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Mary Staley
Mary “Opal” Staley, 81, of Olivet, formerly of Albion, died May 18, 2004 at Tendercare of Marshall.
Opal was born June 26, 1922 in Walnut Ridge, Ark., The daughter of Thomas and Virgie (Bell) Cypret. She married William Curtis Staley in 1939 in Dyess, Ark.; he preceded her in death on April 4, 2000. Opal came to Albion in 1944 and worked at Albion College for 17 years in housekeeping. She was also a resident of Duck Lake for over 20 years. Opal was a member of the Assembly of God Church in Albion and Charlotte, and a former member of Faith Assembly of God Church in Charlotte. Opal enjoyed gardening with her husband.
Surviving are two sons, Curtis (Joyce) Staley of Coldwater and Donnie (Cheryl) Staley of Las Vegas, Nev.; two daughters, Vicki (Tom) Browning of Olivet and Lynette Caldwell of Lansing; 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; three sisters, Lola McClelland of Homer, Jean Rucker of Missouri and Oweda Few of Albion; and on brother, William Cypret of Sunset, Utah.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Cypret and Paul Cypret; two sisters, Sue Combs and Ann Devois; and two grandchildren, Tim Staley and Bobby Staley.
Funeral services were held May 21 at the Albion Chapel of Tidd-Williams Funeral Chapels, with Pastor mark Woodbury officiating. Interment was at Albion Memory Gardens.
Ron Standley
Ron Standley, age 59, of Eaton Rapids, died Monday February 9, 2004 in Eaton Rapids. Ron was born September 7, 1944 in Pittsburg, KS. He attended the Eaton Rapids First United Methodist Church, was a former member of the Capitol City Corvette Club, member and past president of the Eaton Rapids Lions Club and member of Eaton Rapids Athletic Boosters. Ron was an avid supporter of MSU Basketball and Hockey and a member of the MSU Blue Line Club. Most recently Ron was employed with the Eaton Rapids, Medical Center as Director of Information Systems. He was preceded in death by his father, Floyd Standley.
Surviving are his wife of 24 years, Mary; 2 daughters, Kelly (Kim Wolbrink) Parks of Eaton Rapids, Kris (Tim) Hill of Brighton; 3 sons, Pat (Jennifer) Standley of Owosso, Mike Standley of Haslett, Andy Standley of Flint; 2 grandchildren, Travis and Emily Hill; mother, Betty Standley of NC; 2 brothers, Terry (Gloria) Standley of NC, Tim (Norma) Standley of Mason; 2 nieces and 2 nephews.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, February 12, 2004, at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids with Pastor Tom Evans officiating. Graveside services followed at the Lyon Lake Cemetery, Marshall. Those desiring may make contributions to either the Eaton Rapids Medical Center Foundation or the Eaton Rapids Lions Club (LCIF) in memory of Ron Standley.
Donald W. Stanke
Donald W. Stanke, 82, of Charlotte, died Saturday, Oct. 30, 2004 in Charlotte.
Don was born Jan. 10, 1922 in Reed City, the son of Walter and Erma (Tetslof) Stanke, and had been a Charlotte resident for 64 years. He was a World War II Army Infantry veteran, having served in Rhineland and Central Europe, earning two Bronze Stars. Don was a life member of the VFW. He had been employed at the former Aluminum Extrusions Inc. and was a truck driver for Graybell Truck Lines, from where he retired. He was married to Della M. (Fisher) Stanke on Dec. 18, 1941; she preceded him in death on April 18, 2004.
Surviving are three daughters, Sandi (David) Dickerman of Everett, Wash., Suzanne (James) Marry of Stanwood, and Suzette (Rod) Weaver of Charlotte; nine grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; special friend, Dorothy Stobert of Ionia; sister, Delores (Ron) Brown of Whittier, Calif.; and his faithful dog, Chico.
Graveside services and interment were held Nov. 3 at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association. Arrangements were by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home in Charlotte.
Merle D. Stanke
Merle David Stanke, 82, of Charlotte, passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2004 in Lansing.
Mr. Stanke was born Oct. 10, 1921 in Hallsboro, N.C., the son of Carl and Mary Stanke. He was a member of the Community of Christ Church in Charlotte, the Three Fires Flint Lock Gun Club, MUCC, Eaton Rapids, Conservation Club, and was a retiree from UAW Local 602. He proudly served in the Army during World War II in the Pacific Theater and was a member of the VFW Post #4090 of Portland. Merle was also a member of the Two Cylinder Club of Mulliken and was past vice president on the Keefer-Olmstead Cemetery Board.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Elsie; sister, Fanny; and several half-sisters and brothers. Surviving are his children, Dennis (Alice) Stanke of Portland and Karl Stanke of Charlotte; grandchildren, Abrum (Jenny) Stanke and Chris Proctor, both of Portland; great grandchildren, Shelby and Daniel Stanke, both of Portland; several nieces and nephews and many good friends.
Funeral services were held April 5 at Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Home in Portland, with Rev. Richard Garn officiating. Military honors were provided by VFW Post #4090 at Keefer-Olmstead Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation in memory of Mr. Stanke.
Dorothy M. Stegenga
Dorothy M. Stegenga, 80, of Charlotte, died Tuesday, July 6, 2004 in Lansing.
Mrs. Stegenga was born June 11, 1924 in St. Charles, Mich., the daughter of Walter and Cora (Gould) Sanderson. She received her nursing degree from St. Mary School of Nursing and worked at Hayes Green Beach Hospital for over 30 years. She loved gardening, horses and playing Yahtzee.
She is survived by her husband, Richard; her children, Charles (Margaret) Stegenga of California, Katherine Nagengast of Charlotte, James Stegenga of Bellevue, Mary Stegenga of Charlotte and Sally (Joe) Latta of Florida; 10 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; and brother, Ralph Sanderson of California.
She was preceded in death by brothers, Roy, Howard and Lawrence; sister, Marjorie Sanderson; and son-in-law, Marty Nagengast.
A funeral mass was held July 9 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte, with Rev. Fr. Denis R. Spitzley officiating. Interment was at Bosworth Cemetery in Walton Township.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital in Charlotte. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home of Charlotte.
John (Herb) Stemler
John Stemler, 90, of Portland/Lyons, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, passed away Friday, Dec. 17, 2004 at his daughter’s home in Arizona.
He was born Feb. 15, 1914. John married Edith in 1941 and they had their 63rd wedding anniversary June 12. John served in the Army and was in the Pacific during World War II. He was a machinist at John Bean (FMC) Corp. in Lansing and retired from there. Afterward he worked for Meijer Inc. in the pet and garden department. His hobbies included organic strawberry farming, woodworking, woodcutting and brisk daily walks. He also enjoyed singing, reading, and writing poetry. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Portland and will be remembered for his great sense of humor and love of life.
He was preceded in death by his brother and sister, Kenneth Stemler, Dorothy White, Vera Eastman and Margaret Shortz, and his granddaughter, Amanda.
He is survived by his wife, Edith; children, Carole Mckay, Dan Stemler, Jeanette (Robert) Ragen, Sue (Pat) Dickson, Terry (Patrice) Stemler and Walt (Sheila) Stemler; eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Dec. 27 at Rosier Funeral Home, Mapes-Fisher Chaple, Sunfield, with Rev. Chris James of the Seventh Day Adventist Church officiating. Interment followed at Danby Cemetery.
Arrangements were by Rosier Funeral Home of Sunfield.
Donald M. Stewart
Donald Mazrine (M) Stewart, 83, of Charlotte, died July 10, 2004.
Mr. Stewart was born Sept. 6, 1920 in Vandergrift, Pa., the son of John and Helen (Chapman) Stewart. He graduated in 1938 from Vandergrift High School and served in the Army in the European Theatre during World War II. He worked for A & P in Vandergrift for 40 years as its produce manager. He was a member and former treasurer, Sunday school superintendent and teacher of the Highland Free Methodist Church in Natrona Heights, Pa.
He is survived by son, Donald (Vicki) Stewart of Florence, S.C.; daughters, Lanette (Frank) Peiffer of Ottsville, Pa., and Sheryl (Dennis) DeMond of Charlotte; sisters, Margy Fleming of Greensburg, Pa., and Nancy (Bill) Buchholtz, of Apollo, Pa.; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rose, in December 2003.
Funeral services were held July 14 at Highland Free Methodist Church in Natrona Heights, Pa., with Rev. Michael Campbell officiating. Interment was at Mount Airy Cemetery in Natrona Heights, Pa.
Memorial contributions may be made to Dimondale Center Activities Dept., 500 N. Michigan Road, Dimondale, MI 48821. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral home, Inc., Charlotte.
Jimmy L. Stewart
Jimmy Lee Stewart, 69, of Charlotte, died Friday, Aug. 27, 2004 at Eaton Community Hospice House in Charlotte.
Mr. Stewart was born Sept. 1, 1934 in Dayton, Tenn., the son of James and Gladys (Dotson) Stewart. He was a crane operator at General Motors until his retirement in 1984. He was a member of the Sons of American Legion Post #42, and the Holy Roller bowling league, and other Char Lanes leagues in his earlier years. Mr. Stewart loved gardening, hunting, fishing and afternoons on his pontoon boat at Thornapple Lake. He was very proud of his cooking and loved to have people enjoy his food.
He is survived by daughters, Karla (Randy) Hettinger of Olivet and Barbie (Joe) DenHerder of Charlotte; sons, Kim Stewart of Charlotte, Jimmy (Louise) Stewart Jr. of Jackson and Joe Stewart of Charlotte; 21 grandkids and six great grandkids; brothers, William (Lorena) Stewart and Emmett “Dewey” (Elaine) Stewart, both of Battle Creek; sisters, Margaret (Jerry) Lashley of Charlotte, Martha (Jack) Shay of Hastings and Margie (Don) Dunn of Cadillac. He was preceded in death by son Jay Stewart in 1995, and wife Wanda Stewart in 2003.
Funeral services were held Aug. 30 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Charles Jensen officiating. Interment was at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. Memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Hospice.
