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Rita C. (Rann) Goodknecht

Jerry L. Brown

Marie M. Hollis

Marie M. Hollis died March 22, 2008, at the age of 77. She was born in Fowler, Michigan on January 17, 1931, the daughter of Vincent and Emma (Schafer) Bozung. Marie was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph’s Choir and Guild for many years. She was a homemaker. On June 21, 1952, Marie married Harry Hollis and he preceded her in death on December 13, 1999 after 47 years of marriage.

She is survived by two daughters, Cindy (Jerry) Jakus and Sandy Billips both of St. Johns and five sons, Rich (Katie) Hollis, Tom (Rita) Hollis, Jerry (Lisa) Hollis, Sam (Laura Stevens) and Roy (Beth) Hollis also all from St. Johns. Also surviving Marie are her grandchildren, Emma, Jenny, Zach, Trevor, Troy, Derek, Ashlie, Bonham, Dylan, Mitchell, Sadie, Kelci and Kylie, Renee, Leslie, Lindsay,15 great grandchildren and sisters, Judy Draper, Alma (Jerry) Woodbury and Ambra Hadden. Along with her parents and husband, Marie was preceded in death by her three brothers, Alan, Albert and Jim Bozung.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 12:00 P.M. Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, burial at Union Home Cemetery with Rev. Fr. Eoin Murphy officiating. Visitation will be 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Monday and 2:00 – 4:00 P.M. and 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Osgood Funeral Home, St. Johns with a rosary prayed at 7:00 P.M. Monday evening and a vigil service at 7:00 P.M. Tuesday. Sympathies may be expressed in the form of contributions to the St. Joseph Education Trust Fund.

Gertrude M. Eirschele

Gertrude M. Eirschele died Friday, March 21, 2008 at the age of 94. She was born May 11, 1913 in Humbird, Wisconsin the daughter of Frank and Susan (Theis) Ray. Every day is a gift, every breath a blessing; a Mother’s love is a miracle. Gertrude will be greatly missed by her family and friends. Prior to residing in St. Johns, Gertrude and her family lived in Three Rivers and East Jordan Michigan. In St. Johns she was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and St. Dorothy’s Guild. She enjoyed working on genealogy and her family tree. She also enjoyed ceramics, crafts and reading a good book. Gertrude was an avid bingo and bridge player and we will greatly miss her voracious card playing. Gertrude loved vacation trips especially to Wisconsin to visit family and friends, family gatherings and an occasional trip to the casino.

On October 8, 1936 she married Reuben Eirschele and they shared 54 years together until his death in May of 1991. She was also predeceased by one sister Laura Jerue and two sons-in-law, William Sharkey and William Besko.

Surviving are two sons, Virgil (Arlene) of Three Rivers, MI and Wayne of Grand Rapids; three daughters, Theresa (Bob) Dawkins of Stanwood, MI, Francine Besko of Holt, Gwendolyn Christacopulos of Lansing; 11 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; two nieces, three nephews, and sister-in-law, Lyda Guggenbuehl of FL.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 109 Linden, St. Johns with Rev. Fr. Eoin Murphy as Celebrant. Rite of Committal will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 24, 2008 with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 p.m. at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns 989-224-4422. Her family gives special thanks to the staff at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor and Sparrow Hospice Services for the loving care extended to Gertrude and to the many friends she made there.

Jerry L. Brown

Jerry L. Brown, 60, died Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 8:15 PM at his residence in Woodburn, KY. He was a retired factory worker from the GM - Oldsmobile plant in Lansing, MI., a member of the UAW and the National Rifle Association and an avid NASCAR fan. He was the son of the late Carl and Marie Welton Brown. Survivors include his wife, Marilyn Fuesting Maxwell Brown, whom he married on July 11, 1997. He is also survived by a daughter, Brandi Brown Coffin and her husband, Kris of Maple Rapids, MI., two sons: Neal Brown and wife Theresa of Iron River, MI., Travis Brown and wife Amanda of Dewitt, MI. One sister, Ruth Ann Ellis of Evansville, IN. There are 5 surviving grandchildren: Rex Coffin, Jonnie Babilia, Rhett Brown, Randall Brown and Ivy Marie Brown. Several aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

JC Kirby Funeral Home in Bowling Green, KY handled the arrangements of cremation. There were to be no services nor visitation at this time.

Contributions of sympathy may be sent to Hospice of Southern Kentucky, 5872 Scottsville Rd., Bowling Green, KY 42104; Victory Junction Camp, 4500 Adam's Way, Randleman, NC 27317 or St Jude's Children's Research Hospital , 501 St Jude's Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.

Rita C. (Rann) Goodknecht

Rita C. (Rann) Goodknecht, 82 died Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at Hazel Findlay Country Manor. Rita was born on February 1, 1926 in Owosso, MI the daughter of Clair and Margaret (Ford) Gorman. She had worked in food service for many years and at Swanson Mfg. Rita was a graduate of St. Paul School in 1943. On Feb. 5, 1944 she married Wilmer (Bill) Rann in Owosso. He died in June 1979. She then married Kenneth W. Goodknecht on Nov. 3, 1989 in Ovid. Rita was a member of Holy Family Catholic Church, American Legion Auxiliary in Owosso, Holy Family Alter Society, of which she was treasurer for several years, and worked in the kitchen and helped with bingo. She loved reading, dancing, and music and was a blessing to her family and friends.

She is survived by husband Kenneth, daughters, Paula McCormick of Ovid, Sally and Richie Taylor of Ovid, Mary and Wilson (Bob) of Dallas Texas, Tamara and Fred Heumann of Haslett; a son William and Vonda Rann of Ovid; step-sons Michael Goodknecht of East Lansing and Carl Goodknecht of Hale, MI; 20 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren, special friend Maria Jones of Ovid; many nieces and nephews; three sisters, Mary Catherine and (Jack Dean) Borton of Ovid, Virginia Rolfe and Margaret Ann Craig both of Florida; sister in law, Norma Gorman of St. Johns; brother, Clare (Bud) and Carolyn Gorman of Florida. She was preceded in death by daughter Judy Porritt, son David L. Rann; grandson Burt Porritt, brother Edward Gorman and sister Ruth Preston.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in Ovid on Monday, March 24, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. with Rev. Fr. Ray Urbanek officiating. Burial will follow at St. Paul Cemetery, Owosso. Memorials may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church. The family will receive friends at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns on Saturday and Sunday, 2-8 P.M. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 P.M. Sunday.