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Catherine Sorenson
Catherine “Grandma Kay” Sorenson, 67, of Charlotte, died Sunday, May 12, 2002 at the Eaton County Medical Care Facility after a long illness.
She was born Nov. 24, 1934 in Grand Rapids, the daughter of William and Donna Gene (Kaiser) Jensen and had been a Charlotte resident since 1974. She was raised by foster parents, Jerry and Kathleen Hammond, and was a retired school teacher and librarian in the Lansing School District, retiring in 1997 after 22 years of service. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, Charlotte Lions Club, Charlotte Kiwanis Club, Eaton Area Senior Center Board of Directors, Eaton County Writer’s Forum, Charlotte District Library Advisory Board and Charlotte Storytellers Group. She was a reader for the Radio Talking Book at WKAR Radio and tutored in reading at the Eaton County Juvenile Detention Center.
She is survived by one daughter, Karla Rae (Sean) Duffey of Rives Junction; one son, Kirk (Gilda) Sorenson of Grand Rapids; grandchildren, Shannon Duffey, Heather Downey, Paul Downey, Cole Sorenson and Emma Sorenson; two sisters, Barbara (Michael) Risco of Lowell and Mary Sue Kellum of Jacksonville, N.C.; and brother, Floyd Pontius of Bradenton, Fla.
She was preceded in death by daughter, Kimberly Kay Downey on Dec. 26, 1997, and a brother, William Jensen.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial mass was held May 17 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte, with Rev. Fr. Denis Spitzley officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to SIREN/Eaton Shelter in Charlotte. Arrangements were by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home in Charlotte.
Della M. Stanke
Della M. (Fisher) Stanke, 80, of Charlotte, died Thursday, April 18, 2002 after a long illness.
Mrs. Stanke was born Sept. 16, 1921 in Nashville, the daughter of William and Nellie (Bartholomew) Fisher and lived most of her life in Charlotte. She was a secretary, having worked in the Public Work Department for the city of Charlotte, with 25 years of service.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Donald Stanke; three daughters, Suzanne (James) Marry and Suzette (Rod) Weaver, both of Charlotte, and Sandi (David) Dickerman of Everett, Wash.; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two brothers and two sisters.
Graveside services were held April 22 at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte, with Charles Jenson officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Arrangements were by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home in Charlotte.
Delores Y. Stanton
Delores Yvonne Stanton, 62, of Charlotte, died Aug. 12, 2002.
She was born March 2, 1940 in Charlotte, the daughter of Leonard and Betty (Beals) Gitchell. She loved music and enjoyed playing the guitar and organ. She raised two of her grandchildren, Andrea and Mia Williams.
She is survived by her 15-year companion, James Haley of Charlotte; sons, Daniel Griffin and David (Jane) Griffin, both of Portsmouth, Va.; daughters, Deanna (Phillip) Hebenstreit of Olivet, Darlene Griffin of Hastings, Dawn (Jerome) Howlett of Charlotte and Ariane (Daniel) St. Johns of Grand Rapids; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Aug. 15 at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Rev. William Sullivan officiating. Interment was at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or American Diabetes Association.
Florence E. Steinke
Florence E. Steinke, 89, of Charlotte, formerly of Big Rapids, passed away Tuesday, March 12, 2002.
Mrs. Steinke was born June 28, 1912 in Big Rapids, the daughter of Herman and Minnie (Goltz) Keitzmann. She attended St. Peter’s Lutheran School and graduated from Big Rapids High School in 1930. On Nov. 15, 1931, she married Walter Steinke, who survives as her husband of over 70 years. She was nearly a life-long member of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.
She is survived by her husband; two sons, Bill (Jane) of Olivet and Ron (Peggy) of Saline; 14 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Janice; son, Philip; three brothers and four sisters.
Funeral services were held March 15 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Big Rapids, with Rev. Timothy Olson officiating. Interment will be at Highland View Cemetery in the spring.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 408 W. Bellevue, Big Rapids, MI 49307. Arrangements were by Rogers-Mohnke Funeral Home in Big Rapids.
Merlin Stevens
Merlin D. Stevens, 91, of Sun City, Ariz. died June 18, 2002. He was born Feb. 11, 1910 in Vermontville.
He graduated from Charlotte High School in 1930. He was a lifelong resident of Charlotte, and owned a farm on Valley Highway.
He is survived by his wife, Martha (Ransom) Stevens, son Richard (Evelyn) of Ellicot City, Maryland and grandson Richard, and two sisters, Irma Beard of Battle Creek and Eloise Thompson of Charlotte.
Cremation has taken place.
Clare E. Steward
Clare Ellwyn Steward, 80, of Charlotte, died Thursday, April 11, 2002.
Mr. Steward was born Dec. 3, 1921 in Ionia County, Sebawa Township, the son of Charles and Edna (Blood) Steward. He was a truck driver for over 30 years, working 25 years for Howard Sober and five years for Fleet Carrier. Mr. Steward enjoyed playing cards, bowling, cribbage, and collecting John Deere tractors, and miniature trucks and tractors. He attended Sunfield United Brethren Church.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Audrey (Satterly) Steward; son, Lester (Linda) of Charlotte; daughters, Nina Mae (Raymond) Glasscock of Florida and Gayla (Albert) Kienutske of Nashville; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; sister, Francis (David) Fast of Hutchison, Kansas; and brother, Wayne (Mary Jean) Steward of Sunfield.
He was preceded in death by brother, Mercade, and sister, Irene Foltz.
Funeral services were held April 15 at Sunfield United Brethren Church, with Pastors Mark Ralph and Darrel Bosworth officiating.
Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home of Charlotte.
Thomas James Swan
Thomas J. Swan, age 44 of Eaton Rapids, died Wednesday, April 24, 2002 at his residence. He was born October 25, 1957 in Charlotte, the son of James and Shirley (Bruce) Swan. Tom was the Purchasing Director for the past 13 years for the Cooley Law School in Lansing. He was a former girls soccer coach for many years, for A.Y.S.O. and U.S.S.F. leagues in Eaton Rapids and enjoyed hunting.
Surviving are his wife of 16 years, Beckie; 2 daughters, Sara and Rachel both at home; parents, Shirley Swan of Eaton Rapids, and James (June) Swan of Eaton Rapids; sisters, Roxann (Thomas) Smith of Eaton Rapids and Tami (Rodney) Hector of Eaton Rapids; several nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services were held Saturday, April 27, 2002 from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids with Pastor Marty DeBow of Robbins United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial followed in the Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. Pallbearers were Rod Hector, Tom Smith, Ken Kipp, Ron Kipp, Dan Meaney and Larry Cornation. For those desiring, a memorial gift may be made to Ely’s Place at 600 W. St. Joseph, Ste. 1G, Lansing, MI 48933, in memory of Thomas J. Swan.
Bonita Swick
Bonita A. Swick, 88, a long-time resident of Battle Creek, formerly of Nashville, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2002 at Mercy Pavilion in Battle Creek.
She was born in Vermontville, one of seven children of Edna (Cole) Strow and Cleve Strow. She retired from the Federal Center in Battle Creek and clerked at Ruby’s Dress Shop. She had one son who lived only hours after birth.
She is survived by sisters, Midge (Strow) Ostrem of Battle Creek and Marcy (Strow) Rehor of Flagler Beach, Fla.; sister-in-law, Patricia Strow of Grand Rapids; and 14 nieces and nephews.
Services were held Sept. 21 at Lakeview Cemetery in Nashville, with Pastor Kenneth Vaught officiating.
Arrangements were by Maple Valley Chapel in Nashville.
