Check here for new deaths
throughout the week
| Obituaries |
|
|
| Randy A. Searles | Deloris Kieffer |
|
Deloris (Dee) L. Kieffer, 66, of St. Johns, passed away Sept. 2, 2003 at Sparrow Hospital. She was born Jan. 23, 1937 in Clinton County, the daughter of Maynard and Arlene (Potter) Perry. She was employed with Chrysler for 18 years at the Lyons plant. She also worked for Allens Monuments, Clean N Time Dry Cleaners and Nemcik Orchards. She enjoyed sewing, writing, and landscaping, including the water fountain she had just installed. Most of all she loved her grandkids and spending time with her family. She was a wonderful cook and baker. She was a great volunteer to help anytime she was needed and always put others first. Deloris was a much loved person and will be dearly missed. She was a member of Mint City First Free Methodist Church. She married Walter Kieffer Sr., April 21, 1973 in Ionia. Surviving are her husband, Walter Kieffer, Sr. of St. Johns; six children, Jeffery (Kammy) Rings of Clare, Suzan (Gary) Molden of St. Johns, Pamela (Michael) Rice of St. Johns, Cookie (Veanne) and Larry Kleinbardt of Clare, Bill Rings of St. Johns and Lonnie Rings of St. Johns; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; seven step-children, Dennis and Sandy Kieffer of Howard City, Diane and Jim Bernum of Big Rapids, Walter Jr. and Sue Kieffer of Pewamo, John Kieffer of Grand Rapids, Michael Kieffer of Georgia, Dorene Kieffer of Big Rapids, Caroline and Michael Smith of Cadillac; one sister, Joyce Nussbaumer of St. Johns; one niece, Cindy and Lou Ward of Fowler. She was preceded in death by her parents. Funeral services will be held Friday Sept. 5 at 1 p.m. Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Pastor Tom Wilson officiating. Memorials may be made to Mint City First Free Methodist Church or Clinton County Hospice.
He is survived by his wife, Debra Searles of St. Johns, one son, Randy (Brandi) Searles, II of St. Johns, one daughter, Tara (Jacob) Burns of Laingsburg, one stepdaughter, Adrian "Allie" (Justin) Chapko of Owosso, one grandson, Nathan Sidel and one granddaughter, Hallie Burns. Randy is also survived by his mother, Lillian C. Searles of St. Johns, three sisters, Sharon (Gary) Conklin of St. Johns, Joyce (Gary) Weinley of Bellevue & Cindy (Joe) Geller of St. Johns, one brother, Leon D. Searles of St. Johns, one sister-in-law, Vickie Searles of St. Johns, many nieces/nephews and aunts/uncles. Randy was preceded in death by his father, Willard D. Searles and his brother, William W. Searles and two sisters, Barbara J. Searles and Sandra K. Washburn. Funeral Services will be 1:00 P.M. Friday, September 5, 2003 at Pilgrim United Methodist Church, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev. Merlin Pratt and Rev. Ray Sundell officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 & 6-8 Wednesday and Thursday at the Osgood Funeral Home. Memorials maybe made to Forgotten Man Ministries.
Lyle was born in Elsie, Michigan on November 30, 1938 the son of Albert & Alice (Gibson) Craven. He attended Elsie High School graduating with the class of 1957. On July 6, 1958 he married Patricia Noonan in Eureka, Michigan. He retired from Michigan Milk Producers Association in Ovid, Michigan, he work in the laboratory. Lyle also was a milk hauler. He served on the Elsie Fire Department for 28 years and the Elsie Area Ambulance Service for 32 years. Survivors include his wife, Patricia Craven of Elsie, Michigan, 4 daughters, Linda & Rick Bernath of Charlotte, Michigan, Laura LaClair of Elsie, Michigan, Darlene & Jim Hunt of Elsie, Michigan, Sara Craven-McCullough & Darrin McCullough of Elsie, Michigan, 1 son, James & Gina Craven of Florida, 11 grandchildren, 1 sister Gladys Herron of Elsie, Michigan, several nieces & nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, 1 granddaughter, Danielle, 2 sisters, and 1 brother. Memorials may be made to the Elsie Fire Department or Elsie Area Ambulance Service. The
family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel.
Surviving are 3 daughters, Connie & Sam Sopoey of Bannister, MI, Cathie Keck of Ashley, MI and Carla Cooper of Ithaca, MI; 2 sons, Roger & Gloria Keck of Ashley, MI and Robert & Kay Keck of Allendale, MI; 11 grandchildren, Tammy, Shawn, Trina, Jason, Jennifer, Courtney, Jessica, Tyler, Kellen, Allison & Adam; 8 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Grace Fisk of Copemish, MI and Betty Jo Martin of Remus, MI; 2 brothers, Charles & Jessie Bahr and Merlin Bahr, all of Copemish, MI. A funeral service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel on Tuesday, September 2, 2003 at 3 p.m. with Pastor Diane Gordon officiating. Burial Marilla Township Cemetery, Copemish, MI on Saturday, September 6, 2003 at 11a.m. Visitation will be Sunday & Monday 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. Memorials may be made to Ashley United Methodist Church. Stephen M. Gordon, St. Johns, MI Born October 17, 1953, in Ocilla, GA; died August 29, 2003, at the age of 49. Mr. Gordon served in the U.S. Army and was a prior member of the Michigan National Guard. He had been employed with General Motors for 27 years. Mr. Gordon was preceded in death by his father Darwin, in 2001. Surviving are his wife, Julie (Chant); daughter, Jill; sons, Joshua and James (Paula); step-children, Angela and Kenny Swanchara; grandchildren, Madison and Trent; his mother, Louetta; brothers, Coley (Patricia) and Timothy (Karen); in-laws, Arthur and Hilda Chant; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, September 3, at 11 a.m. at the Gorsline-Runciman Co. DeWitt Chapel, 111 S. Franklin St., DeWitt. Interment will follow DeWitt Cemetery, DeWitt. The family will receive friends at the Chapel on Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. Dorothy A. (Heller) Setterington
Upon the death of her husband, Dorothy owned and managed the family auto dealership (Setterington Motor Sales) in St. Johns until its liquidation. She went to work at the Chrysler Auto Trim Plant in Lyons, Michigan for a short time. She then attended Lansing Business University, and upon her graduation, went to work for the State of Michigan, retiring in 1980. Dorothy was a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star-Elsie Chapter #69, and a member of the Maple Rapids Congregational Christian Church. She is survived by three children, Joan (Robert) Hart of Perrinton, William Setterington of Maple Rapids and Edward (Carla) Setterington of Perrinton; eight grandchildren, Jon (Shelly) Hart of Hastings, Todd (Becky) Hart of Traverse City, Karen (Marty) Dack of Lansing, Laura (Gregory) Hart-Shackelford of Layfayette, IN, Jason, Jennifer, Nicholas & Sondra Setterington, all of Perrinton; nine great grandchildren; and three brothers, Forrest (Betty) Heller of Pioneer, OH, Harold (Charlotte) Heller of Dunnellon, FL and Paul (Anne) Heller of St. Johns. Her life will be celebrated at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, September 2, 2003 at the Maple Rapids Congregational Christian Church, burial at Sowle Cemetery with Pastor Jerry Kissling officiating. The family will receive friends 2:00-4:00 & 6:00-8:00 Sunday and Monday at the Abbott Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Home in Maple Rapids with an Eastern Star Service 8:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Maple Rapids Congregational Christian Church or Hazel Findlay Country Manor for Alzheimer's purposes. Irene Garner, 69, of St. Johns and formerly of Middleton, died Aug. 22, 2003 at the Schnepp Health Care Center in St. Louis. She was born Sept. 7, 1933 in Riga, Latvia, the daughter of Pavils and Emma (Blaus) Dakers. Irene moved to the United States when she was 16 years old. She was a graduate of St. Johns High School. She married John Edward Garner who preceded her in death in 1979. She was the manager of the WendyÕs in Alma for 15 years. She is survived by six daughters, Jacqueline (Dennis) Martin of Welch, Minn., Karen (Jeff) Taylor of Ashley, Diane Garner of Denver, Colo., Carol (Tom) Priestley of Commerce Township, Donna Garner of Denver, Colo., and Linda (Ron) Butler of Howell; son, Alan (Connie) Garner of Mt. Pleasant; 10 grandchildren; sister, Astrida (Don) Cox of St. Johns; and two brothers, Karlis (Janet) Dakers of Higgins Lake and Uldis (Mary) Dakers of Playerville, Calif. Irene was preceded in death by her parents and husband, John E. Garner. A memorial service will be held Sept. 6 at the Dodge Funeral Home in Middleton. Memorial contributions may be made to donor's charity of choice. Neva Katheryn Yordy, 87, of Goshen, Ind., died Aug. 22, 2003 at Greencroft Health Care. She was born Jan. 7, 1916 in Clarksville, the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Oyer) Birkey. She lived in Clarksville since 1995. She was a registered nurse and a homemaker. She was a member of Bethel Mennonite Church, Ashley. She graduated from LaJunta Colorado School of Nursing in 1940. She married John W. Yordy June 12, 1942. He preceded her in death May 10, 2003. Survivors include one daughter, Wilma (David) Colter of Hopedale, Ill.; three sons, John D. (Winnie) Yordy of Goshen, Ind., Wallace (Jean) Yordy of Ashley, Carl (Sharon) Yordy of Bark River; 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Lorene Jackson and Edna Stahl; three brothers, Roy, Melvin and Chester Birkey; one son-in-law, Roger Springer. Funeral services will be held Sept. 1, 2003 at Bethel Mennonite Church, Ashley. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 31, at the Greencroft Meetinghouse at Bethel Mennonite Church, Ashley. Burial will follow at Washington Township Cemetery, Ashley. Memorials may be made to Goshen College Nursing Program, Mennonite Central Committee or Greencroft Foundation. Arrangements by Yoder Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, Ind.
|
Randy A. Searles died Sunday, August 31, 2003 at the
age of 39, leaving his family here on earth and joining his heavenly family. He was
born in St. Johns, Michigan on October 8, 1963, the son of Willard D. and Lillian C.
(Brown) Searles. He owned and operated R.A. Searles Transport, after achieving a
life long dream. He attended Pilgrim United Methodist Church. Randy married
Debra S. Beach on November 3, 2002. 
Lyle F. Craven age 64 of Elsie, Michigan died Thursday,
August 28, 2003 at Memorial Healthcare Center in Owosso, Michigan. 
Rachel Irene Keck, Ashley, MI Age 83, died Saturday,
August 30, 2003 at the Ashley Healthcare Center. Rachel was born June 29, 1920 in Marilla
Twp., MI the daughter of Leo Francis & Iva Pearl (Grossnickle) Bahr. She resided in
the Ashley area most of her life. Rachel graduated from Central Michigan University with a
Bachelor of Science degree, and was a teacher at country schools in Dublin & Dovee,
and at the public schools in Ashley, Bannister, and Elsie for 28 years. She was a member
of Ashley United Methodist Church, Ashley United Methodist Women, the Rebekah Lodge,
served on the board of The Gratiot County Red Cross, Gratiot County Commission on Aging,
American Association of University Women and Carson City Hospital Auxiliary. Rachel was
predeceased by her parents, 2 brothers, Calvin & Warren Bahr. 
Dorothy A. Setterington, age 89,
died Friday, August 29, 2003 at Hazel Findlay Country Manor in St. Johns. She was
born February 22, 1914 in Kunkle, Ohio, Williams County, the daughter of William and
Myrtie (Frisbie) Heller. Dorothy was a graduate of Kunkle High School and
Lansing Business University in Lansing, Michigan. She came to Maple Rapids upon
graduation from high school and worked for Dr. "Mac" and Mrs. McWilliams.
Dorothy was married to John "Jack" Setterington on June 15, 1935 in Maple
Rapids, by the Rev. L.E. Dull. Jack preceded her in death November 15, 1961, as well
as her parents, two sisters, Ruth (Clive) Warren and Grace (Perce) Upton and two brothers,
Roy and Gerald Heller.