Phillip Marshall Grote
Wrapped in the arms of his beloved Irish Hills and surrounded by family he loved even more, Phil Grote has given back the gift of life the Lord first gave him. Phil died Friday evening, Aug. 27, 2006, at his Wamplers Lake family home. Phil was born on April 18, 1930, the son of Joe and Catherine. His childhood home in central Toledo was a hub of vibrant family life, a constant in-and-out of relatives, friends and neighbors.
Phil was the neighborhood big kid, the enforcer who protected his siblings. He grew up at Swayne Field, vending peanuts, keeping the grounds, working the scoreboard. He was an altar boy at St. Ann ’s with brother JC; his sisters were the daily choir.
While his rough-and-tumble energy found a home on Central Catholic’s football team, years of music at home around the family piano meantime nurtured the roaring baritone in him. Central Catholic’s legendary art teacher, Sister Mary Genevieve, saw a promising painter in him; his art survives on the walls of the family home.
After service in the Navy, Phil tried his entrepreneurial hand at small business; a gas station and nearby car wash found fair success. Eventually he took a job with the Toledo Blade; for some 35 years he drove the dark early-morning routes throughout the city.
The love of his life was his wife Bessie B. (Lathrop); his son Phillip “Flipper” (Lisa) Grote and daughter Virginia “Ginger” (Travis) Neal; grandchildren Jace, Trace and Jorién Bauer, and Jolie and Elleah Neal; brother Joseph C. (Sandy) Grote; sisters Kathryn “Kate” Weiher, Norma (Chuck) Herman, Sr. Mary Bernard (Rose Marie) Grote, VHM, and Sr. Mary Carolette (Dorothy) Grote, OSF. Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Catherine (Quinn) Grote, and brother-in-law William Weiher.
After God and family came the Irish Hills and Wamplers. Lake people remember his famous early-evening pontoon trips along the shorelines, and Phil’s full-chested Pavarotti rendering of “God Bless America ” and “Let Me Call You Sweetheart.”
The Funeral Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at Blessed Sacrament Church, 4227 Bellevue Road, Toledo, Ohio, on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006, at 10:30 a.m. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph Shrine, Irish Hills, 8743 US-12, Brooklyn, Michigan, on Wednesday, September 6, at 11 a.m., followed by intermenty in the St. Joseph Shrine Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Irish Hills Cancer Patient Services.
Barbara Elaine Goetz
Barbara Elaine (Sfaelos) Goetz, age 71, passed away in her home on Aug. 26, 2006 in Brooklyn.
She was born on Aug. 23, 1935, in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Ray and Margaret Sfaelos. Barbara graduated from Devilbiss High School in 1954 and attended the University of Toledo for two years. She then worked in the Lucas County Prosecutor’s office for 23 years as a secretary to Harry Friberg. Barbara married Tom Goetz on Dec. 17, 1965. In 1976 they moved to Clark Lake, and bought the Town and Country Carry-Out on Ocean Beach Drive, selling it in 1982. After having a home on the lake for 39 years, they recently built a new home in Brooklyn.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, several uncles and aunts. She is survived by her husband, Tom; her much loved dog, Sam; in-laws, Bert Goetz, JoAnn Rogers, Bill Goetz and Wayne and Judy Bodette, all of Toledo; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and her many friends at Clark Lake.
Barbara has been cremated according to her wishes. A memorial service will take place at a later date. Memorial donations may be given to Great Lakes Hospice, 900 Cooper St. Jackson, Mich., 49202 or the charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Braun Chapel.
Paul J. Arnett
Paul J. Arnett, age 71 of Cement City, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2006 at Foote Hospital in Jackson. Born on April 13, 1935 in Cement City to Clarence O. and Hazel (Reeser) Arnett, he married Kinuko “Kim” Yamaguchi on Oct. 12, 1956 in Japan, and she survives.
Paul was a life long resident of Cement City. He owned and operated Triple A Alarm of Cement City. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the United States Army from 1953-1957. He was a member of the Cement City Masonic Lodge #435 F&AM; a Royal Arch Mason and a 32nd degree Mason. He was a volunteer of the Boys Club of America, a member of the Woodstock Township Board for the past eight years, a former member of the Cement City Village Council, and a member of the Cement City Baptist Church.
Surviving besides his wife, Kim, are two sons, Paul (Deborah) Arnett, Jr. of Jackson, Mark (Jane) Arnett of Hope Mills, N.C.; one daughter, Mary (William) Bendele, Jr. of Cement City; eight grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three brothers, Lafe Arnett of Tipton, Hantzel (Charlene) Arnett of Cement City and Donald (Rosemary) Arnett of Adrian; one sister, Mary Warschefsky of Cement City; several nephews, nieces and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Grace Flint.
Funeral services were held on Friday, August 18, 2006, at the Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home in Addison, with Pastor Ned Bernstein officiating. Burial was at Cement City Cemetery, Cement City. A Masonic Lodge Memorial Service was held on Thursday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Thomas E. Bolenbaugh
Thomas E. Bolenbaugh, 81, died suddenly on August 12, 2006.
He is survived by his loving wife, Lenora, of Jackson, a daughter, Susan (Richard) Streams of Onsted and a son, Kevin of Hillsdale; three step-grand children, David ( Erin ) Streams, Amanda Streams of Seattle and Kate Streams of San Diego ; as well as three step-great grandchildren, Nathan, Ian and Cole Streams. Also surviving are his brothers, Norman (Arlene) of Addison, and Don of North Adams, numerous nieces and nephews.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents Murl and Anna Kathryn Bolenbaugh; an infant daughter, Janice Marie; two brothers, Dale (Dorothy) of Addison and Dean (Joyce) of Jackson.
Tom was retired from Tecumseh Products after more than 30 years. He was currently employed at Burden and Sons Funeral Home in Jackson where he worked for almost 25 years. He was a member of EAA Chapter 304 of Jackson and the American Legion Post #252 of Grass Lake. He proudly served in WWII and received the Bronze Star for bravery in the Battle of the Bulge.
Tom was a loving and devoted husband and father. He loved flying, fishing, motorcycles, deer hunting, car racing and, most of all, meeting new people every day. He lived life to the fullest. If you Tom once you were no longer a stranger. Tom has been laid to rest at Onsted Cemetery. Cards and letters are welcomed by the family.
Reginald H. Bammer
Reginald H. Bammer, age 57, of St. Pete Beach, Fla. passed away Aug. 10, 2006.
The son of Harry and Gloria Bammer, he was born Dec. 13, 1948 in Brooklyn.
He was preceded in death by his father, Harry Bammer, Jr., in 1990. He is survived by his mother, Gloria, and brother, Craig Bammer in St. Pete Beach, Fla.; uncle, Charles (Mary) Dewey of Jackson; and cousins, Bruce (Pat) Dewey of Galesburg, Mich., Kaylyn (Mike) Van Harn of Caledonia; eight nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Florida.
Dale E. Wooster
Dale E. Wooster, age 73 years, of Onsted, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2006, at Herrick Memorial Hospital in Tecumseh.
He was born on Dec. 28, 1932, in Palmyra Township, the son of George Hawley and Hester Belle (Lloyd) Wooster. Dale married Delores Ann Stiverson on May 3, 1957. She preceded him in death on Jan. 25, 2002. He retired from Tecumseh Products April 1, 1995. Dale was a former member of the Sand Lake Volunteer Fire Department.
Dale is survived by his three children, Daryl (Cheryl) Wooster of Onsted, Deanna (Greg) Dwyer of Taylor and Denise (Tom) Sell of Brooklyn; five grandchildren; sister, Ruth Griesinger of Adrian; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; infant children, Milton and Darla; and seven brothers and sisters, Robert, Dorothy Miller, Loretta Griewahn, Hawley, Lloyd and George Wooster.
Funeral services for Dale were held on Aug. 22, 2006, at the Dunn Chapel, Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home in Onsted with the Rev. Jeff Egan officiating. Interment was at Franklin Township Cemetery in Tipton, Michigan.
Dr. Fred W. Freeman
Dr. Fred W. Freeman, 81, entered the azure depths of eternity on Wednesday, August 16, 2006. He was born in Logan, Ohio on Aug. 27, 1924 to Harry and Ora (Hicks) Freeman, both deceased.
After graduation from Logan High School in 1941, Professor Freeman served three years as a paratrooper with the Eleventh Airborne Division in the Pacific Theater of Operations. A decorated veteran of the New Guinea, Leyte and Luzon campaigns, he was one of the first 500 paratroopers who initiated the occupation of Japan.
During his tenure at Hidden Lake Gardens he was honored by being listed in: “Who’s Who in the Midwest,” American Men of Science, International Dictionary of Biography and Fellowship to the Royal Horticultural Society of England. In 1963, Dr. Freeman was also selected by the English Speaking Union and the Garden Club of America as the recipient of the Interchange Fellowship in Horticulture. This award covered six months of visitation and study among universities and public and private gardens throughout Great Britain and Western Europe.
His occupational memberships included: Michigan Horticultural Society (Trustee 67-71), American Conifer Society, Society of American Foresters, American Society of Horticultural Science, International Society of Horticultural Science, American Society of Botanical Gardens and Arboreta (Director 68-71) and IX Sigma Pi (Forestry Honor Society). Locally, Freeman was a member of the Tecumseh School Board (1964-74) and member and past president of the Tecumseh Rotary.
He is survived by his wife and lasting love, Laura A. (Case) Furgason Freeman, both of whom expect to be reunited in the never-ending universe. He is also survived by three children: Fred II (Brenda) of Eugene, Ore., Cynthia (Russell) Kogut of Dimondale, Mich., Carol Sue (Dr. Stanley) Flegler of Okemos, Mich., and two step-children, Terry (Janelle) Furgason of North Vernon, Ind., and Cheryl (Rabon) Vincent of Avilla, Ind. His descendants also include 15 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, William Freeman of Leesburg, Fla. and Harry of Logan, Ohio; and a sister, Mary (Rolland) Bailey of Rockbridge, Ohio.
In 2002 he was honored by being listed in the 57th edition of “Who’s Who in America”, and in 2004, he was also listed in the 21st edition of “Who’s Who in the World”. In 2006 he was nominated by the International Biographical Centre of Cambridge, England as one of the Outstanding Scientists of the 21st Century. In 2006 he was also selected by his alma mater, Logan High School, for the Academic Hall of Fame.
Having donated his lifetime to various natural and man-made aspects of the environment, it was a long-lasting intention that his ashes would reside therein. This also has come to pass.
Renate Johanna Eastman
Renate Johanna Eastman, age 83, of Tecumseh, died Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006, at her home. She was born June 15, 1923, in Koenigsberg, East Prussia, Germany, the daughter of Fritz Arthur and Johanna Maria (Rahnenfurer) Schirmacher. Renate was a lifetime resident of the Brooklyn and Tecumseh area. She was married to Ed Eastman, who preceded her in death. She was a member of St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.
She was employed for many years as a nurse’s aide at Herrick Memorial Hospital, retiring in 1988. She was a volunteer for the Tecumseh Senior Center, Herrick Memorial Hospital, and was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post auxiliary unit #315 in Brooklyn.
Renate is survived by her brother, Hans Fritz Schirmacher and two grandsons, Aaron and Sean Gustwiller. She was preceded in death by her husband Ed; her son, Carter Gustwiller; her father, Fritz Schirmacher; and her mother, Johanna Schirmacher.
At Renate’s request, her body was donated to the Anatomical Donations Program of the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. She also requested that there be no public visitation, funeral, or memorial service. Arrangements were entrusted to the Anderson Funeral Home in Tecumseh.
