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BOBBY GENE FLETCHER
Jackson
Formerly of Chelsea
Bobby Gene Fletcher, 62, of Jackson died Feb. 7, 2006, at the VA Hospital in Ann Arbor. He was the son of the late Charles and Louise (Risner) Fletcher.
Mr. Fletcher was born Feb. 23, 1943, in Royalton, Ky. He had lived in the area most of his life, graduating from Chelsea High School in 1962.
Mr. Fletcher enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing his guitar. He had been employed at Rockwell International for many years.
Mr. Fletcher is survived by his four children, Lance Fletcher of Dundee, Corrine Patrick of Jackson, Stephanie (Dennis) White of Munith and Jerrod W. Fletcher of Ypsilanti; eight grandchildren; three sisters, Tootsie (Jim) Barth of Whitmore Lake, Connie (Phil) Musolf of Chelsea and Vickie (Mike) Erskine of Stockbridge; and the mother of his children, Sharon P. Fletcher of Grass Lake, who was the love of his life.
Mr. Fletcher was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Shirley Simonson and Wanda Thomas.
A funeral was held Saturday at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home in Chelsea. The Rev. Robert Castle officiated. Burial was at Oak Grove cemetery in Chelsea.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Fletcher family.
NORWOOD J. BUSH JR.
Bandera, Texas
Formerly of Chelsea and Mackinac Island
Norwood J. "Woody" Bush Jr., 56, of Bandera, Texas, died Feb. 3, 2006, at his home in Bandera, Texas, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Mr. Bush was born May 13, 1949, in Lansing the son of the late Norwood J. Bush Sr. and Phyllis Arlene (Potter) Bush.
He worked at Jac Products in Ann Arbor before moving to Mackinac Island, where he worked in the public utilities facility. He accepted a position at the Flying L Ranch in the Public Utilities District and moved to Bandera, Texas, in 2002.
Mr. Bush enjoyed woodworking and taught adult education classes on Mackinac Island. He recently used his expertise to help restore the original wooden pews for the historical St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Bandera.
Mr. Bush was a member of the Methodist church and an honorary member of the Catholic church in Bandera.
He is survived by his children, Elizabeth (Zac) Woodard of San Antonio, Texas, Jennifer Bush of Bandera, Texas, Paul (Lynn) Bush of Jackson and Norwood J. (Dawn) Bush III of Belleville; and his grandchildren, Alan Bush, James Bush and Thomas Shively of Jackson, and Shianne Bush of Belleville.
Also surviving are his brother, Ron (Mary) Bush of Chelsea; sisters, Janice Michael of Brighton, Pat (Richard) Miller of Las Vegas and Diane (Tom) Bishop of Mason; a niece and nephews, Sheila (Aaron) Andring and Austin Andring of Brighton, Tim Bush of Chelsea, Kris Bishop of Pinckney, Jeff Bishop of Pinckney, Rob Abdon of Houston, and Ken Michael Jr. of Northville.
At Mr. Bush's request, there will be no funeral service. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Funeral arrangements were by Grimes Funeral Chapel in Bandera, Texas.
DORCAS KINSEY
Ypsilanti
Formerly of Chelsea
Dorcas Kinsey, 94, of Ypsilanti, formerly of Chelsea, died Feb. 6, 2006, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital. She was born Jan. 5, 1912, in Carey, Ohio, the daughter of William and Gail (Long) Mohn.
Mrs. Kinsey lived in Toledo, Ohio, most her life. She moved to Chelsea in 1956, and opened the Sylvan Coffee Shop in the Sylvan Hotel. She cooked at Mill Lake Camp after she closed the coffee shop.
Mrs. Kinsey and her husband, Peter, spent many wonderful years at Sugarloaf Lake. They were married
June 2, 1956, in Indiana, and he preceded her in death May 5, 1995.
Mrs. Kinsey is survived by a daughter, Kae Traugh, of Ypsilanti; a grandson, Randy (Debbie) Ellis of Chelsea; a niece, Toni McKay; and a nephew, Terry Abrass.
She was preceded in death by a sister, Florence Abrass in 2004.
Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life at a later date.
Arrangements were handled by Cole Funeral Chapel in Chelsea.
ETHEL M. ZEILINGER
Chelsea
Formerly of Bay City
Ethel M. Zeilinger, 91, of Chelsea died peacefully Feb. 8, 2006, at the Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born April 16, 1914, the daughter of Chester and Oressa Watkins in Lakewood, Ohio.
She married
Adolph "Zel" Zeilinger June 23, 1962, and the two owned and operated the Euclid Hardware Store in Bay City for many years.
Mrs. Zeilinger was a lifetime member of the Eastern Star and both she and her husband were active members of the First United Methodist Church of Bay City, where they made many cherished friendships that lasted a lifetime.
She will be remembered by all whose lives she touched as the wise, warm and wonderful woman that she was, her family said.
Mrs. Zeilinger was preceded in death by her parents, husband, stepson, stepdaughter and her sister, Jan Dunavin of Dexter.
She is survived by her grandchildren, Robert (Joan) Campbell, Nancy (Noel) Ludwig, Patricia (Marshall) Pallet, Rick (Candy) York, Randy (Mary) York and Cindy York, as well as seven great-grandsons and five great-granddaughters.
Also surviving are her nephews, Ken (Mar) Etchison, Jim (Mary) Etchison and George (Char) Etchison, and her niece, Barb (Chester) Wilson.
A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. April 22 at the Chelsea Retirement Community Chapel. Memorial contribution may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Bay City or the Chelsea Retirement Community.
Arrangements were by Gephart Funeral Home in Bay City.
BLYTHE A. JOHNSON
Leesburg, Fla.
Formerly of Chelsea
Blythe Arlene Johnson, 83, of Leesburg, Fla., formally of Chelsea, died Feb. 2, 2006.
Mrs. Johnson was a retired teacher from the Jackson Public Schools. She moved from Chelsea in 1997 to spend her winters in central Florida, but retained her summer cabin in Kenton.
Mrs. Johnson was a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. Her greatest joy was her love of her family and helping others.
She is survived by her sons, Ralph (Beth) Johnson of Leesburg, Fla., Marlin (Belinda) Johnson of LaGrange, Ga., and Morris (Linda) Johnson of Chelsea; a daughter, Marsha (Leslie) Lentz of Chelsea; and two brothers, Grant Smith of Richmond and Miles Smith of Marion, Ind.
Also surviving are eight grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and her pet and faithful friend, Bonnie.
She was preceded in death by her son, Tom Johnson, in 2003, and her husband, Alfred Johnson in 1988.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life is scheduled for Feb. 18 at the home of her daughter.
Memorial contributions may made to the Hospice Foundation of Lake & Sumpter Inc., 12300 Lane Park Road, Tavares, FL 32778-9972, or a memorial of one's choice.
L. DUANE NOAH
Chelsea
L. Duane Noah, 79, of Chelsea, died Feb. 16, 2006, at the University of Michigan Hospital. He was born May 27, 1926, on the family farm in Lyndon Township, the son of Laurence and Esther (Widmayer) Noah.
Mr. Noah had lived and farmed in the same area all his life. He was a member of North Lake United Methodist Church and enjoyed traveling up north, having become a "part-time Yoopper." He was a former 4-H participant and known as a "John Deere man" all the way.
He served on several committees and commissions for Lyndon Township, which included the Board of Review and Planning Commission for more than 20 years, the Township Board for eight years and the Western Washtenaw Recycling Authority for many years.
On Sept. 1, 1992, he married
Maryann (Bills) Noah on the family farm and she survives.
Also surviving are one daughter, Lisa (Joseph) Burgess of Dewitt; one sister, Donna E. Lane of Chelsea; one sister-in-law, Camilla (Camie) M. Noah of Chelsea; seven great-nieces and two great-nephews, Caroline (Mark) Saunders, W. Chandler Lane, David (Ana) Lane, Jonathan (Margaret) Lane, Mary Lynn (James Wilfong) Noah, Alicia Esther Noah (Giles) Nolan and Sara (Gary Thomas) Noah; and one granddaughter, Gianna Marie Burgess.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Lloyd and Lynwood Noah; one daughter, Gina Marie Bills; and one brother-in-law, Wilfred C. Lane.
A funeral was held Tuesday at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home in Chelsea. The Revs. Alice Sheffield, David Lane and Martin Ledy officiated. Burial was at North Lake cemetery in Dexter Township.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to North Lake United Methodist Church or Mackinac Straights Hospital's Moses Dialysis Center.
SHIRLEY ANNE SCHAIBLE
Chelsea
Shirley Anne Schaible, 76, of Chelsea, died Feb. 17, 2006, at Towsley Village after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. She was born Aug. 18, 1929, in Indianapolis, the daughter of the late Everett and Emma (Matthews) Ehlers.
Mrs. Schaible was an active member of the Chelsea community for more than 50 years. She was a former member and president of the Chelsea Child Study Club and a board member of McKune Memorial Library for several years.
Mrs. Schaible was also a member of the Chelsea Community Hospital Auxiliary, having given more than 2, 000 hours of service. She especially enjoyed narrating fashion shows that benefited local organizations, and participated in many over the years.
Mrs. Schaible was an active member of St. Paul United Church of Christ, having taught Sunday school for many years, as well as having served on various boards and committees.
She was married
June 20, 1954, to Paul G. Schaible in Indianapolis, and he survives.
Mrs. Schaible is also survived by a son, David M. Schaible (Deborah) of Chelsea, and a daughter, Anne M. (Timothy) Tatum of Coppell, Texas.
Other survivors include three grandchildren, Emily Schaible and Mark and Neal Tatum; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Harold and Peg (Schaible) Sutton; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a son, Mark Paul, in 1965.
A funeral was held Tuesday at St. Paul United Church of Christ. The Rev. Karen Schulte officiated. Burial was at Oak Grove cemetery in Chelsea.
The family received friends Monday at Cole Funeral Chapel in Chelsea.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul United Church of Christ Memorial Fund, The Heritage Foundation at the Chelsea Retirement Community or the Alzheimer's Association to support research.
PAUL KOCH SR.
Dexter
Paul Ronald Koch Sr., 64, of Dexter died peacefully in his sleep Feb. 22, 2006, at his home. He was born July 11, 1941, in Wayne, the son of Wilma D. and the late Arthur G. Koch Sr.
He was a 1959 graduate of Lincoln High School. On Nov. 21, 1959, he married
Wanda Williamson.
Mr. Koch was self-employed in Dexter and the surrounding areas, where his motto was "Ron's Repair, I can fix anything but a broken heart."
Survivors include two daughters, Rhonda Hall of Dexter and Wendy (Larry) Woodward of Munith; two sons, Ronald Paul II (Cynthia) Koch of Savannah, Ga., and Donald James Koch of Stockbridge; six grandchildren, Maria (Bryan) Moss, Tara-Sky (Matt) Alford, Bruce Woodward, Jessica andRobert Hall and Joshua Koch; two sisters, Janice Jones andArlene (Richard) Cochenour; and three brothers, Lester (Megana)Koch, Kenneth (Bonnie) Koch and Arthur G. (Sandra) Koch II.
In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his brother, Warner Stiers; a brother-in-law, James Jones; and a granddaughter, Jamie Nicole Proctor.
Services were held Feb. 27 at Hosmer-Muehlig Funeral Chapel inDexter. Cremation has takenplace.
GERALD EDGAR BURNS
Dexter
Gerald Edgar Burns (Jerry) died March 4, 2006 in his home, attended by his wife and brother.
Born Oct. 29, 1922 in Port Huron, he spent most of his childhood in River Rouge; graduating from River Rouge High School in 1940. He entered the University of Michigan Engineering School in 1940, where he ran track. His various weekend running companions included Forest Evashevski, Tom Harmon and Bob Ufer. In 1943 he left his chemical engineering studies and went into the Navy V-12 program. He was involved in many of the major theatres in the South Pacific as a fire controlman on an LST.
After leaving the Navy in April 1946, he married
Irma Dee Lyle on June 29, 1946. She survives along with their five children, David Burns, Candice Burns (Brian Maiville), Robert Burns (Mary Kay), Larry Burns (Lotta Jarnefelt), and Bart Burns (Lori); and 12 grandchildren, Ami, Alison, Burns, Jonathan, Joseph, Lauren, Marguerite, Pari, Rudi, Sessie, Wilder, and Zak. His brother and best friend, Larry, also survives.
After marriage, Jerry went to work for Great Lakes Steel. As the head of the Safety Committee for Local 1299, he served two terms on the Public Safety Commission for Michigan at the request of Governor G. Mennen Williams. He also ran Burns Tax Service in River Rouge and Dexter. He believed in active community and church participation. He loved numbers, gardening, getting the most out of a dollar, and having his family around. He retired from Great Lakes in 1987 and moved to the Dexter area. He only had three regrets in his life: the 2000 Presidential election, the 2004 Presidential election, and the fact that U of M lost to Indiana in basketball on the day of his death.
A memorial service will take place 1 p.m. March 11 at Dexter United Methodist Church.
Contributions can be made in his name to the Democratic National Committee or Arbor Hospice.
