Search Archived Marriage Records
Gertrude 'Gertie' Frechette
Gertrude Stearns Frechette of Rudyard, known as "Gertie" to her friends and family, will be remembered for her charitable knitting and sewing projects. Over the years, she made tiny knit caps for newborn babies at hospitals in Sault Ste. Marie, Newberry, Petoskey, and Cheboyan, countless sets of mittens and hats for school children and for community Christmas gift drives across the Eastern Upper Peninsula, and made dozens of quilts to be given by the Chippewa County Sheriff's Department to people at winter accident scenes.
Mrs. Frechette died at the age of 91 Sunday, February 26, 2006, at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie.
She was born August 31, 1914, in Ozark.
She will be remembered as a beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend, and also an avid gardener, knitter, and quilter. She enjoyed baking and sharing her wonderful sticky buns with many, friends said. Mrs. Frechette said she valued her independence and enjoyed vegetable gardening, canning, and attending county fairs.
She was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Rudyard. Mrs. Frechette worked in the school kitchen at Rudyard until 1974.
Mrs. Frechette made children's mittens, she said, for those who "otherwise might have to go to school with cold hands." In 2003, Mrs. Frechette told The St. Ignace News, "Many people collect yarn for me, and not an inch of yarn goes to waste. It all goes into those mittens. Time is valuable, and I don't want to waste it."
Mrs. Frechette is survived by two children and their families, Elmer and Mary Stearns of Odessa, Texas, and Elma and Don Collins of Sacramento, California; two granddaughters and their families, Donna and Jim Raff and Marsha and Mike Gomez; and four great-grandchildren, Trevor Raff and Brayden, Zachary, and Alexis Gomez.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Nora Feldoff; her father, Frank Hill; her stepfather, George Feldoff; and by two husbands, George Stearns and Roland Frechette.
Visitation was Thursday, March 2, and Friday, March 3, at Reamer Galer Funeral Home in Pickford. Services were Friday, March 3, at the funeral home. The Reverend J. H. Vanlal Hruaia of First Presbyterian Church of Rudyard officiated.
Burial will be at Oaklawn Chapel Gardens in Bruce Township.
The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Rudyard First Presbyterian Church, for the Handicap Access Building Fund.
Joan Dartt
Joan E. Dartt of Mount Pleasant died Tuesday, February 28, 2006, at the Tendercare Nursing Home in Mount Pleasant.
She was born July 28, 1951, to Louise and Mervin Marcus of Newberry.
Mrs. Dartt was a 1969 graduate of Engadine High School and was employed at the Newberry State Bank until relocating to the Detroit area, where she was employed at Boro Tool in Troy until 1983.
Family members said she enjoyed spending time with her family and her pets.
She is survived by her husband, Ron, of Warren; her mother, Louise Marcus of Mount Pleasant; siblings and their families, Carolyn and Jim Groh of Mount Pleasant, Norman and Debbie Marcus of Ishpeming, and Rick and Sheri Marcus of Cabot, Arkansas; step-siblings and their families, Sharon and Joe Legault of Engadine, and Gerald and Bernadine Marcus of Lansing; several nieces, nephews, greatnieces, great-nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Mrs. Dartt was preceded in death by her father, Mervin Marcus in 1975, and her stepfather, Daniel Marcus, in 2006.
Services were Friday, March 3, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Engadine. Pastor Arthur Bode officiated. Memorials may be directed the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Building Fund.
Beaulieu Funeral Home of Newberry assisted the family.
Robert Trofatter
Robert F. Trofatter, 76, of Mt. Pleasant, was a former St. Ignace resident and a U.S. Army veteran who worked as a welder on the Soo Locks. Mr. Trofatter died Sunday, February 26, 2006, at Gratiot Community Hospital.
He was born October 27, 1929, in Bath and was graduated from Bath High School.
Mr. Trofatter married
Velma Lorine (nee Weirtalla) Trofatter June 9, 1952.
He worked as a welder for Morbark and Central Michigan University as well as at the Soo Locks.
He enjoyed golfing, fishing, and flying model airplanes.
Mr. Trofatter is survived by his children and their families, Mary and Jim Myszka of Rockford, Rob and Toni Trofatter of Midland, Rick and Judy Trofatter of Mt. Pleasant, D.J. Trofatter of Detroit and David and Angela Trofatter, Dixie Trofatter, Shannon and John Shelton, Skip Trofatter, and Gary Trofatter, all of Mt. Pleasant; grandchildren Laura, Sarah, Jeremy, Melissa, Jacqui, Dustin, Naomi, Katherine, and Chelsea; great-grandchildren Cayden, Donovan, and Kyra; a brother, Ernie Trofatter of Lansing, and two sisters, Helen Trofatter and Joann Graham, both of Bath.
Mr. Trofatter was preceded in death by his wife, Velma, March 24, 2005, and a sister, Viola Dollard.
Memorial services were Wednesday, March 1, at 11 a.m. at Clark Funeral Chapel with Kenneth Walker officiating. Visitration was Tuesday, February 28, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesday, March 1, from 10 a.m. until time of service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Rachel Roan
Rachel Roan of DeTour Village worked at the Drummond Dolomite office on Drummond Island for several years and enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening and sewing.
She died Tuesday, February 28, 2006, at War Memorial Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie at the age of 72.
She was born August 23, 1933, in Lansing, to Ordale and Ruth (nee Mishler) Heinze and grew up in Potterville.
She married
Richard "Dick" Roan December 20, 1949, in Angola, Indiana, and worked two jobs while he completed college at Michigan State University. In 1963, the couple moved to DeTour, where he had accepted a teaching job, and went on to become a respected teacher and administrator there.
Mrs. Roan is survived by her son and his family, Patrick and Tina Roan of DeTour; four grandchildren, Danna Rae Schmitter, Matthew Richard Barrett, Ryan Patrick Roan, and Devin Michael Roan; two great grandchildren, Hayden and Gabrielle Schmitter; three brothers and their families, Arnold and Louann Heinze of Lake Placid, Florida, Orville Heinze of Sebring, Florida, and Richard and Anna Heinze of Potterville, and one sister-in-law and her family, Beverly and Robert Cooper of Charlotte.
She was preceded in death by her husband October 20, 2001, her daughter, Jacqueline Rae Moser, her brother, Francis Heinze, and her sister, Bonnie DePriest.
At her request, no services will be held.
Reamer Galer Funeral Home of Pickford assisted the family with arrangements.
Bethel Avery
Bethel Avery, 72, of Orlando, Florida, formerly an owner of Double H Ranch in Brevort, passed away Wednesday, March 1, 2006.
Mrs. Avery was born January 17, 1934, in Armada to Lester and Ethel Bell.
She and her husband, Carl, owned and operated the Double H Ranch in Brevort for 15 years, then lived and worked in the MindenTahoe area of Nevada.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Carl Avery, three daughters and their families, Kyle and James Everson of St. Ignace, Kregg and Howard Herz of Minden, Nevada, and Kerry and Charles Kalbfleisch of Traverse City; a brother, Arnold Bell, of Washington, Michigan, and seven grandchildren, Nathan, Evan, Marce, Gabriel, Alicia, Jessica, and Grace.
A memorial service was held at Family Funeral Care of Orlando Tuesday, March 7.
Memorials can be made to the American Cancer Society, Florida Division, 3709 W. Jetton Avenue, Tampa, FL 33629.
Ethel L. Cloutier
Ethel L. Cloutier, 82, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday March 24, 2007 with family by her side. She was born Oct. 17, 1924 to the late Abner and Jessie (Williams) James in Pinconning. She married
Frank on April 20, 1939 at St. Michaels Rectory; he predeceased her on April 7, 1995.
Rita M. Smith
Rita M. Smith, age 75, of Clare, passed away on Friday, Mar. 23, at MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland. She was born in South Dakota on Dec. 6, 1931, and moved to mid Michigan in 1958. She had retired from Packaging Resources Corp. in Coleman.
George E. Eckland
March 11, 1945 –March 30, 2005
George E. Eckland, 60, of Mt. Pleasant passed away Wednesday, March 30, 2005, as a result of an automobile accident.
Funeral services for George will be today at 2 p.m. at Berry Funeral Home with Roger Friend officiating. Interment will follow in Memorial Gardens cemetery.
George was born March 11, 1945, in Mt. Pleasant, the son of Erling and Donna Jean (McConnell) Eckland. He graduated from Concord High School and served in the U.S. Army. George married
Melody Phebus. He was a security guard for the Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort for eight years, and previously worked in the oil fields.
George is survived by his wife, Melody; his mother, Donna Jean Reynolds of Mt. Pleasant; brothers Bob (LuAnn) Sower of Shepherd, Donald (Renae) Eckland of Mt. Pleasant, and John Eckland of Ypsilanti; brother-in-law and his family, Dennis (Sandi) McGuire of Shepherd, Ed (Peggy) McGuire of Shepherd, Kathy Ann (Mark) Methner of Coleman, Mark (Katherine) McGuire of Shepherd, Dan (Natalie) McGuire of Mt. Pleasant and Chris (Christine) McGuire of Traverse City; brother-in-law George (Sharon) Phebus of Jackson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
George was preceded in death by his daughter, Tracey Eckland, in 2004; his son, Bobby George Eckland, in 1989; his father, Erling Eckland; and his sister, Janice Ellen McGuire, in 2003.
Nile Ward Denslow
Aug. 25, 1919 - April 8, 2005
Nile Ward Denslow, age 85, of Remus, passed way Friday, April 8, 2005, at his home.
He was born Aug. 25, 1919, in Sherman City to Frank and Mildred (Loomis) Denslow. Nile married
Vir-ginia Isan-hart on Nov. 11, 1944. He was a
dairy farmer his entire life and also worked at General Elec-tric/Hitachi for 18 years. Nile loved to hunt and fish and could always tell a good story.
He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Virginia; eight children, Gale (Cherie) Denslow of Grand Haven, Darwin Denslow and friend Tracy of Remus, Nile Denslow Jr. of Barryton, Tommy (Kathie) Denslow of Evart, David (Mary) Denslow of Mt. Pleasant, Diane (John) Bishop of Remus, Ricky (Shirley) Denslow of Re-mus, and Cindy Wells and friend Shellie of Grand Ledge; 21 grand-children; 19 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Zetta Elmore of Bar-ryton and Vera Towslee of Perrin-ton; and several nieces and neph-ews.
Besides his parents, Nile was preceded in death by a grandson, Tony.
Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at the Barryton Church of God with Pastor John Mellish offici-ating. The family will greet friends at the church on Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment will be at Flake cemetery, arrangements were entrusted to the Daggett Funeral Home, Barryton.
Memorial contributions in Nile's name may be made to Hospice of Michigan or Mecosta County Home Health Care.
Theresa Y. Sherman
Sept. 22, 1925-April 8, 2005
Theresa Y. Sherman, 79, of Coleman, formerly of Alger, died Friday, April 8, 2005, at Brittany Manor in Midland.
She was born Sept. 22, 1925, in Windsor, Canada, the daughter of Frank and Lena (Renaud) Cou-ture. She worked at AC Spark Plug in Flint for 18 years, retiring in 1981.
Theresa is survived by her sons, Father Martin DePorres of Coleman, Raymond and Paula Sherman of Clio, Michael Sherman of Bay City; step-sons Randy Sherman, Clifford Sherman and Jim Sherman; step-daughters Connie Dennis of Bar-ryton and Carole Ross of Mis-souri; 25 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren; brother Joseph Couture of Lennon; sisters Irene White and Janet Fifield, both of Alger, and Connie Nicho-las of Vanderbilt.
She was preceded in death by her son Robert Cates, two broth-ers and a sister.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 12, at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Sanford with Father Jim Hast officiating. Burial will take place in New Calvary cemetery, Flushing.
Friends may call at the O'Laughlin Funeral Home Inc. in Coleman today from 6 to 8 p.m. and Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. and at the church on Monday starting at 9:30 a.m. There will be a Rosary service at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to Our Lady of the Most Blessed Sacrament Monastery.
DuWayne Virgal LaLonde
May 22, 1966 - Feb. 13, 2005
DuWayne Virgal LaLonde, 38, of Lakeview died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005 as the result of an automobile accident in Wheatland Township.
Mr. LaLonde was born May 22, 1966 in Lakeview, the son of Wayne Richard and Linda Lee (McCombs) LaLonde. He has resided in Lakeview for the past nine years and was employed at Arbor Gage & Tooling in Grand Rapids.
He married
Candace Trevan Nov. 20, 1986. He is survived by his wife, Candace, of 18 years; his daughters, Nichole and Mandy; and a son, Schuyler; his mother and stepfather, Linda and Jack Pauly of Flint; his mother-in-law, Shelby (Rolland "Moose") Kotz of Bellaire; one sister, Shannon (Scott) Guy of Lakeview; two sisters-in-law, Billi Jo Fleet of Royal Oak and Dena Trevan of Central Lake; one niece, Dayna Guy; two nephews, Blaine Guy and Donavan Eggleston Jr.; and his grandmother, Bonnie Lewis of Bellaire.
He was preceded in death by his father, Wayne Richard LaLonde in 1987; brothers-in-law, John Eggleston, Donavan Eggleston and Sam Eggleston, all of Central Lake.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Crittenden-Hansen Funeral Home, Remus. Visitation will be one hour before the service.
Galen Thomas Yarch
Oct. 27, 1929 - Apr. 5, 2005
Galen Thomas Yarch, 75 of Shepherd, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, April 5, 2005 at Tendercare Mt. Pleasant, in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan after a courageous battle against lung cancer.
Galen was born on Sunday, October 27, 1929 in Rogers City, Michigan, the son of Louis W. and Pauline (Writzler) Yarch. Galen married
Thelma 'Toots' Kuebler on January 15, 1951 in Rogers City. Toots preceded Galen in death on February 6, 2000. He was also preceded in death by his parents.
Their loving marriage produced five children: Michael of Pullman, Belinda Mollin of Mackinaw City, Kirk and Montra of Mt. Pleasant, Dennis and Ginger of Shepherd, and Tim and Jan of Millington. He will also be deeply missed by his ten grandchildren: Monica and Louis Mollen, Troy and Brian Yarch, Jason, Jennifer, Jessica, and Keri Yarch, and Chad and DJ Baker; also four great grandchildren and special buddy Ethan; and many nieces and nephews.
Galen was a crane operator with the Operating Engineers Local 324 for many years. He was a member of the Clare Moose Lodge and the Sanford Eagles Club. Galen loved being around his family and friends, cutting wood, working in his garden, and sitting on the back porch with his Black Lab, Sassy.
In keeping with Galen's wishes, cremation has taken place. A private graveside service will be held at a later date to inter the cremated remains. The family has asked that friends who wish to remember Galen, make memorial contributions to the Moose Heart Fund, c/o the Clare Moose Lodge, Clare, Michigan. Envelopes are available at the Helms Funeral Home, 330 S. University Ave., Mt. Pleasant, Michigan 48858.
Galen was a friend to everyone he came in contact with, he had a gift and a long line of ...... He was a great father, who will be thought of daily. He finally gets to be with Toots in a better place, and won't be suffering anymore.
Arrangements by the Helms Funeral Home, Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.
