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| Donald J. Smith | Thelma L. Shawnee |
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Thelma L. Shawnee Thelma L. Shawnee passed away on September 25, 2007
in St. Johns, Michigan. Thelma was born in Pittsburg, Kansas on October 6, 1911 to William
L. and Virginia (Eubanks) Craig. She was employed by Swift & Co. in Tulsa and Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma prior to World War II. Thelma married Charles J. Shawnee, Sr. on March 15,
1943 in Lamar, Missouri. They returned to Pittsburg, Kansas after Shawnee was discharged
from the Army, later moving to Michigan. She was a wonderful mother and enjoyed being with
her family, cooking, sewing, gardening, crocheting, picnics in the Ozarks and fishing.
Thelma was a member of the First Church of God. Thelma was predeceased by her husband Charles J., sister Mary Lou, brother and sister-in-law Raymond and Mary Craig. Thelma is survived by son Charles J. (Mary) and their children Charles, Susanna and Jon, daughter Virginia (Bernard) Zeeb, two very special granddaughters Linda (Brad) Hurley and Artelia Shawnee-Gillespie and their mother Linda Horvath and four great grandchildren Thomas Hoten, Brett Hurley, Taylor and Brendan Gillespie, sister Mabel (Arnold) Bollenbacher of Bluffton, SC and sister Wilma Reed of Belleville, IL and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 28, 2007 at 11:00 A.M. at the First Church of God, 1063 S. DeWitt Rd., St. Johns, with Rev. Paul Daniels officiating. Interment will be at Mt. Rest Cemetery. Visitation will be held 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Thursday at the Osgood Funeral Home. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor or Heartland Hospice. Donald J. Smith Donald J. Smith - 92 years old –Born in Bengal Township on June 25, 1915 to William and Margaret (Piggott) Smith. He attended Boak Country Schools and graduated from Fowler High School in 1932, then continued his scholarship at Clinton County Normal from 1932-1933. For nine years after, he taught in the Country Schools of Clinton County, accompanied by his wife, Etta A. Smith. From their marriage on August 6, 1936 until she passed away in 1994, they were constant loving companions. Surviving are two sons and their families: William A. (Leanne (Nantais) and grandchildren Heather Marie and Dylan William) and Elliott (Ann (Gorsline) and granddaughters Stephanie Ann and Dayna Kathleen. He is also survived by Marion (Frey) Smith (wife of brother William), their family in Chula Vista, California and Joan (George) Smith (wife of brother Stanley). He was predeceased by his sister Helen Hungerford and brothers Stanley and William Smith. Donald received his B.S. degree from Central Michigan University in 1942 and enlisted the same year in the U.S. Army Air Corp as a flight instructor. Following his service, he ran the family farm with his father-in-law. In 1960 he returned to teaching, sharing his love of science and math with his Fowler High School students. He was appointed Superintendent in 1962. 1975 saw his return to the family farm in Essex Township, where he lived the rest of his life. He served actively in Veteran Affairs as State Commander of the American Legion from 1955-1956, and then in the national organization through many committees and commissions. At the time of his passing he was Chairman Emeritus of the National Internal Affairs Commission. He proudly maintained 64 years of continuous membership in the American Legion. Donald was also a parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns and a life member of the K of C, as well as the American Association of School Administration. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 A.M. Friday, September 28, 2007 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, burial at Lowe Cemetery with Rev. Fr. Eoin Murphy officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Thursday at the Osgood Funeral Home with a vigil service at 7 P.M. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor. Military graveside services provided by St. Johns Honor Guard.
Also surviving is one son, Alan (Tami) Nelson of St. Johns, two daughters, Sandra (Larry) Turner of Durango, CO, Nancye Pumfrey of Electra, TX; four step-daughters, Jacqueline (Richard) VanderEyk of Berkley, MI, Beverly (James) Smith of Brighton,MI, Gayl Hubler of Commerce Township, MI, Carol (Paul) Van Gamper of Lake Orion, MI; 22 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; one sister, Frieda (Keith) VanNatter of Cadillac, MI. He was predeceasd by one sister, Louise Renick and a grandson PFC Andrew H. Nelson. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am Saturday, September 29, 2007 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns 989-224-4422 with Pastor Tim Knaus officiating. Interment will be at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 2-4 and 6-8 pm Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society Capital Area Service Center, 3100 West Rd., Bldg. B Suite110, East Lansing, MI 48823 or the Andrew Nelson Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Firstbank 201 N. Clinton Ave. St. Johns, MI 48879.
Funeral services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 12:00 p.m. Pastor Kathy Leydorf will officiate. Visitation will be held Monday, September 24, 2007 from 5-8 p.m. and Tuesday, September 25, 2007 from 11 a.m.-till time of the service. Burial will take place at Eureka Cemetery in Eureka, Michigan. Jack graduated from St. Johns High School with the class of 1969 and he resided most of his life in the St. Johns and Lansing areas. Jack married Diane Dietz on March 4, 1994 in Lansing, Michigan. He was a member of UAW local 652, retired from General Motors after 35 years of services. He was currently employed with Cadgewith Farms, he was also a Vietnam veteran 101st Airborne and was awarded several medals including bronze star. He was also an avid bowler and fisherman. He is survived by his wife; Diane Purvis, two sons; Jack E. Purvis Jr., and James Castle, three daughters; Nicole Carie, Brandy Burnes, Natasha Castle; 11 grandchildren; and two sisters, Brenda Blum, and Pat Kitson; two brothers, Stanley Purvis and Larry Purvis; several nieces and nephews and many, many friends. Memorials may be made to the Capital Area Humane Society. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns chapel.
He is survived by Rita, his wife of 67 years; children Kenneth (Mia) Thelen of Owosso, Janet (Roy) Thelen and Jeanne Sleight of Westphalia; seven grandchildren Ann Marie, Katie, Douglas, Robert, and Jon Thelen, Patricia Feldpausch and Kristin Sleight; and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Urban (Esther) Thelen and sisters-in-law Jeanette and Regina Thelen. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by the Rev. Cecilio Reyna at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 24, 2007 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Westphalia. Rite of Committal will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Saturday and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Sunday at the Westphalia Funeral Chapel, 210 N. Westphalia St. The Rosary will be prayed at 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday with a Scriptural Wake Service being prayed at 8 p.m., Sunday. Complete arrangements entrusted to Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Home, Portland. Robert L. Jones David John Bramer On September 17, 2007, Penny Lynn Sturgis returned to her
Heavenly Father and was reunited with her Mother and Grandparents. |
Dr. Albert H. Nelson O.D.
died Sunday, September 23, 2007 at the age of 86. He was born October 31, 1920 in
Cadillac, Michigan the son of Arthur H. and Pearl G. (Bordeaux) Nelson. Dr. Nelson was a
Navy veteran of WWII, attended Ferris State College and was a graduate of the Chicago
School of Optometry. He was a talented musician and played string bass in several bands.
He enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter. He was a member of the
Dahalia Association, the Red Cedar Fly Fishing Club, F & AM St. Johns-Ovid Lodge #105,
and was a past president and member of the St. Johns Lions Club. Dr. Nelson operated his
optometry office in St. Johns for nearly 30 years. On June 21, 1976 he married Betty
Stewart and she survives him. 
Jack Edgar Purvis Sr. of
Lansing, Michigan formerly of St. Johns, Michigan born November 29, 1950 entered into rest
on Friday, September 21, 2007 at the age of 56. He was a loving and devoted husband,
father, poppa, and friend. He was predeceased in death by his parents Charles and Molice
(Lance) Purvis; sister, Sharon McComber; father-in-law, Sunny Dietz; and best friend,
Frisk. 
Leonard A. Thelen,
Westphalia, age 93, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away on
September 20, 2007. He was born December 13, 1913 in Fowler, Michigan to Alfred and
Dorothea (Wirth) Thelen. Leonard was a retired farmer and member of St. Mary's Catholic
Church. He was a pitcher for St. Mary's baseball team and enjoyed bowling for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Virgil and James, and sisters Viola Harr
and Marcella Wacker. 
Robert L. Jones died September 20, 2007, at the age
of 62. He was born in St. Louis, Michigan on February 23, 1945, the son of Cecil and Clara
Bell (Colbry) Jones. 
David John Bramer, age 44, of Owosso, passed away
Monday, Sept. 17, 2007, as a result of a motorcycle accident. David worked for Lear in
Elsie for 10 years, D&M Transport in Ovid, and then for Central Transport in Lansing.