STEVEN STELMACH
Steven Stelmach, 82, a Royal Oak resident since 1947, died April 15, 1999 in William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. He was born Dec. 22, 1916 in Hamtramck. Mr. Stelmach served with the U.S. Army in the European Theater of Operations during World War II and he received the Purple Heart. He was the owner of Stout Fence Co. of Royal Oak/Troy since 1957, retiring in 1980. Mr. Stelmach performed much commercial, industrial and school work in the tri-county area and he enjoyed fishing, hunting and bowling. He also was a lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans. Survivors include his wife, Jane (Oleksa), whom he married Aug. 31, 1941 in Standish; children, Robert (Sandra) of Oxford and Steven Jr. of Troy; siblings, Katherine Gaus of Tucson, Ariz., Jane Shaw of Canton, Pearl (Howard) Megdall of Dearborn Heights, Frances Honner of Omer, Carolyn Stelmach of Omer, Joseph (Marilyn) of Northville and Morris (Barbara) of Clarkston; one granddaughter, Stacey V. Stelmach. Funeral arrangements were handled by Gramer Funeral Home, Clawson.
DONALD A. KAISER
Donald A. Kaiser, 61, of Madison Heights, a former 25-year Royal Oak resident, died April 16, 1999 in Angela Hospice, Livonia. Mr. Kaiser, who was born Feb. 20, 1938 in Detroit, had lived in Madison Heights for the past nine years after moving from Royal Oak. An auditor for Blue Cross & Blue Shield for 20 years before his retirement in 1989, Mr. Kaiser served in the U.S. Army. Survivors include his son, Kurt J. Kaiser; daughter, Karen L. Kaiser; brother, Richard Kaiser; and sister, Betty Carter. Funeral arrangements were handled by Lynch & Sons Funeral Funeral Home, Clawson; memorials, American Cancer Society, 29350 Southfield Road, Suite 110, Southfield, MI 48076-2078.
BETTY L. BUCKLEY
Betty L. Buckley, 78, a Royal Oak resident since 1945, died April 17, 1999 in Alexander Care Center, Royal Oak. She was born Jan. 5, 1921 in Owosso. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Joseph P. Buckley Sr., whom she married June 22, 1940 in Flint, in 1996 and her sons Daniel (1992) and Joseph Jr. (1997). Mrs. Buckley was a professional proofreader for 35 years with R.R. Donnelley & Sons and she was a member of St. Mary Magdalen Church in Hazel Park. Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Dallacqua of Royal Oak; brothers, Kenneth Augustine of Africa and Carl Augustine of Ann Arbor; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild. Funeral arrangements were handled by Kinsey-Garrett Funeral Home, Royal Oak; burial, White Chapel Cemetery, Troy; memorials, St. Mary Magdalen Church, 50 W. Annabelle, Hazel Park, MI.
HENRY A. FRIES
Henry Adam Fries, 84, of Frankenmuth, formerly of Berkley, Highland Park and Royal Oak from 1954-95, died April 17, 1999 in the Lutheran Home in Frankenmuth. He was born Dec. 6, 1914 in Highland Park. Mr. Fries delivered The Daily Tribune, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press, Detroit Times and Birmingham Eccentric newspapers in Royal Oak for many years until he retired in 1976. He was visually handicapped from the time of his birth. Mr. Fries was a member of Berkley Lodge 536, F&AM, Berkley-Highland Park Chapter 483, OES, Clawson Senior Masonic and the Acorn VFW Card Club, Thursday Group. He is survived by his wife, Magdalene (Strobel), whom he married Jan. 26, 1954 in Angola, Ind. Funeral arrangements were handled by Kinsey-Garrett Funeral Home, Royal Oak; burial, White Chapel Cemetery, Troy.
MARY M. LEE
Mary M. Lee, 83, a Royal Oak resident since 1953, died April 18, 1999 in Evergreen Health and Living Center, Southfield. She was born April 2, 1916 in Searcy, Ark. Mrs. Lee was an active member of the Troy Church of God. Survivors include her children, Mary Jane Stephens of Royal Oak and Bob Lee of Warren; a sister, Sara (Junior) Wooten of Judsonia, Ark.; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild. Funeral arrangements were handled by Kinsey-Garrett Funeral Home, Royal Oak; burial, Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak.
FRIEDA C. SIBTHORPE
Frieda C. Sibthorpe, 83, of Royal Oak, died April 2, 1999 in William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. She was born Nov. 14, 1915 in Detroit. Her husband, Charles A., died Aug. 6, 1996. They were married June 14, 1950 in Royal Oak. Mrs. Sibthorpe graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1933 and she was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion and Fraternal Order of Eagles, all of Royal Oak. She enjoyed knitting, working puzzles, doing crafts, bingo and cards. She formerly was employed by Martin Place Hospital East (now St. John Oakland Health System Hospital) in Madison Heights as a ward secretary. Survivors include her children, Ronald C. (Angelia) of Royal Oak and Shirley A. Sibthorpe of Royal Oak; special friend, Rita S. Bray; grandchildren, Ronald, Sharon, Emily and Samuel. Funeral arrangements were handled by William Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, Royal Oak; burial, Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak; memorials, American Diabetes Association.
RICHARD F. CLAPP
Richard F. Clapp, 67, of Lake Orion, a 30-year member of the First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak, died April 18, 1999 in St. Mary's Hospital, Saginaw. Mr. Clapp, who served as a deacon, elder and member of the King's Men Choir at the church, was born Aug. 18, 1933 in Flint. He lived in Huntington Woods for 36 years before moving to Lake Orion. Mr. Clapp graduated from Flint Central High School and he earned a bachelor in fine arts degree in photography from Ohio University. He served with the U.S. Air Force and he worked as a professional photographer for General Motors Corp. and as a self-employed photographer for 30 years, retiring in 1997. An award-winning photographer, Mr. Clapp taught classes at the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit. Mr. Chapp enjoyed fishing and he was building a log home. Survivors include his wife, Martha (Kinley), whom he married May 27, 1961 in Ann Arbor; children, David (Jory Jonas) Clapp of Ellsworth and Louise A. (Robert) Blount of Caro; a sister, Suzanne (William) Counts; one grandchild. Funeral arrangements were handled by Kinsey-Garrett Funeral Home, Royal Oak; memorials, First Presbyterian Church Music Fund of King's Men Choir, Bedford Presbyterian Village -- Pearl's Garden or the Ohio University College of Fine Arts, Photography Department, Athens, Ohio.
GLEN D. GOVAN
Glen D. Govan, 46, a life-long Royal Oak resident, died April 19, 1999 in William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. He was born Jan. 28, 1953 in Highland Park. Mr. Govan was a self-employed artist specializing in air brush and free hand on vehicles and motorcycles. He enjoyed blues music and he was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 3206, Madison Heights. Survivors include his mother, Arlene F. (the late Benjamin) Govan; siblings, Cindy L. (Kevin) McCauley of Clawson, Barbara J. (Chuck) Mattson of Madison Heights and James E. of Madison Heights; nephews, Dustin, Dane, Daniel, Michael and Matthew; a niece, Micayla. Funeral arrangements were handled by A. J. Desmond & Sons Funeral Home, Royal Oak; inurnment, Florida Keys; memorials, American Cancer Society.
ROSE K. PRICE
Rose K. Price, 70, of Royal Oak, died April 19, 1999 in William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. She was born June 16, 1928 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Her husband, Thomas Price, died in 1990. Mrs. Price was formerly a manager at the Roman Gate, Fox & Hounds and Sussex House restaurants. She was a member of Royal Oak Post 253 American Legion Women's Auxiliary and the Royal Oak Elks Lodge. Survivors include her former husband, Ralph Banworth; children, Dwayne (Sheryl) Price of Royal Oak, Jeffrie (Susan) of Clarkston and Brenda (Paul) Snapp of Lake Orion; sisters, Katie and Mary of Alberta, Canada, her twin sister Rita of Royal Oak and Stella of Indiana; six grandchildren. Funeral arrangements were handled by William Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, Royal Oak; burial, Oakview Cemetery, Royal Oak; memorials, American Heart Association.
VINCENT KOEHLER
Vincent Koehler, 90, of Detroit, died April 20, 1999. His wife, Virginia, is deceased. Survivors include his children, Ann Marie Priebe, Irene Dodson, Vincent II, Donald (Alberta), Barbara (Ken Dietz), Michael, Joan (Gerald) Alderson, Phillip (Nancy), Janice (Gary) Harmon, Virginia (Brian) Reiderer, Richard (Janeen), Diane, William (Kathy Hall) of Royal Oak, Keith (Cheryl), Paul (Ellen) of Royal Oak, Brian (Julie) and David (Theresa); six siblings; 31 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements were handled by William Sullivan & Son Funeral Home, Royal Oak.
WILMA L. KOSS
Wilma Lee Koss of Royal Oak, formerly of Berkley, died April 21, 1999 in William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. She was born in Frontenac, Kan. Mrs. Koss was a nurse's aid at Straith Hospital in Southfield. Survivors include her husband, Fred, whom she married Sept. 9, 1950 in Detroit; children, Karen (Thomas) Kowalski of Ferndale, April (Roger) Ratekin of Berkley and Robert (Karen) Koss of Highland; sisters, Thelma Torasian of Clarkston and Lucille (Chester) Sakora of Warren; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements were handled by Kinsey-Garrett Funeral Home, Royal Oak; burial, Roseland Park Cemetery, Berkley; memorials, Karmanos Cancer Institute.
