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Benjamin Vernon E. Benjamin, 81, of St. Johns and formerly of rural Fowler, a devoted husband, father and grandfather passed away Sept. 29, 1999. He was born April 4, 1918 in Lebanon Township, the son of Fred and Cora (Patterson) Benjamin. He graduated from Fowler High School and later attended Michigan State College. He served in the U.S. Army for more than four years during W.W.II with the 184th Infantry 7th Division in the South Pacific as a staff sergeant. He was a self-employed farmer as owner and operator of Benjamin Centennial Farm, northwest of Fowler. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church where he served on the church council for many years. He was a member of the Fowler V.F.W., Maple Twirlers Square Dance Club, the Lebanon Grange, and Farm Bureau. He formerly served on the Fowler Public School Board of Education. He married Bernita Boak Sept. 3, 1947. They moved to St. Johns in 1993. Surviving is his wife of 52 years. Also surviving are four daughters, Carol (James) Magruder of Columbia, Mo., Judy (Patrick) Fraser of Stoney Brook, N.Y., Luane (Thomas) Feldpausch of Pewamo, and Lori (Chris) Weber of Maple Rapids; one son, Brian Benjamin of Ypsilanti; 14 grandchildren; two brothers Gerald (Naomi) Benjamin of Portland, and Eugene (Donna) Benjamin of Fowler; one sister, Opal Thuma, of Sunfield; many nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Howard and Donald Benjamin; brothers-in-law Clyde Thuma, Cecil Boak, Clare Boak, and Charlie Boak. The funeral service was held Oct. 2 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fowler, with Pastor Paul Clark officiating. Burial was at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or the charity of donor's choice. Military graveside services provided by Fowler V.F.W. Post #3733. The family was served by the Goerge Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Home. Ludwig "Louie" F. Sipkovsky, 77, of St. Johns, passed away Sept. 23, 1999. He was born in North Star, June 1, 1922, the son of Stephen and Maria (Vici) Sipkovsky. He was a mint farmer and a retired Motor Wheel employee. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ushers Club and the Farm Bureau. He enjoyed playing and coaching baseball in the Gratiot County League for 52 years. He married June Shaull, May 6, 1950 and she survives him. Also surviving are one daughter, Paula (Robert) Andrews of Brighton; two sons, Michael (Shirley) Sipkovsky of Perry, and Patrick Sipkovsky of St. Johns; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; one brother, Robert Sipkovsky of Wetmore; one sister, Theresa Martis of St. Johns; sisters-in-law, Helen and Maxine Sipkovsky of St. Johns, Ruth (Wilbur) Newton of St. Louis, and Ellogen Cowdrey of North Star; and brothers-in-law, Richard (Bernie) Shaull of Lincoln Park, Fred (Billie) Shaull and Donald (Ruth) Shaull of North Star. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Mary Sipkovsky and Margaret Reha, and two brothers, Steve and Frank Sipkovsky. The funeral Mass was held Sept. 27 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery, with the Rev. Fr. Timothy D. Krzyzaniak officiating. Memorials may be made to Clinton Memorial Hospital. The family was served by the Osgood Funeral Home. Marjorie Juanita Andersen, 77, of Ashley, passed away Sept. 26, 1999. She was born March 1, 1922 in Eureka, the daughter of Louis and Estella (Bebee) Fenner. She graduated from Elsie with the Class of 1939 and resided most of her life in the Ashley area. She was the head cook at Ashley Public Schools and retired with 23 years of service. She was a member of the Fenmore Baptist Church in Elsie. She married Lars Andersen Oct. 20, 1940, in Eureka. Surviving are her husband Lars Andersen of Ashley; two daughters, Nancy (Marvin) Arnst of St. Johns, and Janice (David) Robinson of Greenbank, Canada; two sons, Dr. Lars (Kathy) Andersen of St. Johns, and Bruce (Connie) Andersen of Ashley; nine grandchildren, Jaron and Derek Arnst, Craig and Amanda Robinson, Jeremy, Erin and Abby Andersen, Traci and Michelle Andersen; and two great-grandchildren, Patrick Andersen and Trevin Gavenda. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Dorothy. Funeral services were Sept. 30 at Smith Funeral Home, Elsie Chapel, with the Rev. William Stites officiating. Burial was at Eureka Cemetery in Eureka. Memorials may be made to the Fenmore Baptist Church, Elsie.
Pauline N. Maurer, 94, of Ovid, passed away Sept. 24, 1999. She was the owner of C & M Dress Shop, was a bookkeeper for Darling Hardware in Ovid, and a member of the United Church of Ovid. Funeral services were Sept. 27 at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Home. Private burial was at Fairfield Cemetery with Pastor Rob McPherson officiating.
Joan Lee Parker, 63, of Ovid, formerly of Elsie, passed away Sept. 23, 1999. She retired from Gene's IGA in Elsie in 1990. Funeral services were Sept. 27 at Smith Funeral Home, Elsie Chapel.
Letha June Fuller, 69, of Ovid, passed away Sept. 25, 1999. She retired in 1991 from the Clinton County Department of Social Services after 18 years of service. Funeral services were Sept. 28 at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Home, Ovid. Burial was at Hillcrest Cemetery, Owosso, with Bishop Gaston G. Gosselin officiating.
Katherine Koenigsknecht, 89, of Fowler, passed away Sept. 26, 1999. She was born July 23, 1910, in Kreuzberg, Germany, the daughter of Johann and Wilhelmina (Raulf) Zimmermann. She lived most of her life in the Fowler area. She emigrated from Germany with her father in 1923, a trip taking 10 days on the ship George Washington and passing through Ellis Island prior to settling in the Westphalia area. Her mother and sisters followed in 1924. She became a citizen of the United States in 1953. She was a member of Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler, and the Christian Mothers. She was a homemaker and worked as a cook for Fowler Public Schools. She was a women of courage and faith, quiet strength, gentleness and generous spirit. She'll long be remembered for her lovely smile and wonderful sense of humor. She married Joseph Koenigsknecht Jan. 7, 1937 at St. Mary's Church, Westphalia. Surviving are her husband of 62 years, Joseph; six sons, Carl (Judy) of Fowler, Roy (Marilie) of Worthington, Ohio, Robert (fiancee Barb) of Warren, Luke (Rosemary) of St. Johns, Joseph (Polly) of West Bloomfield, Donald (Colleen) of St. Johns; three daughters, Kay (Frank) Hufnagel of Fowler, Mary Ann (Roger) Kaminskis of Salinas, Calif., and Jane Fox of Mt. Pleasant; 28 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law Carl Spitzley of Portland; sisters-in-law, Helen Zimmermann of Portland and Catherine Zimmermann of Muir; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by brothers, Nicholas and Rudy Zimmermann; sisters, Elizabeth Fedewa and Anna Spitzley; granddaughter, Meg Katherine Koenigsknecht; and great-granddaughters, Amber Rose Hufnagel and Mary Elizabeth Fox. The funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 29 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Fr. Raymond Rademacher officiating. The Rite of Committal was in the Most Holy Trinity Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Most Holy Trinity Educational Trust Fund or Clinton Memorial Home Health Care/Hospice. The family was served by the Osgood Funeral Home.
Gary W. Orweller, 61, of DeWitt, passed away Sept. 27, 1999. He was born in Clinton County Nov. 27, 1937, the son of Paul and Alice (Sheldon) Orweller and lived most of his life in the Clinton County area. He was a former Midland-Ross employee (Owosso), a veteran of the U.S. Army, a member of the Moose Lodge #2291 of DeWitt and Eagles Lodge #1039 of Lansing. On Feb. 27, 1960 he married Emilie Martens in Riley Twp. and she survives him. Also surviving are four sons, Brian Orweller, Leon Orweller, both of Mancelona, Bruce (Kelly Pryor) Orweller of Portland, and Mark Orweller of St. Johns; four grandchildren; five sisters, Joyce (Alvin) Woodhams, Sharon (Richard) Dershem, Janice (Roger) Arntz, and Paula Roberts, all of St. Johns and Sandra (Mike) Wing of DeWitt. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Leon Orweller and Dean Orweller. Memorial services were Sept. 30 at the Osgood Funeral Home with Rev. Steve Weinberger officiating. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association or Clinton Memorial Hospital.
William F. Motz, 84, of Ashley, passed away Sept. 27 1999. He was a retired farmer and carpenter. Funeral services were Sept. 30 at Smith Funeral Home, Elsie, with the Rev. Fr. Bennett Constantine officiating. Burial was at North Star Cemetery, North Star.
Rex E. Ballantine, 42, of Williamsville, N.Y., and formerly of Elsie, passed away Sept. 24, 1999. He was a pharmacist and co-owner of eight independent pharmacies located in New York and Michigan. Funeral services were Sept. 29 at Smith Funeral Home, Elsie Chapel.
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