Monique S. Bernath

Frederick C. Green

Doris E. Ottow

Phyllis Roberta Wilkie passed away Thursday, November 1, 2007 at the age of 85. She was born September 7, 1922 in St. Johns the daughter of William G. and Rose M. (Barnhart) Wilkie. She was Salutatorian of her 1940 graduating class at Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns. Phyllis attended Bowling Green College and Michigan State University where she received her Masters Degree. She worked at Allaby Insurance Agency after high school and when she finished college she taught at Ionia High School. She became the first Dean of Women at Ferris State University, worked in counseling at Wayne State University and ended her working career as Assistant Registrar at Michigan State University. She also was a member of the Red Hat Society and the Antique Phonograph Club.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and three brothers, Duane, Wilmer (Bill), and Garth Wilkie. Surviving are one sister Claire (Fred) Mayers of Lakeland, FL; two brothers, Richard of Kentwood, MI and Bernard (Shirley) of Sun City, AZ. She also leaves many loving nieces and nephews, who have fond memories of Auntie Phyllis.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns 989-224-4422 with her nephew Gary Wilkie officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, November 5, 2007 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice House of Mid-Michigan P.O. Box 30480 Lansing, MI 48909 or Sparrow Hospital.

Gerald R. Warner

Gerald R. Warner of DeWitt, formerly of Spokane, WA, died November 2, 2007, at the age of 82. Born March 12, 1925 in Herndon, Kansas, the son of Bert and Elsie (Swanson) Warner. He was a Past President of the Lions Club in Spokane, WA.

Surviving are his children, Theresa Humenik of St. Johns, Janice (Steve) Scharf of Modesto, CA, M. Joan Kanaski of St. Johns, Mark (Andrea) Warner of Orem, UT, Michael (Terri) Sullivan of Vacaville, CA, grandchildren, Becky (Michael) Humenik of Macomb, MI, Kathy (Neil) Putnam of Laingsburg, Mark Humenik of Haslett, Kyle (Becky) Scharf, Christopher Scharf and Michael Scharf all of Modesto, CA, Kevin Kanaski of Schaumburg, IL, Timothy Kanski of Ottowa, IL, Lisa Kanaski of St. Johns, Erich (Jazmine) Warner of Los Alamos, NM, Emily Warner, Kendall Warner and Korey Warner of Salt Lake City, UT, Joshua and Julianna Miller of Orem, UT, Britney and Kaley Sullivan of Vacaville, CA, great grandchildren, Makayla and Nicholas Putnam, Ryan, Austin and Gabrielle Humenik, Landon Scharf, three sisters, Eunice (Joseph) Veach, Arlene (Earl) Klase, Marjorie (Boyce) Wilson and one brother, Norwood Warner. He was preceded in death by his parents and one infant brother.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 P.M. Sunday, November 4, 2007 at the Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns, with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop officiating, burial at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to the Alzheimer’s Association or V.F.W. Post #4113, St. Johns. Military graveside services provided by St. Johns Honor Guard.

Monique S. Bernath

Monique S. Bernath passed away in her home surrounded by family and friends on November 1, 2007, at the age of 36, after a long, courageous battle with breast cancer. She was born in Carson City on October 20, 1971, the daughter of Larry and Beth (Phinney) Pearce. She was an invoice clerk for Wal-Mart. Monique married Bruce Bernath in St. Johns on May 26, 1995 and he survives her.

Also surviving are her daughters, Gabrielle and Danielle Bernath, parents, Beth and Larry Pearce of Elsie, brothers, Phillip (Amanda) Pearce of Oakley and J.R. (Amber) Pearce of Elsie, parents-in-law, Marilyn and John Bernath of Elsie and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Homer and Beatrice Pearce.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, November 5, 2007 at the Houghton Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes, burial at Maple Grove Cemetery with David Hudgens officiating. The family will receive friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Saturday and Sunday at the funeral home. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to Ele’s Place, 1145 W. Oakland, Lansing, MI 48915 or the American Cancer Society, Capital Area Service Center, 3100 West Rd., Bldg. B-Ste. 100, East Lansing, MI 48823.

Doris E. Ottow

Doris E. Ottow age 90 of Ashley, Michigan died Thursday, November 1, 2007 at Gratiot Medical Center, Alma, Michigan.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel Elsie, MI on Monday, November 5, 2007 at 11:00 AM. Pastor Edwin Snook will officiate with burial at Eureka Cemetery Eureka, MI. Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2007 from 6-8 P.M. and Sunday, November 4, 2007 from 2-8 P.M. with family present from 2-4 and 6-8 P.M.

Doris was born in Bannister, Michigan on January 19, 1917 the daughter of Carl V. and Rena ( Jennings ) Criner. She resided in the Ovid area, then in 1964 she moved to Farewell and then returned to Ashley in 1986. She attended Country School in Chapin. Doris married Everette A. Mudge. He died on July 28, 1977. She then married Herbert C. Ottow. He died on August 26, 1991. She worked at Mitchell Bentley, and Redmans in Owosso for a number of years. Then she waitressed at several different bar and grills in the Owosso and Ovid area. She also worked for Agrico. Doris enjoyed cooking for her family and always made them take the leftovers. She enjoyed playing cards, bingo, yahtzee, and going fishing.

She is survived by her daughter Carol and Gerald Shaw of Ashley, MI, 1 step-son William and Sally Ottow of Wisconsin, 6 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents, 2 husbands, 4 brothers; Benjamin, Calvin, Arthur, and Vernon "Tommy" Criner, 1 granddaughter Michelle Shaw, and 1 great grandson Scott Strouse.

Memorials may be made to Gratiot County Commission on Aging. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes, Elsie Chapel.

Frederick C. Green

Frederick C. Green died Thursday, November 1, 2007 at the age of 77. He was born September 7, 1930 in Olive Township, Clinton County, MI the son of Charles and Cecil (Karker) Green and lived most of his life in the St. Johns area. He was a 1949 graduate of Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns and a member of First United Methodist Church. Fred was a life member of the St. Johns – Ovid Masonic Lodge #105 with over 50 years of membership. He also was a member of the Royal Arch Masons, Capital Chapter #9, Knights Templar, Ithaca Commandery #40, ELF Khurafeh Shriners Saginaw Temple and OES Radiant Chapter #79. He was owner and operator of St. Johns Recreation and Green Printing and retired from the St. Johns Public Schools printing department. On February 22, 1950 Fred married Jean Hammond and she survives him.

Also surviving are two sons, Mike (Kathy) of L’Anse, MI, and Charles (Ann) of St. Johns, four grandchildren, James (Amy), Jennifer, Laura, and Steven; three great grandchildren; two nieces, Linda Massey and Nancy Mohr and one nephew, Tim Green. He was preceded in death by a son Mark, one sister Joyce Green and one brother Russell.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 am Monday, November 5, 2007 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns 989-224-4422, with Pastor Lori Sykes officiating. Interment will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 2-4 and 6-8 Sunday at the funeral home with a Masonic Service at 7:00 pm. Memorials may be made to the ELF Khurafeh Shriners Temple, 4835 Towne Centre Rd., Saginaw, MI 48604 or Hospice of Michigan, 3995 Fashion Square Blvd. Ste. 1, Saginaw, MI 48603.