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Dick L. Robinson

Elma “Esther” Wilson

Thomas F.Fineis Sr.

Maple L. Upton-Hicks

Arlene G. Ernst died Tuesday, August 19, 2008 at the age of 88. She was born March 15, 1920 in Essex Township, Clinton County, Michigan the daughter of William and Florence (Sorrell) Ernst. Arlene was a graduate of Rodney B. Wilson High School in St. Johns and retired from the State of Michigan, Transportation Department after 40 years as a construction clerk. She was an avid reader and enjoyed tending to her flower gardens.

Surviving are nieces, Christine (Marvin) Helmer of DeWitt, Cheryl White of St. Johns, Linda (Mike) Sienkiewicz of Commerce Township, MI, and Clarissa DeVault of Dearborn Heights; nephew, Frank (Cheri) Coutts of Southfield and many great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, LaVern and Gaylord and a nephew, William Ernst.

Graveside service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 23, 2008 at East Plains Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday, August 22 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns 989-224-4422. Memorials may be made to Clinton Memorial Hospital.

Edward Joseph Platte

Edward Joseph Platte went to be with our Lord August 16, 2008. He was born in Westphalia, MI in 1935. From a large farm family, Edward enjoyed working with animals and retired from the State of Michigan Public Health Department. Ed loved playing with his grandchildren, listening to polka music and watching tractor pulls. Ed's ready smile and occasional German phrase will be missed by many.

Surviving Ed are his stepchildren, Bill (Christine) Parker, Kathy Parker, Penny (Tony) Kwilinski; several grand and great-grandchildren; brothers, Armon (Joane) and Bernard (Sharon); sisters, Kathleen (Herman) Miller, Joann (Frank) Koenigsknecht, Bernice Esch, Rose Marie (Herman) Gensterblum, Ellen (Ken) Bailey, Ann (Paul) Thelen; sisters-in-law, Charlotte and Marguerite Platte; and lifelong friend, Dave Harter. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Shirley, brothers Jerry and Delbert, sister Beatrice Platte, brother-in-law Joe Esch and several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Tuesday 4-8:30 p.m. at Holihan-Atkin Funeral Home Grand Ledge; Vigil 7:30 p.m. Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, August 20, 2008, 11:00 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church Grand Ledge, the Rev. Fr. James Eisele, Celebrant. Committal will be at St. Mary Cemetery, Westphalia. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society.

Thomas F.Fineis Sr.

Thomas, a resident of Anderson Township, Ohio and formerly of Lansing, Michigan, died August 14, 2008 at the age of 73.

Thomas F. Fineis Sr., loving husband of Nina Fineis (Johnson) for 53 years, beloved father of Deborah (Larry) Junker, Cynthia (Jim) Miller, Thomas Fineis Jr., Jane Simpson, Daniel Fineis, Amy (Dick) Federmann and Julie Schanie, survived by 17 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, dear brother of Virginia Hicok, Barbara Willson, Mary Ott, Patricia Tingay, Sylvia Linchonhol, Nancy Barrows, Judy Thomas, David Fineis, Linda Walker, Gerard Fineis and Susan Hooper and the late Donald and James Fineis. Preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Virginia Fineis.

Visitation Tuesday, August 19 from 5-8 p.m. at E.C. Nurre Funeral Home, 177 W. Main St. (St. Rt. 125), Amelia, Ohio 45102. Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday, August 20 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Thomas More Church, 800 Ohio Pike in Withamsville. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852-9813.

Dick L. Robinson

Dick L. Robinson died August 14, 2008, at the age of 68. He was born in Ovid on July 13, 1940, the son of Milo and Doris (Griffith) Robinson. Dick was a factory worker for General Motors, Plant #3 in Lansing, a veteran of the U.S. Army, and an EMT with the Ovid Area Ambulance Service in the 1980’s. He loved the Detroit Tigers, camping and spending time with his grandsons. Dick married Delores Sherman in St. Johns on February 22, 1969 and she survives him.

Also surviving is his son, Terry (Jennifer Vincent) Robinson of St. Johns, grandchildren, Terry C. Robinson and Thomas G. Robinson, both of St. Johns, sister, Carol (Gary) Garlock of Ovid, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be 12 noon Saturday, August 16, 2008 at the Houghton Chapel of Osgood Funeral Homes, burial at Maple Grove Cemetery in Ovid with Pastor Larry Howland officiating. The family will receive friends 11 A.M. – 12 noon at the funeral home. Military services provided by St. Johns Honor Guard. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Maple L. Upton-Hicks

Maple L. Upton-Hicks died August 14, 2008, at the age of 91. She was born in Essex Township, Michigan on August 29, 1916, the daughter of Abraham and Edith (Payne) Underwood. She was a member of Maple Rapids Congregational Christian Church. Maple married Elston Hicks in Maple Rapids on July 19, 1988 and he preceded her in death on October 4, 1995.

Surviving are her children, Janet (Richard) Schaffer of Middleton, David (Patricia) Upton of Rainbow Lake, Margie Upton of Spring Arbor, Bill (Christine) Upton of Perrinton, Dennis (Edna) Upton of Rainbow Lake, Edie Upton of Maple Rapids and Don Upton of St. Johns, 22 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren, brother, Robert Underwood and sister, Lorraine Wright. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Donald Upton, second husband, Elston Hicks, son, Larry Upton and granddaughter, Kathy Schaffer.

Funeral services will be 11:00 A.M. Monday, August 18, 2008 at the Maple Rapids Congregational Christian Church, burial at Sowle Cemetery with Pastor Jerry Kissling officiating. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to Maple Rapids Congregational Christian Church. Arrangements by the Abbott Chapel of the Osgood Funeral Homes.

Elma “Esther” Wilson

Elma “Esther” Wilson, 89 of Middleton, Mi. went to be with her Lord on Tuesday Aug. 12, 2008 at Hazel Findlay Country Manor in St. Johns. She resided there for the past 6 years, where she received gentle and loving care.  She was born Feb. 24, 1919 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Jonathan and Ellen Mae Benner.   Esther received Christ as her Savior when she was in her teens and was baptized into the Church Of God In Christ Mennonite.

Esther resided most of her life on a farm outside of Middleton where she was a homemaker, wife, mother and grandmother. She was a loving and gentle soul who enjoyed the beauty of nature. Esther’s family was her life, and she especially loved the babies and children. She enjoyed reading and had a wise or witty little quote for every occasion. She also loved her flowers and cats. She was an excellent cook, (even though she never thought so).

She is survived by her children; Ellen (Wilburn) Miniard of Perrinton, Loretta (Rick) Hyde of Vestaburg, John (Claire) Wilson of Ithaca, Cindy (Mark) Duflo of Middleton, and Gloria (Jim) Detraz of Perrinton, 11 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandchild and 3 brothers; John (Anita) Benner of Pennsylvania, David (Ruth) Benner of Indiana and Dick (Sundy) Benner of Alabama. She was preceded in death by her parents, infant son Larry James, husband Isaiah (Ike) Wilson, 3 sisters; Catherine Bleam, Mary and Sarah Litwiller, and 3 brothers; Milton, Leon and Nathan Benner.

Funeral services are 11 A.M. Friday Aug. 15th at the Newark Church Of God In Christ Mennonite with Michael Litwiller officiating. Burial will follow at the Hayes Rd. Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday 7 – 9 P.M. at the church. Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns is handling the arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to Hazel Findlay Country Manor.