Gladwin County, Michigan obits:
Vicky M. Gratopp, 52, of Gladwin, died Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1999 at Tolfree Hospital in West Branch.
Born Nov. 11, 1949 in Pontiac, she was the daughter of George and Arlene Geror Hodge.
Vicky married Robert Gratopp, June 8, 1968 in Rochester. They moved to Gladwin in June 1984.
She was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church. She loved working with the customers at Secord Lake Marina, which she and Rob operated and she enjoyed vacationing in Florida.
Besides her husband she is survived by one son, Scott and wife Dannielle of Gladwin; one daughter, Kimberely and husband Doug Macon of Gladwin; her father, George Hodge of Freeland; one sister, Teresa Fries of Midland; one grandson, Jeremy Macon; her mother-in-law, Lillie Gratopp of Gladwin; and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held at 11 a.m. Monday at Our Savior Lutheran Church with Rev. Timothy Verity officiating. Burial was in Highland Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the church building fund.
Sisson Funeral Home, Gladwin was in charge of the arrangements.
Wilfred Charles St. Louis, 58, of Alger, died Sunday, Dec. 26, 1999 at Tolfree Memorial Hospital in West Branch.
Born May 4, 1941 in Rimouski, P.Q. Canada, he was the son of Wilfred and Vida Hamelin St. Louis Sr. He was retired from Chrysler Motors after 31 years in the Sterling Stamping Plant. He was also a member of the UAW Local 1264 and the Secord Lake Eagles Aerid #4121.
Surviving are his mother, Vida Hebert of Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada; his previous wife, Darlene St. Louis; four sons, Michale and wife JoAnn of Gladwin, Robert of Mt. Clements, Gerald and wife Melissa of Pontiac, and Wilfred of Sacramento, Calif; five grandchildren, Jason, Amanda, Samantha, Merissa and Felicia; one sister, Varylynn and husband Don Sheton of Long Lake; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30 at the Sisson Funeral Home, Gladwin, with Rev. Deane Wyllys officiating.
Wilfred "Bill" J. LaDuke, 93, of Beaverton, died Thursday, Dec. 30, 1999 at his home after a long illness.
Born April 5, 1906 in Linwood, he lived in Gladwin County since 1969 and previously lived in Davison.
Wilfred married Leona M. Palmer, Feb. 16, 1935 in Flint. He was an operating engineer for Local 324 in Detroit, retiring in 1969 after 40 years. He was a member of the Operator's Union 324.
Besides his wife he is survived by three sons, Howard and wife Pat of Beaverton, Willard and wife Debbie of Linden, and Bill of Geneseeville; two daughters, Wanda and husband Ray Love of Beaverton, and Donna Ramsay of Burton; 13 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Marvin in 1958; four brothers; and three sisters.
Services were held at 3 p.m. Monday at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Edenville with Rev. Father Todd Arnberg officiating. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Davison.
Hall Funeral Home, Gladwin, was in charge of the arrangements.
Rev. Aeron Davies, 63, of Columbus, Ohio, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000. He was born May 29, 1936 in Wales, Great Britain,
Aeron was ordained as a Presbyterian minister with over 30 years of service. He formerly served St. David's Presbyterian Church in Ontario, Canada; Westminister Presbyterian Church in Chicago, Ill.; The Presbyterian Church of Beaverton; and The Presbyterian Church of Carrollton, Ohio.
He was a member of Lodge #2 F & AM, Ontario, Canada, and a lifetime member of the National Gymanfa Ganu.
Surviving are one daughter, Amie and husband Jim McMonagle of Columbus, Ohio; one son, Aeron Elwyn of Columbus, Ohio; two brothers, John, and Rev. Geoffrey, both of Wales. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Ellen Davies, and one sister, Marjorie Davies.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) at Schoedinger Worthington Chapel, Columbus, Ohio.
Interment will be at a later date.
Rev. Alton Lewis Brewer Sr., 72, went home to be with the Lord Jesus Christ, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2000 following a long illness.
Born March 27, 1927 in Ann Arbor, he was the son of William E. and Lenora (Lewis) Brewer. They moved to Beaverton in 1934.
He attended Beaverton schools and worked at The Dow Chemical Company before entering the ministry in 1969. In addition to pastoring congregations in Hale and Glennie, he traveled through Kentucky and Virginia, ministering as an evangelist, and worked as a heavy equipment operator during the summers for the State of Michigan at Camp Grayling before retiring due to failing health.
Surviving are his wife of 50 years, Patsy (nee Searson); three daughters, Violet and husband Dan Moore, Laura Jean and husband Bob Plude, and Cindy and husband Don Hannah, all of Beaverton; one son, Alton Jr. of Beaverton; one brother, Clarence of Whitmore Lake; one sister, Lucille Mortensen of Big Rapids; 11 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Jane in 1955; five brothers, Othie, Raleigh, Ferdie, Lodell and Ivo; and three sisters, Thelma, Gladys, and Bernice.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Wednesday) at the Beaverton Church of God with Rev. Elwyn MacDonald of the Beaverton Church of God officiating and the eulogy by Rev. Frank Enboden of the West Branch Assembly of God Church.
Donations may be made to the Gideons or the Gladwin County Hospice.
Hall Funeral Home, Beaverton Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.
Donald H. (Don) Behnke, 68, died Monday, Jan. 3, 2000 at the University of Michigan Hospital, following a lengthy illness.
Born Feb. 9, 1931 in Gladwin, he was the son of Clarence and Mae (Kimball) Behnke. He graduated from Gladwin High School and spent his entire working years in the construction business.
During this time, he owned and operated several construction companies, the last company being the Redford Steel Company. Everyone who worked with Don knew him as a very creative and hard working person.
Surviving are his wife, Dianne of Plymouth; one son, Fred of Big Lake, Alaska; one daughter, Wanda and; two granddaughters, Brandy and Autumn Mae, all of Detroit; two stepsons, Donald and wife Brenda Fassett and their children, Tim, Sherry, and Jennifer of Detroit; Gregory and wife Teresa Fassett and their children, Gregory and Brian of California; his father, Clarence Behnke of Gladwin; one brother, Richard and sister-in-law, Jean Behnke, of Gladwin; two brothers-in-law, Charles and wife Cora Lee Cassiday of Clare, and Arnold and wife Mary Cassiday and father and mother-in-law, Lloyd and Delores Cassiday, all of California; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Mae (Kimball) Behnke, April 30, 1988.
A Mass of Christian burial was held at 6 p.m. Friday by Father Jack at St. John Newman Catholic Church in Plymouth.
Memorials can be given to the family or to the donor's choice.
