was a member of Farm Bureau.

He married Ruth McPrangle June 24, 1924, in Riley Township. She preceded him in death March 26, 1987. Suriving are one son, LaVern (Betty) Silm of St. Johns; one daughter, Vineta Hilt of Dunedin, Fla.; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren; one sister, Lillian Tiedt; and two sisters-in-law, Martha Silm and Olga (Herbert) Will. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by one grandson, Gary Silm, and one brother, Herman Silm.

The funeral service was held Sept. 19 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Riley, with the Rev. Jeffrey Heimsoth officiating. Burial was at St. Peter Cemetery. Arrangements were made by the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns. Memorials may be made to St. Peter Fellowship Hall Fund, or Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor.

Stanley Argersinger

Stanley S. Argersinger, 73, of Laingsburg, died Sept. 20, 1998. He was born Oct. 6, 1924, in St. Johns, the son of Howard and Lettie (Jacobs) Argersinger. He lived most of his life in Laingsburg. Mr. Argersinger attended Wildcat School. He was a farmer, milk hauler, and factory worker.

He married Martha Mae Martens Feb. 18, 1947, at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Riley, and she survives him. Also surviving are four daughters, Brenda (Jerry) Chester of Indiana, Linda (Thomas) Smith of Laingsburg, Shelia (James) Doyle of Laingsburg, and Lisa Black and Jeff Fiedler of Lansing; two sons, Robert (Kay) Argersinger of Lansing, and Roger Argersinger and Brenda Stevenson of Laingsburg; 14 grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Chad Argersinger; his parents; and a brother, Jack Argersinger.

The funeral service was held Sept. 23 at Nelson-House Funeral Home, Laingsburg, with Fr. Duaine Pamment officiating. Burial was at Laingsburg Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Foundation.

Lurah Bearndt

Lurah G. Bearndt, 85, of St. Johns, died Sept. 18, 1998. She was born Dec. 9, 1912, the daughter of Jay and Georgianna (Surgate) Simpson. Lurah married William A. Bearndt June 2, 1932, and he preceded her in death July 8, 1980.

Surviving are one daughter, Joyce Dillsworth of Owosso; one son, WilliamE. Bearndt of Ithaca; 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one grandson, William J. Bearndt, and one infant great-grandson, Robert J. Dillsworth.

The funeral service was held Sept. 22 at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns with the Rev. Paul Daniels officiating. Burial was at Ford Cemetery.

Nina Woodbury

Nina B. Woodbury, 82, of Elsie, died Sept. 21, 1998. She was born June 3, 1916, in Gratiot County, the daughter of John and Olga (Jolly) Frayer. She lived in Clinton County most of her life. She was a homemaker, and a member of the Elsie United Methodist Church. Nina married Chancey "Chan" Woodbury in 1934, and he preceded her in death June 3, 1977.

Surviving are three children, Bruce (Blanche) Woodbury of Elsie, Jo (David) Wakefield of Adrian, and Marcia (Roger) Yoder-Workman of Charlotte; 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Wallace and William Frayer, and her sisters, Weltha Crowell and Olive Eyer.

The funeral service was held Sept. 24 at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns with the Rev. Merlin Pratt officiating. Burial was at Eureka Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Clinton Memorial Hospital Building Fund, or Elsie United Methodist Church.

Robert Hamill

Robert W. Hamill, 73, of Owosso, died Sept. 21, 1998. He was retired from the Shiawassee County Road Commission, and was also a mint farmer. The funeral service was held Sept. 24 at Smith Funeral Homes, Corunna Chapel.

Mary Fabus

Mary Irene Fabus, 81, of Elsie, died Sept. 23, 1998. She was born April 3, 1917, in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Lovas) Chmiko. She lived in the Ashley and Elsie areas most of her life.

Mrs. Fabus was a member of St. Cyril's Catholic Church, Bannister, and the Jenota Lodge #721, Bannister. She was a homemaker. She was married to Steve Fabus Feb. 25, 1936, at St. Cyril's Catholic Church. He preceded her in death in 1976.

Surviving are two daughters, Barbara Fabus of Saginaw, and Elaine (John) Kuchar of Henderson; one son, Richard Fabus of Saginaw; two grandchildren, Sharon Kuchar of Lansing, and Michael (Neva) Kuchar of Austin, Texas; four sisters, Helen Sipkovsky of St. Johns, Sally Foreit of Elsie, Thelma (Ken) Rowan of Ontario, Canada, and Carol (Dewey) Custer of Ashley; two brothers, Paul Chmiko of Owosso, and John (Nancy) Chmiko of St. Johns. Special thanks to her caregivers, Olean Bodiford and Eleanor Williamson. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Joseph.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Sept. 26 at St. Cyril's Catholic Church with the Rev. Fr. R.K. LeFleur and the Rev. Fr. Max Frego officiating. Burial was at Ford Cemetery, Gratiot County. Arrangements were made by Smith Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel. Memorials may be made to Visiting Nurses of Saginaw or the Arthritis Foundation.