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SHUMLA BASSITT
Milan
Shumla Bassitt, 87, of Milan died peacefully April 5, 2008, at University Living in Ann Arbor. She was born Nov. 11, 1920, in Lebanon to Hania and Sol Steffan.
She came to the United States as a young girl and on Jan. 5, 1941, married
Eli Bassitt. They were together 56 years until the love of her life died March 29, 1997.
Mrs. Bassitt, along with her husband, owned and operated Bassitt's store in Milan for more than 40 years. They were among the founders of Greater Milan Inc., members of the Marble Memorial United Methodist Church, the Milan Downtown Development Authhority and the Washtenaw Country Club.
Mrs. Bassit was also founder and charter member of the Milan Investment Club, a member of the Milan Woman's Club, Order of Eastern Star, the American Legion Auxiliary Post 268 of Milan and served as the first lady of Milan in 1978, when her husband was elected mayor.
Mrs. Bassitt had a passion for studying stocks, playing bridge and golfing. She was a vital part of Milan. She was a very vibrant and educated woman who was dedicated to her community and will be sorely missed.
Survivors include her son, David (Randy) Bassitt of Stillwater, Minn; her daughter, Stephanie (Gerald) Stanton of Frankenmuth; grandchildren, Lisa (Jon) DeLange, Jeffrey (Trisha) Stanton, Jennifer (Christopher) Burdette, great-grandchildren, Isabel and Eli Stanton, Joshua DeLange and Abigail Burdette; and a sister, Vivian (Marshall) Woods of Bethesda, Md.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a grandson David Bassitt.
A funeral will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Marble Memorial United Methodist Church in Milan. The Rev. Thomas Hart will officiate. Burial will follow at Marble Park cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Marble Memorial United Methodist Church, 8 Park St., Milan, MI 48160. Envelopes are also available at Ochalek-Stark Funeral Home in Milan.
JACK D. LESLIE
Saline
Jack D. Leslie, 73, of Saline died April 17, 2008, at his home in Saline. He was born April 7, 1935, in Waterloo, Iowa, the son of John and Margaret (Barr) Leslie.
On March 22, 1954, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he married
Joyce Nielsen and she survives.
Mr. Leslie was a sales executive for Hygrade Food Products, now Sara Lee Foods, for 30 years before retiring in 1993.
In addition to his wife, survivors include his sons, Jim (Marilyn) of Mentor, Ohio, Daniel (Nancy) of Cary, N.C., Jeff (Susan) of Clemmons, N.C., and Don (the late Wendy) of Urbandale, Iowa; daughter, Missy (Curt) Frantz of Cary, N.C.; 12 grandchildren; and two brothers; Jerry (Pat) and Bill (the late Cee) Leslie.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A memorial service was held April 21 at the First Presbyterian Church of Saline. The Rev. Judith Shipman officiated.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Great Sauk Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Envelopes are available at the church.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline.
ERMA VAN OEL
Saline
Erma Van Oel, 92, of Saline died April 19, 2008, and is now with the Lord. She was born April 20, 1916, in Germany to Albert and Mary (Glitze) Tusberg.
Mrs. Van Oel immigrated to the United States with her parents and sister, Betty, via Ellis Island in August 1922.
Mrs. Van Oel is survived by her son, Robert (Ruth) Van Oel of Saline, and daughter, Shirley Johns of Westland.
She is also survived by one brother, Richard Tusberg; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Van Oel accepted Jesus Christ as her savior Dec. 10, 1992, joined the Ann Arbor Baptist Church and was baptized by pastor Gary O. Hirth Feb. 7, 1993.
A funeral was held Wednesday at Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline.
SHIRLEY F. SHINE
Milan
Shirley F. Shine, 79, of Milan died April 21, 2008, at Arbor Hospice. She was born March 2, 1929, in Detroit to George and Della (Walding) Shine.
Ms. Shine graduated from Milan High School in 1946 and from the University of Michigan as a medical technician in 1950. She was employed with U of M and St. Joseph Mercy Hospital before becoming a blood specialist for the Michigan Community Blood Center in Grand Rapids, retiring in 1989.
Ms. Shine moved back to Milan after her retirement and was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, board member of the River Pointe Condo Association and served as a volunteer for Aid in Milan. She also was an avid reader and a U of M fan.
Ms. Shine is survived by a sister, Betty Smith of Milan; a brother-in-law, Bernard Reilly of Livonia; six nieces and nephews; nine great-nieces and -nephews; and three great-great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and twin sisters, Doris and Donna.
The family received friends Wednesday at Ochalek-Stark Funeral Home in Milan, where a rosary was recited. A memorial Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Thursday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Milan.
Burial of cremains will be held at a later date a St. Michael's cemetery in Port Austin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
LOWELL GLEASON
Milan
Lowell Gleason, 62, of Milan, formerly of Dexter, died June 25, 2008, from bone marrow cancer.
He was the beloved only brother of Valorie Gleason of Milan, Lee Ann Lofgren of Camden and Eloise Knight of Fowlerville.
Mr. Gleason retired from the University of Michigan and hoped to enjoy many more years to travel, golf, paint and ride his Harley motorcycle, which he considered precious.
Mr. Gleason shared many adventures with Gary, John, Doug, Tim and Carl, as well as other special friends who were close to his heart. He loved to laugh and have fun, and he lived life to its fullest.
We encourage those who knew him to tell tall tales and outrageous stories about him and remember all the good times.
Cremation has taken place. Mr. Gleason's ashes will be interred at Marble Park cemetery in Milan, next to his parents.
The family will host a celebration of his life in late July.
Special thanks to his brother-in-law, Thomas Knight, for all his love and support.
"Farewell Brother, we love and miss you."
Arrangements entrusted to Ochalek-Stark Funeral Service in Milan.
BRUCE M. FARMER
Saline
Formerly of Ypsilanti
Bruce M. Farmer, 48, of Saline, formerly of Ypsilanti, died June 27, 2008, at home. He was born Jan. 23, 1960, in Ypsilanti, the son of J.D. and Marna (Dawson) Farmer. On Dec. 14, 2007, he married
Lezlie Allison in Toledo, and she survives.
Mr. Farmer worked at American Soy Products in Saline and was a member of The M.R.C.A. Flying Club. He loved to hunt, fish and camp.
In addition to his wife, survivors include one daughter, Erin Farmer of Arizona; one son, Alex Farmer of Saline; four stepdaughters, Erin, Megan, Cecilia and Stephanie, all of Livonia; his parents, J.D. and Marna Farmer of Ypsilanti; one sister, Debbie (Sam) Argiero of Pinckney; one brother, Barry (Laura) Farmer of Imlay City; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service was held Wednesday at Forest Avenue Baptist Church in Ypsilanti. The Rev. Ronald G. Clark officiated.
Contributions in Mr. Farmer's memory may be made to either St. Joseph Mercy Hospice or Forest Avenue Baptist Church Building Fund. Envelopes are available at the church.
Arrangements were by Stark Funeral Service Moore Memorial Chapel.
PAUL LAVERN TULL
Saline
Paul Lavern Tull, publisher emeritus and founder of The Reporter Papers, died peacefully July 1, 2008, at the Saline Evangelical Home.
Mr. Tull was born March 24, 1917, in Detroit to Mary Thomas Tull, a piano teacher who also played for the silent movies, and Jerome Tull, who administered payroll for automotive pioneer Henry Ford.
From the time he started delivering The Detroit News at the age of 10, Mr. Tull had a passion for the news business. Using his red wagon, a bicycle and then a secondhand car, he grew his paper route to the point that when he graduated from Central High School, it was one of the largest in Detroit. Ever the entrepreneur, he then sold the route to finance his college education. In the meantime his father was delivering the weekly payroll -- in cash -- to Ford Motor Co. plants in outlying areas, including the small town of Saline.
After two years at Wayne State University, Mr. Tull transferred to the University of Colorado, where he graduated in 1940 with a bachelor's degree in English. In college, he bought an Argus camera and worked as a reporter and photographer for the college newspaper. He set up a darkroom in his apartment closet, and sold prints of his photos to help pay for school. During summers and after graduation, Mr. Tull worked for Ford in production, quality control and personnel.
Mr. Tull was drafted in 1942 and quickly rose to the rank of captain. He was stationed in the South Pacific, mostly in Guam. Part of his military duties included teaching his squad to speak Japanese. Mr. Tull enjoyed telling the story of how he did so by staying a few pages ahead in the textbooks.
After discharge at the end of the war in 1945, Mr. Tull passed up an opportunity to attend medical school with a full scholarship. Instead, he rented a room at the Ann Arbor YMCA and -- equipped with only a phone and a typewriter -- launched his first news publication, the Washtenaw Weekly. Working out of his room, he sold the ads, wrote the articles, took the photos and prepared the issues. He focused on stories of local people and rural life, especially farming and German culture, in Chelsea, Dexter, Manchester, Bridgewater and Saline. About 10, 000 copies were printed each week and distributed throughout Washtenaw County.
Mr. Tull met the woman who would change the course of his life while eating at the Michigan League cafeteria. His photographer's eye spotted "the most beautiful woman in the room, " Jackie Poore, a graduate student and speech therapist. The attraction was mutual and after being introduced, they talked over lunch. Among other things, they discovered a common interest in music and spent the rest of the afternoon in the second-floor ballroom, playing piano and singing. It was a passion they would share throughout their life together.
Married only six months later, Paul and Jackie eventually became the parents of three daughters, Nancy Tull (Walter) Byers of Saline, Jody Tull (Rupert) de Salis of Ann Arbor and Anne Tull Kirvan of Saline, and grandparents of three grandchildren, Callie Byers (Mark) Celichowski of Madison, Wis., Jesse Tull Kirvan of Durango, Colo., and Philip Stuart Byers of Saline.
In the 1950s, the couple moved their young family to Saline and neither they nor the city were ever the same. With the encouragement of local merchants, he renamed his paper The Saline Reporter, and under his guidance it became the voice of the community.
Mr. Tull set up an old printing press in the back room of a former butcher's shop, turning the butcher's cooler into his office. He scoured the town for news of how people lived, worked and loved, in Saline. He wrote about weekly school board and City Council meetings, high school football and basketball games, local politicians, their children, their neighbors' children, their children's school accomplishments, and anything else that captured the lives of Saline residents.
Mr. Tull found interesting stories everywhere. Every newcomer to town got a story and photo in the newspaper, including the preacher who had been a missionary to head hunters. In the meantime, Jackie tull founded -- and moved to Saline -- one of the first nursery schools, a relatively new concept at the time. Mr. Tull was pressed into duty as "school bus driver" for Saline Story Book Gardens, a role he greatly enjoyed.
Mr. Tull changed Saline in other ways. He quickly became a community leader, and a morning regular at Benny's Bakery, where all of the major political decisions were made. In the early 1960s, he was part of a small group dedicated to attracting industry to Saline. With the help of a promotional flier that he wrote and printed, they convinced Ford to build its new plastics plant in the small town where Henry Ford once owned a soybean mill.
Mr. Tull's enthusiasm for music also led him to support Music Youth International, whose founder was also a Salinian. In 1966, the MYI connection led to Saline, becoming one of the first sister cities when it paired with Brecon, Wales. Again, Paul and Jackie Tull were leaders. They stayed with, and hosted, the publisher of the local Brecon newspaper during each visit. The annual cultural exchange fostered a lifelong friendship.
After the Vietnam War ended, the Tulls were part of an initiative to sponsor former Vietnamese refugees and opened their arms, and the city's arms, to a refugee family.
For 50 years, Mr. Tull edited and published a growing group of weekly newspapers, and several monthly industrial and institutional newspapers, all of which he started from scratch and all of which became successful in highly competitive markets. But, most evenings, he could be found at home with his wife and daughters, helping with homework and then playing the piano to accompany his wife's banjo or violin. They worked up a repertoire of sing-a-longs that they took on the road to nursing homes and to parties with their ever-growing circle of friends. Sundays found the Tull family in church, with Mr. Tull occasionally accompanying hymns on the piano.
Mr. Tull was president of the Saline Rotary Club, and lived by the Rotary motto "service above self." Rotary in turn honored him with the prestigious Paul Harris Award. Mr. Tull was reluctant to talk about his achievements, however, describing his awards only as "another newspaper story and not a big one at that." Nevertheless, even he was touched when the Saline Area Chamber of Commerce honored him with its highest award for lifetime achievement.
In 1995, Paul and Jackie Tull sold The Reporter Papers to the Heritage Newspapers, but Mr. Tull continued to write and take photos for the paper on assignment.
Jackie Tull died six months ago and the truth is that Mr. Tull simply couldn't live without her. All three of their daughters were nearby when he died, as was his sister, Mary Evelyn Tull.
According to his wish, Mr. Tull's remains were donated to the University of Michigan for research.
The family will receive friends and relatives 2 p.m. July 13 at First United Methodist Church of Saline, 1200 N. Ann Arbor St. A memorial service will follow at 3 p.m., with the Rev. James E. Tuttle officiating. A celebration tribute will be held after the memorial service at Weller's Carriage House, 555 W. Michigan Ave., in Saline.
Memorial donations may be made to Saline Rotary Club or Saline Evangelical Homes of Michigan Memory Center Fund. Envelopes will be provided at the church.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Robison Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline.
