| Audrey Thornton | Vedasta Arens | Karen Quine |
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Audrey Grubaugh (Fruchtl) Thornton, 89, of Owosso, died May 18, 1999. She was born Aug. 27, 1909, in Gratiot County, the only child of Edward F. and Clio (Keller) Grubaugh. She graduated from St. Johns High School in 1927, and Central State Teachers College (now CMU) in 1931 with a B.A. degree in education. She started her teaching career in Muskegon, and later taught in the St. Johns school system. In 1936 she married Albert J. Fruchtl. He preceded her in death in 1977 as a result of an automobile accident while on a trip to Australia. Mr. and Mrs. Fruchtl did extensive traveling during their 41 years of marriage. She was united in marriage to Raymond D. Thornton May 25, 1984 in St. Johns. She lived in Owosso with her husband until the time of her death. Mrs. Thornton was very active in the American Cancer Society, being County Chairperson for many years. She was on the State Board at the time of her death. She was also a member of the First Congregational Church in St. Johns, the Elizabeth Winslow Division of the church, and the Congregators group. Mrs. Thornton is survived by her husband, Raymond; three step-daughters, Rae Louise (Charles) Franke of Lansing, Betty (Albert) Morris of Hawks, and Margaret (Howard ) Heyboer of St. Johns; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Sister Gertrude Fruchtl of St. Louis, Mo.; and special friends, Nancy and Gerald Myers of St. Johns. The funeral service was held May 21 at the First Congregational Church with the Revs. Wendy Sue Earle, Matt Olson, and Rae Louise Franke officiating. Memorials may be made to the First Congregational Church, or the American Cancer Society Clinton County Unit. Arrangements were made by the Osgood Funeral Homes, St. Johns. Ezra Roy Donald, 96, died May 16, 1999. He was born Feb. 25, 1903, in White Oak Township, the son of Joseph and Freda (Johnson) Donald. He lived in Clinton County most of his life. Mr. Donald was a retired paint inspector from General Motors after working 36 years. His marriage of 69 years to Frances Conklin Feb. 12, 1929, ended with her death Feb. 13, 1998. Mr. Donald is survived by two sons, Charles (Jean) Donald of Maple Rapids and Roy Donald of Mason; two daughters, Freda (Neil) Beachy of Florida and Ruth (Merv) Cornell of Okemos; 16 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren; a half-sister, Nora Kissler of Stockbridge. He was preceded in death by his sister, Amanda Howe. The funeral service was held May 19 at the Abbott Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Maple Rapids, with the Rev. Timothy Cockroft officiating. Burial was at Beach Cemetery. Wanona Sitton Underwood, 91, of Maple Rapids, died May 14, 1999. She was born Sept. 21, 1907, in Dublin, Texas, the daughter of William Earl and Collie Sitton. She was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church. Wanona lived the earlier part of her life in Texas where she owned and operated a dairy farm for several years. During this time, she loved and raised her nephews, Earl and Don Sitton. In later years she moved to Michigan where she met and married Robert Underwood April 24, 1971. Wanona is survived by her husband, Robert L. Underwood of Maple Rapids; one nephew, Donald (Nina) Sitton of Texas; daughter-in-law, Cloys Hickman of Tipton, Okla.; two grandchildren, Cynthia (Bill) Wilson of Wylie, Texas, and Doug (Sheila) Hickman of Grandbury, Texas; three great-grandchildren, Sara Wilson, Michael Wilson, and Caitlin Hickman; three grandnephews, Byron Fred Sitton, Roger Sitton, and Matthew Sitton, and one grandniece, Terri Cox, and families, all of Texas; and five sisters-in-law, Theda (Nelson) Hull of Zephyrhills, Fla., Leda Husted and Lorraine Wright of Lansing, Maple Hicks and Evelyn Underwood of Maple Rapids. She was preceded in death by her son, Ray Hickman; her brother, Ky Sitton; one nephew, Earl Sitton; and one great-nephew, Johnny Ky Sitton. The funeral service was held May 18 at the Abbott Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Maple Rapids, with the Rev. Tom Mercer officiating. Burial was at Payne Cemetery. Vedasta M. Arens, 84, of Wesstphalia, died May 15, 1999. She was born March 8, 1915, in Westphalia, the daughter of Henry and Emilie (Harr) Rademacher. She lived all of her life in Westphalia. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Christian Mothers. Vedasta married Linus T. Arens Nov. 21, 1936, in Westphalia. He preceded her in death Oct. 26, 1985. Surviving are seven sons, Ray Arens of St. Simons Island, Ga., Alban (Alberta) Arens of Alma, Robert (Lyndia) Arens, Leo Arens, Stanley (Judy) Arens, all of Lansing, Roman Arens of Westphalia, and Gerald (Cheryl) Arens of Fowler; five daughters, Helen (Bob) Schneider-Skriba of Elsie, Norma Jean (Ron) Heine of St. Louis, Mary (Bill) Castanier of Lansing, Dorothy "Dottie" (Dale) Thelen of Fowler, and Bernadette Arens of Westphalia; 23 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Adelia Hengesbach of St. Johns, and Sr. Henrilda Rademacher, S.C.C. of Wilmette, Ill.; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by three infant children, Maryann, Joseph, and Rita; and son-in-law, Ronald Schneider. The funeral Mass was celebrated May 18 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Westphalia, with the Rev. Fr. William Ashbaugh officiating. Burial was at St. Mary's Cemetery. Arrangements were made by the Osgood Funeral Homes, St. Johns. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Clinton County. Joseph Hallenbeck, Sr. Joseph Robert Hallenbeck, Sr., 69, of St. Johns, died May 15, 1999. Joe was born Oct. 19, 1929, in Pontiac, the son of Harry and Annebelle (Dowding) Hallenbeck. He lived most of his life in St. Johns. He graduated from Mason High School in 1948. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the Raven Lodge Masonic #303 in Oswego, Ill., In 1964, he founded and was co-owner of Hallenbeck Construction, Dimondale. He married Marjorie Wood Bissell Sept. 29, 1990, in St. Johns, and she survives him. Also surviving are three sons, Joseph (Mary) Hallenbeck, Jr., of South Dakota, Mitchell (Jamie) Hallenbeck, and Edward (Debra) Hallenbeck, both of St. Johns; daughter, Jeanna (Lee) Kirby of California; step-son, Steve (Teresa) Bissell of Fenton; step-daughters, Leisa (Pete) Ratu of Grand Blanc, and Kellie (Dennis) Seman of St. Johns; 11 grandchildren, Joseph, Katie, Breanna, Cassidi, Vanessa, Trent, Alexandra, Nicholas, Alec, Anna, and Benjamin; two brothers, James (Mary) Hallenbeck of Mason, and Harry (Loralee) Hallenbeck of Idaho; two sisters, Kathleen (Dale) Miihlbach of Holt, and Mary Anne (Fr. Ruben) Rodriguez-Yejo of Delaware; and many nieces and nephews. The funeral service was held May 19 at the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns, with the Rev. Steve Weinberger officiating. Burial was at Maple Grove Cemetery, Mason. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or the Diabetes Association. Robert T. Rubley, Sr., 78, of DeWitt, died May 17, 1999. He was a retired tool and die maker from Demmer Corp. The funeral service was held May 19 at the Osgood Funeral Homes, St. Johns, with the Rev. Wendy Sue Earle officiating. Memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation. Karen Anne Quine, 40, of Ovid, died May 15, 1999. She was employed by Ovid-Elsie Schools. The funeral service was held May 18 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Ovid, with the Rev. Fr. Jeffrey Robideau officiating. Arrangements were made by Smith Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel. Pauline M. Graham, 80, of St. Johns, died May 14, 1999. The funeral service was held May 17 at the Osgood Funeral Homes, St. Johns, with the Rev. Matt Olson officiating. Burial was at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, or the American Heart Association. |