|
Suzanne E. Mangles  Suzanne E. Mangles, 55
of Ovid, MI died at her home on Tuesday, July 17, 2007 after a 4-year battle with cancer.
She was born on Nov. 5, 1951 in St.
Johns, MI the daughter of Lawrence and Mary (Mueller) Moore. Suzanne graduated from St.
Johns High School. On Nov. 6, 1971 she married Terry
Mangles in DeWitt, MI. She was a fantastic wife, Mother and grandmother. She had worked at
General Motors GMSPO, retiring in 2003. She also was an Avon representative for several
years.
She survived by her husband Terry; 3 sons, Salem and Nicole
Mangles of Shaftsburg, MI and Darryl and Edward at home; daughter Sarah and Andy Wade of
Bieber California; grandchildren, Candice and Chase Wade, Salem, Makayla, Cameron, Naomi
and Anna Mangles; sisters, Ardith M. Markman of Elsie, Rita A. Simpson of St. Johns,
Patricia and Fernando Rodea of Lansing, Marilyn and Eric O’Connell of St. Johns;
brothers, Dennis L. Moore of Louisiana and Robert H. Moore of Ionia; mother, Mary Moore of
St. Johns. She was preceded in death by her father, Larry Moore.
Funeral services will be held at Keck-Coleman
Funeral Home, 989-224-4422 on Friday, July 20, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Fr.
Raymond Urbanek
officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery, St. Johns. The family will receive
friends on Thursday 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. A prayer vigil will be held at 8:00 P.M. Thursday
evening. Memorial contributions may be given to Sparrow Hospice, PO Box 30480, Lansing, MI
48909.
Jennie B. Blanchard
 Jennie B. Blanchard age
80 of St. Johns, Michigan, died on Saturday, July 14, 2007 at her home. Funeral services
will be held Wednesday, July 18, 2007, 11:00 A.M. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns
chapel. Pastor Dan Cameron will officiate and burial will take place at North Star
Cemetery, North Star, Michigan. Visitation will be on Monday evening from 6-8 P.M. and
Tuesday 2-8 P.M. with family present 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. at the funeral home.
Jennie was born in Ashley, Michigan the daughter of Louis
G. and Martha Hazel (Kochensparger) Garrett and had resided most of her life in Clinton
and Gratiot counties. She graduated from Ashley High School with the class of 1944. Jennie
had worked as a waitress and cook at the Hitching Post Restaurant in St. Johns, Michigan.
Survivors include her 4 children, Susan Burgess, Janet
Burgess, of Bolingbrook, Illinois, Gene and Beverly Burgess of St. Johns, Michigan, Bruce
and Fran Burgess of St. Johns, Michigan, 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren, a
brother, Elwood Garrett of Allen Park, Michigan. She was previously married to Rex Burgess
of St. Johns, Michigan. She was predeceased by her parents, 5 sisters and 4 brothers,
husband Andre’ Blanchard in 1994. Memorials may be made to Clinton Home Hospice. The
family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns chapel
Edward
H. "Rabbit" Rademacher
Edward H. "Rabbit" Rademacher, 70, retired
General Motors Corp. employee, died Friday. Memorial services 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pilgrim
United Methodist Church, St. Johns. Arrangements by Keck-Coleman
Funeral Home, St. Johns.
Joyce Arlene Faught
 Joyce Arlene Faught passed away July 13, 2007, at the
age of 78. She was born in Laingsburg on July 28, 1928, the daughter of Charles and
Katheryn (Craddok) Wright. Joyce married Kenneth Faught on July 24, 1947 and he survives
her. Joyce owned Cameo Beauty Shop for 35 years, worked for 9 years at Universal Electric,
5 years for General Motors and also owned Antiques and Collectables for 10 years.
Also surviving are daughters, Clarice (Lawrence) Scott of St. Johns, Janet (Ken) Callahan
of Kalamazoo, one son, Gregory (Linda) Faught also of St. Johns, seven grand children,
seven great grandchildren, one brother Sam (Myra) Wright, one sister, Anne (Wayne) Carlton
and many nieces and nephews. Joyce was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Stan
Wright.
Memorial services will be Thursday, July 19, 2007 at The Osgood Funeral
Home, 104 East Cass St, St. Johns, with Rev. Cayle Beagle officiating.
Sister Lucia Motz,
O.P.
Sister Lucia Motz, O.P., Racine, WI, age 94, passed away at Lakeshore Manor, Racine, WI on
Tuesday, July 10, 2007. Josephine Catherine Motz was born November 17, 1912 to Julius and
Regina Motz in Fowler, MI. On August 30, 1930 she joined the Racine Dominicans.
She is survived by the Racine Dominican Sisters and
Associates; her brother, Brother Isaac Joques, CSC of Notre Dame, IN; and nieces and
nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, three brothers and four sisters.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the
Siena Center Chapel, July 16, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. Memorials have been suggested to the
Racine Dominican Mission Fund c/o Siena Center, 5635 Erie St., Racine, WI 53402
Alvin
Richard “Al” Dickens
 Alvin Richard “Al”
Dickens died suddenly on Tuesday, July 3, 2007. Al was born February 12, 1947 in Detroit,
Michigan to Ruth Marjorie (Brown) Dickens and Henry Johnson Dickens – both of whom
preceded him in death. Al was active with Boy Scouts for 52 years achieving his Eagle
award at the age of 13. Al graduated from Sandusky High School, Sandusky, MI in 1965.
During school, Al was an avid athlete and lettered in several sports. He was also active
in drama and enjoyed acting in a number of plays and musicals. Al attended Michigan State
University where he played football and baseball and was a member of the ROTC. His first
Bachelor’s Degree from MSU was in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He later earned
his Bachelor’s in Elementary Education and Master’s in Environmental Education.
Al married Linda Sue Wank in South Haven, Michigan on
August 19, 1967. They settled in St. Johns, Michigan and started a family which includes
the following surviving children: daughter, Allison Butler and husband Scott of
Woodinville, WA; sons Bart Dickens of Athens, GA, Zachary Dickens and wife Marcy of
Watkinsville, GA, Patrick Dickens of Athens, GA.
Al was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church where he was a youth leader, sang in the
choir and played on the church softball team. Al taught at North Elementary School in
Ovid, Michigan until moving the family to Georgia in 1980. He taught 7th grade at Davis
Middle School in Milledgeville, Georgia and was a Baldwin County JV Football Coach for two
years. He was a member of Hope Lutheran Church and First United Methodist Church in
Milledgeville. In 1983, the family returned to Michigan to be closer to family after Linda
was diagnosed with cancer. During this time, Al was a tireless caregiver and partner in
Linda’s fight for life until she passed on August 4, 1986. In 1990, Al relocated to
Union Point, Georgia where he taught at Union Point Elementary School for 14 years. After
retiring from teaching, Al resumed his career as a financial planner with Primerica
Financial Services.
Al was blessed to have met his beloved wife, Constance Rettew Bryant Dickens in January,
2002. They exchanged vows in a commitment ceremony in Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico
on December 24, 2003 and wed on April 30, 2004 in Greensboro, Georgia. Al recently
described his marriage to Connie as “as wonderful as can possibly be” and he
liked to refer to himself and Connie as “Mr. and Mrs. Wonderful.” Though their
years together were too few, their union brought two more sons whom he dearly loved: Ura
Bryant and wife Allison of Senoia, GA and Billy Bryant of McDonough, GA.
Throughout his life, Al was a teacher, mentor, friend and father figure to many children.
He was an Eagle Mentor with Boy Scouts, a foster father, a step father, a camp counselor,
a beloved uncle and a teacher of bible school as well as math, science and social studies.
He used to refer to himself as “Uncle Al the kiddies pal” and was probably best
known to many as “Mr. D.” Above all else it was likely his role as “Grandpa
Al” that he most cherished in life. Al’s sense of wonder, spirit of adventure
and corny jokes will live on in his treasured grandchildren, Morgan Elizabeth Dickens and
Samuel Elliot Butler. Sam and Morgan were recently conspirators along with the rest of the
family in throwing a surprise 60th birthday party for their grandpa in February.
Al had a wonderful voice and was a member of the Athens Choral Society and the Athens
Lyric League. His hobbies included fishing, golf, bowling, playing cards, traveling, bird
watching, restoring old houses, real estate development, financial planning and sharing
conversation. Al had visited 49 of the 50 states as well as Canada and Mexico. Al was a
fantastic dancer and loved to cut a rug. In June, he danced with his wife, kids and
granddaughter at son Ura’s wedding. The family is comforted with hundreds of these
wonderful memories.
Also surviving Al are sisters, Karen Carroll and husband Jimmie of Laingsburg, MI and Ann
Jiles and husband Dan of Bend, OR; a brother, Bill Dickens of West Des Moines, IA and
several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, in-laws and out-laws. Al touched the
lives of hundreds of friends and former students and will be fondly remembered by
countless others.
The Dickens family received friends on Saturday, July 7 at the McCommons funeral home in
Greensboro. Al’s life wascelebrated with music and memories at a service held Sunday,
July 8, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Methodist Church in Greensboro, GA with Rev. Ralph
Danson officiating. Internment services are currently being planned for Saturday,
August 4th at Lakeview Cemetery in South Haven, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, the
family requests that donations be made to the Al Dickens Memorial Scholarship Fund. Checks
payable to the fund can be sent to the Dickens residence or funeral home. McCommons
Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of
arrangements.
|
