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Essie Arlene Hodack

Mereta M. Loudenbeck

Elmer E. Barker

Marie Ida Warnke

Alvin A. Moss

Brian S. Cobble

Romilda C. Manning

Memorial services will be held at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home on Friday, Sept. 26, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday and Thursday, 2-8 P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Cancer Society, 3100 West Road, Bldg B Suite 110, East Lansing, MI 48823 or Great Lakes Hospice Foundation, 900 Cooper St., Jackson, MI 49202.

Mereta M. Loudenbeck, age 81, of Middleton, MI died Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 at Country Crossing Adult Foster Care, Laingsburg, MI.

Funeral Services will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Johns Chapel St. Johns, MI on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 1:00 PM, Mr. Ronald Dean will officiate. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 19, 2008 from 5-8 PM. at Smith Family Funeral Homes, St. Johns Chapel.

Mereta was born in Clinton County, Michigan on October 4, 1926, the daughter of Harry and Loretta (Pease) Vaughn. She graduated from Dewitt High School with the class of 1944. Mereta married Donald Loudenbeck in October 1945. He passed away on February 15, 2002. Mereta resided most of her life in Middleton. She was a homemaker, and enjoyed gardening, and worked on their family farm. She was a stay at home Mom, and she and her husband enjoyed spending time traveling together. She was also a wonderful seamstress, and was a member of Jehovah's Witness Church St. Johns, MI.

She is survived by a daughter Nancy Stallard of Howell, MI, 2 sons; Randall and Patricia Loudenbeck of St. Johns, MI, Val and Rozann Loudenbeck of Manistee, MI, sisters Majel Garberson of Alma, MI, sister Audrey Stoneman of Perrinton, MI, brother Harry Vaughn of Perrinton, MI, and sister Ruth Ann Townsend of Ovid, MI. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and a sister Beverly Johnson.

Memorials may be made to Charity of the Donor's Choice. The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes St. Johns Chapel St. Johns, Michigan.

Alvin A. Moss died Tuesday, September 16, 2008 at the age of 100. He was born April 19, 1908 in Manistee, Michigan the son of John and Emelia (Janke) Moss. He was a life member of Masonic Lodge #105 and was a chief inspector for airplane propellers at Nash-Kelvinator during WWII. Alvin was a farmer and worked at Saylor-Beall Manufacturing Co. in St. Johns. On December 3, 1938 he married Lois Luck and they spent 17 winters in Florida before her death in 1997. He was also predeceased by a daughter-in-law Diane Moss in 2007.

Surviving are two sons, Jon (Susan) of Clinton Township, Michigan and David of St. Johns; grandchildren, Andrew Moss, Gregory (Nicole) Moss, Heather (Alex) Battaglia, Keith (Melinda) Moss and Katie Moss; great grandchildren, Jenson, Maddalena, Sophia, Emily, Gregory, Melissa and Alysha.

Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns with Pastor Ken Bremmer officiating. Interment will take place at Mt. Rest Cemetery. The family will receive relatives and friends 11:00 a.m. until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Elmer E. Barker

Elmer E. Barker became part of our lives on January 28, 1920, the third child born to Louis and MaryAnn (Fernholz) Barker in Westphalia, MI. He left us on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2008 at the age of 88. Elmer's education started at a German speaking school in Westphalia, then changed to English when the family moved to Pewamo at the age of 7. Elmer graduated from Pewamo High School in 1938 as an accomplished baseball player. His fondness for baseball never wavered and listening to the Detroit Tigers was a favorite pastime. On February 7, 1942, Elmer married Alice Loraine Riley of Hubbardston. Two months later he was inducted into the US Army. He served in WWII in the European Theatre. He returned home in 1945. Elmer was honored by Senator Debbie Stabenow in 2004 when she presented him with the decorations and military citations he had never received. Elmer was a master plumber and pipefitter by trade, having owned and operated Barker Plumbing and Heating for many years. Prior to that he worked for the Clinton County Road Commission and Benson Plumbing and Heating. He finished his work career as a member of the Plumber and Pipefitters Local 388 (#333), retiring in 1982.

But Elmer was a jack of all trades. He built the family home in St. Johns where he lived most of his life. The family continues to enjoy the cottage he built on the St. Johns Post of the American Legion at Higgins Lake. When he retired, Elmer built a beautiful retirement home in Pewamo, that reflected his attention to detail and perfection. Elmer and Loraine enjoyed that home immensely, being near their siblings in an area they grew up. In 2000 they moved to Lansing to be closer to their children. Over the years Elmer enjoyed bowling, hunting and fishing. He sang in the St. Joseph Choir in St. Johns. He belonged to many booster clubs that supported his childrens' activities. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus of St. Johns, the American Legion St. Johns Post and the VFW of Pewamo, Westphalia and Fowler. Elmer was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Mary Barker, brothers: Ralph and Florian Barker, in law's: Helen and Dorothy Barker, John and Louise Riley, Betty Geller, Patricia Schafer, Virgil Tait, Joseph and Jack Riley.

Elmer is survived by his wife of 66 years A. Loraine Barker, 7 children: Sheila (Larry) Sykora of Lansing, David (Michelle) of Lansing, Douglas (Mary Jo) of Traverse City, Karen (Andy) Anderson of Corbin, KY, Kathryn (Michael) Stanley of Lansing, Daniel (MaryLee) of Hudsonville and Teresa Barker of San Francisco, CA, 22 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, brothers Jerome Barker, Robert (Kathleen) Barker, Marvin (Sandy) Barker and sister Alberta (Dick) Thelen, several brothers' and sisters' in laws and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday at 11:00am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church with Rev. Fr. John Byers as celebrant. Rite of Committal will follow at 1:00pm at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Pewamo, MI. A Luncheon will follow at 1:30pm at St. Joseph Parish Hall, Pewamo, MI. Visitation is Thursday 2-4 and 6-8pm at the Palmer Bush and Jensen Family Funeral Homes, Lansing Chapel, 520 E. Mt. Hope where the Rosary will be prayed at 7:30pm. Visitation continues Friday at the church at 10:00am. Memorials can be made in honor of Elmer to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 3815 S. Cedar, Lansing, MI, 48910 or Plumber and Pipefitters Local 333 Scholarship Fund, 3101 Allied Drive, Suite B, Jackson, MI, 49201.

Brian S. Cobble

Brian S. Cobble died September 16, 2008, at the age of 46. He was born in Holland, MI on August 6, 1962, the son of Larry and Bonne (Grabenstein) Cobble. He was a systems engineer for Pier Bridge. Brian married Alisa Winsauer in Fargo, North Dakota and she survives him.

Also surviving are his sons, Alex Cobble and Kevin Cobble, father, Larry Cobble, brother, Todd Cobble and parents-in-law, Sharon and Ron Winsauer. He was preceded in death by his mother.

A memorial visitation will be held 2-4 P.M. Sunday, September 21, 2008 at the Osgood Funeral Home. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of contributions to an education trust fund for his sons at Citizens Bank.

Marie Ida Warnke

Marie Ida Warnke entered into eternal life on the morning of September 17, 2008, at the age of 74. She was born on February 4, 1934, the daughter of Ferdinand and Anna (Thelen) Knoop. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Johns. Marie married Lawrence Warnke on August 3, 1957 in Westphalia and he survives her.

She is also survived by her children, Alan (Agnieszka) Warnke of St. Johns, John (Patti) Warnke of St. Johns, Barbara (Dean) Levi of San Diego, CA, Paul (Luella) Warnke, David (Lisa) Warnke, Kathleen (Chris) George, Michael (Jennifer) Warnke, all of St. Johns, and Evelyn (Brian) Barker of Farmington Hills, 29 grandchildren, two sisters, Adeline (Jerome) Schafer and Janet Simon, and brother Richard (Cindy) Knoop. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Joseph Knoop and brother-in-law, Kenneth Simon.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 19, 2008 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 109 Linden St., St. Johns, burial immediately following at Mt. Rest Cemetery with Rev. Fr. Eoin Murphy officiating. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 2-4 P.M. and 6-8 P.M. at the Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St., St. Johns with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 P.M. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of memorials to the Arthritis Foundation.

Romilda C. Manning

Romilda C. Manning , age 90, passed away on September 16, 2008. She was born on March 12, 1918 in Westphalia the daughter of John and Martha (Fedewa) Bohr. Mrs. Manning was a member of St. Mary's Church, was a past President and member of the Christian Mothers and a member of the Daughters of Isabella. She was a longtime member of the St. Mary's rosary group. She enjoyed making baby quilts and cookies. Romilda was preceded in death by her parents, sister Dorothy Schrauben and her husband Clarence in 2003.

Surviving are her children Roger C. (Carolyn) Manning of Portland, Maureen A. (Pat) Quigley of Portland, Russell J. (Shirley) Manning of Eagle, Diane (Larry) Schulte, and Brenda (Michael) Trierweiler of Westphalia; 20 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; sisters Rosella Bohr of Lansing, Joan Bohr of Lansing, Mary Anne Wieber of Fowler, Adelaide (Bruce) Anderson of Redford; sister-in-law Gert Manning of Portland.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Cecilio Reyna at 10:30 a.m., Friday, September 19, 2008 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Westphalia. Rite of Committal will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery. The family will receive friends 7-9 p.m., Wednesday and 2-4 and 7-9 p.m., Thursday at the St. Mary's Funeral Chapel, 210 N. Westphalia St.. Rosaries will be prayed at 8 p.m., Wednesday and 3 p.m., Thursday. A Scriptural Wake Service will be at 8 p.m., Thursday. For those wishing, memorial contributions may be made to Heartland Healthcare Center or to the Fr. Al Miller Trust Fund. Arrangements are being handled by Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Home, Portland.