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Funeral Services:

James Taylor Holberg of Eaton Rapids, MI peacefully passed away on Monday, July 17, 2023, at the age of 65. Born on September 11, 1957, in Lansing, MI, the son of Robert and Abbie (Taylor) Holberg.

Jim was raised in Lansing, MI and graduated from Lansing Eastern in the class of 1975. He immediately began his career at the Lansing State Journal. Later, in 1985, he ventured into commercial lighting and started Brite Lite Maintenance which he managed until 2020. Starting at a young age, one of Jim’s great joys in life was classic cars. He poured countless hours into the pursuit of locating, repairing, and restoring old vehicles, all of which eventually found new homes and owners that cherished them as much as he did. During the last few years, he felt called by God to spend his time rebuilding a church on the South Side of Chicago and made frequent trips to lend a charitable hand.

He is preceded in death by his parents and son, Michael Holberg. Jim is survived by his two sons, Joseph (Jessica) Holberg of Oak Park, IL and Rob Holberg of Holt. He also leaves behind his grandson, John R. Holberg; three brothers, Rex Holberg, Robert (Donna) Holberg, and John Holberg; two sisters, Joann Menke and Dr. Diana (Rob) Gordick and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Friday, July 28 from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. at his brother Robert’s house. All are welcome to attend. For the address, please reach out to Joseph Holberg or Robert Holberg. For those desiring memorial contributions may be made to the church Jim was working on to the end: New Christian Love via Reverend James H Weston at 6228 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60637. To share memories or leave online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.

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Funeral Services:

Jonathan James Hill, age 72, of Gowen, passed away Sunday, July 16, 2023 with his family at his side under the care of Promedica Hospice. He was born February 25, 1951, in Lansing, the son of Richard B. and Doris L. (Hershiser) Hill. He was an electrical / building inspector as well as owner of F & J Construction. He loved the great outdoors hunting and fishing. While he currently attended Calvary Baptist Church of Greenville he was previously an Elder at First Baptist Church of Eaton Rapids.

Jonathan is survived by his wife, Frances; sons, Matthew (Debra) Hill of Greenville and Joshua (Julia) Hill of Eaton Rapids; 15 grandchildren: Haven Grace Hill, Ella Jo Hill, Caleb Michael Hill, Mikayla Ann Hill, Rebekah Jane Hill, Huntur Jaye Hill, Nicole Hosannah Brownell, Meghan (Eric) Anderson, Chance Christian Brownell, Isabelle (Tyler) Woods, Hannah Grace Brownell, Cassandra Hope Brownell, Levi Paul Brownell, Sophia Joy Brownell and Hannah (Trevor) Woollard; one great grandson, Karter Wayne Woods; brother, Thomas (Diane) Hill; sister-in-law, Joy Hill; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Doris Hill; and siblings, David and Robert Hill.
A memorial was held July 29, 2023, at Calvary Baptist Church in Greenville with visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m. Memorial contributions can be made in Jonathan’s name to Camp Barakel, 1798 Shear Lake Road, Fairview, MI 48621.

Arrangements are by the Marshall Funeral Home, Greenville, with complete obituary online at www.marshallfuneralhomeinc.com where you can leave a message of condolence for the family.

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Funeral Services:

Daniel Robert Hamel of Eaton Rapids, MI. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather unexpectedly departed from this world into the loving embrace of his heavenly Father on Sunday, July 23, 2023, at the age of 65. He was born on November 19, 1957, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to his beloved parents, Robert and Barbara (Hemans) Hamel.

Dan graduated from West Allegheny High School in the class of 1975 and continued his education at West Virginia University, earning his Bachelor’s degree in Soil Science. He dedicated the past ten years of his career as a Senior Environmental Quality Analyst for the Michigan Department of Environmental, Great Lakes, and Energy.

A devout Christian, Dan was deeply rooted in the life of the First Congregational Church of Eaton Rapids. He also found joy in swimming at the YMCA, embracing nature through hunting and fishing, and most importantly spending time with his five grandchildren.

Dan leaves behind a loving legacy, survived by his parents; his devoted wife of 43 years, Marla (McCollum) Hamel; his children, Matthew (Ann) Hamel and Maureen (Joshua) Croft; and his grandchildren: Molly, Aubree, and Isaac Hamel, Florence, and Desmond Croft who affectionately called him Pap Pap. He is also mourned by his brother, Matthew C. Hamel; sister, Julie (Al) Colcombe; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Crystal Hamel.

Friends and family were invited to gather at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids chapel, to pay their respects on Wednesday, July 26, 2023 and on Thursday, July 27, 2023. A memorial service was held on Friday, July 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in Eaton Rapids, MI.

For those who wish to honor Dan’s memory, memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church. To share memories or leave online condolences, please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.

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Funeral Services:

Mary Ann Arnold – a proud mother and grandmother – mother of Eddy Arnold (Renee) and Amy King (Nelson) and Grandmother of Savannah and Joseph Owen and Isabella Arnold, Alivia and Jonathan King. Mary passed away on July 14, 2023, while surrounded by her family and her Eaton County Health Rehab Services family after a courageous eight-year battle with dementia and other health issues. Mary was 79 and was looking forward to her 80th birthday in October.

Mary Ann Hufnagel was born October 14, 1943, in Fowler, Michigan to the late Nick and Rose (Simon) Hufnagel. She was one of nine kids, five brothers and three sisters: Celeste (Fran) Heckman, Esther (John) Eiseler, Frank (Kay) Hufnagel, Clem (Marie) Hufnagel, Chuck (Marlene) Hufnagel, Tom (Nancy) Hufnagel, Helen (Ken) Hungerford and Jim (Carrie) Hufnagel. After she completed the 8th Grade, she went to work on the family farm. Through a mutual friend she met Wesley Lawrence Arnold. They were married on December 3, 1977, in Fowler, Michigan. Wesley and Mary welcomed their first child, a son, Eddy, in 1979 and welcomed a daughter, Amy Marie in 1981.

Mary worked at St. Lawrence Hospital for six years until her retirement in 1977. She took up her role as a housewife and also helped support her husband as he worked on the Arnold Brothers Farms. She helped out by taking prepared meals to the guys in the fields. Her children usually accompanied her to the fields and they always had a ride in the tractor once around the field with their dad before going home. Mary and Wesley had 33 years together until Wesley passed away in September 2010.

Mary will always be remembered by always making everyone laugh or smile. She had a wonderful personality and a kind and loving spirit. She always had a sucker in her mouth, she loved her candy and sweets, especially cherry pie and ice cream and of course her Diet Coke. Before Dementia started in 2016, Mary was always an avid bowler, she was on leagues in Charlotte, Lansing and Portland. She also hosted numerous hog roasts and snowmobile parties in the shack back in the woods on the farm that Wesley and his brother Lynn helped build. She also loved playing Bingo on Wednesday nights and bus trips to the casino with her sisters and friends. She was a big sports fan and was often found cheering on her favorite teams, she was a MSU, Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers fan.

After Dementia changed the course of her life, her new hobby became coloring and giving her finished pictures to friends, family and caregivers. She always did a beautiful job. Mary had a very loving and caring caretakers.

First it was her daughter Amy in the earlier part of Dementia, then she was moved to ECHRS. COVID and lock down was hard on everyone, however, her daughter Amy visited her mom’s window with the Grandkids. She always enjoyed talking by the window during those visits. Mary was loved by all and will be missed by everyone who knew her.

Mary is survived by her son, Eddy Lynn (Renee) Arnold, and daughter Amy Marie (Nelson) King; grandchildren; Savannah, Joseph, Isabella, Alivia and Jonathan; sisters, Esther and Helen; brothers, Frank, Jim; sisters-in-law Marie and Carrie Hufnagel; brother-in-law, Earl Arnold; many nieces and nephews, including Greg (Darcy) Sivyer and Justin (Autumn) Sivyer. Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Nick and Rose Hufnagel; in-laws Marney & Ethlyn Arnold; husband, Wesley Arnold; brothers-in-law, Fran Heckman, John Eiseler, Ken Hungerford, Delbert and Lynn Arnold; two brothers Tom and Clem Hufnagel; sister, Celeste; sisters-in-law, Kay and Nancy Hufnagel and Janis Arnold, Debbie Arnold Sivyer and Jennaline Arnold.

Friends are encouraged to support Mary’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. The family received guests for visitation on Tuesday, July 18 at Pray Funeral Home. A funeral mass was celebrated Wednesday, July 19 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Grand Ledge. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Eaton County Health and Rehabilitation Services in Charlotte. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.

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Funeral Services:

Charles A. “Chuck” Gardner, age 75, of Battle Creek went to be with our Lord on Friday, July 14, 2023. He was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on January 10, 1948, the son of Elmer and Pansy (Gilger) Gardner and graduated from Bellevue High School with the Class of 1966.

Chuck served in the United States Army from August 1966 to August 1969. He was stationed at Fort Knox, Fort Campbell, Fort McClellan, and the DMZ in South Korea. Chuck worked for 18 years at Michigan Carton Co./St. Regis as a cutter man, and later a coater man and a boiler operator in the powerhouse. In 1984, he went to Ralston’s/Conagra as a stationary engineer for 31 ½ years until his retirement on August 1, 2015.

Chuck enjoyed fishing, boating, jet skiing, and traveling with his wife, Kris in their motorhome around the country. But most of all, he loved spending time and making omelets over the campfire with his two wonderful grandsons, Cooper and Carson.
On November 28, 1970, Chuck married the “Love of His Life,” Kristine D. “Kris” Bentley. They have lived at St. Mary’s Lake for more than 48 years and enjoyed raising their two sons there. Chuck is survived by his wife of nearly 53 years, Kristine; his sons, Trenten (Staci) and Douglas (Becky) Gardner; his grandsons, Cooper and Carson Gardner; sister, Judy (Vito) Ragusa; brothers, Brad (Emma), Ricky (Debbie) Gardner; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a nephew, Roger Alan Love; a great-nephew, Bryce Alan Balfour; and his best friend, George “Butch” Whitcomb.
The family will receive friends 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek. A memorial service to celebrate Chuck’s life will be held 11:30 a.m., Thursday, July 27, 2023 at the North Avenue Church of God, 1079 North Ave., Battle Creek, MI 49017. The service will be Live-streamed and may be viewed on the North Avenue Church of God Facebook page. Interment with full military honors will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the North Avenue Church of God Youth Group. Personal messages for the family and favorite memories of Chuck may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.

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Funeral Services:

William “Bill” Murray Horton of Potterville, died on June 19, 2023, at UW Hospital in Madison, WI, just shy of his 86th birthday. He died of traumatic brain injury due to a fall plus aspiration pneumonia, all likely due to a previously undiagnosed brain condition. He was born to Lillian and Carroll Horton on June 27, 1937, in Hazelton, Pennsylvania.

In his youth, Bill was interested in baseball, animals, and the natural world, trapping muskrats, and fishing. He obtained his B.S. (while married to Diane) from the University of Maryland (UM). While at UM he served as a park ranger who provided animal-outreach programs to young people. He and Diane also nursed various wild animals back to health–he would want you to know about Gringo, a baby racoon. He then obtained his master’s degree (“Species composition and distribution of fish of the Red Cedar River system with detailed descriptions of collecting stations’’) from Michigan State University and dedicated his 30-year career at Lansing Community College (LCC) to teaching students Anatomy, Zoology, and Natural Sciences. In addition to his courses, he took great pride in planning field trips with his students (Sea of Cortez the west coast of Mexico and Upper Ontario Canada) and started LCC’s fishing club. Since the death of his wife, Lela, in 2018 he was lonely, and began to consider a move to Wisconsin, to be closer to family. In September 2022, he made the move to Mount Horeb and lived at IngleWood. His wonderful friend Bob helped him downsize and make the move. His co-residents at IngleWood provided him encouragement and overall, he became less isolated.

He had hope, upon his move, to share his life experiences with the people around him, including his grandkids. Unfortunately, he ran out of time. His hope to share is captured, however, in the items he moved with him: Pictures of birds and other animals, rocks, shells, microorganisms, and four generations of family; documents illustrating his work mentioned above, plus work as faculty senate President and National Education Association (NEA) delegate; fishing tackle, rods, and materials to tie flies; books and CDs he enjoyed and often shared with Lela; his father’s notebooks and art materials; cards from his fans of “Mr. Bill’s Adventureland”–he was a reviewer and writer of walk-throughs for non-violent adventure games; letters he received, opened, and stored, from nieces and grandkids and other family members. As he would have liked, these items will be shared with his extended family. There is peace in his hope.

Bill is survived by his daughter, Cindy (Owen) Doran; grandchildren, Liam (fiancée, Miranda Bakker) Doran, Maureen (Cameron Cole) Doran, Aidan Doran, Brigit Doran and Rowan Doran; and brother, Larry (Linda) Horton. He is also survived by his first wife Diane Hunt (mother of his daughter) and his second wife Patricia Withey (his daughter is grateful to Patty and her family). He was preceded in death by his third wife of 27 years, Lela, and his parents Carroll and Lillian Horton, and his 20-year-old cat and companion, Patrick (who made the move with him). Other pets who had gone before him are Gringo, Peanut, Duke, Bumper, Ginger, Buckwheat, Patches, Sweat Pea, Jersey, Jacque, and Sassy.

Bill and his daughter are particularly indebted to Bob and Janet of Charlotte, Mich., and Sarah in Mount Horeb and for his excellent care at the UW (nurses Mitchell and Rose, Dr. Talura, and the Palliative Care Team). In keeping with Bill’s wishes, no services will be held. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

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Funeral Services:

Dorothy Ann Cummings Foster, age 82 of Mesa, Arizona, died April 19, 2023, in Scottsdale, Arizona. Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on July 24, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church, 510 W. Ottawa St., Lansing, MI 48933.

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Funeral Services:

Carol Louise Crampton, 79, of Oregon, IL, passed away on June 7, 2023. She was born in Battle Creek, MI, on January 18, 1944, to the late Forrest and Gloria (Jones) Watson. Carol is loved and will be deeply missed by her son, David Crampton; daughter, Trisha Crampton; granddaughter, Candice Miles; three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Forrest and Gloria; beloved husband, Robert Crampton; son, Robert Crampton Jr. There will be a graveside service at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte, MI on Saturday, July 22, 2023, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Memorials can be made to the family in Carol’s name.

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Funeral Services:

Charles “Chuck” Lynn Joseph, 70, passed away unexpectedly early Thursday, July 13, 2023 at his home in Decatur, NY. A funeral service was held on Tuesday, July 18 at the Heller & Skinner Funeral Home,155 Main St. Worcester, followed by a meal at the Worcester Fire Department.

Chuck was born to the late Charles and Rita Joseph of Potterville, MI on January 8, 1953. A passion for science led Chuck to a Bachelor of Science from Michigan State University in 1977 and a Ph.D. in Astrophysics from the University of Colorado in 1985. He did his post-doc at Princeton University and became an associate scientist at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. In 1996 he became an Associate Professor at Rutgers University who did research with NASA. As an advocate for sustainability, he was an early adopter of rooftop photovoltaic solar panels for his house.

Around Christmas, he dressed as Santa and handed out candy canes to children. His enthusiasm for science was contagious and he often volunteered to teach, spreading his love of science to others. He had a silly sense of humor and loved to joke and laugh. He enjoyed the natural world, poetry, and writing. In his retirement, he moved to Decatur, NY and spent time at the Worcester Inn, gardened, and was a fun, playful, and loving grandfather. He was a dedicated father who cared deeply for his children and wanted to make the world a better place.

Chuck is survived by his children, Mel and Sam and their wives, Michelle McGowan and Laurel Balog; grandkids, Jonathan and Aria; ex-wife, Kathryn Joseph; sisters, Kathy Joseph and Julie (husband Jim) Robertson; nephews, James, Jeremy, Jacob and their wives and children. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Worcester Fire Department, 36 Church St., Worcester, NY 12197; Worcester Emergency Squad, 36 Church St., Worcester, NY 12197; or the Cooperstown Food Pantry, 25 Church St., Cooperstown, NY 13326.

Condolences may be sent to the family at hellerskinnerfh.com.

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Funeral Services:

JoeAnn Nehmer—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and artist—died peacefully on July 13 surrounded by her husband of 53 years and two sons. She was 77.

JoeAnn was born in Lansing, Michigan, on September 7, 1945, the daughter of Raymond and Josephine McGlaughlin. A 1963 graduate of Charlotte High School, she lived most of her life in Eaton Co. spending her early years in West Windsor Township before settling in Vermontville, Michigan, where she raised her boys and became active in her community—with Woman’s Clubs, 4-H, March of Dimes, Vermontville Village Council, and three terms as Vermontville Township Treasurer.

JoeAnn’s vocational pursuits weaved through many avenues, from waitressing at local diners to working on the General Motors assembly line, before settling at Hays Green Beach Memorial Hospital (today Sparrow Eaton Hospital) where she served as a respiratory therapist for more than 20 years.

A desire to be closer to her grandchildren, not to mention tamer winters, brought JoeAnn to Monroe, Georgia, in 2015 where she planted immediate roots in the arts community. Always crafty, JoeAnn’s garage studio could double as an art supply store—stocked to the rafters with paints, canvases, brushes, stained glass, and other assorted tools of creativity. Her paintings can be found in each room of her home and hanging on the walls of family and friends. JoeAnn would soon become a fixture at the Monroe Walton Arts Center where she quickly formed lasting friendships.

JoeAnn also was passionate about genealogy, tracing her family back many centuries and recently completing a years-long project to join the Daughters of the American Revolution.

JoeAnn is survived by her husband, Tom; sons, Marc and Matthew; grandchildren, Caroline and Benjamin; daughters-in-law, Lauren and Stacey; step-granddaughter, Samara; brother, John; and sister, Mary. She is preceded in death by her brother, Charlie and daughter, Gale who passed away in 1973. Her family plans to return JoeAnn’s ashes to West Windsor where she will be interned in the family plot across the road from the house where she grew up.

We will be celebrating her life with a gathering on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 11:30 a.m. at the First Congressional Church in Vermontville, Michigan (110 S. Main St., Vermontville, MI 49096).

If you are in the area and are available, we would love to see you and share in her memory. We will have lunch after the event hosted by her longtime Vermontville area friends.