Herta H. Ballmert
Services for Herta Ballmert, 83, of Plymouth will be held Oct. 26 at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth.
Mrs. Ballmert was born Nov. 21, 1918 in Germany and died Aug. 31 in Plymouth. She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Ballmert was preceded in death by her husband, Herman Ballmert.
Survivors include daughter, Brigitte (Ron) Hassert of Slidell, La.; daughter, Ingrid (Neil) Sendelbach of Plymouth; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association of Michigan Affiliate Inc., 30600 Telegraph Road, Suite 2255, Bingham Farms, MI 48025 or Angela Hospice, 14100 Newburg Road, Livonia, MI 48154-5010.
Arrangements made by Vermeulen Funeral Home.
Richard E. Schott
Services for Richard Schott, 67, of Plymouth were held Sept. 21 at St. Edith Catholic Church with the Rev. Tim Murray officiating. Burial was at Parkview Memorial Cemetery in Livonia.
Mt. Schott was born Dec. 10, 1934 in Detroit and died Sept. 17 in Angela Hospice. He was a resident of Plymouth for the past 14 years, previously living in Livonia and the Lansing area. He graduated from Kinde High School and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Michigan State University. He worked for many years at State Farm Insurance, rising to the position of Divisional Claims Superintendent. He retired in 1998. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, attaining the rank of Sergeant. Among his many hobbies, he practiced photography and over the years he has earned many awards for his technique, including awards for hand colored black and white prints. Recently he received a first place in the beginning class from the Livonia Camera Club. His print was also voted "Photo of the Year" for the 2001-2002 season.
Mr. Schott also enjoyed fly fishing, and was a member of the Michigan Fly Fishing Club. He served as an usher at St. Edith Catholic Church, and also enjoyed cooking and sailing in his earlier years. He belonged to several insurance organizations, and was highly respected by all who knew and worked with him. He was a devoted husband for 41 years to Cheri, and raised three very successful, educated and devoted children. He valued his family ties, and wrote family histories for both sides of his family.
Survivors incude wife, Sharon L. Schott of Plymouth; daughter, Cynthia (Kevin) Thomason of Kalamazoo; son, Edward (Vicky) Schott of Holland; son, Matthew (Patty) Schott of Kalamazoo; and five grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Angela Hospice, 14100 Newburg Road, Livonia, MI 48154-5010.
Arrangements made by Vermeulen Funeral Home.
James Dean Keeth
James "Jim" Dean Keeth, 68, of Garden City, died Sept. 23, 2002.
Survivors include his dear companion, Marilynn McHendrick of Garden City; mother, Verne Keeth of Clare; brothers, V. Keeth of Marietta, Ga., Donald A. (Robbie) Keeth of Plymouth, Michael J. (Diane) Keeth of Plymouth; sister, Leslyn A. (Donly "Bud" Jr.) Young of Lake; and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements made by Vermeulen Funeral Home, Westland.
James Tome
Services for James Tome, 48, of Livonia, will be held Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. at Thayer-Rock Funeral Home in Farmington with the Rev. Ellen Acton officiating. Burial is at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Detroit.
Mr. Tome was born Oct. 14, 1953 in Detroit and died Sept. 24 in Pontiac. He was a resident of Livonia for 16 years, previously of Plymouth. He was employed in Transmission Design with Chrysler Corporation. He graduated from Pershing High School and attended Oakland University. He loved playing and watching hockey. He made and played guitars, was a wine collector and enjoyed making his own wine.
Survivors include wife, Cindy Murphy; father and mother-in-law, David (Joan) Murphy of Camden; brothers, Louis J. (Peggy) Tome of Waterford, Robert Tome of Rochester Hills, and Dennis (Patricia) Tome of Macomb; abundant aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; and many family and friends in Farmington and Farmington Hills.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Karmanos Cancer Instutite, Novi Region; 41935 W. 12 Mile, Novi, MI. 48377-9939 or the American Heart Association, Dept. 77-3968, Chicago, Ill. 60678-3968.
Arrangements made by Thayter-Rock Funeral Home, Farmington.
George Wilson Hafer
Services for George Hafer, 93, of Westland, were held Sept. 17 at the Vermeulen Funeral Home with the Rev. Tom C. Hansen officiating. Burial was at United Memorial Gardens in Superior Township.
Mr. Hafer was born Sept. 4, 1909 in Claunch, Ark., and died Sept. 13 in Westland. He was an automotive factory worker and was employed by McCord Corp. for 30 years. During World War II he worked on defense contracts. He loved sports, and had played semi-professional baseball. He also enjoyed gardening.
Survivors include dear wife of 70 years, Hattie Mae; daughter, Betty (John) Cole of Plymouth; sister, Dorothy Carpenter of Ark.; granddaughters, Linda (Dean) Choma of Livonia and Lisa (Kevin) Hille of Plymouth; grandson, John (Ruth) Cole of Ypsilanti; great-granddaughter, Rachael Hille; great-grandson, Joseph Choma; one nephew and one niece.
Memorial contributions may be made to Angela Hospice, 14100 Newburg Road, Livonia, MI 48154-5010.
Arrangements made by Vermeulen Funeral Home.
Stella D. Schodowski
Services for Stella Schodowski, 74, of Westland will be held Sept. 21 at the L.J. Griffin Funeral Home Canton Chapel with burial at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Mrs. Schodowski was born June 29, 1928 in Hamtramck and died Sept. 16 at Heartland Nursing Home in Ann Arbor. She worked as a clerk in retail.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond P. Schodowski.
Survivors include daughter, Patricia M. (Joseph) Wrobel; sister, Helen Kaun; and grandson, Stephen.
Arrangements made by L.J. Griffin Funeral Home Canton Chapel.
Glen Walter Thomas
Services for Glen Thomas, 83, of Canton were held Aug. 31 at L. J. Griffin Funeral Home.
Mr. Thomas was born April 25, 1919, in Hatisburg, Miss., and died Aug. 29 in Canton. He was a test driver for the automotive industry.
Survivors include son, Michael Glen (Rosemary) Thomas; daughters, Gail (Lee) Thomas-Decker, Cheryl (Bub) Spragg, and Sandra (Jesse) Gaddis; three sisters; two brothers; 13 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be donated to a "Memorial Tribute" with the family at griffinfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements were made by L .J. Griffin Funeral Home.
William O. Jehle
Services for William Jehle, 86, of Canton were held Aug. 31 at L.J. Griffin Funeral Home.
Mr. Jehle was born Feb. 20, 1916, in Detroit and died Aug. 29 at Botsford Continued Care. He was a rigger/construction for the automotive industry.
Survivors include wife, Edne E.; daughter, Cathy L. (Keith) Kendall; son, William J. Jr. (Diane); grandchildren, Kenneth, Kendall, Kelly Sikorski and Dawn Jehle; great-grandchildren, Kari, Chaylyn, Savannah and Brent.
Memorial contributions may be donated to Leukemia Nad Lymphoma Society, 1421 E. 12 Mile Road, Bldg. A., Madison Heights, MI 48071.
Arrangements were made by L. J. Griffin Funeral Home Canton Chapel.
Verna R. Smith
Services for Verna Smith, 87, of Superior Township were held Aug. 27 at Incarnation Holy Sacrament Episcopal Church with the Rev. Craig A. Phillips officiating. Burial was at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Frankford, Pa.
Mrs. Smith was born Sept. 6, 1914, in Philadelphia and died Aug. 21 at home. She was a homemaker. Previously of Drexel Hill, Penn., she graduated from Frankford High School in 1932. She was a member of Eastern Star-Signet Chapter #129 of Philadelphia. She was a member of the choir and altar guild at Incarnation Holy Sacrament Episcopal Church in Drexel Hill, Pa., and currently a member of St. John's Episcopal Church in Plymouth where she was a member of the women's League. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels in Drexel Hill.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles W. Smith.
Survivors include sons, David T. (Judy) Smith of Ann Arbor and Merle C. Smith; granddaughters, Melissa Smith, Kathleen Smith, Amanda Smith, Jennifer Smith, and Deborah Burns; grandsons, Paul Smith and Jeffery Smith; and great-grandchildren, Joseph, Robbie and Cassie.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's Episcopal Church, 574 S. Sheldon Road, Plymouth, MI 48170.
Arrangements were made by Vermeulen Funeral Home.
