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Edna Stauffer Elliott
PLYMOUTH - Edna F. Stauffer Elliott, 90, passed away July 9, 2009, at Miller's Manor, Plymouth, Ind., after being ill one week. She had previously lived on Walnut Street in Plymouth.
She was born at home on the family farm in Tippecanoe, Ind., to Ora C. and Maud (Shaw) Kleckner on June 14, 1919. She grew up in a family of five siblings and graduated in 1937 from Tippecanoe High School in a class of 14 students. Her parents and sisters, Elva Longbrake, Ellen Zechiel, Mary Geier, Zona Bilyew and brother, Samuel, have all preceded her in death.
Edna was married to Charles J. Stauffer in 1939 and to this union were born two sons, Richard and Bruce. She was a great mom, and she devoted her life to her family. She married Arden Elliott on July 4, 1970; he passed away in July 28, 1988.
During the war years she worked at Meck's in Plymouth and retired with 25 years at Kroger's on Ireland Road in South Bend. She wintered in Avon Park, Fla., for the past 30 years.
Survivors include sons, Richard C. (Bonnie) of Stevensville and Bruce A. (Jean) Stauffer of Argos, Ind.; four grandchildren, Jay Stauffer (Julie Sampson), Argos, Amy (Scott) Neibauer, Woodbury, Minn., Jana Stauffer (Sung Whang), Chicago, and Dave Stauffer (Pam), Edina, Minn.; five great-grandchildren, Megan Neibauer, Riley Stauffer, Abby Stauffer, Lauren Stauffer and Rachel Stauffer. She was very proud of all of her family and loved them dearly.
She loved to go to garage sales, play games, bingo, euchre and dominoes. Every summer she had a garden and grew vegetables and flowers, and in the early '70s was proud of the blue ribbon she won in flower arranging at the Blueberry Festival. She was a hard worker all of her life and was active in the Inwood Methodist Church in Inwood, Ind.
Preferred memorials may be made to the Inwood United Methodist Church, 11211 Hawthorn Road, Plymouth, Ind. 46563 or to the donor's choice. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, July 18, with visitation from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Inwood Methodist Church with funeral services to follow at 12 p.m. Pastor Gail Law will officiate. Burial will be in Summit Chapel Cemetery, Tippecanoe, Ind.
Melissa 'Missy' Warkentien
DECATUR - Melissa "Missy" Warkentien, age 25, of Decatur, passed away Saturday, July 18, 2009, at home.
Missy was born Feb. 29, 1984, in Niles. She received a BS degree in elementary education from Western Michigan University. She was a 4-H leader, AWANA leader and a Volinia Baptist Church Youth Group leader.
Survivors include: her parents, David and Tena (Janssen) Warkentien of Decatur; two sisters, Jennifer Warkentien and Amber Warkentien, both of Decatur; two brothers, Nick (Amy) Warkentien of Wilmington, N.C., and their son, Eli; and Adam Warkentien of Decatur; and grandparents, Ray and Eleanor Janssen of Dowagiac and Larry and Arlene Warkentien of Decatur.
Friends may call Tuesday, July 21, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and from 5 to 8 p.m., at the Volinia Baptist Church, where funeral services will be held at 11 am. Wednesday, with Pastor Tom Stout officiating. Cremation will follow the services. Memorials may be maade to Word of Life Fellowship Missionaries. Arrangements are by Newell Funeral Home, Decatur.
Mario Trottier
WATERVLIET - Mario Trottier, 27, of Waterlivet, died Friday, July 16, 2009, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.
Mario's life began Nov. 16, 1981, in Chicago, Ill. He spent his childhood growing up in Watervliet. Mario graduated from Watervliet High School in 2000 and loved playing football and lifting weights while there. Mario will be remembered for how he could make a room smile by just walking in and his love for the Chicago Cubs. He cared for his grandmother, with whom he had a special bond, for seven years after she suffered a stroke. Mario currently worked for Asplundh Tree Trimmers; he was also working as an plumbing apprentice for John Kuelbs.
His loving family includes: his mother, Cathy Trottier of Oregon; his fiancée, Stephanie Strickfaden of Watervliet; his grandmother, Lanoma Fennessy of St. Joseph; aunts and uncles - Sue and Al Nilson and Mike and Terri Kellogg, all of Watervliet, Jim and Linda Fennessy of Eau Claire, and Tim and Renee Fennessy of South Haven; and many cousins.
He is preceded in death by his grandfather, James Fennessy; great-grandmother, Lois Scherer; and an aunt, Janet Oliver.
Friends may visit with Mario's family Monday, July 20, at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet, from 5 to 8 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday, July 21, at 10 a.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Watervliet, with Father Gordon Green officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Mario's memory to Watervliet High School Weight Program.
Richard T. Slazek
GRAND JUNCTION - Richard T. Slazek, age 65, of Grand Junction, passed away Tuesday, June 30, 2009, at his home.
The family will have a celebration of his life gathering from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 24, at North Lake Inn with a time for sharing memories at 7:30 p.m. According to his wishes, cremation has taken place. Arrangements are by the Bangor Chapel, D. L. Miller Funeral Home. The family suggest memorials to the Columbia Township Fire Department. www.dlmillerfuneralhome.com
Richard was born June 7, 1944, in Columbia Township, the son of Chester and Myrtle (Burrows) Slazek, and had lived in the area all of his life. He served with the U.S. Army and was an avid outdoorsman and hunter who was a soft-hearted man that would have done anything for you.
Surviving are his son, Ron (Kim) Slazek of Breedsville; three grandchildren - Blake, Hailey and Morgan; brother, Chester (Eileen) Slazek of Grand Junction; sister, Kathleen Barker of Grand Junction; and several nieces and nephews.
Arlene Lauer
CROWN POINT, Ind. - Arlene Lauer, 89, of Crown Point, formerly of Michigan City, Ind., passed away July 15, 2009.
Arlene attended the Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church in St. John; she was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Michigan City, where she was an avid church worker.
She was retired from the Medical Group of Michigan City, where she ran the switchboard and worked with the doctors in patient care.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Clyde Lauer; her son, Daniel Lauer; her parents, Fred and Anna Marie Eggers; brothers, Myrel and Fred Eggers; and sisters, Mildred Pearson and Henrietta Peters.
She is survived by her daughter, Judy Perdue of Crown Point; her daughter-in-law, Marilyn Lauer of Stevensvile; four grandsons - Douglas (Sally) Perdue, Bradley (Tammy) Perdue, Christopher (Penny) Perdue and Andrew Lauer; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Alvina Korner of Michigan City and Phyllis Ross of Buffalo, N.Y.; brother-in-law, Eugene (Dorothy) Lauer of Los Alamos, N.M.; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are Monday, July 20, at 11:30 a.m. at Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, 9770 Keilman Street, St. John, Ind., with the Rev. Mark Vance and the Rev. Mike Zurek officiating. Services will terminate at the church. Private interment is at Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City. Friends and relatives may visit with the family on Sunday, July 19, from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Burns Funeral Home, 10101 Broadway, Crown Point, Ind. Contributions may be made to Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church.
Marsha Summerhill
OMAHA, Neb. - Marsha Kay Summerhill was born in Hartford, Mich., to Walter and Joenell Summerhill on Jan. 26, 1951. Marsha passed away June 30, 2009, in Omaha after an unexpected short illness.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Joenell Summerhill; a brother, Bobbie Summerhill; and a sister, Patricia Summerhill.
Marsha graduated from Hartford High School in 1969. She went to Central Michigan University and received degrees in English and medieval literature. After traveling around the United States, she settled in Bellevue, Neb.
She is survived by a brother, Terry (Linda) Summerhill of Hartford; a sister, Linda (James) Parkhurst of Phoenix, Ariz.; a brother, Randy (Lois) Summerhill of Kalamazoo; a brother Donald Summerhill of Bellevue, Neb.; a brother, Ronald Summerhill of Phoenix, Ariz.; a sister, Annetta (Richard) Huffman of Pullman, Mich; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held in her honor at the Hartford Federated Church of Hartford at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 25, with Pastor Tim Nyhuis officiating.
Carol Jo Hemingway
Carol Jo Hemingway passed away following a brief illness on Thursday, July 9, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was born on Sept. 23, 1927, to Carl and Ethel Hemingway. Carol Jo graduated from St. Joseph High School and Western Michigan University. Holding a degree in Library Science, she worked on a bookmobile in Jefferson City, the Detroit Public Library Children's Department and Lake Michigan Catholic High School. After retirement, she was employed by a local uniform shop where she enjoyed spending time with customers and staff.
Carol Jo was active in many organizations including Daughers of Ossoli, Daughters of the American Revolution, Morton House and Krasl Art Center. She loved to read, play bridge, walk for miles, garden and collect beach glass along the shore.
Carol Jo felt blessed to be loved by family and special friends Judy, Jim, Ruth and Carole.
Family members preceding her in death were her mother, father and sister Janice Weedfall.
Surviving is her niece, Lynette (Charles) Johnson; nephew, Steven Weedfall, two great nieces, Elizabeth and Katherine Johnson; and two great-nephews, Austin and Drew Weedfall. In accordance with "Auntie's" wishes, she was cremated, and a private memorial service will take place later this month.
For those wishing to make memorial contributions, the family suggests the Krasl Art Center, the St. Joseph Public Library or the Humane Society. The family is being served by the Dey-Florin Chapel of Florin Funeral Service.
Edward Allen Trail
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Edward Allen Trail, 85, went home to his heavenly father on July 15, 2009, in Birmingham, Ala.
He was born Nov. 30, 1923, the son of Cecil Trail and Lillie Moore. At his wishes, cremation has taken place.
He lived most of his life in the Twin Cities area. A devoted father, grandfather and great-grandfather, Ed married Vivian Louise Forrester on June 14, 1947, in Sodus. Vivian Louise preceded in death on April 28, 2003.
He loved helping others and donated all his latter years to service.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 20, 2009, with family at Crystal Springs Church of God, 1465 Pipestone Road, Benton Harbor, with the Rev. Fred Davey officiating. Visitation will be held at 10:30 a.m. prior to the service.
Ed was a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served his country in World War II. He carried a bullet in the side of his head for the service he gave. He was most proud to have served his country to keep it free. He was with the Golden Acorn, 87th Division of the Army.
He was manager for many years at Producer's Creamery in Benton Harbor and then took over the plant manager's job with Spinney Run Dairy in Illinois and lived in Wisconsin. Ed gave many years of service to the churches he attended.
He was preceded in death by five brothers.
He is survived by his daughters - Glenda (Darrell) Rouland of Chelsea, Ala., Patsy (Fred) Bohn of Pelham, Ala., and Shirley (Robert) Doehrer of Stevensville; five grandchildren - Steven (Laurie) Olsen, Robert (Shelley) Young, Jennifer (Robert) Doehrer, Christopher Rouland and Michael (Aimee) Statham; four great-grandchildren; and two sisters - Mary Wesner and Dorothy (Fred) Davey.
Memorials may be made to Crystal Springs Church of God.
