Arden Cressman

Arden F. Cressman, 87, of Ovid and formerly of St. Johns, died Dec. 7, 1998. He was born Dec. 29, 1910, in Olive Township, the son of Frank and Leona (Bates) Cressman. He lived most of his life in St. Johns.

Arden retired from Oldsmobile in 1971. He was a member of the First Congregational Church, the Oldsmobile Quarter Century Club, and was a driver for Meals on Wheels.

Arden married Roberta M. Bond May 10, 1935, in St. Johns. She preceded him in death Dec. 7, 1977.

Surviving are two daughters, Ruth Mary (Winford) Mabie, and Sharie (Clair) Sanders, all of DeWitt; 10 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Alpha Drake of St. Johns, and Nellie Dumas of Florida; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one brother, Ernest; three sisters, Hazel Major, and infants, Deloris and Doris; one grandson, Doug Droste; and two great-grandchildren, Ryan Johnston and Stephanie Guzman.

The funeral service was held Dec. 9 at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns with the Rev. Matt Olson officiating. Burial was at Wilsey Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels.

Kenneth Eldridge

Kenneth W. Eldridge, 48, of St. Johns, died Dec. 6, 1998. He was born Aug. 26, 1950, in St. Johns, the son of Warren and Helen (Boots) Eldridge. He lived in the St. Johns area most of his life.

Ken was an active member of Lowe United Methodist Church, was on the 4-H Fair Board for six years, and was a Falcons basketball coach. He was an active outdoors person, was active in the St. Johns Skating Association, and participated in a Senior Hockey League in Lansing.

Ken married Shirley Pettigrew June 26, 1971, in Eureka, and she suvives him. Also surviving are two daughters, Randi Renae and Wendi Jo Eldridge; his parents, Warren and Helen Eldridge; parents-in-law, Gene and Betty Pettigrew; two brothers, Jeff (Jean) Eldridge, and Bill (Linda) Eldridge; one sister, Dorothy (Bob) Ritz; three brothers-in-law, Mike (Paula) Pettigrew, Curt (Kathy) Pettigrew, and Bob Pettigrew; many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service was held Dec. 10 at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns with the Rev. Joe Spackman officiating. Burial was at Lowe Cemetery.

Grace Haagen

Grace L. Haagen, 93, of Greenville and formerly of St. Johns, died Dec. 6, 1998. She was born Sept. 15, 1905, the daughter of Wallace and Emma L. (Halsey) Huggett. She lived in Greenville since 1928.

Grace was a retired teacher, a member of Greenville First United Methodist Church, Lois Circle, Retired Teachers Association of Grand Rapids and Montcalm County, and the Greenville Historical Society. She was a life member of Childhood Ed of Grand Rapids, and was a Red Cross volunteer.

Grace married Arnold Haagen Aug. 14, 1929. He preceded her in death. Surviving are two nephews, Wallace (Sharon) Huggett of Marlette, and James (Edna) Huggett of Marshall, Wis.; five nieces, Mary (Carlton) Barnes of Owosso, Lois (George) Beck of Deckerville, Mabel Harris of Sun Prarie, Wis., Doris Eisler and Dorothy Hall, both of St. Johns; several grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Austie and Florence, and two brothers, Orby and Dow.

The funeral service was held Dec.9 at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns with Pastor Ted Bailey officiating. Burial was at Mt. Rest Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Marvin Schroeder

Marvin D. Schroeder, 58, of St. Johns, died Dec. 7, 1998. He was born April 13, 1940, in Ellsworth, Kan., the son of Arthur Herman and Hilda Martha (Eilrich) Schroeder.

He worked for Clinton Machine in Ovid for 12 years as an estimator. He graduated from Ellsworth High School in 1959, and attended Schoolcraft College in Detroit and Pasco Hernando College in New Port Richey, Fla. He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, New Port Richey.

He married Norma Taylor Sept. 26, 1987 in Port Richey, and she survives him. Also surviving are three sons, Jeff, Dan, and Scott Schroeder, all of Michigan; his mother, Hilda Schroeder of Ellsworth, Kan.; one step-son, Bryon (Kristi) Taylor of Bannister; one step-daughter, Shelly (Jerry) Salander of St. Johns; four grandchildren, Nate and Cassie Taylor, and Zach and Nicole Salander; three brothers, Art (Betty) Schroeder and Ken (Gladys) Schroeder, all of Austin, Texas, and Hank (Bernice) Schroeder of Nampa, Idaho; five sisters, Norma Pflughoeft of Rupert, Idaho, Ruth Kasiska of Kanopolis, Kan., Annie (Ernie) Hochman of Geneseo, Kan., Lorna Schroeder of Ellsworth, and Jenette (Bob) Westerhaus of Witchita, Kan.; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, one brother, Nubs, and one sister, Alma.

The funeral service was held Dec. 10 at Smith Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel, with Pastor Paul Clark officiating. Burial was at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Clinton County. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Arleen Sheldon

Arleen M. Sheldon (Bryant), 92, of Ovid, died Dec. 8, 1998. She was born Aug. 7, 1906 in Clinton County, the daughter of Jesse and Jessie Pearl (Pope) Mosher.

She was a 1924 graduate of St. Johns High School, and received her Life Teaching Certificate from Central Michigan University. Arleen taught school in rural Clinton and Shiawassee counties for several years before retiring in 1971 from Ovid-Elsie Area Schools. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association.

She married C. Dale Sheldon Dec. 24, 1926 in St. Johns. He preceded her in death in 1980. She married Howard Bryant Feb. 27, 1982 in Ashley, and he survives her. Also survivng are one son, Keith (Hilda) Sheldon of Mims, Fla.; one daughter, Margo (Larry) Martin of Ovid; step-son, Howard Bryant Jr., of Grand Rapids; and step-daughters, Lyann Schanz of Florida and Sharron Bair of South Dakota; seven grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 10 step-grandchildren, and nine step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by one brother, one sister, and a granddaughter.

Memorial services were held Dec. 11 at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Ovid, with the Rev. Robert Pumfrey officiating. Memorials may be made to the Dale & Arleen Sheldon Memorial Scholarship or the Ovid Public Library.