Beth Ann Lasher (nee Kangas)
Beth Ann Lasher, (nee Kangas) 32, of Lake Orion, died Aug. 31, 2003. She was the beloved wife of Tony of four years; loving mother of Jacob Kangas Lasher; dear sister of Alison (John) Doane, Angela (Scott) Weaver, Heather (Chris Steggall) Kangas; the daughter of Dick and Alison Kangas; the daughter-in-law of Steven and Bernadine Lasher; the aunt of Ali, Brad, and Emily Doane and Samantha and Joe Weaver. She is also survived by many loving relatives.
Beth graduated from Lake Orion High School in 1989. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication from Michigan State University in 1993. She was employed until her death with TeleVideo Studios in Troy, and had previously worked for The Palace in communications, and for Olympia Entertainment.
She was a member and volunteered for the Michigan Humane Society.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 7, at the Lake Orion United Methodist Church, 140 E. Flint St. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m. and Wednesday from 2 to 9 p.m. at the Lake Orion Chapel of the Sparks-Griffin Funeral Home, 111 E. Flint St.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Michigan Humane Society or Muscular Skeletal Tumor Society at MSTS Research, 6300 N. River Rd., Suite 700, Rosemont, Il., 60018.
Call 847 384-4352 or log online at http://www.oref.org/ to make a donation.
Colin Clyde Punches Jr.
Colin Clyde Punches Jr., age 42, passed away Aug. 9, 2003. Colin was born in Torrence, Calif., the son of Colin and Consuelo (Fraide) Punches, Sr. Colin was retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Master Sergeant.
Mr. Punches is survived by his children, Crystal Punches of Mesa, Ariz., Derek and Brittany Punches of Reedsville, Wis., Odessa Punches of Rapid City, S.D.; sisters, Jo Alice (Jeff) Smaga of Brooklyn, Lucinda Jo Bullinger of Baltimore, Md.; brother, Charles Alan (Robin) Punches of West Palm Beach, Fla. His grandmothers Mildred Ferrin and Charlene Simonian preceded him in death. A private burial will take place at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the Borek Jennings Funeral Home, DeJeu Chapel.
Eugene Kwasny
Eugene Donald Kwasny of Brooklyn, age 48, died of cancer Wednesday, August 13, 2003 in Brooklyn, Michigan. He was born on March 15, 1955 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Joseph B. and Catherine (Trigilio) Kwasny.
He is survived by his mother of Brooklyn; his siblings, Robert Kwasny of Westchester Co, NY and Christine Kwasny (Gare) Maxton of Ann Arbor; and two nieces, Adriana and Sophia Maxton.
The Memorial Mass was held last Monday, August 18, St. Joseph's Shrine in Brooklyn, MI, with Rev. Carl Simon officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society. Arrangements by Cole Funeral Chapel, Chelsea.
Donald Obee
Obee, Donald, age 79, resident of Norvell Township, Sweezy Lake, MI; former resident of Toledo, OH, passed away Wednesday afternoon, August 13, 2003 at Foote Memorial Hospital in Jackson, MI.
Donald served in the U.S. Navy, Pacific Theatre, in WWII during 1943-46. Mr. Obee was an Eagle Scout and a graduate of the University of Toledo. Donald was the office manager for Treu House of Munch in Northwood, Ohio for 36 years. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Manchester, MI. Donald's passions were his family, woodworking, gardening and slow sunset cruises around Sweezy Lake.
Donald is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Florceta M. Weirich; his brother Fr. Gregory Obee OSB from Aurora, IL; his daughter Lynn and her husband Vince Giarratana; sons: Gary and his wife Sharon; Mark and his wife Elizabeth; David and his wife Angela; daughters: Laurie, Mary Sue and her husband Lynn Broome and son Charles and his wife Sue; 14 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He will be forever remembered and sorely missed.
A Celebration of Donald's life will be on Monday, August 18, 2003 beginning at 10:00 a.m. with prayers at the Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Jenter Chapel, Manchester followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Manchester with the Father Tim Krzyzaniak officiating. Memorials may be given to the charity of donor's choice. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home where Donald's family received friends on Saturday, August 16 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Interment Norvell Township Cemetery.
Earl Shafer
Shafer, Earl, age 76, of Cement City, passed away Saturday, August 16, 2003. Earl was born August 22, 1926 the son of Jesse and Oral (McKinney) Shafer. Earl married Dorothy Mae Reeser March 8, 1947 and she preceded him in death July 22, 1997. Besides his wife, Earl is also preceded in death by his parents, his son: Earl Duane Shafer and 2 sisters. Survivors include: 3 sons: Rodney (Debbie) Shafer, James (Martha) Shafer all of Cement City, Kevin (Tina) Shafer of Jonesville; 1 daughter: Sheila (Tim) Hackworth of Jackson; 9 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren; 3 brothers and 2 sisters. A celebration of Mr. Shafer's life will take place on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. at the Borek Jennings Funeral Home, DeJeu Chapel in Brooklyn with Pastor Kyle Detmers officiating. Memorial contributions may be given to the EFFORTS Foundation (Emphysema Foundation for our right to survive) 411 NE US Hwy 69, Claycomo, MO 64119. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home where Earl's family received friends on Monday August 18, 2003 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Wallace E. Pratt Sr.
Wallace E. Pratt Sr., age 80, of Norvell, passed away December 5, 2003, under the loving care of his family and Great Lakes Hospice. He was born Sept. 1, 1923, in Sandstone Township, the son of Percy and Alma (Schulz) Pratt. He grew up in Napoleon and married Lottie Ksiazkiewicz in 1947.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years and by his children, Mary Lou (Henry) Miller Jr. and Wallace Ed Pratt Jr.; grandchildren, Stephanie Keller, Hank Miller III and Jennifer Miller; four great grandchildren, all of Jackson; his brother, Howard (Charlene) Pratt of Fla., and several nieces and nephews. He was a 42-year retiree of Hayes Albion, loved to hunt and fish and was active with the Napoleon Boy Scouts in the sixties. Mr. Pratt was an Army Air Corp veteran of World War II and was a member of the Wilber-Bartlett American Legion Post #315 in Brooklyn and Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church where services were held on Monday. The Rev. Andrew J. Dunne officiated. Interment was held at Roseland Memorial Gardens with cemetery Military Honors courtesy of the Brooklyn American Legion.
The family suggests contributions in his memory to Our Lady of Fatima Building Fund. Arrangements were provided by Nichols-Arthur Funeral Home in Michigan Center.
Oakley Tison
Oakley Tison, age 81, passed away at Faith Haven Senior Care Centre on Dec. 4, 2003. Mr. Oakley was born on Jan. 9, 1922, in Harrisburg, Ill., the son of Roy and Bell (Morse) Tison. He married Shirley Crandall on June 20, 1942 in Pontiac and she survives. Mr. Oakley was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army and attended the Clarklake Community Church.
Besides his loving wife of 60 years, Oakley is survived by his children, Kenneth (Judith) Tison of Raleigh, N.C., Raymond (Paula) Tison of Mentor, Ohio, Dianne Tison of Clarklake and Dennis (Deborah) Tison of Addison.
A celebration of Oakley's life was held on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003, at the Clarklake Community Church and the Pastor Richard Wilford officiated. Interment was held at Roseland Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be given to Disability Connections, 219 W. Prospect, Jackson, Mich., 49203. Envelopes are available at the Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Braun Chapel.
Marie Louise Woody
Marie Louise Woody, 92, died Nov. 22, 2003, at St. Luke's Hospital. She was a resident of Tryon Estates, Columbus, N.C.
Born in Bay Head, NJ., she was the daughter of the late William and Helen (Gray) Elmer V. She was a graduate of Smith College in 1932. She was a member of the Church of the Holy Cross, Tryon, N.C.
Since arriving in Tryon with her husband in 1940, Marie Louise, known to all as "M.L.", was active in the community. She was a charter member of the Tryon Chapter of AAUW. Through the years she was active in the Gay Blades Garden Club, Polk County Red Cross, Tryon PTA, Polk County Community Foundation, Women's Golf Association of Tryon CC, St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary Thrift Shop, Tryon Fine Arts Center and the Women of Holy Cross.
In 1976 she designed and initiated the Polk County Community Foundations' Book of Memory. This historical record, which honors past citizens, continues to this day.
She was an ardent environmentalist. A timber harvest was scheduled for land near Persons Falls. Accompanied by the Polk County Agricultural Agent, she went directly to the site and persuaded the woodsmen to cancel the clear cut, so as "not to ruin our waterfall."
She is survived by her husband, Dr. J.W. Austin Woody also of Tryon Estates; two sons, John of Brooklyn, Mich., and William of Tryon; four grandchildren, Caroline Williams of Washington, D.C., Stuart Woody of New York City, Heather Bissell of Kalamazoo and Kristi Tanner of Jackson.
A memorial service was held at the Church of the Holy Cross, Tryon, on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003, with the Rev. Dr. Michael Doty officiating. Burial was at Holy Cross Memorial Garden.
Memorials may be made to the Polk County Community Foundation, the Church of the Holy Cross or a charity of one's choice. McFarland Funeral Chapel made the arrangements.
Jane L. Main Stephenson
Jane L. Main Stephenson, age 88, went to be with the Lord on Nov. 29, 2003, leaving her loving family. She was born in Lansing, Mich. on Jan. 24, 1915, and married Veryl Stephenson of Clarklake on July 5, 1935.
They lived in Michigan until 1965, then moved to Florida where Veryl preceded her in death on April 10, 1977. She returned to Michigan in 1997 and lived in Brooklyn. In 2001, she moved to the Odd Fellow and Rebekah Home in Jackson and became a Rebekah.
She is survived by two daughters: Joyce L (Ron) Walker and Nila M. (Harry) Lawrence, both of Brooklyn; and six grandchildren: Rita (Mac) Hall of Brooklyn, Royce Walker of Clarklake, Robin Adams of Brooklyn, Rodney (Kelley) Walker of Michigan Center, Terry (Becky) Lawrence of Jackson and Steven (Erica) Lawrence of Onsted. She has nine great grandchildren, six step great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren. She has chosen to be cremated. There will be a memorial service on December 21 at 2 p.m. in the Odd Fellow and Rebekah Chapel, 2388 W. Michigan Ave. in Jackson.
Evelyn Eisenhauer
Evelyn M. Eisenhauer, age 96, of Greenleaf Care Home in Napoleon, passed away Wednesday, November 26, 2003. She was born March 12, 1907 in Kansas to Emra and Alice (Tonkinson) Brooks. She is survived by her daughter Katie (Pete) Peterson of Brooklyn and her son Emra (Barb) Palen of Arizona; 4 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband Corneal (Neil) Palen in 1962 and her second husband Charles Eisenhauer in 1996; her parents; brothers Wendell and Waldo Brooks; and her grandson Craig Peterson.
She was a graduate of St. Lawrence School of Nursing in 1927. She has enjoyed a loving relationship with Charlie's two sons and their families Robert (Doris) Eisenhauer and Dwight (Lynn) Eisenhauer, both of Manchester. She attended the Heart of the Lakes Unites Brethren Church.
A celebration of Evelyn's life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, December 3 at the Heart of the Lakes United Brethren Church in Brooklyn with Pastor Kevin Cherry officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Heart of the Lakes Church. Envelopes will be available at the Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Braun Chapel in Brooklyn where the family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
