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John Balger
John Balger, 76, died Feb. 18, 2004 at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital of natural causes after a brief illness.
Beloved and adored by his family and those who knew him, John lived his life according to Christian teachings, simply, truly and without fanfare. Retired after 42 years as a roll turner for Great lakes Steel, John spent his last years enjoying his grandchildren. A 1945 graduate of Lincoln Park High School, John particularly loved baseball, playing right field for his high school team and in the Detroit Federation of Baseball. A veteran of the U.S. Army, John served as a weapons platoon sergeant in the Korean War. John loved nothing more than celebrating life at family gatherings, surrounded by his loved ones, hoisting a few brews. When alone, he enjoyed crossword puzzles and reading.
John was preceded in death by his father, Dan Balger, his mother Valeria (Ciontea) Balger, both natives of Romania, and his brother Dan Balger of Wyandotte and Sun City, Ariz. He is survived by his sister, Margaret Lavoie of San Rafael, Calif., and Miles (Eileen) Balger of Whitehouse, Tenn.; his beloved wife of 55 years, Shirley (Switzer) Balger; sister-in-law, Kay Balger of Sun City West, Ariz.; children, Dr. Jim (Sue) Balger of Charlotte, Barb (Morris) Byrd of Woodhaven, John (Yen) Balger of Southgate, and Debbie (Leo) Adami of Dearborn; grandchildren, Mike (Stephanie) Schuler, Tony Bonsall, Jennifer Byrd, Abbi Balger, Lisa (Mike) Kuszczak,, John Balger, and Joshua and David Adami; six great-grand-children and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Feb. 21 in state at 10 a.m. with service at 11 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, 12250 Fort Street, Southgate.
Margaret L. Ballard
Margaret L. (Milbourn) Ballard, 88, of Olivet, died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004 at the Eaton County Medical Care Facility in Charlotte.
Mrs. Ballard was born Nov. 30, 1915 in Windsor Township, Eaton County, the daughter of Virgil and Mary (Snell) Milbourn and was a lifelong Eaton County resident. She was a 1935 graduate of Vermontville High School, was an avid gardener and loved flowers. She was always cheerful regardless of the situation.
Surviving are her children, Larry Ballard of Olivet, June Benson (Bruce) of Perry and Carol Ballard of Lansing; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and special friends, Jean Proseus of Lansing and Barbara Morgan of Ionia.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Grayson Ballard, and brothers, Lawrence and Robert Milbourn.
Funeral services were held Aug. 14 at Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Rev. Lester DeGroot officiating. Interment was at Bosworth Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Hattie Lear (Smith) Baribeau
Hattie Lear (Smith) Baribeau, 94, of Grand Ledge, passed away Sept. 23, 2004.
Hattie received a teaching degree from Ferris Institute (now Ferris State University) and a master’s degree from Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University).
In 1938, at the age of 29, as a result of a fall, Hattie suffered a serious brain injury and was left unable to talk, read, write, or even tell the time of day. After a lengthy rehabilitation, she became interested in helping the mentally challenged. Subsequently, Hattie and her husband, George, opened the first licensed boarding home for mentally handicapped children in the state. Thus began a lifetime of service to others. Hattie became director of the Woodhaven Center for Retarded Children in 1961, and upon its merge with the Beekman Center in Lansing, she became executive director of Beekman and the Greater Lansing Association for retarded Children, retiring in 1971.
In retirement, she continued to serve as a consultant and promoter of legislation benefiting the mentally challenged. Hattie was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Grand Ledge and was an enthusiastic worker on numberous projects until her health failed; she was also active in various youth and political groups and was a great supporter of Grand Ledge by taking part in many community activities, early in her career.
Hattie served as the first full-time secretary for the Grand Ledge Chamber of Commerce. She was also a long-time member of the Country Club of Lansing. Ferris State University twice honored Hattie with Award, citing her statewide recognition as an authority in the education of handicapped people and for her courage and determination in overcoming a personal tragedy. At the time of her death, Hattie was the oldest living recipient of the Alumnus Award.
She was preceded in death by husbands, George Lear and Dr. Charles Baribeau; parents, Ira and Reva Smith; and brothers Don and Glen Smith.
Surviving are her son, Tom (Peg) Lear of Grand Ledge; daughter, Kathy (Rick) Hasselbring of Grand Ledge; brother, Elwin Smith of Charlotte; sister, Shirley Sleight of Farwell; sister-in0law, Thursa Smith and special friends Larry and Pam Lyon of Sunfield; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Hattie’s final act of helping others was to donate her body for research to the University of Michigan.
A memorial service was held Oct. 9 at the First United Methodist Church in Grand Ledge, with Rev. Molly C. Turner and Rev. William J. “Bill” Amundsen officiating. A graveside interment at Oakwood Cemetery in Grand Ledge will take place at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Hospice, 2675 S. Cochran, Charlotte, MI 48813. Arrangements were by Holihan-Atkin Funeral Home, Grand Ledge.
Marian A. Barnard
Marian Alberta Barnard, 92, of Charlotte, died Monday, Feb. 9, 2004.
Mrs. Barnard was born May 17, 1910 in Eaton Rapids, the daughter of James and Rachel (Webster) Rulison.
She is survived by son Robert (Lou Ann) Barnard of Ocala, Fla., and granddaughter Diane.
She was preceded in death by her husband Mirl John Barnard in 1958 and son Thomas James Barnard in 1997.
Funeral services were held Feb. 12 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with R. Raymond Rossell officiating. Interment was at Needmore Cemetery in Charlotte.
Marshall Barnard
Marshall Barnard, 62 of Charlotte, died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004. Mr. Barnard was born April 19, 1941 in Fowlerville, the son of Harry L. and Irene May (Blair) Barnard.
He was a lift truck operator at Motor Wheel. He loved the old sitcoms, Eagle community dinners and enjoyed his friendships.
He was preceded in death by his wife Lois Barnard, parents, brothers, Harry, Darwin, Dean and sisters Dorene and Barbara.
He is survived by his daughter, Kimberly (Jeff) Hale of Inonia, step-son Kenneth (Cindy) Blanchard of Charlotte, sisters Marie Wilson of Charlotte, Norlene (David) Esterline of Cambria, brother, Alden Barnard of Charlotte, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19 at Five Corners Church with Pastor Marten Suanders officiating. Interment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. Monday until time of service.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Edward J. Bartha
Edward Julius Bartha, 67, of Bellevue, died Jan. 7, 2004 at home.
He was born Feb. 3, 1936 in Leechburg, Pa., the son of Sigmund and Elizabeth (Orosz) Bartha. Edward graduated from Bethel College in Indiana and worked as a teacher at Harper Creek Schools for 13 years and retired from Excel Industries after 20 years in 1997. He served in the U.S. Navy as a PN3 from 1955-1959, in the Army National Guard, 110th Fighter Wing, as a tech sergeant from 1979 through 1996. Edward married Charlene Quick, who survives. He was a member of American Legion, Post 54. Ed coached and cooked hot dogs for Bellevue’s summer ball program.
Surviving are his wife, Charlene; sons, Edward (Heidi) Bartha and Charles (Armina) Bartah, both of Bellevue; daughter, Lynda (Ron) Colvin of Kalamazoo; five grandchildren; and brothers, Ernest Bartha and Joseph Bartha of Elyria, Ohio, and Raymond Bartha of Apollo, Pa.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Zsigmund Bartha.
Friends may call after 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11 at Shaw Funeral Home in Battle Creek, where family will be present from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m. Services will take place at noon Monday, Jan. 12 at the funeral home, with Dr. Kingery Clinginpeel officiating. Interment will be at Fort Custer National Cemetery.
Memorials may go to First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ or Bellevue Youth Recreation Building Fund, c/o Bellevue Independent Bank. Arrangements were by Shaw Funeral Home.
Daniel L. Bassett
Daniel L. Bassett, 53, of Assyria Township, died Monday April 12, 2004 at home.
He was born Nov. 3, 1950 in Battle Creek to Donald and Patricia (Ellis) Bassett. He graduated from Bellevue High School in 1970 and was employed 33 years with Owens-Illinois in Charlotte. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and gun collecting.
Surviving are his parents; sister, Jeanette (Paul) Graham of Bellevue; brother, Mark (Nancy) Bassett of Bellevue; three nieces, two nephews, two great-nephews and a great niece.
Graveside services were held April 15 at Ellis Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Bellevue Fire Department or American Cancer Society. Arrangements were by Shaw Funeral Home, Lehman Chapel, Bellevue.
Michael W. Baxter
Michael W. Baxter, 45, of Baraboo, Wis., passed away peacefully at his residence Monday, Nov. 29, 2004.
Michael was born Nov. 25, 1959 in Charlotte, the son of Wilbur and ZoeAnn (Stark) Baxter. He resided in Alaska with his father where he graduated from high school in 1977. He then enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and specialized in EOC, Demolition Expert. After his tour of duty, he moved to Baraboo in 1983. Michael enjoyed Tuff Truck racing and was an avid outdoorsman.
Survivors include his daughter, Fawn Faxter, age 21; son Michael Baxter, age 16; grandson, Hayden Gene Schroeder, age 9 months; his mother, ZoeAnn Baxter; and sister, Cindy Baxter, all living in Baraboo; aunt and uncle, Cy and Shirley Stark; cousins, Tom, Richard, John and Bob Stark and their families of Charlotte; and many friends and loved ones.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wilbur Kenneth Baxter; maternal grandparents, Norris and Dorothy Stark; paternal grandparents, Wilbur and Pauline Baxter Schafer; and his step-grandfather, Orville Schafer.
A memorial service was held Dec. 3 at 10:30 a.m. at Rago Funeral Home, with Pastor Steve and Deb Ohrtman officiating. Graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 6 at Woodlawn Cemetery in Vermontville, with Rev. Michael Arnold officiating.
Local arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
