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Bernita M. Benjamin

Gregory James Semrau

Oliver “Chick” Smith

Irma M. Serviss

Noel Franklin Smith of St. Johns age 71, died Sunday, April 3, 2005 at Ovid Healthcare Center, Ovid, MI. Born on February 2, 1934 in Gratiot County, MI to John and Esther (Laner) Smith. He married Donna Schultz in Oakley, MI on July 2, 1955 and resided most of his life in Clinton County, MI. He retired from Federal Mogul in St. Johns, MI in 1999 after 44 years of service. He served his country in the U.S. Navy, and was a former member of the American Legion. He was a 4-H Leader and enjoyed restoring old tractors, and he loved and enjoyed his grandchildren.

He is survived by wife, Donna Smith, St. Johns, MI; 2 daughters, Pamela Adair, St. Johns, MI, and Esther Marie (Ken) Robins, Harrison, MI; 1 son, Armond (Wendy) Smith, St. Johns, MI; 6 grandchildren, Rodney Mercer Jr., Kristin, Noel, Amber, Kendra, and Cody; 5 great-grandchildren, Mellissa, Jennifer, Faylyn, Ethan, and Haley; 2 sisters, Evelyn Gotts, Ithaca, MI and Norma Mansfield, Melbourne, FL; 3 brothers, William Stewart Smith, Ithaca, MI, Hugh Jack Smith, Melbourne, FL and Dennis Smith, Melbourne, FL; special aunt and uncle, Bill and Marion Smith, Chula Vista, CA. Predeceased by parents; 2 sisters, Nellie and Janice and 1 brother, Larry.

Funeral service will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel, Thursday, April 7, 2005 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor James Dibbet officiating. Place of burial, Lowe Cemetery, Essex Township, MI. Visitation will be on Tuesday 6-8 p.m. and Wednesday 2-8 p.m. with family present 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Diabetes Foundation. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel.

Ross W. Downing

Ross W. Downing died on April 3, 2005 at the age of 78. He was born April 5, 1926 in Owosso, the son of Charles and Evelyn (Spencer) Downing. He was a 1944 graduate of Rodney B. Wilson, served during WWII and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant from the U.S. Army Air Corp., a member of the St. Johns American Legion, and the Lions Club, he retired from the Wohlert Corp. after 42 years of service, starting in Production and retiring from Sales. He was very interested in genealogy and loved fishing and golf. Ross married Doris Kline on April 22, 1945 in Lincoln, Nebraska, and she survives him. Ross was father of Duane Downing who died serving his Country in Viet Nam, February 23, 1969.

He is also survived by his daughter, Susan (the late Terry Hotchkiss) Hotchkiss of Eaton Rapids and son, Dru (Sue) Downing of Niles, four grandchildren, Randy and Anitra Hotchkiss and Nick and Nolan Downing, four great granddaughters and his sister, Joan Johnson of Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Doris and Carol, half-brother, Edward and half-sisters, Thelma and Serene.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 7, 2005 at the Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns, with Pastor Cayle Beagle officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive friends for two hours prior to the funeral. Sympathy may be expressed in the way of memorials to the Boys and Girls Club of Lansing.

Oliver “Chick” Smith

Oliver “Chick” Smith age 79 of Elsie, Michigan died Friday, April 1, 2005 at Ingham Regional Medical Center, Lansing, Michigan. Funeral services will be held at Elsie United Methodist Church, Elsie, Michigan, on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at 11:00 A.M. Burial will take place at Ford Cemetery, Gratiot County, Michigan. Rev. Merlin Pratt will officiate and visitation will be Sunday, 6-8 P.M. & Monday 2-8 with family present 2-4 & 6-8 P.M. Military honors will be provided by American Legion Post #502.

Oliver was born in Bannister, Michigan on May 20, 1925 the son of Harold & Rose ( McKinnon ) Smith, he resided most of his life in Bannister & Elsie, Michigan. He graduated from Elsie High School with the class of 1943. On January 18, 1947 he married Barbara Pearce in Bannister, Michigan.  Oliver retired from the State of Michigan Highway Department and was a member of the Elsie United Methodist Church. Oliver served his country in the US Navy during WW 2 and was a member of American Legion Post #502, Elsie, He enjoyed wood carving & fishing, hunting and camping.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara Smith of Elsie, Michigan, 3 daughters, Karren & Joe Ford of West Virginia, Connie Bertrand of Higgins Lake, Michigan, Kathy & Robert Groom of Ovid, Michigan, 5 grandchildren & 2 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his parents, 1 granddaughter, Kimberly & 2 brothers, Earl and Hal. 

Memorials can be made to Elsie United Methodist Church or Elsie Public Library. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel.

Bernita M. Benjamin

Bernita M. Benjamin went to be with the Lord on April 1, 2005. She died at the age of 80, born on May 9, 1924 to William and Lula (Waters) Boak. Bernita grew up in Clinton County and lived her entire life in Fowler and St. Johns. She married Vernon Benjamin on September 3, 1947, who preceded her in death on September 29, 1999. She was a loving wife and mother, raising a family and farming together with her husband. Bernita was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, the ladies aid, a Sunday School teacher, and a member of the Maple Twirler’s Square Dance Club. She was very proud of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her children: Carol (Jim) Magruder of Columbia, MO, Judy (Pat) Fraser of Stonybrook, NY, Luane (Tom) Feldpausch of Fowler, Brian Benjamin of Ypsilanti, and Lori (Chris) Weber of Maple Rapids; 14 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; a brother, Carl (Alma) Boak of St. Johns; sisters-in-law, Gladys Boak of Tucson, AZ, Mary Boak of Pewamo, Naomi (Orlin) Besgrom of Florida; and a brother-in-law, Eugene (Donna) Benjamin of Fowler. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by four brothers, Cecil, Charlie, Clare, and Calvin Boak.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 329 N. Sorrell, Fowler, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Pastor Paul Clark officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Sunday and Monday at the Goerge Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, 11112 W. Ionia St., Fowler. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church or Hazel Findlay Country Manor.

Irma M. Serviss

Irma M. Serviss, 96 died Thursday March 31, 2005 at Ovid Healthcare Center. Irma was born Feb. 24, 1909 in Bingham Twp. the daughter of Arthur J.and Edna C. (Furl) Gage. She was a 1926 graduate of Rodney B. Wilson High School and attended Clinton County Normal, receiving her teaching certificate in 1927. She taught school at Serviss School in the late 1920’s. On June 1, 1926 she married Frederick King Serviss in St. Johns. He preceded her in death on March 2, 1997. Irma was a member of the O.E.S. and the Ovid-Duplain Library Club and served as Middlebury Twp. treasurer for many years.

She is survived by 2 sons William and Jean of DeWitt and Dale and Pat of Ovid, granddaughters, Theresa DeFord of The Woodlands, Texas and Stacey Fizell of Atlanta, GA., Christie L. Sochay of Lansing and Jon W. Serviss of Lansing.7 Great-grandchildren She was preceded in death by son Robert D in 1994 and granddaughter Debbie K. Serviss in 1973.

Funeral services will be held at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, 989-224-4422, on Sunday April 3, 2004 at 3:00 P.M. with Rev. Kay Pratt officiating.The family will receive friends at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home on Saturday, April 2, 2:00 until 8:00 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to Ovid Public Library or Ovid United Church.

Gregory James Semrau

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Gregory James Jacksonville, NC Formerly of St. Johns, MI Passed away Monday, March 28, 2005 at age 25. Greg graduated from St. Johns High School class of 1998, joined the U.S. Navy the following summer. He was a Nuclear Medical Technician at Camp Lejune. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Don and Irene Monroe, and Emma and Albert Semrau.

Surviving are his wife, Magdalena; parents, William and Patricia Semrau, St. Johns; daughter, Demi; brothers, Bill (Kristel) of Mattawan, Steven (Stephanie) and Andrew (Nancy) all of St. Johns; 5 nieces and nephews; many aunts, uncles and cousins; special friends, Matt, Debi, MO, and B.B.; and many other friends from the service.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 2, 2005, at Emanuel First Lutheran Church with Pastor Paul Lindloff and Pastor Timothy Buelow officiating. Interment will be at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church Saturday, and 2-4 and 6-8 Friday at Chapel In The Pines Funeral Home.