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Wilbur A. Baetz
Grosse Pointe Farms resident Wilbur A. Baetz, 84, dear husband of Martha Baxter Baetz, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2001, at the St. John Senior Community in Detroit.
Mr. Baetz was a graduate of Detroit's Eastern High School and Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Ind. During World War II, he was a first lieutenant in the United States Army, from 1941 to 1945.
He was a contract administrator for the U.S. Department of Defense.
Mr. Baetz was an avid golfer and a member of the Senior Men's Club of Grosse Pointe and the American Association of Retired Persons.
He is also survived by his son, Kenneth Alan Baetz; grandchildren Jeffrey and Timothy and his sisters Marion Huegli and Kathleen Lewis. He was predeceased by his parents Elsie and Otto Baetz.
Arrangements were handled by the Verheyden Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe Park. A memorial service was held on Tuesday, Oct. 9, at the First English Evangelical Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe Woods.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.
Sr. Lucretia Gottschall, CBS
Sr. Lucretia Gottschall, CBS, 83, who embodied the spirit of kindly care as a nurse at Bon Secours Hospital for more than 50 years, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001, at the order's Provincial House, Marian Hall, in Marriottsville, Md.
Born Frances Catherine Gottschall in Branchdale, Pa., Sister Lucretia graduated from Bon Secours Hospital School of Nursing in 1942. Except for a brief period in Baltimore, her entire ministry was spent at Bon Secours Hospital in Grosse Pointe, where she began as a general duty registered nurse. She then served as a staff member Sister Visitor in the Spiritual Care department, carrying out a personal mission to visit every patient she possibly could on a daily basis. Sister Lucretia also developed an active telephone ministry program to follow-up on patients after they were discharged from the hospital.
In April 2000, she returned home to Marriottsville to join the Sisters of Bon Secours and serve in the ministry of prayer.
According to Dr. Thomas Mertz, president of the Bon Secours Cottage medical staff, "Sister Lucretia's work was recognized and deeply appreciated by the medical staff. She reached our patients in profound and meaningful ways, and left a lasting impression on those who had the good fortune to know her."
A funeral Mass took place on Sept. 27, at the Provincial House in Maryland. A memorial service for Sister Lucretia will be held on Sunday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m., at St. Clare of Montefalco Catholic Church, 1401 Whittier in Grosse Pointe Park.
William Carl Koss
William Carl Koss, 90, loving father of Ronald W. Koss, died Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2001, at his home in Grosse Pointe Park.
He was born on May 6, 1911, in Indianapolis, Ind.
Mr. Koss graduated from Valparaiso University in 1934 with a bachelor of arts degree in business management. While there, he was involved in the Commerce Club and intramural sports.
During his career, he worked in wholesale dry goods for the McConnell-Kerr Company, C. W. Babcock Construction Co. and The Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology.
He was a member of Peace Lutheran Church for more than 50 years and served as the treasurer and bookkeeper for the church and Sunday school for 25 years.
Mr. Koss is also survived by his brother, Carl Koss; nieces Carol (Roland) Bernbeck and Barbara (Raymond) Radtke; great-nephews Matthew, Nicholas and David Bernbeck and cousins Lucille Hebestreit, Randy (Linda) Hebestreit and Steven Hebestreit.
He was predeased by his wife, Helen.
Funeral arrangements were handled by the Harry J. Will Funeral Home in Livonia. Interment was at Glen Eden cemetery in Livonia.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army.
James M. Odell
Grosse Pointe Park resident James M. Odell, 79, husband of Clara Nelms Odell, died of congestive heart failure on Friday, Oct. 5, 20001, at St. John Hospital and Medical Center in Detroit.
Mr. Odell was a graduate of Denby High School in Detroit and served in the United States Navy during World War II.
He owned Pointe Printing Inc., in Grosse Pointe Park.
Mr. Odell was a member of the Men's Garden Club of Grosse Pointe and the Men's Breakfast Club of Grosse Pointe Memorial Church.
He is also survived by his sons James A., Thomas C. and Paul W.; a daughter Margaret K., four grandchildren and a sister Rena Hansen.
Funeral arrangements were handled by the Verheyden Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Park. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 1 p.m., at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church, 16 Lakeshore in Grosse Pointe Farms
Memorial contributions may be made to Grosse Pointe Memorial Church.
Helen Snow Poxson
Former Grosse Pointe resident Helen Snow Poxson, 86, dear wife of Elijah Poxon, died Thursday, June 14, 2001, in Danville, Calif.
Mrs. Poxson was born in Lansing and spent most of her life in Grosse Pointe. She was active in the Grosse Pointe Unitarian Church and the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Her hobbies included sewing, gardening and cooking.
She relocated to Danville in 1982.
Mrs. Poxson is survived by her daughters Judith Fawkes and Anne Sparks; four grandchildren and her sister Elizabeth Frolund of Grosse Pointe.
A memorial service for Mrs. Poxson was held in Danville.
Robert A. Shover
Longtime Grosse Pointe Public Schools administrator Robert A. Shover, 73, beloved husband of Virginia Metzger Shover, died of cancer at his home in Grosse Pointe Woods on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2001.
Mr. Shover was born in Galesburg, Ill. He graduated from Western Illinois University with bachelor and master's degrees in education. He also took advanced study in school administration at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan.
He served in the United States Army after graduation from college and was discharged in December 1956.
Mr. Shover began his teaching career in Pana, Ill. After moving to the Pointes, he taught math at Pierce Middle School in Grosse Pointe Park, where he became head of the mathematics department and eventually took the position of assistant principal, until 1981. He then became principal of Trombly Elementary School, and later, Defer Elementary School, where he served until his retirement in 1990.
With his wife Virginia, he enjoyed trips with the Nomads, a Detroit-based travel club. He was also a member of the Senior Men's Club of Grosse Pointe and participated in the Club's bowling and golf leagues. As a member of the Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church for 44, he served on the ushering staff and the Board of Trustees.
A devoted golfer, Mr. Shover played with a number of area groups. He was also an expert bridge player and enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and walking.
Mr. Shover is also survived by his daughters Laurel (Bryan) Bame and Martha (Edward) Hammer; seven grandchildren, Brian, Benjamin, Warren, Bethany, Tyler, Amanda and Owen; sisters June Overdorf of Richmond, Ind. and Jane (Stanley) Davis of London Mills, Ill. and nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Oct. 14, 2001, at 3 p.m., at Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church, 211 Moross Road in Grosse Pointe Farms. The family will greet guests at the church from 2 p.m. until the time of the service. Mr. Shover's body was cremated and his ashes will be placed in the Memorial Garden of the church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the memorial fund of the Grosse Pointe United Methodist Church or to Hospice of Southeastern Michigan, 16250 Northland Dr., Suite 212, Southfield, MI 48075.
Kathleen I. Blinkhorn
Kathleen I. Blinkhorn, one-time Grosse Pointe Woods resident, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2001, at Bon Secours Nursing Home in St. Clair Shores.
Born in Nova Scotia, Canada, Mrs. Blinkhorn was a homemaker and a devoted mother and grandmother.
She is survived by a son, Dr. David M. Blinkhorn; a daughter, Patricia Przeslawski and grandchildren, Lauryn Przeslawski, Jenna Przeslawski, Christian Przeslawski, Justin Przeslawski and Isabelle Blinkhorn; a brother Donald Densmore; and a sister Doreen Barkhouse. She was predeceased by her husband, Dr. David H. Blinkhorn; brothers Trueman, Blair and Claude Densmore; and a sister Freda Hines.
A memorial service was held on Friday, Oct. 19, at the A. H. Peters Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Woods. Interment is at the White Chapel Memorial cemetery in Troy.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Hospices of Henry Ford, 23000 Mack Ave., St. Clair Shores, MI 48080.
