Kenneth Richard Anthony
Mr. Anthony, age 79, passed away Saturday, January 6, at Covenant HealthCare-Harrison in Saginaw. Kenneth was born on March 21, 1927 in Vassar to the late Thomas and Myra (Livingston) Anthony. On May 1, 1953 he married Pauline N. Withers in Saginaw and together they celebrated 53 years of marriage. Kenneth retired from Super Foods after 20 years of employment. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Navy and as a member of the Vassar Federation of Eagles No. 2380.
He is survived by his wife, Pauline, three children: Nora Lee Anthony, Roxanne (Gary) Endert and Richard F. Anthony, all of Caro, granddaughter, Rebecca (Jon) Reed of Caro, great-grandchildren: John, Stefanie, Cody and Hunter; brothers, Francis (Letha) Anthony and Tom Anthony; sisters, Kathleen Janson and Patricia (William) Withers. He was preceded in death by a son, Bradley James Anthony and a sister, Miriam Smith.
Funeral services were held January 10 at Penzien-Steele Funeral Home, Vassar with Pastor Mary Edgington officiating. Burial took place at Riverside Cemetery in Vassar. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.
Edward H. Specht
Edward H. Specht passed away on Saturday, January 13 at Covenant Medical Center-Harrison in Saginaw. Age 71 years, Ed was born on August 7, 1935 in Saginaw to the late Henry and Eva (Asmus) Specht. He married Arlene M. Palmreuter on December 28, 1978. She survives him. Prior to his retirement, Ed worked in road construction. He loved fishing, bowling, animals and casino gambling. He was a member of the Bridgeport Eagles and was of the Lutheran faith.
Also surviving is a daughter and son, Cheryl (James) Marth, St. Charles; Edward Specht, Jr. (Gina Vassallo), Vassar; two grandchildren, Marcie (Jerry) Nothelfer; Dasha (Corey) Moore; four great-grandchildren, Dustin and Nicole Nothelfer, Cody and Maddison Moore; step-children, Bonnie (Dan) McInerney, Merrill; Lori Nugent, Hemlock; Rick (Carol) Reinbold, Reese; four step-grandchildren, Jeremy, Heather and Lindsey Porath; Tim (Victorina) Nugent; sister, Dorothy (Wayne) Fulton, Saginaw; brother, Ray Specht, Saginaw; many nieces and nephews. Ed was predeceased by nine brothers and sisters.
Funeral services took place at the Wakeman Funeral Home, Inc. in Saginaw on January 17. Memorials may be given to the American Cancer Society or the Humane Society.
Jenetta Fern Harrison
Jenetta Fern Harrison, of East Tawas, formerly a Vassar resident of 45 years, passed away on January 11 at the age of 88 years. She was born on May 13, 1918 in Millington to Orville and Martha (nee Pohr) Cobb. She attended high school and graduated from Millington High School. Jenetta married her husband, John Caleb Harrison on June 8, 1939 in Ohio and then moved to Vassar where together they owned and operated Johnny’s Food Shop for 33 years. After they sold the grocery store, Jenetta went to work for Gilchrist Drug Store in Vassar for a couple of years until retiring and moving to the Tawas area.
She had many interests in life, especially cooking and baking, fishing and traveling with her husband and enjoying spending quality time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jenetta is survived by her two daughters, Fern (Gale) Wojahn of East Tawas and Sandra (Harry) Birk of Vassar; six grandchildren, Jennifer (Vern) Long, Greg Birk, Jeff (Lori) Wojahn, Rob (Tyra) Birk, Becky (Rich) Storrow and Chris (Beth) Wojahn; 14 great-grandchildren, Sarah, Ben, Shane, Tyler, Abbey, Courtney, Caitlin, Luke, Carley, Kelsey, Sammy, Daniel and Joshua; two sisters, Barbara (Jim) Johnson of Standish and Eva Schiefer of Millington; and one sister-in-law, Helen Jones of Florida. Jenetta is preceded in death by her husband John Caleb on August 1, 2000, one brother, Cecil Cobb, one sister, Betty Jacob and one brother-in-law, Hilbert Schiefer.
Funeral services were held on January 14 with burial at the Greenwood Cemetery in East Tawas.
Harry Lane Smith
Mr. Harry Lane Smith, aged 89 years, passed away January 10, at his residence with his wife and nephew, Dennis at his bedside. He was born on March 10, 1917 in Vassar to Howard W. and Clara G. (Lane) Smith.
On October 6, 1954 he married Shirley Trea and together they celebrated 52 years of marriage. He graduated from Vassar High School in 1935 and from the Saginaw Business Institute in 1938 with a degree in Business Administration. Harry began working at the Vassar Theatre and eventually was the owner and operator from 1945 until 1979. He was also a licensed insurance agent and operated the Harry Lane Smith Agency until 1986, after approximately 50 years in the insurance business. He was a member of the Vassar Rotary Club, where his membership spanned more than 40 years as a dedicated Rotarian and attended the First Presbyterian Church since childhood. He has been and will always be interested in the well being of our small city and its citizens.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley; sister-in-law, Marie and husband Carl Stierheim and several nieces and nephews. Shirley would like to extend a special thank you to Dennis and Pauline Vargo, Tom and Dorie Trea and special friend, Norma Service for all of their loving care and compassion for Harry through his time of illness.
Funeral services were held on Saturday, January 13 at the Vassar First Presbyterian Church with Pastor John W. Becker officiating. Mr. Smith was laid to rest at the Riverside Cemetery in Vassar. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to Hospice of Hope or to the First Presbyterian Church.
Mavis H. (Colosky) Streeter
Mavis H. Streeter passed away on January 13 in Corral de Tierra, California. She was born June 24, 1922 in Fulton, Mississippi to estie and John Ollie Shaw.
Mavis married James M. Colosky, Sr. who predeceased her in 1965 and lived in Vassar for many years. She then married Richard Streeter who predeceased her in 1994 and lived in Rawlins, Wyoming and Delta, Colorado for many years. She was a judge of the Michigan Circuit Court and was also a Past Noble Grand of Rebekah in Vassar. She was a Soroptimist and was the Wester Welcome Hostess in Rawlins. Mavis was also active in All Saints Lutheran Church and enjoyed being part of golf and bowling leagues.
She traveled the world and collected antiques and enjoyed her cabin in Wyoming. She devoted her time to helping others by participation in Meals on Wheels, The Pantry Kitchen, teacher’s aide, Girl Scout leader and by opening her home to students at the Criminal Justice Training Academy and Nursing School in Delta.
She is survived by her son, James M. Colosky, Jr. (Lois Shelp) of Grand Junction, Colorado, and by her daughter Murlie (Keith Hanson) of Corral de Tierra, California; by grandchildren Brent Colosky (Jessica), Krista Hanson and Jenna Hanson, great-granddaughter Summer Colosky, and by two sisters Marie McKenney (Ed) and Mary Dean Klutts (John). She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Steven Colosky, by a stepdaughter, Marge Streeter Stump, and by her sisters Mae Hare and Murlie Shaw and by her brother James “Bud” Shaw.
Memorial services are planned for Tuesday, January 23 at 10 a.m. at Penzien-Steele Funeral Home in Vassar, 149 N. Main Street.
Christopher Esckelson
Christopher Esckelson, age 22, gave his life for his country while defending his fellow Marines on Thursday, December 28, 2006 in Fallujah, Iraq. Christopher was born December 30, 1983 in Saginaw the son of David E. Esckelson and Michelle M. "Mitzi” Lich. He attended St. Michael's Lutheran School in Richville prior to transferring to Vassar High School, graduating in 2002. In high school he played football for four years at defensive tackle, baseball for four years as an outfielder and catcher and basketball for two years.
He was also a member of St. Michael Lutheran Church in Richville and the Frankenmuth Bible Church and had been employed with Zehender's, Abercrombie & Fitch and Wolverine Human Resources.
In October of 2002, Christopher joined the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve and then attended Delta College at all three campuses in Bay City, Saginaw and Midland desiring to become a doctor, prior to being called to active duty in April of 2006.
He was extremely proud when he became a Marine and he believed 1l 0 percent in service and dedication to his country. Christopher was an avid hunter and fisherman and he enjoyed camping. He was a “go-getter" and a natural leader. He will be missed by all who his life touched.
Left to cherish his memory are his father David E. Esckelson of Vassar, mother: Michelle M. “Mitzi” and husband Christopher Hill of Vassar; brother Craig E. Esckelson and girlfriend, Heather Curtis and their daughter, Hailee Marie, all of Vassar; sister, Kerry M. Esckelson of Vassar, two stepsisters: Rachel and Laurin Hill both of Vassar, Christopher's girlfriend of three years: Samantha Reasner of Owosso, two grandmothers: Esther Esckelson and Esther Lich both of Vassar, special childhood friends that attended St. Michael’s: Scott Janson of Reese, Terry Sella of Auburn Hills, Vassar High School friend, John MacArthur; Marine brother, Todd Pirich of Birch Run and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Christopher was preceded in death by his grandfathers: Lawrence Esckelson and Henry Lich.
William E. Guile
William E. Guile, 79, of Vassar, died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007 at his residence surrounded by his family and his loyal cat, Louis. William was born Oct. 1, 1927 in East Lansing, Michigan. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Earl C. and Gladys (Lake) Guile. William was a veteran of WWII serving in the U.S. Air Force where he attained the rank of first lieutenant as a flight simulator instructor and in the Army Air Corps as a medic earning the rank of sergeant.
He and Susan Gray were united in marriage on June 25, 1971 in Saginaw, Michigan. For 45 years, William worked for the Michigan Department of Treasury as a property tax assessor. He enjoyed collecting antiques and restoring WWI and WWII military relics.
Surviving are his wife of 35 years, Susan; four children, 1st Sgt. Jason E. and his wife, Rose Manier of St. David, Arizona, Police Sgt. Benjamin W. and his wife, Heather Guile of Vassar; Dr. Barbara J. Guile of Vassar, Beverly J. Guile of Vassar; seven grandchildren, Melanie Merrion, David Guile, Brianna Manier, Tyler Langley, Jenna Guile, Jacob Langley, Bradley Guile; one great-granddaughter, Darrian Guile; and sister, Beverly and her husband Bill Hagerman. William was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Benjamin Guile in 1973.
Cremation has taken place. There will be a private committal in Eastlawn Cemetery in Lansing. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Vassar Veterans Military Support Group c/o Tina Bacon at Vassar City Hall.
Arrangements made by Martin Funeral Home in Vassar.
