Lucas Michael Kekel, age 24, a Staff Sergeant in the Kansas Air National Guard died in Wichita, Kansas on Wed. April 2, 2008 of natural causes. He was born June 26, 1983 in Flint to Michael and Debra Kekel. He graduated from Lakeville High School in 2002. Luke played 4 years of Varsity Soccer, as well as playing basketball, football, and hockey. He entered the Air Force in October 2002 and served his first tour as a Security Forces member at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, Kansas. In 2003, SSgt Kekel was handpicked to join a Department of Defense Antiterrorism Security Team called Phoenix Ravens. He continued to be a Phoenix Raven in the Kansas Air National Guard at McConnell Air Force Base after leaving active duty in 2006. On March 31, 2008, he was united in marriage to Kortney Van Gorp in Wichita, Kansas. Luke is survived by his wife Kortney; his mother Debra (Jon) Kekel-DeGroot; his father Michael (Sue) Kekel; grandparents , aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly. Relatives and friends are welcome to the viewing from 10:00 A.M. until the tome of the services. Military Honors and burial will be at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly. He was honored at a memorial service with full military honors on Saturday, april 5, in Wichita, Kansas. A gathering will be held at 7:00 P.M. at Columbiaville United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Big Brothers-Big Sisters or the Humane Society.
Georgia Lee "Joey" Hruby, age 56 of Holly died Wed. April 2, 2008 at home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sun. April 6, 2008 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly with Pastor William Seitz officiating. Visitation will be from 2-9 PM Saturday. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Clinton, Illinois. Mrs. Hruby was born in Clinton, IL on Aug. 11, 1951 the daughter of James and Mary (Ward) Lovett. She graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and was a Gold Key Recipient. She was the Administrator for Davisburg United Methodist Church where she was also a member of the praise team, choir, and the leader of the Women's Bible Study. She enjoyed singing and photography. Surviving are her husband Richard; son Travis Cheek of IL; grandson Gavin Cheek of IL; mother Mary and step-father Richard Keneipp of IN; and brother James Lovett of IN. She was preceded in death by her father James Lovett. Memorials may be made to Davisburg United Methodist Church.
Maser, Carol A. died March 27. Beloved wife of Edward; dear mother of Lore Cooper, John Maser, and Ron (Denise) Maser; grandmother of Cortney Maser, Sean Cooper, Ryan Cooper; daughter of Jean Bugaj; sister of Karen Kanny, Debra Stepp, Tim Bugaj, and Darlene Bugaj. Funeral Mass 11 AM Mon. St. Rita Catholic Church, Holly. Interment All Saints Cemetery, Waterford. Visitation 2-9 PM and Rosary 7 PM Sunday at Dryer Funeral Home, Holly. Memorials to Reunion with a Cause.
Wendi Lynn Ward, age 43 of Flint died Wed. March 26, 2008. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM Monday, March 31, 2008 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly with Pastor Roger Parsons officiating. Visitation will be from 4-8 P.M. Sunday and from 12 Noon until the time of the service. Wendi was born in Flint on June 9, 1964. She loved nature,raising and riding her horses, her pets, tubing on the Rifle River, trips to Cedar Point, the Flint Planetarium, laser light shows, reading, and movies. She is survived by her mother Rosemary Ward of Fenton; father Donald (Evelyn) Ward of Flint; sister April Ward of FL; brothers Jeffrey Ward of Mt. Morris, James Ward of Fenton, Mark Smith of CO, Brice Smith of Flint, Brian Smith of OH; grandmother Anna Dean of Holly; fiancée Gary Church of Flint; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and an uncle. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the family.
William C. Sargent, age 83 formerly of Holly died Wed. March 19, 2008. Memorial services will be held at 12:30 PM Tues. March 25, 2008 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly with Pastor Randy Cullen officiating. Military honors and inurnment will be at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly. Visitation will be from 11:30 AM until the time of the service on Tuesday. Mr. Sargent was born in Vestaburg, PA on Feb. 16, 1925 the son of William and Anne (Davis) Sargent. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the US Navy. He was retired from General Motors and moved to Florida in 1985. He was a member of Hulet-Bravender Post #5587 VFW and Amel Schwartz Post #149 American Legion of Holly, a member of Holly Lodge #134 F&AM, and the Elf Khurafeh Shrine and was a member of the Holly Presbyterian Church. Surviving are his wife Emma Jean; 2 children, William (Ellen) Sargent of Flint and Janet (Tim) Bird of Holly; grandson Brandon (Kian) Bird of Holly; brother Frank (Shirley) Sargent of Holly; along with other relatives and friends. Memorials may be made to Caring From the Heart.
John D. Sanborn, age 85 formerly of Holly died Sun. March 16, 2008. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Mr. Sanborn was born in Flint on Aug. 21, 1922 the son of Edward and Jane (Gillie) Sanborn. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the US Army. He was retired from GM Flint V-8 Engine Plant, was a member of Local #659 UAW, and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Holly. He loved hunting and fishing. He was preceded in death by his wife Joan. Surviving are 6 children, Chuck (Cheryl) Sanborn of Swartz Creek, Danny (Karen) Sanborn of Otisville, Jeff (Kathy) Sanborn of Lake Orion, twins Josh and John Sanborn of Holly, and Sally (Kevin) Bullock of Holly; 10 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; brother Robert Sanborn of Gladwin; and sister Jean Lewis of Chelsea. Memorial donations may be made to the family or to the American Heart Association.
George Taylor, age 83 of Auburndale, FL passed away Sat. March 8, 2008 in Lakeland, FL due to Alzheimer's. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Sat. March 15, 2008 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly. Visitation will be from 2-4 and 6-8 PM Friday. Military honors and intermenty will be 2:30 PM Mon. March 17, 2008 at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly. Mr. Taylor was born in Detroit on Oct. 27, 1924 the son of Arnold and Sarah (MacKenzie) Taylor. He was a veteran of WWII, serving in the US Navy. He has been a resident of Auburndale for the past 14 years coming from Michigan. He was the owner of the Madison Heights Glass Co. He was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church of Lakeland, FL, a past member of the Kiwanis Club, a member of the DAV, and was an avid golfer. He is survived by his loving family: his wife of 43 years, Phyllis; 6 sons Skip (Gail) Taylor of Macomb, Bob (Cheryl) Apple of Davisburg, Roy (Laura) Apple of Holly, Stephen Taylor of Clearwater, FL, Tom (Candice) Apple of Las Vegas, NV, and James (Sunday) Taylor of Farmington Hills, MI; 1 daughter Nancy (John) Barquinero of Walled Lake; brother Neil (Betty) Taylor of Auburndale, FL; 2 sisters, Dinah Deladurantaye of Auburndale, Fl and Doris Maroni of Madison Heights; 18 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Arnold and Donald.
Steve A. Grantner, age 90 of Holly Twp. died Wed. Feb. 27, 2008 at home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Sat. March 1, 2008 at St. Rita Catholic Church of Holly with Father David Blazek officiating. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 PM Friday and visitation will be from 2-5 and 7-9 PM Friday at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly. Mr., Grantner was born in Manistique on Oct. 15, 1917 the son of Albert and Emma (Blaha) Grantner. Surviving are his wife Beverly; 8 children, Gerald (Joyce) Grantner of Burton, Diane (James) Ahearne of National City, Marsha (Harry) Neminski of Burton, Mark (Sally) Grantner of Rose City, Stephen (Barbara) Grantner of Cheboygan, Patricia (Craig) Rodgers of Holly, Susan Jensen of Fenton, and Kathleen (Eduard) Fust of Milford; 26 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and brother Ernest Grantner of Burton. He was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters Daniel, Martha, Ethel, Emma, Albert, and Joe. He was a foreman with AC Spark Plug, retiring after over 40 years of service. He was a member of St. Rita Catholic Church. and was a former volunteer with the Patterson Elementary for Moola Moola. He enjoyed traveling with the Forget Me Nots of The State Bank. He was an avid outdoorsman, especially hunting and fishing, and he loved playing the harmonica. Memorial donations may be made to St. Rita Catholic Church or to the charity of your choice.
Robert A. MacPherson, age 87 of West Bloomfield, died Mon. February 25, 2008 at Holly Convalescent Center. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thurs. February 28, 2008 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly with Pastor Randy Cullen officiating. Burial and military honors will be at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly. Visitation will be from 2-9 P.M. Wednesday.
Mildred Beatty, age 100 of Holly died Thursday, February 21, 2008 at Holly Convalescent Center. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, Feb. 25, 2008 with Pastor M. Jean Love officiating. Visitation will be from 10- 11 Monday. Arrangements by the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly.
Robert W. Martin, age 63 of Fenton, formerly of Holly, died Fri. Feb. 15, 2008. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tues. Feb. 19, 2008 at the Dryer Funeral Home, Holly. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Holly. Visitation will be from 6-9 PM Sunday and 2-9 PM Monday. Mr. Martin was born in Flint on May 9, 1944 the son of Robert and Virginia (Radtke) Martin. He retired from Holly Schools after 35 years of service. He attended the Heritage Baptist Church of Fenton. He loved to walk his dog Topsy. He is survived by his wife Lynne; sister Lynda (John) Fitzgibbon of Harbor Beach; brothers Charles Martin of Cannonsburg and David (Virginia) Martin of Fenton; sister-in-law Merrie Haynes of AZ; niece Stephanie Nichols of Sterling Heights; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Virginia Martin. Memorials may be made to the Heritage Baptist Church of Fenton.
Mary J. Walczak, age 85 of Holly died Feb. 5. Beloved wife of the late Anthony Walczak; dear mother of Marilyn Walczak; sister of the late Kay, the late June, the late Louise, and the late Bud; many nieces and nephews. Funeral Mass 1:30 PM Sat. St. Rita Catholic Church, Holly. Visitation 2-9 PM Thurs and Fri. and Rosary 7 PM Fri. at Dryer Funeral Home, Holly.
