Gladwin County, Michigan obits:
Reynold "Ray" I. Manges, 71, of Beaverton, died Monday, Jan. 24, 2000 at MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland following a short illness.
Born Sept. 8, 1928 in Averill, he lived in Gladwin County 33 years.
Reynold married Diana (Chisholm), Dec. 30, 1966 in Rhodes. He was an auto mechanic at AC Graham Motors in Midland, retiring in 1978 after over 30 years.
He did some farming and most recently spent his time watching the deer and turkeys on his property. Ray especially enjoyed the migrating ducks and geese that made his pond their temporary home every spring and fall.
He was a member of Wildlife Forever, North American Hunting Club, and the National Rifle Association.
Besides his wife he is survived by one daughter, Angela and husband William Bailey of Rhodes; three sons, Gary and wife Debi of Gladwin, Kim and special friend Trudy Meddaugh of Clare, and Ray and wife Amy of Beaverton; one daughter-in-law, Rhonda Manges of Midland; one brother, Bernard of Hope; four sisters, Marge Cundiff, Elaine Marquiss, Karen Rolley, and Shirley Horning, all of Hope; 14 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Michael in 1983; and one brother, Leonard.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Hall Funeral Home, Gladwin Chapel, with Pastor Connie Mercer officiating. Visitation will be today (Wednesday) 5 to 9 p.m. and tomorrow (Thursday, noon until 9 p.m. at the Hall Funeral Home, Gladwin Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wildlife Forever or the donor's favorite charity.
Ruby Faye Radtz, 61, of Harrison, died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2000 at Gratiot Community Hospital in Alma.
Born July 16, 1938 in Detroit, she was the daughter of Oliver L. and Blanche (Corlew) Girard. She lived in Clare County since 1968, moving from Montrose.
Ruby married Fred M. Radtz, July 24, 1956 in Angola, Ind. He preceded her in death in 1988.
She was a past member of the Women of the Moose, Chapter 1804, Harrison.
Surviving are her children and stepchildren, six daughters, Lee and husband Randall Madison of Saginaw, Luella and husband Scott Goddard, and Billy Jo Radtz, all of Holland, Wanda Downs of Breckenridge, Barb and husband James Saxton of Alice, Texas, and Terri and husband Larry Townsend of Gladwin; three sons, Melvin of McKenzie, Tenn., Berry and wife Carolyn of Harrison, and Tony of Grand Rapids; 20 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; three daughters, Wanda Snow, and Debra and Erma Radtz; and three sisters, Erma, Nellie, and Gladys.
Services were held at 1 p.m. Friday from Stocking Funeral Home in Harrison with Pastor Tim Quinn officiating. Burial was in Hamilton Township Cemetery in Harrison.
Memorials may be made to the American Kidney Foundation.
Joseph W. Wagar, 82, of Loveland, Colo., died Monday, Jan. 17, 2000 at McKee Medical Center.
Born Oct. 9, 1917 in Saginaw, he was the son of Edgerton and Genevieve (Sisco) Wagar. He lived in Gladwin for eight years, Saginaw for 14 years, in Albion for four years, in Flint for 20 years, and in Clio for 20 years and lived in Loveland, Colo. since September 1990.
Joseph married Berta Anderson, April 6, 1950 in Ferndale. He graduated from Albion College and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
He served in the Army during World War II, attaining the rank of Master Sgt. He worked as a reporter for the Flint Journal in Flint, covering the police news for 34 years, retiring in 1983.
Joseph enjoyed reading, listening to music (especially jazz), studying history, and doing crossword puzzles. He was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Loveland, Colo..
Besides his wife he is survived by two sons, Timothy of San Francisco, Calif., and Matthew and wife Judy of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; two daughters, Ann Wagar of New York, N. Y., and Catherine and husband John Parker of New Orleans, La.; one sister, Thelma Anderson of Macomb, Ill.; and two grandchildren, Zachary and Genevieve Wagar of Loveland, Colo.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Jane Wagar; and one brother, Richard Wagar.
A memorial service was held at 11 a.m. Thursday at All Saints Episcopal Church in Loveland with Rev. Sathi Bunyan and Rev. Rick Veit officiating. Memorials may be made to the All Saints Episcopal Church in care of Allnutt Hunter Chapel, 2100 N. Lincoln Ave., Loveland, Colo. 80538.
Allnutt Hunter Chapel in Loveland, Colo. was in charge of the arrangements.
Bernice A. Martz, 74, of Gladwin, died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2000 at MidMichigan Medical Center-Gladwin following a short illness.
Born Aug. 18, 1925 in Munising, she lived in Clare County since 1967 and previously lived in Mt. Clemens.
Bernice married Charles Martz, June 13, 1945 in Munising. She was a homemaker.
Besides her husband she is survived by one daughter, Pam and husband Tom Alward of Gladwin; three sons, Stephen and wife Judy of Macomb, Michael and wife Kim of Holly, and Kevin and wife Jaye of Lafayette, Calif.; two brothers, Stanley Kusmirek of Munising, and Edward Kusmirek of Renton, Wash.; one sister, Rosie Peters of Munising; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by one grandson, Dale Martz; and her parents.
Cremation has taken place. Hall Funeral Home Gladwin and Beaverton, was in charge of the arrangements.
Charles T. Ramer, 79, of Beaverton, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000 at Saint Mary's Medical Center in Saginaw following a short illness.
Born March 20, 1920 in Wabash, Ind., he lived in Gladwin County since 1972 and previously lived in Midland.
Charles married his wife, Roberta, Oct. 27, 1951 in Ft. Wayne, Ind. He worked as a salesman for F. Yaeger Bridge in Port Huron, retiring in 1973 after 16 years.
He belonged to the Midland Masonic Lodge #273A&FM.
Besides his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Karen and husband James Cooper of Sanford; three sons, Steve and wife LuAnn of Saginaw, William A. and wife Janice, and Mark, all of Beaverton; one sister, Reba Hensley of Indianapolis, Ind.; one brother, Clifford of Ft. Wayne, Ind.; seven grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Carl; and one sister, Pearl.
Services were held at 1 p.m. Monday at Hall Funeral Home, Beaverton Chapel, with Rev. Arthur Munger officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Louis W. (Pete) Slater, 90, of Gladwin, died suddenly Friday, Jan. 28, 2000 at Wilson Memorial Hospital in Floresville, Texas.
Born Feb. 1, 1909, in Clare County, he was a lifetime resident of Gladwin County.
Louis married Hazel R. (Cotton) in 1927 in Toledo, Ohio. She preceded him in death Oct. 3, 1991. He was self-employed as a farmer and was a member of the I.O.O.F. in Clare.
Surviving are three sons, Ernest and wife Alice and James and wife Sandy, all of Clare, and Michael of Floresville, Texas; four daughters, Joan and husband James McCarthy of New Port Richey, Fla., Sue Mae and husband Donald Lloyd of Clare, Linda Skillman of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Connie and husband Frank Good of Midland; one sister, Marie Charles of Petoskey; 20 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by one son, Howard Louis, as an infant.
Services were held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Hall Funeral Home, Gladwin Chapel, with Pastor Brian Johnson officiating. Burial was in Cherry Grove Cemetery, Clare County. Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's favorite charity.
