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Raymond C. Jeffries
Raymond C. Jeffries, 70, of Reed City, passed away Tuesday, March 14 at Spectrum Hospital, Reed City. He was born Jan. 6, 1936 in Detroit and was a resident of the Pittsburgh, Pa. area, returning to Michigan to attend Central Michigan University. Following graduation he taught with the Reed City Public Schools for 29 years, retiring in 1988. A member of the United Methodist Church of Reed City, he was active in the church choir for over 30 years.
He was married June 29, 1958 to Jalaine Anderson who passed away in 2004. He is survived by his daughter, Janalyn, of Reed City; brother, William (Louse) of Watertown, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, March 19 at 3 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Reed City with the Rev. Rick Blunt officiating. Burial will be at Brookside Cemetery in Scottville. Memorial contributions may be made to Michigan Heart Association or Michigan Diabetes Society and envelopes are available at the Pruitt-Livingston Funeral Home, Reed City, where friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Saturday.
Theresa Hoffman
Theresa V. Hoffman, 89, of Galesburg, formerly of Muskegon, passed away on March 13 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Theresa was born on September 23, 1916 in Chicago, Ill., the daughter of Joseph and Caroline (Simrak) Knizacky. She was a 1934 graduate of Free Soil High School. Theresa married Gilbert Hoffman on April 18, 1942 and he survives. Also surviving are seven children.
Family and friends will be received on Thursday, March 16 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Redmond Funeral Home, 4100 S. Westnedge Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, (269) 343-6156, where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 17 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Cathedral, 542 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, with the Rev. Mark Vyverman, celebrant. A luncheon will be held at the church hall immediately following Mass. Interment will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 17 at St. Mary’s Cemetery, 1915 Park St., Muskegon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Augustine Cathedral or Catholic Schools of Greater Kalamazoo.
Ruben Gomez
Ruben Gomez, 83, of Ludington, passed away Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at 7:20 P.M. in Denver, Colo.
Ruben was born October 13, 1922 in Questa, New Mexico, to Lee and Sophia Gomez. He grew up in New Mexico, attended high school in Costilla, and graduated from Menaul High School in Albuquerque, NM.
In his early years, Ruben worked in Mexico during the Hoof and Mouth Disease Eradication Program. He was also a World War II Naval Veteran and received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the American Campaign Medal, Navy. Ruben graduated from New Mexico State University and continued his lifelong education by attending Michigan State University, University of Wisconsin, University of Michigan, Central Michigan University and West Shore Community College. He was a member of Alpha Tau Alpha and Phi Theta Kappa.
Ruben married Rita Zavala in Guadalajara, Mexico, on July 9, 1950 and she preceded him in death in January of 1993. On August 13, 1994 he married Anna Lenora Fisher of Denver, Colo. Following their marriage, Ruben and Anna made Michigan their summer home and spent winters in Colorado.
Ruben started his teaching career in Bison, South Dakota. One year later he accepted a teaching position at Mason county Eastern and Ludington High Schools. In addition to teaching Agriculture, Ruben was a track and cross-country coach for 37 years. He was inducted into the Michigan High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Menaul School Hall of Fame in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2000.
Active in the community, Ruben was a member of the Western Michigan Fair Board of Directors for 13 years and was also a member of the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, and Knights of Columbus. He attended St. Simon Catholic Church in Ludington and for 26 years was an usher at that church.
Ruben is survived by his wife, Anna, daughter, Dora Saigeon, son, Dan (Sandy) Gomez, both of Ludington, step-daughters, Darlene (Mike) Scollon, Tina Thatcher-Burks, and Marie (David) Burks of Denver, Colorado and a stepson, Donald Thatcher of Rawlins, Wyoming. Ruben is also survived by three grandchildren, Dion Klass and Mackenzie and Evan Gomez and two great grand-daughters, all from Ludington. Also surviving is one sister, Rosita Crumpton of Albuquerque, New Mexico and one brother, Joe Sandoval of Benecia, California.
He was preceded in death by two sisters, Emma Gomez and Ernestine Borneman.
Colorado services for Ruben Gomez will be held Saturday, March 11, 2006 at 4:30 p.m. at Horan McConaty Funeral Home, 9998 Grant St., Thorton, in Denver. Michigan services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, March 17, 2006 at St. Simon Catholic Church in Ludington. Visitation will be from 6-9 p.m. on Thursday at the Dorrell Funeral Home in Ludington. Interment will be at Lakeview Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, Ruben requested that donations be made to the Ludington Area Schools Track Fund in care of Dan Gomez, 1449 Donna St., Ludington, MI 49431.
Dorrell Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Frances Lapenas
Mrs. Frances Lapenas, 92, formerly of Scottville, died peacefully on Monday, March 13 at the home of daughter Diana in Wyoming, Mich. where she has resided for the past 16 years. Frances was born on May 13, 1913 in New Kensington, Pa. to Fortunatas and Anastazija (Navitskas) Zukas. They moved to Mason County in 1919 and settled in the Sugar Grove area where Frances attended Marble County School. They later moved to Eden Township, where she attended Eden Country School, before graduating as Salutatorian of the Class of 1933 from Scottville High School.
On August 13, 1933 she married Alexander T. Lapenas in Chicago, Ill. and they enjoyed 50 years of marriage together before Alexander preceded her in death in 1983. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brother Paul in 1933, twin daughters Bunny and Tanya in 1934, her son-in-law Don Bergers, and her sister Pauline Stakenas-Miller.
With the help of their parents, Alex and Frances built the Lapenas Feed Mill in Scottville, and the Maple Lawn Turkey Farm, where they raised over 25, 000 turkeys and sold them locally and in the Muskegon and Chicago markets. They also farmed and maintained a dairy herd. When her children were in school, Frances enjoyed attending and being a part of the PTA at Scottville High School, and was always a source of encouragement in her children’s, and grandchildren’s activities. She appreciated all of her family’s many talents. Frances loved nature, and would tell her children, “Do not send me flowers, but plant a tree, as a tree will last many years.”
Out of her respect of trees, her family asks that memorial contributions be given to the Mason-Lake Conservation Office “Tree Program, ” attention Lynda Herremans, 862 W. US 10, Scottville, MI 49454.
Frances is survived by her children Sonia Bergers and Diana Ames both of Grand Rapids, Ann Delynn (Tom) Trenner, and Alexis (Bill) Bradow all of Scottville; her 13 grandchildren Lisa Titus, Scott and Steve Bergers, Rhonda, Steve Outcalt, Terri Schultz, Susie Hofmann, Hank Cole, Glenda (Ray) Novakoski, Georgia (John) Callan, Emily (Chris) Schueler, Alexandria (Mike) Lane, Francine (Michael) Linkovich; and 26 great-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life service will be held for Frances at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 18 at the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville, with music provided by her great-grandchildren Danielle Schueler, Westin Lane, and Mark Heyboer. Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation on Saturday morning from 10 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home. According to her wishes, cremation has taken place and her cremated remains will be placed in the ground near white pine trees she planted on their farm along the Pere Marquette River, and beside her husband Alex at Brookside Cemetery in Scottville.
Helen Flanery
Helen B. Flanery, 92, of rural Walkerville, and Mt. Dora, Fla. passed away Sunday, March 12, 2006 at The Lake Sumter Hospice House in Tavares, Fla. Oak Grove Funeral Home and Cremation Center of Ludington is in charge of arrangements.
Sister Mary Phyllis Kaminski, RSM
Sister Mary Phyllis Kaminski, RSM, a Sister of Mercy for 77 years, died March 31 at McAuley Center in Farmington Hills. She was 93 years old.
She was born in Ludington to Frank and Johanna Kaminski and named Harriet at her baptism. On Sept. 15, 1925 she entered the Sisters of Mercy and made final vows on April 25, 1931. She earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Notre Dame. She also studied at Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan where she specialized in library science.
Sister Mary Phyllis served in elementary and secondary parochial schools in Michigan for 43 years. From 1928 when she taught third and fourth grades at St. Brigid’s in Midland until 1971 when she became assistant librarian at Mercy College of Detroit, she was recognized as an outstanding educator. She was especially skilled in teaching Latin, mathematics and history, engaging herself and her students in all available learning opportunities. From 1977 until 1995, she enjoyed serving as attendance clerk at Mercy High School in Farmington Hills where she continued to meet young people and share ideas with them. She was also attentive to the needs of the elderly and participated in a phone conversation program for the homebound for 20 years.
Sister Mary Phyllis is remembered as a welcoming person who enjoyed a good conversation. She had a profound love of learning and even after retiring to McAuley Center in 1995, she maintained an active interest in current events.
A welcoming service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 at McAuley Center in Farmington Hills and a prayer service will begin that evening at 7. The Funeral Mass will be in the McAuley Center chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 3 followed by burial at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of McCabe Funeral Home, Farmington Hills.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mercy Retirement Fund or to the Mercy Ministry Fund, 29000 Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336-1405.
Mary Jane Peterson
Mary Jane Peterson, age 82, of Miami and formerly of Manistee and Ludington, died March 27 in Miami.
She was an active member of St. Louis Catholic Church.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Franklin E. and her son, Larry (and Kathy) Peterson, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Lucille Arnold, Phyllis Charlson and Jean Hanse.
Mass of Christian burial from the Order of Christian Funerals was held in Miami. The family will receive friends at the Dorrell Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 3 from noon to 2 p.m. Graveside committal rites will follow at Lakeview Cemetery with the Rev. Tom Schiller officiating.
Mr. Oscar F. Schulz
Mr. Oscar F. Schulz, age 88, of Scottville, passed away on Saturday morning, March 30 at Memorial Medical Center in Ludington.
Oscar was born Nov. 6, 1913 in Sheridan Township to Fred W. and Rose (Scheffler) Schulz and attended Bachelor School. He married Sarah C. Thompson on Oct. 6, 1943 in Manistee, and she preceded him in death on Sept. 15, 2001.
Oscar enjoyed working for and retired from Mason County Road Commission after 31 years of service, and was a well-known resident of the Scottville and Custer communities. He was a longtime member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and loved caring for the property and grounds of both the church and parsonage. He could often be seen mowing, raking or working around the church grounds. Oscar will be remembered for his genuine smile or friendly wave and his kindness to all he encountered.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, his brother-in-law Harry Barnard, and his sister-in-law Mary E. Thompson.
He will be lovingly remembered by his son, Kenneth (Pam) Schulz of Manistee; his grandchildren, Ginny Schulz of Grand Rapids, Sara Schuelke of Port Huron, Bobbi (Carey) Knicely of Greenville, S.C., Alissa (Steven) Chmielewski of Atoka, Tenn., Aimee (Gary) Swidorski of Woodstock, Ga., and Amanda Hutson of Grand Rapids; his great-grandchildren, Logan Chmielewski and Quinn Marie Swidorski; his sister, Ella Barnard of Scottville; his brother-in-law, Edward H. (Susanna) Thompson of Grass Lake; and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral services will be held for Oscar on Wednesday, April 3 at 2 p.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Scottville with his pastor, the Rev. Mark Rosenburg, officiating. Interment will take place at Bachelor Cemetery.
Friends may meet with his family for a time of visitation on Tuesday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Stephens Funeral Chapel in Scottville, and Wednesday from 1 p.m. until time of services at the church.
Those desiring to make a memorial contribution are asked to consider Redeemer Lutheran Church.
