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| Zita M. Dianda | Robert P. Walling
Marlea Jenine (O'Berry) (Reed) Goldberg
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Barbara A. (Stiffler) Jantzen
Barbara was preceded in death by her father, Richard Johnson. Memorial services will be held at the St. Johns Congregational Church on Saturday, March 2 at 4 P.M. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Johns Public Schools Foundation for Excellence or the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Clinton County.
The daughter of Andrew and Anna (Donish) Buchkoe, Mrs. Dianda was born on September 29, 1920 in Bessemer, MI where she grew up with her eight brothers and sisters. She married John B. Salemi who preceded her in death in 1953. As a widow with a small son she returned to college and obtained a bachelor's degree and teaching certification in 1956 from Northern Michigan University. She excelled as a teacher at the grade school level. She taught for more than 25 years in both public and Catholic schools in Escanaba, MI, Naperville, IL and St. Johns, MI. She touched the lives of many young people who had the good fortune to have her as a teacher. She particularly enjoyed her many years as teacher and librarian at St. Joseph Catholic School in St. Johns, and the friendship of fellow teachers and staff. She was also a terrific mother and devoted spouse. She loved her children with her whole heart and willingly made many sacrifices for her family. She was very dedicated to her Catholic faith. She also had a liberal streak, which was evidenced by her membership in the American Civil Liberties Union. In 1958 Zita married Robert J. Dianda whom she had met when she returned to college. They settled in St. Johns where they raised their family. Robert survives his wife. Also surviving are one daughter, Roberta Motz and husband Peter, one son, John Salemi and wife Leslie and four grandchildren, Anna and Taylor Motz, Alex and Libby Salemi, two sisters, Anne Fassbender of Lombard, IL and Jean Schwenk of Schwenksville, PA, three brothers, Raymond Buchkoe of Marquette, MI, Basil Buchkoe of Iron Mountain, MI and Gerard Buchkoe of Sparks, NV as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Andrus and Michael, and one sister, Mary Jane. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, February 23, 2002 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. Eoin Murphy officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Friday at the Osgood Funeral Home with rosary being prayed 8 P.M. Friday. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Education Trust Fund.
Also surviving is his son, Robert L. Esch of Pewamo, sister, Marie (Alfred) Hengesbach of Eagle, three brothers, Louis Esch of Fowler, Julius (Jane) Esch of Whitehall, MI and Paul (Mary Ann) Esch of Fowler and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law, Julianna and Roy Motz and sister-in-law, Alice Esch. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 A.M. Saturday, February 23, 2002 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Pewamo, burial at St. Joseph Cemetery with Rev. Fr. Charlon Mason officiating. A vigil service will be held 8 P.M. Thursday at the Goerge Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Fowler, with rosary prayed 3 and 8 P.M. Friday. Robert B. Tait died February 19, 2002 at the age of 80. He was born in Maple Rapids on April 15, 1921, the son of Miles and Maggie (Messer) Tait and lived in the Mid-Michigan area all his life. Bob worked and retired from Fisher Body as a master craftsman after 30 years of service. During this time he farmed 200 acres and raised a family of four children. He was a member of Price United Methodist Church and was a veteran of the U.S. Army in World War II. Bob married Gweneth Cornell in St. Johns on October 25, 1953 and she survives him. Also surviving are his son, Charles (Jennifer) Tait of Rensselaer, IN, daughters, Marcia (Robert) Steffens of Fort Worth, TX, Lorene (Mark) Kappler of Grand Ledge and Julie Tait of Lyons, MI, 10 grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends. Bob was preceded in death by his mother, father, four brothers and two sisters. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Friday, February 22, 2002 at Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev. Kay Pratt officiating. Visitation will be held 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Association.
Also surviving are his daughter, Jean (Al) Leckrone of St. Johns, sons, David Walling of Ovid, Tom (Leanne) Walling of St. Johns, Mark (Erin) Walling, Muskegon and Robert Walling of Kansas City, MO, thirteen grandchildren, seven great grandchildren and sister, Margaret Crowell of St. Johns. Funeral services will be 3:00 P.M. Friday, February 22, 2002 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev. Cayle Beagle officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Paine-Gillam-Scott Museum. Robert R. Scott, born March 26, 1930 in Clinton County, passed away after a hard-fought battle against pneumonia Feb. 12, 2002 at Evergreen Medical Center, Kirkland, Wash. He was born to Loereta Giffels Scott and Ray Merle Scott, one of nine sons. He attended Ovid High School, and served from 1951 through 1953 in the U.S. Army joining two other brothers in Korea. He married Joyce Cornwell of Platteville, Wis., April 17, 1954. While attending the Wisconsin Institute of Technology, he and Joyce operated the general Union Store north of Platteville at County Highway A&D. He earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering at Wisconsin Institute of Technology, Platteville, Wis. in 1962. He moved his young family to Seattle after accepting employment with the Washington State Highway Dept. in June 1962 to participate in the construction of I-5 through Seattle, followed by many other projects in the Puget Sound area and ending his engineering career with the construction of the I-90 Lake Washington floating bridge project, retiring in 1990. He was a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. He enjoyed their couples bowling league, Boy Scout leadership excelling in leather crafting. He enjoyed clam digging and hiking with family and friends, woodworking and cabinet making to beautify his home and others and exploring many backroads across the country, especially in the southwestern states after retirement. His family was completed with daughter, Deborah Scott; sons, Gary (Debbie) Scott, Kelly (Kadee) Scott; and his dearly loved grandchildren, Nicholas, Jillian and Lauren. He is preceded in death by brothers Elbridge, Roy and Arthur. He will be greatly missed by brothers, Charles (Mary) of DeWitt, Harry (Doris) of St. Johns, Eugene (Alice) of DeWitt, Oliver Wayne (Phyllis) of Niles, and Ronald of DeWitt; numerous nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews; friends and neighbors, for whom he always had time to help when needed. Burial was at Tohoma National Cemetery, Kent, Wash., Feb. 15, with family attending. A Celebration of Life and Memorial service is planned for March 9, 2002 at Green's Funeral Home, Kirkland, Wash. Robert Milton Simmons of Lansing, a loving husband, father and devoted family man, passed away Feb. 19, 2002 at age 75. Born Nov. 8, 1926 in Grand Ledge, Mr. Simmons served in World War II as an ammunition handler with the 5th Army Air Force BU. He worked for 35 years at Michigan School Service, retiring in 1990; was a member of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish since 1954, American Legion Post 225, and loved to travel, especially to Hawaii. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clinton and Ethel Simmons; brother, Franklin Simmons; and sisters, Thelma Barron and Viola Lemon. Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Rose; son, Ryan and his wife Sri of East Lansing; sister, Leona Them of Lansing; brothers, Lester Phipps of Midland and William Simmons of Grand Ledge; brother-in-law, Dale Lemon of Lansing; sister-in-law, Lenora Simmons of Lansing; and many loving nieces and nephews. The funeral mass was celebrated Feb. 23 at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, Lansing with the Rev. Michael W. Kuchar officiating. Rite of Committal followed in North Eagle Cemetery in Eagle Township. Marlea Jenine (O'Berry) (Reed) Goldberg Marlea Jenine (O'Berry) (Reed) Goldberg, DeWitt, MI On February 20, 2002, Marlea Goldberg, at the age of 52, journeyed home to be with her Lord and her parents, Harry and Betty Reed, and dear friend, Robert Zolkowski, following her encounter with cancer. Mrs. Goldberg has asked that you not mourn; rather celebrate your life and to always remember that "tomorrow is promised to no one." She was born on November 8, 1949 in Lansing, Michigan, and was employed by CATA (Capital Area Transportation Authority) as the assistant to the Executive Director since 1980. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harry Reed (1996) and Betty Reed (1995). She is survived by her loving, caring, devoted husband, Edward H. Goldberg; son, Stephen (Dusty) O'Berry of Lansing; brothers, Donald (Kathy) Reed of Lansing and Terry (Tari) Wareham of Colorado; grandchildren, Parker, Brandon, Brody, Shyanne, Kayla and Kaitlyn; step-children, Jeffrey Goldberg (significant other-Kathy Burridge) of White Lake, Beth (Steve) Mongeau of Paw Paw, Eric (Melissa) Goldberg of Grandville, and Steven Goldberg of Lansing; special sister-in-law (sis in the heart), Margie O'Berry Solomon of Lansing; mentor and very, very dear "sister" and friend, Sandy Draggoo; mother-in-law, Mildred Goldberg of Northville; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Chomicz of Bloomfield Hills and Marge (Randall) Walter of Northville; brother-in-law, Clarence (Gail) Goldberg of Westland; several nieces, nephews and cousins and many others special to Marlea. A Funeral Service will be held at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, February 23, 2002 at the Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel, with H. James Froehlich officiating. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Friday. In lieu of flowers, Marlea has requested that contributions may be made to Hospice House of Mid-Michigan or to a charity of one's choice. Charles D. Huntley, infant son of Douglas and Elizabeth (Gorman) Huntley, died Sunday, February 17, 2002. Services 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 20, 2002 at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns. Arrangements by Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns. Lela M. "Marjorie" Heil, DeWitt, Born March 27, 1908, in Perry; died February 13, 2002, at the age of 93. Mrs. Heil was a 1928 graduate of the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, Owosso, and a member of Emanuel First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lansing. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, in 1997. Surviving are 1 son, Richard (Judy) Heil of Supply, NC; 1 grandson, Derek Heil of Columbia, SC; 2 great granddaughters, Melissa and Holli; and 1 sister, Ruth (Jim) Hankinson of Bay City. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, February 20, at 1 p.m. at the Gorsline-Runciman Co. DeWitt Chapel, 111 S. Franklin St., DeWitt, with the Rev. Daniel M. Buske, Co-Pastor, and the Rev. Paul J. Lindloff, Co-Pastor officiating. Interment will follow in DeWitt Cemetery, DeWitt. The family will receive friends at the Chapel on Tuesday from 6-8p.m. Ernestine E. "Tina" Gnagi, St. Johns, MI Age 61, passed away on Sunday, February 17, 2002. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas in 1999; and brother, Pete Winner. She is survived by: sons, Jim, David, and Jerry Bartel, all of Lansing; daughters, Dawn Wolven of St. Johns and Heather Gnagi of Lansing; step-sons, Raymond, Patrick and John Gnagi, all of Lansing; 10 grandchildren; sister, Pat Coe; brothers, Randy and Bobby Winner; and many nieces and nephews. A Funeral Liturgy will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 21, 2002 at the Estes-Leadley Holt/Delhi Chapel, with the Rev. Bill Lugger officiating. Rite of Christian burial will follow in Maple Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Also surviving are his son, Ryan, two sisters, Stacey Frederick of Webberville and Tammy (Steve) Lake of Perry, two aunts, Phyllis (Jim) Herrguth of Bath and Linda (Dave) Piper of Williamston, two uncles, Roger (Brianna) Brown of Williamston and Arvid (Lucy) Brown of Marlette, MI, grandparents, Arvid and Marie Brown of Mesick, MI and Geraldine Salter of St. Johns, sisters-in-law, Roberta (Ron) Zerfas, Louise Shellito and Brenda Trotter, several nieces, nephews and cousins, and special friends, Don and Kelly Adams and Jeff Dollarhite. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, February 20, 2002 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Pastor Robert Ditmer officiating. The family will receive friends 6-9 P.M. Monday and 2-4 and 6-9 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to a trust fund for his son Ryan's education. Isabel A. Houghton died Saturday, February 16, 2002 at the age of 90. She was born in Lansing on March 10, 1911, the daughter of Bert and Mary (Parker) Dalrymple. She was a former member of Kirkwood Presbyterian Church of Bradenton, FL and United Church of Ovid, life member of Morning Star Chapter #279, and active in many other civic groups. Isabel married David Houghton on September 21, 1932 in Port Huron, they owned and operated the Houghton Funeral Home in Ovid from 1936-1969. They moved to Bradenton, FL in 1976 where she remained after the death of David in 1977. She devoted her life to helping others and was named the " Angel of H Street" while she was living in Bradenton. In 1998 she moved to Houghton Lake. Surviving are daughter, Carol Jean (Duane) LaRue of Houghton Lake Heights, granddaughter, Suzanne (Mike) Kobylarz of St. Johns, grandson, James (Vickie) LaRue of Tulare, CA and five great grandchildren, Jamie and Jeremy Kobylarz, Ashley, Dustin and Megan LaRue. Funeral services will be Tuesday, February 19, 2002 at 1:00 P.M. at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, Ovid, burial at Maple Grove Cemetery with Rev. Rob McPherson officiating. The family will receive friends Monday from 6-9 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the United Church of Ovid. Dorothy A. (Steele) Seymour died Friday, February 15, 2002 at the age of 85. She was born in Jackson, Michigan on June 22, 1916 the daughter of Ross and Francis (Walters) Steele. She married George R. Seymour November 21, 1940 and he preceded her in death on May 29, 2001. Dorothy is survived by two sons, Barry Seymour of Manistee & Duane (Maryann) Seymour of Jenison, two daughters, Pamela (Jack) Russell of Charlotte & Valerie (Dennis) Kadzban of Kent City, six grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, and one brother, Max Steele of Las Vegas, Nevada. The family will receive friends 11:00 A.M. to 12:00 noon Tuesday, February 19, 2002 with the funeral service starting at noon at the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns (989) 224-2365. Burial will follow at Wacousta Cemetery.
Funeral services will be on Sunday, February 17, 2002 at 1:30 P.m. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel. Pastor Billie Lou Gillespie-Brown will officiate with burial at Riverside Cemetery in Elsie. Visitation will be Friday 5-8 and Saturday 1-8 p.m. Elizabeth was born on May 10, 1919 in Chapin, Michigan, the daughter of Hiram & Bertha Elizabeth (Hall) Smith. She was married to the late Edward LeRoy Snyder on March 23, 1940. She was a member of the Chapin United Methodist Church and also a member of the Chapin United Methodist Church Women’s Club. She resided most of her life in Elsie, Michigan. Survivors include her daughter, Joan & Lowell "Sonny" Miller of Merrill, one son, Forrest & Pat Snyder of Elsie, one brother, Harold & Betty Smith of Oakley, two sisters, Clara & Frank Perry of Elsie, and Effie Keck of Bannister, seven grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, and two very special friends, Ritha Maynard of Elsie, and Arlene Miller of Brant. She was predeceased by her husband, parents, 3 brothers, Lloyd Smith, Jim Smith, Don Smith, and special granddaughter, Peggy Miller. Memorials may be made to the Chapin United Methodist Church. John Howard Smith, Lansing, formerly of Eagle Age 85, passed away February 14, 2002 in Delta Twp., Eaton County, MI. Mr. Smith was born in DeWitt Twp., Clinton Co., Michigan on July 31, 1916 to Louis and Mayme (Cramer) Smith. John Retired in 1981 from Capitol City Lumber and was a Veteran of the Air Force 349th Troop Carrier Group with duty in Europe during WWII. He was a past president of Eagle Village Council and a member of the American Legion Post #269, Haslett. He is survived by his nephew, David (Ruth Ann) Peake; great nephews, Christopher and Cameron Peake; great niece, Cree Peake; several great-great nieces and nephews ; also, many cousins and dear friends. He was predeceased by his wife, Azalee; brother, Walter Smith; and sister, Marion Peake. Funeral Services will be held Monday, February 18th, 11 AM at the Eagle United Methodist Church, Eagle, with Rev. D. Michael Maurer officiating: interment to follow at the North Eagle Cemetery. The family will receive friends Sunday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the Peters & Murray Funeral Home, Grand Ledge. For those desiring, contributions to the North Eagle Cemetery Society or the Eagle United Methodist Church will be greatly appreciated. Katherine Anna (Fedewa) Bower, age 82, passed away on February 15, 2002 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born and raised in Westphalia, MI on January 13, 1920. She married Louis A. Bower at St. Mary's Church in Westphalia on November 4, 1943. They were members of St Patrick's Church in Portland, where they lived the hard farm life and raised their children. They enjoyed traveling and especially enjoyed playing cards with family and friends. Katherine was preceded in death and has now gone home to be with her husband of 54 years, Louis; her parents, Edward and Eleanor (Pung) Fedewa; brothers, Harold, Arthur, Leon, Isadore, and infant brother, Raymond; sisters, Beatrice Pasche, Flowrence Weber, and infant sister, Marie. Surviving are her children, James (Laurey) Bower, Dale (Linda) Bower, David (Kimberly) Bower, Mary K. (Byron) Kincaid, all of Portland, and Karen (Mike) Halsey of Ft. Pierce, FL; 11 very special grandchildren; also surviving are sisters-in-law, Dorothy (Smith) Fedewa of Portland and Dorothy (Keilen) Bower of Grand Ledge. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Charles D. Hall, Pastor, at 11 AM Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Portland, with Rite of Committal following at Portland Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 2-4 and 7-9 PM Sunday with Rosaries being prayed at 3 and 8 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Giving Tree Farm, 15433 Turner Rd., DeWitt, MI 48820. Arrangements are entrusted to the Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Home, Portland. |
Barbara A. (Stiffler)
Jantzen, 62, of Phoenix, Arizona passed away February 23, 2002. She was
born June 8th in St. Johns, Kansas and was a long-time resident of St.
Johns, Michigan. An early childhood educator, Barb was a preschool teacher/director
at Jack and Jill Nursery School in St. Johns. While living in Arizona
she served as Team Leader for the Office of Childcare Licensure of the
State of Arizona. She taught by example, inspired all and led with a smile.
She possessed a deep faith in God and love of family. She is survived
by her loving husband Jens Jantzen of Phoenix; her mother, Helen Johnson;
daughters Cam Stiffler and Chris (Mark) Grennell; grandchildren Zack,
Zane and Zarren Grennell; a sister, Bette (Ben) Munger, all of St. Johns,
MI; niece, Heidi (Andrew) Sung of Bethesda, MD and nephew, Chad Munger
of Chicago, IL.
Zita M. Dianda died peacefully on February 20, 2002.
She was eighty-one years of age. Zita had suffered from Alzheimer's Disease and
complications for a number of years.
Joseph P. Esch died February 20, 2002 at the age of 69.
He was born in St. Johns on March 29, 1932, the son of Leo and Martha (Hufnagel) Esch and
lived in Pewamo area most of his life. He was a retired electrician from General Motors
and farmer, was a veteran of the Korean War, a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church,
Pewamo, V.F.W. Post #3733, American Legion Post #182 and the Knights of Columbus. Joseph
married Bernice Platte in Westphalia on February 24, 1954 and she survives him. 
Robert P. Walling died February 19, 2002 at the age of 80. He was
born in St. Johns on December 13, 1921, the son of 
Terry L. Frederick, loving husband and
father, wonderful friend, passed away February 16, 2002 at the age of 31. He was born in
Lansing on June 18, 1970, the son of Terry W. and Marilyn (Brown) Frederick and lived the
past 12 years in St. Johns. Terry was a 1989 graduate of Bath High School, was employed by
Michigan State University and was training to be a firefighter for Clinton Area Fire &
Rescue. He enjoyed golfing and living life to the fullest, coached Falcon football,
basketball and baseball, and was a St. Johns Youth Baseball board member and coach. Terry
married Terri Trotter in Lansing on October 7, 1989 and she survives him. 
Age 82 of Elsie, Michigan died Thursday, February 14, 2002
at Covenant Healthcare in Saginaw, Michigan. She worked for Farmer Peets and was a
homemaker.