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| Duane L. Thomas | LeRoy Allen Dunsmore |
| LeRoy Allen Dunsmore
Surviving are his wife, Irene Dunsmore of Falmouth, three sons, Gene (Helen) Dunsmore, John Dunsmore and Gordon Dunsmore, all of St. Johns, one stepson, Ken Perry of St. Johns, nine grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren, four great great grandchildren, half brother, Tom Rumzek of DeWitt and half sister, Caroline Shamaka of Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his mother, sister and two half brothers. Funeral services will be 10:00 A.M. Friday, January 31, 2003 at the Osgood Funeral Home, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev. Jerry Britton officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 P.M. Wednesday at the Burkholder Funeral Home in McBain and 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Thursday at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns.
Survivors include 2 sisters, Dalean McCullough, Grand Ledge, MI, Glenda Sue Thomas, Lansing, MI; 1 brother, Daland Thomas of Lansing, MI; many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his parents. Funeral services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel, on Friday, January 31, 2003 at 11 AM., with Pastor Dave Stoneham officiating. Visitation, Wednesday from 6-8 PM. and Thursday from 2-4 and 6-8 PM., burial at Riverside Cemetery in Elsie, MI. Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor's choice. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes.
Surviving are her daughter, Mary Beth Henning of St. Johns, three sons, Max (Chris) Shinabery, Kent (Joyce) Shinabery, all of St. Johns, and Robert (Sue Ann) Shinabery of Perrinton, thirteen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren and two sisters, Cressie Wakefield of Adrian and Mary Schlarf of St. Johns. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Helen Peck. Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Friday, January 31, 2003 at Salem United Methodist Church, burial at Eureka Cemetery with Pastor Jim Dibbet officiating. The family will receive friends 6-8 P.M. Wednesday and 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Thursday at the Osgood Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice. Odelia H. Keilen, Westphalia, MI Age 95, loving mother, grandmother and sister, passed away on Saturday, January 25, 2003. She was born on June 20, 1907 in Westphalia the daughter of John E. and Mary A. (Bertram) Platte. Mrs. Keilen was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Christian Mothers. Odelia and her husband, Walter were involved in farming all of their lives and they raised seven children. Over the years, Odelia enjoyed crocheting, making baby quilts, and baking cookies for her family. She is proud of her 43 grandchildren, 87 great grandchildren and her 11 great great grandchildren. She has had the honor of attending the golden wedding anniversary celebration of two of her sons and has celebrated five generations of family with three of her children. Odelia has always held a very special place in her family's hearts. Over the years, she has blessed them with her special talents of quilting, knitting, and baking, and, most importantly, being there for whoever needed a helping hand or a shoulder to lean on. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter in 1980; son, Joseph John; grandchildren, Lori Keilen and Martin and Martina Keilen; sisters, Hildegard Fandel and Esther Wirth; brothers, Harold and Herm Platte. Surviving are 4 sons, Leon (Aggie) Keilen of Westphalia, James (Cornelia) Keilen of Westphalia, Donald (Lydia) Keilen of Fresno, CA, and Larry (Peg) Keilen of Westphalia; 3 daughters, Betty (Dan) Weber of Saginaw, Janet (Tom) Droste of Westphalia, and Joan (Don) Schmitt of Fowler; 43 grandchildren; 87 great grandchildren; and 11 great great grandchildren; brother, Carl (Theresa) Platte of Brooklyn, MI; sister, Sister Joanna Platte of Wilhemette, Illinois; several nieces and nephews. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Msgr. Sylvester L. Fedewa at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2003 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Westphalia with Rite of Committal following at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the St. Mary's Funeral Chapel, 210 N. Westphalia Street, Westphalia from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. The rosaries will be prayed at 3 and 8 p.m. both days. Pall Bearers will be Tim Droste, Dick Keilen, Doug Keilen, Bob Keilen, Mike Schmitt, Dean Wber, and Greg Keilen. Arrangements are entrusted to the Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Home, Portland.
Survivors include two daughters, Gloria (Jim) Dibbet of St. Johns, Ella Jo Jackson of Las Vegas, NV, five grandchildren: Mark (Wendy) Dibbet of Bellevue, NE, Michelle Konen of Chesaning, Rebecca Anne Jackson, Daniel Willis Jackson, and Rachael Elizabeth Jackson, all of Las Vegas, NV, fourteen great grandchildren, one great great granddaughter, one brother, Gary (Joyce) Boogerd of Sheldon, IA, and one sister-in-law, Elaine Boogerd of Sheldon, IA, and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Edward, brother Jim Boogerd, sister and brother-in-law Agnes (Larry) Van Roekel, and grandson-in-law Anthony Konen. Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M. Thursday, January 30, 2003 at Salem United Methodist Church, burial at Pilgrim Home Cemetery, Holland, MI with Pastor Jim Dibbet officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Wednesday at the Osgood Funeral Home. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to Sparrow Hospice.
Survivors include her daughter Mary Gower (John) Dove of Lansing, one son James Otto (Martha) Gower of Cadillac, five grandchildren, John Thomas (Margo) Dove of St. Johns, Christina (Charles) Dove Fox of Grand Ledge, Amber (Jeff) Gower Weburg of Ithaca, Beth (Bryan) Gower Harkrader of St. Johns, Jay Otto Gower of Troy, 6 great grandchildren, two sisters, Vera Bryant of St. Johns, Ramona Harper Norris of Bullhead City, AZ, several nieces and nephews, as well as long time friend and care giver, Linda Riley. Reta was preceded in death by her parents, husband, one brother Carl Wayne Silvernail, and one sister Leta Fisher. Memorial Services will be held 1:00 P.M. Saturday, February 1, 2003 at the Osgood Funeral Home with Pastor Bob Ditmer officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11:00A.M. - 1:00 P.M prior to the service. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to the Elsie Public Library or charity of donor's choice.
Surviving along with his wife, Almeda, are 2 children; a son, Bill (Pam) Nemanis of Ovid, a daughter, Suzanne (Robert) Sippola of Kalamazoo; 4 grandchildren, Joseph Nemanis of Corunna, Robin (Ken) Ellis of Ovid, Paul (Hope) Sippola of Grand Rapids and Emily Sippola of Ann Arbor; 3 great-grandchildren, Alexis, Kaycee and Loghan Ellis; 2 sisters, Kay (Don) Mullally of Cleveland, Ohio and Bernice Vetere of San Jose, California; and many, many friends. Paul died as he lived, with dignity, grace, humor and courage. Visitation will be 7-9 PM Thursday and 2-4 and 7-9 PM Friday at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes, Ovid, with a Rosary prayed at 7 PM Friday. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 1 PM Saturday, January 25, 2003 at St. Cyril's Catholic Church, Bannister, with Rev. Fr. Wolfgang Streichardt officiating. Friends are invited to join the family in celebration of Paul's life at the American Legion Hall in Elsie following services. Memorial contributions in Paul's name may be made to Hospice for Clinton County or to the American Cancer Society. |
LeRoy Allen Dunsmore died January 27,
2003 at the age of 89. He was born in Holland Township on May 26, 1913. LeRoy had worked
for the Melling Drop Forge in Lansing and retired June 27, 1973. He had also farmed for
many years in the St. Johns area. He had worked three years for the Civil Conservation
Corp as a barber and was a First Sgt. He moved back to the Dunsmore homestead in 1975. He
enjoyed gardening, hunting, fishing and farming. 
Duane L. Thomas, Grand Ledge, MI Age 63, passed away
Tuesday, January 28, 2003 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, MI. He was born February 1, 1939
in St. Johns, MI., to Harold D. and Iola (Swarthout) Thomas. He resided most of his life
in the Lansing area. He worked for Oldsmobile in Lansing, MI. He attended the Church of
God. He really enjoyed fly fishing. 
Eva M. Shinabery died January 27, 2003
at the age of 100. She was born in Gratiot County on August 2, 1902, the daughter of
Florian and Sabina (Haas) Matthews and lived in St. Johns most of her life. She was a
school teacher and member of Salem United Methodist Church. Eva married Carson L.
Shinabery on May 23, 1929 and he preceded her in death on March 26, 1980. 
Gertrude “Trudy” Bailey died January 26, 2003 at the age of 81.
She was born in Rock Valley, Iowa on December 31, 1921, the daughter of Sidney and Josie
(Kuipers) Boogerd. Trudy’s church membership was the center of her life and she was
currently a member of Salem United Methodist Church. She always had a word of
encouragement and was always there for everybody, a trait she passed on to her daughters.
Trudy married Edward Bailey on September 21, 1945 in Dakota City, Nebraska, and he
preceded her in death on July 27, 1966. 
Reta E. Gower of Eureka died Saturday, January 25, 2003.
Reta was born June 13, 1912 in Greenbush Twp., the daughter of Guy and Nina (Warren)
Silvernail and lived all her life in Greenbush Twp. She attended the Richmond School and
graduated from St. Johns High School in 1930. Her marriage to Otto Gower on August 12,
1931 ended with his death October 25, 1975. Together they owned and operated Gower's
Hardware Store, Grain Elevator and Bottled Gas Company and Reta was a cashier at the wheel
Inn for 15 years. 
Paul George Nemanis of Ovid, age 81, passed away on
Wednesday, January 22, 2003 at his home in Ovid with his family at his side. Paul was born
on June 5, 1921 to Boleslaw "Benjamin" and Katarzyna (Szczupaj) Nemanis. He
attended country grade school near Bannister and later high school in Ashley, Michigan. In
1941, Paul joined the Air Force and was training as a pilot on B-25 bombers when the war
ended. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force at the end of the war and pursued
his love of flying in civilian life as a hobby. On November 29, 1947, Paul married Almeda
Dickenson. The couple celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in November 2002. Paul
owned and operated Nemanis Electric Company for 35 years, retiring in 1988. Through the
years, Paul was very involved in community service, having served as a volunteer fireman,
as a member of the village council, and a member of the cemetery board.