Search Archived Marriage Records
Charles “Charlie” M. VanAken
Charles “Charlie” M. VanAken, age 80, passed away June 2,2 008, in Charlotte. Charlie was born March 5, 1928 in Eaton Rapids, MI, the son of Herbert M. and Eva M. (Bunker) VanAken.
He was active in the Eaton Rapids area his entire life, serving on the Eaton Rapids Hospital Board, the Eaton Rapids School Board, formerly a member of Eaton Rapids Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs. Charlie was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was a graduate of both Eaton Rapids High School and Michigan State Agricultural College. Charlie served his country proudly in the Army at the end of WWII. He was retired from farming and real estate sales. Charlie and Barb enjoyed their winters in Largo, FL where he spent many hours on the tennis court with his friends, winning several tournaments. He was also a master gardener – a true champion with the hoe. He was preceded in death by his parents, and step-mother, Eva (Haskell) VanAken; also his sister-in-law, Barbara VanAken; brothers-in-law, Jerry Cowen, Claude Bonta, and Merlin Spitsbergen.
Charlie is survived by his wife since August of 1967, Barbara; children, Sandra (Jeffrey) Allison, Mary Beth Daley, Jane (Rick) Snider, Thom VanAken, and Todd (Diane) VanAken, all of Eaton Rapids; 9 grandchildren, Sara & Erin Allison, Charles & Christopher Daley, Alex & Rachel VanAken, Anna Hodges, Samantha & Madison Snider; 2 brothers, Herbert K. VanAken of Eaton Rapids, John (Adrienne) VanAken of CA; 4 sisters, Eline Cowen, Alice Bonta, both of Okemos, Dorothy Spitsbergen of Oakland, Ruth Ann (Jamie) Abbott of Canada; and several nieces & nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, June 6, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church, Eaton Rapids, with interment following at Deepdale Cemetery, Lansing. The family will receive friends and family on Wednesday, June 4, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and Thursday, June 7, from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Eaton Rapids First United Methodist Church or Eaton Community Hospice in memory of Charles VanAken..
Mary VanAntwerp
Mary Margaret (Roper) VanAntwerp, of Grand Ledge, formerly of Sunfield, died peacefully Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008 at the age of 84. She was born on Aug. 18, 1923 in Springfield, MO to Wilbur and Esther Roper.
Mary grew up in Springfield and married Frederick A. VanAntwerp there in 1942. Following WWII, they moved to Sunfield, where they raised their family.
Mary worked in both Springfield and Sunfield as a telephone operator, retiring when Sunfield was one of the last Michigan phone companies to become automated. She was an excellent cook and loved to crochet and travel with Fred. Her great joy was her family, who will carry the memory of her love and warmth and her great joy in the roles of mother and grandmother. Fred and Mary moved to Serenity Place in Grand Ledge in 1989, and she leaves many friends there who will remember her enthusiasm for organizing events and playing euchre.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband in 1997; brother, Raymond; sisters, Ellen, Lila Mae, and Joann; and special friend, Angus Berry in 2007.
Surviving are her sons, F. Allen and Marilyn VanAntwerp of Laingsburg and Chris and Jill VanAntwerp of Grand Rapids; daughter, Louann and Ed Woodman of Eaton Rapids; six grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and sister, Nancy and Paul Schorr of Clovis, CA.
The family thanks Rosier Funeral Home for their kind arrangements and suggests memorial contributions to the Sponsors of Programs for Youth Scholarship Fund a.k.a. S.P.Y.'s C/O RFH PO Box 36 Sunfield, MI 48890.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 at the Rosier Funeral Home, Mapes-Fisher Chapel, Sunfield.
Express your thoughts and memories in the online Guest Book at www.legacy.com.
The family is being served by the Independent Family Owned Funeral Home in Sunfield: Rosier Funeral Home.
Keith Vedder
Keith F. Vedder, 75, of Mulliken, formerly of Charlotte, died Wednesday evening, Oct. 1, 2008 at the family homestead. He was born April 25, 1933 in Roxand Township, a son of Edward J. and Lula M. (Winters) Vedder. Keith was a member of South Church, was a former Cub Scout leader, worked with Civil Defense, was a former youth group leader at Needmore Church and retired from Eaton County Road Commission as permit director and weight master.
He was preceded in death by his great grandson, Toby Livingston and 12 brothers and sisters.
Surviving are his wife of 53 years, Roberta; four children, Bryant (Brenda) Vedder and Dwayne (Robin) Vedder, both of Charlotte, Paula (Rick) McCloy of Vermontville and Martin (Theresa) Vedder of Charlotte; 11 grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Services were held Saturday, Oct. 4 at Burkhead-Green Funeral Home in Charlotte with Pastor Marc Livingston officiating. Interment was in Meadowbrook Cemetery in Mulliken.
Pallbearers were Jason Halliwill, John Livingston, Aaron McCloy, Spencer Sattler, Eric Vedder and Justin Vedder. Honorary bearers were Daniel Fast, Rod Vedder and Kendall Viele.
Katherine Velandra
Katherine “Kate” J. Velandra (Kuchenbrod), 69, of Potterville, formerly of Imlay City, passed away peacefully at her home on Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008 at 12:29 p.m.
Kate is preceded in death by her loving parents, Daniel A. and Myrtle J. Kuchenbrod of Center Line and sister, Thelma Jean Buck also of Center Line.
She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Raymond; four children, Terry Velandra of Traverse City, Jeffery (Beth) Velandra of Tennessee, Tracy Velandra of Center Line and Janel (James) Kretschman of Potterville and six adored grandchildren; two brothers, Daniel (Sandra) Kuchenbrod and Clifford (Cathy) Kuchenbrod and two sisters, Ruth Bensinger and Naomi Paul.
There will be no services at this time.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Ruth Wagner
Ruth Ann Wagner, 54, of Charlotte, passed away Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008, in Lansing. She was born May 16, 1954 in Lansing, a daughter of James and Joyce (Jones) Wagner.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Joyce, and two brothers, Ricky and Chris.
Surviving are her daughter, Joy Ann (Brian) Michael of Lansing; father, James Wagner of Eaton Rapids; and brother, Jimmy Wagner of Eaton Rapids.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Arrangements by Field & Leik Funeral Home, Dimondale.
Danny Walker
Danny Ray Walker, 60, of Eaton Rapids, passed away Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008 in Eaton Rapids. Danny was born March 3, 1948 in St. Johns, the son of Clifford and Irene (Hewitt) Walker.
He was a security guard in the Florida area.
Danny is survived by one daughter, Karina Beals of Eaton Rapids; one son, Dennis (Mellissa) Stillwagon of Lansing; five grandchildren, Timothy Johnston, Stephen Beals, Kamron Pulido, Destiny and Savannah Stillwagon; father, Clifford (Carole) Walker of Ballwin, Mo.; brother, Gary (Linda) Walker of Ariz.; sister, Linda (Chuck) Kalka of Saranac; step-children, Richard Jensen, Marland Jenson, and Linda Jenson, all of Ark.; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services were held Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008 at the Eaton Rapids Assembly of God Church, Eaton Rapids.
Arrangements were by the Shell-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids.
William Walker
William R. Walker, 91, of Charlotte, died Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 at the Eaton County Medical Care Facility. Mr. Walker was born Jan. 11, 1917 in Lansing, the son of Sam and Dani (Johnson) Walker.
Mr. Walker was a truck driver for the City of Lansing. He served for six years in the United States Army as a decorated soldier during World War II in the South Pacific. He was a member of VFW post 8260 in Nashville, MI, and had owned Shirley's Restaurant in Charlotte. As his granddaughter, Karen Thompson (and her daughter, Bonnie Kay) faithfully cared for their grandfather. Paul Thompson was also an important part of his life.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Martha, whom he loved very much. He and Martha had renewed their marriage vows on his birthday.
He is survived by many other grandchildren, and cousins, Mary Kennedy and Becky Stevick.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Robert Clinton officiating. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Vermontville.
If desired, memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton County Medical Care Facility Activities Department.
Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Nathan Walters
Nathan Phillip Walters, 30, of Eaton Rapids passed away in his sleep Friday morning, April 4, 2008. He had been battling pneumonia. Nathan was born January 20, 1978 in Wayne County, the son of James and Victoria Walters of Eaton Rapids, and is the father of Sean Murphy Walters of St. Augustine, Fla.
Nathan grew up in Carrolton, Saginaw County. He and his parents moved to Clay County, Florida in 1994, where he graduated from Clay High School in 1996 and, later, from St. Johns River Community College. He worked as an independent drywaller in Florida for six years, followed by Westridge Homes in Lansing, and currently was employed at Johnson's Workbench in Charlotte.
Nathan was preceded in death by his grandfather, Gene Walters; step-grandmother, Glenadean, and step-grandfather, Ted Dollarhite.
Nathan is survived by his parents; his son; brother, Jonathan (Amy) Walters of Montgomery, Ill. and their children, Jack, Hailey and Caitlin; grandparents, Wallace and Leona Spaulding of Lansing, Beverly Dollarhite of Lansing; uncle, Roger (Sue) Spaulding of Shaftsburg and children, Josh and Andy; Gary Walters of Charlotte and son, Sam; aunts, Debbie of Harrison, Connie Walters of Lansing, Carol (deceased) (Sean) Pulver and their son, Sean; and special friend, Cori Stevens of Olivet.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 9 at the First Baptist Church, Eaton Rapids, with Pastor Scott Boles officiating. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the Sean M. Walters Education Fund, c/o C.P.C.U., 1515 S. Main, Eaton Rapids, in memory of Nathan Walters.
