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Verle Stall
Verle Stall, 92, of Charlotte, died June 27, 2001 at Marshall.
Mr. Stall was born Sept. 9, 1908 in Chester Township, the son of Clyde and Grace (Simpson) Stall. He owned and operated his own farm, and was a member and former board member of Eaton County Farm Bureau, formerly on the Eaton County Board of Commissioners and the Chester Township Board of Review, and was a member and former trustee of Gresham United Methodist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Dorathea; son, Douglas (Evelyn) Stall of Charlotte; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, five step-great-grandchildren and nine step-great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Nelson Stall of Charlotte. Funeral services were held June 30 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Rev. Jeffrey Bowman officiating. Interment was at Gresham Cemetery, Charlotte. Arrangements were by Pray Funeral Home, Inc., Charlotte.
William J. Steele
William J. Steele, age 80 of Eaton Rapids, died Tuesday, April 17, 2001 at his residence. He was born July 4, 1920 in Onondaga Township, the son of Cyril and Climena (Strang) Steele. Bill served in the Army during World War II, he was a retired Driver/Machinist for Goodnoe Tool Products in Eaton Rapids. Preceding him in death was a daughter, Versavene Steele; 3 brothers, Basil, Harold and Robert Steele; 1 sister, Viola Peck.
Surviving are his wife of 59 years, Mary B. “Squeak” Steele; 5 children, Vickie (Conner) Strader of Eaton Rapids, Cyril Steele and friend Julie of Eaton Rapids, William (Betty) Steele of Eaton Rapids, Gordon Steele of Jackson, and Allen (Linda) Steele of Eaton Rapids; 18 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; brother, John Steele of Onondaga; 2 sisters, Arlene Clarke and Marion Slusser both of Eaton Rapids; sisters-in-law, Reva Steele, Bethel Steele and Marvel Mae Steele; brother-in-law, Harland Peck; several nieces and nephews and cousins.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 20th, from the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids with the Rev. Stephen Klink of the Community Christian Church officiating. Burial followed in the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Lansing. For those desiring, a memorial contribution may be made to either the American Diabetes Association or the American Cancer Society in memory of William J. Steele.
Ernest R. Sterzick
Ernest R. Sterzick, 96, of Potterville, passed away Feb. 21, 2001, in Charlotte.
Mr. Sterzick was a retired employee of B.O.C. after 30 years of service. He was a member of the Charlotte Church of the Nazarene and former member of the Grand Ledge Church of the Nazarene, where he was past Sunday school supervisor and singer.
He is survived by his daughter, Linda (Robert) Studt of Potterville; sisters-in-law; Margery Twinning of Hudsonville and Mary Mellish of Lapeer; three grandchildren and four great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hulda (Twining), in 1996. Funereal services were held Feb. 24 at the Charlotte Church of the Nazarene, with Rev. Glen Neal officiating. Interment was at Benton Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Charlotte Church of the Nazarene “Church Growth Fund.”
Bernard F. (Bud) Stevens
Bernard F. (Bud) Stevens, age 85 of Eaton Rapids and formerly a longtime Rice Creek resident, died at St. Lawrence Dimondale Center October 3, 2001. Mr. Stevens was born March 10,1916, in Springport to Clare and Edna (Gauss) Stevens. He graduated fro, Springport High School. He lived in Rice Creek for many years, until moving to Eaton Rapids in 1994. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II. Mr. Stevens retired from Bostick Corporation in Marshall. He formerly had worked for Corning Glass in Marshall, and also had farmed, painted barns, and worked at the local auto dealerships in their body shops where he was responsible for much of the painting. Out of high school, he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps, working at the Roscommon County Camp. He was married on March 2, 1935 in Constantine to Jean L. Vanvoorhees. She preceded him in death on November 21,1984. Mr. Stevens married Ruth M. Blake Hyatt on March 10, 1994 in Bradenton FL. He was a longtime member of Marshall Moose Lodge No. 676. He was a talented dancer. He loved to fish, and had also hunted for many years. He enjoyed winters in Florida.
Surviving are his wife Ruth; a son, Clair (Nyla) Stevens; a daughter, Carol (Gilbert) Weaver of Albion; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; tow step-sons, Norman (Pat) Hyatt of Eaton Rapids and Richard (Jenny) Hyatt of Punta Gorda, Fl.; a step-daughter, Janet (James) Davidson of Richmond, IN; four step-grandchildren; three sisters, Barbara (Dixon) Voorhees and Peggy Stevens all of Rogue River, Or; and June Raymer of Springport; and nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by a son, Gordon Stevens, in infancy.
Funeral services celebrating his life were held on October 5th at Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home in Marshall with the Rev. David D’Arcy of Eaton Rapids First Congregational Church officiating. Clair Stevens, Ron Hisler, Gary Baklund, and Craig Kempf served as pallbearers. Interment was in Rice Creek Cemetery. Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to Mooseheart. Assistance with memorials is available at Kempf Funeral Home.
Wendell R. Strank
Wendell R. Strank, age 80 of Eaton Rapids, died Thursday, May 3, 2001 at his residence. He was born August 27, 1920 in Aurelius Township, the son of Herbert and Gladys (Markley) Strank. Wendell was an Eaton Rapids High School Graduate, Class of 1938. He retired from Lindell Drop Forge in Lansing and Farming. He was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara; grandchildren, Wayne and Wendy Strank; brother, Harold Strank; sister, Eleanor Damren.
Surviving are 3 sons, Gary (Carol) Strank of Iowa City, Iowa, David (Gail) Strank of Eaton Rapids, and Barry Strank of Eaton Rapids; 6 grandchildren, Rebecca, Shannon, Daniel (Danielle), Alicia, Laura, and Peter Strank; several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held on Monday, May 7, 2001 at the Plains Cemetery in Rural Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, memorials contributions may be made to the Ingham Hospice in memory of Wendell Strank.
A. Roberta Strouse
A. Roberta “Bert” Strouse, age 81 of Onondaga, died Sunday morning, July 29, 2001, at her home of cancer. Mrs. Strouse was born on October 25, 1919 to Guy and Mae (Smith) Leach. She was preceded in death by both of her parents; her husband, Anthony; two brothers, Melving and Eugene Leach and one sister, Dorothy Haag. Mrs. Strouse worked in factories during World War II until her husband returned home from the war, and continued working while he was being treated at V.A. hospitals. In 1951 they moved to Michigan. She then worked as a waitress, sales person, and also at John Henry and Diamond Rio. In 1955 the family moved to a gas station-restaurant on the corner of Holt Road and M-99, just east of Dimondale. They continued in that business for about thirty years until the State Highway Department constructed the four lanes, creating the divided highway that is there now. After this, they moved into an apartment built on the Dedafoe home by their son-in-law to stay close to their family near Onondaga.
Surviving are her only daughter, Nancy (Ronald) Dedafoe; two granddaughters, Dawn Dedafoe of Onondaga and Amy Dedafoe of Dummin, GA; five sisters, Lois McGowin and Beatrice (Donald) Marshall, both of Reynoldsville, PA, Phyllis (William) Utzinger and Donna Ellenberger, both of DuBois, PA, and Sandra (Norman) Hatten of Grampian, PA; one brother, Vernon (Doris) Leach of Luthersburg, PA and many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Strouse’s wish was for no viewing of funeral. A private family graveside service was held July 31, 2001 at Greenwood Cemetery near her home. Arrangements were handled by Field & Leik Funeral Home, Dimondale. The family would like to thank the Tri-County Area Agency on Aging for their help and guidance, the Ingham Hospice for all their help and support and “Friends who Care,” and also for friends and neighbors who gracefully gave of their time to make things go smoother.
Ralph J. Sullivan
Ralph James Sullivan, 83, of Charlotte, died May 5, 2001.
Mr. Sullivan was born Feb. 21, 1918 in Mason City, Iowa, the son of James Sullivan and Rose Smith Sullivan.
He is survived by sons, Donald (Molly) of Houston, Texas, and Larry (Kathryn) of Toledo, Ohio; daughter-in-law, Myrna of Charlotte; sister, Gertrude; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Eldora in 1996; and son, Philip in 1994.
Funeral services were held May 8 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, with Rev. Arthur Salisbury officiating. Interment was at Maple Hill Cemetery, Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association, or the American Lung Association; envelopes are available at the funeral home. Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Inc.
Rev. Carl Sundermeyer
Rev. Carl Sundermeyer, age 56 of Dimondale, formerly of Eaton Rapids, died Sunday, July 29,2001 in Lansing. Carl was born July 22, 1945 in Detroit, the son of Herbert and Margaret (Hatch) Sundermyer. Rev. Sundermeyer was the Co-Pastor of the Mayflower Congregational Church in Lansing and the former Pastor of the First Congregational Church in Eaton Rapids and a state Moderator for the Michigan Conference for the CCC. He was a member of the Dimondale Lions Club and the Eaton Rapids Masonic Lodge #63 F&AM. Carl served in the U.S. Navy where he participated in the Bay of Pigs and was stationed with the John F. Kennedy family during his tour of duty. He was a member of the VFW and the American Legion. Carl was a former police officer with the Detroit Police Department.
Carl was the loving husband for 13 years to his surviving wife, Kathleen; also surviving are his daughter, Susan Hope Dundas of Ann Arbor; son, James David Dundas of Austin, Texas; 2 sisters, twin sisters Carol (Doug) Birnbaum of Milford and Janet (Tom) Majares of Texas.
A funeral service will be held on Thursday, August 2, 2001, 11:00 a.m. at the Mayflower Congregational Church, 2901 W. Mt. Hope Ave. Lansing, with Rev. David Bandfield officiating. The family will receive friends on Tuesday and Wednesday from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. with a Masonic Service on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Shelly-Odell Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids. Those desiring may make a contribution to either the Mayflower Congregational Church of Mid-Michigan Hospice House in memory of Carl Sundermeyer.
Frank B. Sutherland
Frank B. Sutherland, 86, of Potterville, died Saturday, Aug. 11, 2001 after an extended illness.
Mr. Sutherland was born June 28, 1915 in Lansing, the son of Floyd and Lenora (Rose) Sutherland, and had been a Potterville/ Windsor Township area resident for 56 years, coming from Lansing. He was employed by General Motors in Lansing, retiring in 1979 after 29 ½ years of services, and was an avid bowler and golfer.
He is survived by his wife, Doris (Criss) Sutherland; three sons, William (Charlene) Sutherland of Charlotte, Dick (Janet) Sutherland of Coldwater and Bradford Sutherland of Grand Rapids; one daughter, Dorene (James) Woolworth of Mecosta; 12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter; and a sister, Peggy Shier of Lansing. Memorial donations may be made to Hayes Green Beach Hospital for a proposed kidney dialysis unit. Arrangements were by Burkhead-Green Funeral Home, Charlotte.
