William (Bill) Craig
William (Bill) Craig, 65 passed away suddenly in Hawaii on April 2. He was a resident of Palm City, Fla. and Brooklyn.
He is fondly remembered by his wife Judy, mother Beth, son Scott, brother Jeffrey and daughter Meg Filiatrault. Also by his grandchildren Trenton W. Craig, Jennifer, Jill and Jake Beitzel, daughter-in-law Sharon, sister-in-law Patty Craig, nieces Melissa and Lauren Craig and nephew Ryan Craig.
He was employed by General Motors for 17 years, Volkswagen of America 13 years and Mack Truck of Allentown, Pa., 4 years. He was chairman of the trust committee and served on the board of Navistar International. He enjoyed golf and his dog, Hudson.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to the American Cancer Society 1-800-ACS-2345 or Focus Hope, 1355 Oakman Blvd., Detroit, MI 48238 or call at 313-494-5500.
A funeral Mass was celebrated on April 12, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Palm City, Fla. with intermenty at a later date in Michigan.
Gerald J. "Bud" Elliott
Gerald J. "Bud" Elliott, age 83, died Saturday, April 3, 2004, at his home. He was born Aug. 4, 1920 in Somerset Township, the son of Harold J. and Josie B. (Miller) Elliott. Bud married Anna E. Beevers on Oct. 25, 1940 in Brooklyn.
Bud was a lifelong Brooklyn area resident. He served in the Army Air Corps in WW II and was owner of Elliott's Service & Sports Center before retiring in 1976. Bud attended the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church, was a lifetime member of the American Legion and a 50-year member of the Masonic Lodge No. 169.
Survivors include his wife, Anna of Chelsea, formerly of Brooklyn; son, Jack (Evelyn ) Elliott of Brooklyn; daughters, Patricia Spahr of Elk Grove Village, Ill.. Linda (Rob) Mahan of Marietta, Ga. and Debra (Jeff) Hardcastle of Chelsea, Mich.; sister, Bessie (Stanley) Blowers of Brooklyn; 10 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Elliott, in 1997.
A Celebration of Bud's Life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 7, 2004, at Brooklyn Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Robert Malsack officiating. Bud's family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the time of service and at a gathering following the service at the Brooklyn American Legion Post No. 315, 211 Chicago St.
Memorial contributions may be given to the church and envelopes will be available prior to the service. Arrangements are by Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Braun Chapel.
Earl S. Bennington
Earl S. Bennington, age 91, of Adrian died on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 at Charlotte Stephenson Manor in Adrian. He was born October 2, 1912 in Ogden Center, Michigan to Chauncey and Florence (Bailey) Bennington. He was married to Melba McIntyre and she preceded him in death. He later married Wilma (Summers) Kruger in 1964 and she survives.
Mr. Bennington was employed as Plant Engineer for Bohn Aluminum and Brass in Adrian prior to retiring. He enjoyed antiquing and refinishing furniture. He lived at Wamplers Lake for many years and enjoyed fishing and snowmobiling.
In addition to his wife, Wilma, Mr. Bennington is survived by one son, James Bennington of Waters, MI; two step sons, Steve (Barb) Kruger of Tecumseh and Frank (Janice) Kruger of Brooklyn; two daughters, Joy (Don) Schmidt of Tecumseh and Jill Rieman of Jackson; one brother, Keith (Frances) Bennington of Lima, OH; one sister, Hazel Avery of Lyons, OH; fifteen grandchildren, thirty-five great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Melba, and five brothers and sisters, and one grandson.
The funeral service was held Friday at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church with Pastor Richard Webb officiating. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Lenawee or Charlotte Stephenson Manor. Arrangements were entrusted to Couture-Handler Funeral Homes.
H. Norman Jones
H. Norman Jones, age 73 of Jerome, Michigan, passed away on Saturday, March 20, 2004 in Kingman, Ariz. He was born on November 26, 1930 in Crawfordsville, Ind. to Harvey and Thelma (Harrison) Jones. He married Barbara P. Smith on June 28, 1969 in Addison, and she survives. Norman was raised in Crawfordsville, Ind. and graduated from Crawfordsville High School in 1948. He lived in Whitehall, Mich. for several years, and then lived in the Addison-Lake LeAnn area since 1968. He attended Jackson Community College and Western Michigan University. He owned and operated various businesses in the Addison area, and was the owner and operator of B.J. Consulting Firm. He was Vice President of Michigan Aggregates Corporation. He was an avid golfer, built and flew model airplanes and enjoyed tennis when he was in high school. Norman was a veteran of WW II, serving in the United Sates Air Force.
Surviving besides his wife Barbara are two sons, Steven (Chris) Jones of Montague, Mich. and Guy (Barb) Ridley of Plainwell, Mich.; three daughters, Diana (Judd) Hammond of Calera, Ala., Karen Sue Liles of Norton Shores, Mich. and Elaine (Robert) Eagle of Lake Somerset; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother, Gary (Joretta) Jones of Clarklake; two sisters, Elaine (Charlie) Strain of Arlington, Texas and Darlene (Jack) Roudebush of Bremerton, Washington; one aunt, Martha Polk of Strawn, Texas; one uncle, Harry (Annabelle) Jones of Linden, Ind.; and twenty-five nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 27, at the Brown-VanHemert Funeral Home in Addison, with Fr. Paul Grehl O.S.F.S., and Jean Schaub officiating. Cremation followed the services.
Irene K. Thompson
Irene K. Thompson, age 90 of Onsted, passed away peacefully at her home with her daughter and son-in-law at her side on Friday, March 26, 2004.
She was born on Oct. 31, 1913, in Czechoslovakia to Charles and Katherine (Ondrovick) Hatala. She married George A. Thompson on August 13, 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio, and he preceded her in death on August 15, 1965.
Irene moved to the United States at age five to Lakewood, Ohio, then she lived in Pennsylvania, Detroit, Somerset, Adrian and then moved to Onsted in 1990. She worked as a housekeeper at Citizens Gas Company in Adrian. She attended the Christ Episcopal Church in Adrian. She was a member of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church at Cambridge Junction. She was a member of the Mothers of World War II. She was an avid reader, a sewer and she liked to knit and crochet. She made an altar cloth for the Episcopal Church in Adrian, and she made bridesmaids dresses for family members. She made a bunny costume for her granddaughter Shawn. She really enjoyed living at Wexford Manor where she had many friends, and looked forward to playing bingo.
Surviving are three sons, James C. (Doris) Thompson of Casa Grande, Ariz., Kenneth G. (Gail) Thompson of Mason, Mich., and Henry R. (Delores) Thompson of Tecumseh; one daughter, Patricia Ann (Rick) Williams of Cement City; thirteen grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; two half-brothers, John (Josephine) Hatala of Lakewood, Ohio and Joseph (Jean) Hatala of Strongsville, Ohio; one half-sister, Kellie (Lloyd) Allen of Florida. She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, George.
Funeral services were held today (Tuesday), March 30, 2004, at the Dunn Chapel, Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home in Onsted, with Rev. Sandy Benes officiating. Burial will be in the Lenawee Hills Memorial Park in Adrian.
Richard A. Manser
Richard A. Manser, 69, of Addison, died March 25, 2004, at Veterans Medical Center, Ann Arbor. He was born March 28, 1934 in Detroit, Mich., the son of Alfred and Anna (Sydor) Manser. On Sept. 1, 1956 he married Nadine Shreve. She preceded him in death on Aug. 25, 1991. On May 16, 1998 he married Maybelle Pinkerton. She survives.
He is survived by his wife Maybelle, a daughter Carrie Bloom of Ann Arbor, three sons, Allan (Susan) Manser of Highland, Randall (Linda) Manser of Hayesville, NC, and Mark (Cheryl) Manser of Brooklyn, 8 grandchildren, two great grandchildren, his sister, Shirley Raison of South Lyon, and his brother Alfred John Manser, Jr. of Plymouth. In addition to his first wife, Nadine, he was preceded in death by one son, Clint Manser.
A Memorial Service will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, March 27, 2004 at the Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn with Rev. Robert Malsack officiating. Interment will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Manistique, Mich. at a future date. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Maybelle Manser, 210 W. Pottawatamie St., Tecumseh, Mich. 49286.
Arrangements were by Purse Funeral Home, Tecumseh.
Jane E. DeVaul
Jane E. DeVaul of Brooklyn, passed away Monday, March 8, 2004.
She is survived by her husband, John; one daughter, Karen Eichenberg; one son, Bruce Ide; and John's children, Jackie Towell, JoAnn Strzesynski, Julie Law, John Jr., and Jeff DeVaul, all of Toledo, Ohio.
Services were held on Saturday, March 13 at the Brooklyn Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Robert Malsack officiating. A graveside service was also held at the Toledo Memorial Park in Sylvania, Ohio.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Church or the charity of donor's choice.
Velma M. Lighthall
Velma M. Lighthall, age 82 of Adrian, formerly of Onsted, passed away on Sunday, March 14, 2004, at Lynwood Manor in Adrian. She was born on July 25, 1921 in Clayton, Michigan to Frank and Laura (Mitchell) Hoag. She married Marvin L. Lighthall on Aug. 28, 1937 in Wayne, Mich, and he preceded her in death on May 29, 1982. She lived her early life in Clayton and then resided in Onsted for most of her life.
Velma was a member of the Rebekah Lodge #249 Onsted, Mi for over 50 years where she was a Past Noble Grand, and a member of the Springville United Methodist Church in Springville, Mich. She enjoyed crocheting, playing bingo and also enjoyed reading.
Surviving are three sons, Kenneth D. (Joan) Lighthall of Alpena, Terry M. (Beth) Lighthall of Tecumseh, Randy (Melodie) Lighthall of Maybee, Mich.; one daughter, Doris (Merlin) Avis of Morenci; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; one half-brother, Robert Moyer of Adrian; and one sister, Jenny Howard of Onsted. She was preceded in death by her husband, one son in infancy, two brothers and one sister.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2004, at the Dunn Chapel, Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home in Onsted with the Rev. Richard L. Mortimer officiating. Burial will be in Maple Shade Cemetery in Onsted. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday. A Rebekah Lodge Service will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.
Thelma A. McCreary
Thelma A. McCreary, age 86 of Onsted passed away on Sunday, March 14, 2004, at Charlotte Stephenson Manor in Adrian. She was born on Sept. 1, 1917 in Seneca, Mich. to Lewis A. and Laura A. (Tibbins) Robin. She married Joel C. McCreary on March 29, 1936 in Angola, Ind., and he preceded her in death on Dec. 19, 1994. She lived in the Onsted and Toledo area for several years.
Surviving are two daughters, Joann (Norman) Arnold and Yvonne (John) Hutchinson, both of Toledo, Ohio; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by twins, Joel McCreary, Jr. and Jacqueline Vaughn, and two brothers, Norman and Theodore Robin.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 18, 2004, at the Dunn Chapel, Brown- Van Hemert Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Street, in Onsted with Pastor Philip A. Jones officiating. Burial will be in Maple Shade Cemetery in Onsted. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Charlotte Stevenson Manor, 581 Kimole Lane Adrian, MI 49221 or Hospice of Lenawee.
