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Charles A. Gardner

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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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William Murray Horton

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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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Dorothy Ann Cummings Foster

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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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Carol Louise Crampton

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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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Charles Lynn Joseph

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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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JoeAnn Nehmer

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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.

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Cindy Ann Galusha

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Funeral Services:

Cindy Ann Galusha, age 69 of Eaton Rapids, MI passed away on Friday, July 14, 2023, after a short illness. Born on August 20, 1953, in Lansing, MI the daughter of Kenneth and Ronaldine (Ebright) Goodnoe. She was a graduate of Eaton Rapids High School class of 1971 and went on to work as a bookkeeper/dispatcher for KalCon in Eaton Rapids and later for Mid-Michigan Physicians where she retired in 2018. Cindy enjoyed spending her summers at her family property in Pentwater, MI where she enjoyed the beach, camping and fishing.

She is survived by her husband, Dean Galusha and her children, Josh Mollette, Angie Dewaele, Mike (Patti) Miller, Doug Miller, Julie (Tony) Nichols, Jeff Galusha, Dean Galusha, Jr., grandchildren, Austin, Dallas, Brayden, Sarah, Elijah, Ryan, Nichole, Taylor, Nicole, Kelsey, Megan, T.J., Katelyn, Truman, Sydney, Alisa, Madison, and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Cindy is preceded in death by her parents, sister, Linda Lundberg and brother, Keith Goodnoe.
A memorial celebration will be held at the family home, 8648 Galusha Grove, Eaton Rapids, MI on August 12, starting at 3 p.m.

There has also been a go fund me page set up to help with funeral services and for assistance with Dean along his way. https://gofund.me/28960278.

To share memories or leave online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.

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Krystal Jo Simpson

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Funeral Services:

Krystal Jo (Bodell) Simpson, devoted to her family, 72, of Charlotte, passed away in Lansing on July 16, 2023. Krys was born in Eaton Rapids, MI to Robert Allen and Joyce (Burlison) Bodell on March 22, 1951. Krys graduated from Eaton Rapids after attending both Charlotte and Eaton Rapids during her high school years and resided in Eaton County her entire life. On September 25, 1971, in Charlotte, Krys married her love, and friend since she was 12 years old, Roy F. Simpson. Devoted to her family, Krys had no greater passion than that which she had for her husband, sons, daughter-in-law, granddaughters, parents and siblings. While her sons were in little league football, she operated the concession stand for eight years in Vermontville. When her boys were in junior and senior high school, she worked on the school yearbook for eight years. She annually looked forward to her ‘girls weekends’ with her best friends from elementary school and high school, Peggy (Tiedgen) Paradis (deceased), Kathie (Smith) Ayotte, Shelly (Littich) LeBrun and Vicki (Sherman) Gingrich. Krys loved flowers of every kind, quilting and genealogy. After a DNA test she found her ancestry to be of Western Europe, Great Britain, Scandinavia and Ireland, and proudly published two books on genealogy of her Bodell family. She retired from the Department of Attorney General in 2002 after 33 years of service; having worked for both the organized crime and health care fraud divisions. She then assisted her husband in the Pioneer Seed business along with their sons. In 2004 she was sworn in as the Deputy Treasurer of Chester Township, serving in this capacity until 2012. Krys was a member of the Eaton County Geneolgy Society, and the Daughters of the American Revolution through her ancestor Nicholas Clemmons, the cook of George Washington.

Krys is survived by those that give her life meaning, including her husband, Roy; children, Grant and Natallie (Haeck) Simpson of Vermontville, MI, Brady Simpson (Amber Cook) of Charlotte, MI, Rowan Cook and Arin Garcia of Nashville, MI; granddaughters, Brenna Shiann of Middleville, MI, Cassidy Grace of Vermontville, MI (who called her Maude); sister, Bonny (Ted) Powers of Eaton Rapids, MI, Debra (Dan) Loughan of Charlotte, MI; and her loved nieces and nephews and their families, Matthew Briggs, Heather Briggs, Tahya Briggs, Avy Briggs, Ayden Krokker, Riley Krokker, Maddox Krokker, Savannah Prince, Brad Prince, Tristen Prince, Gabrielle Bodel Wells, Jenn Bodo, Jordan (Brandon) Robison, Layla Robison, Gwen Robison, Kinsley Robison, Dakota Bodo, Zeraeha Bodo, Jessica Bodo, Wayne Haughton, Dominique Haughton, Logan Haughton. Also surviving are sisters-in-law, Sandy Simpson and Lois Klumpp; and brother-in-law, Albert Simpson along with their families and a multitude of loved relatives. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Bob and Joyce Bodell; niece, Michelle Marie; nephew, Jason Krokker; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, John (Phyllis) Simpson, Max Simpson, Jayne Simpson, Marvel and LaMarr Weers and Ken Klupp.

Friends are encouraged to support Krystal’s family for services. Visitation was Friday, July 21, 2023, at Pray Funeral Home from 2 -4 p.m. and 6 -8 p.m. Funeral Services are Saturday, July 22, 2023, 11:00 a.m. at Pray Funeral Home with Pastor Bryce Feighner officiating. In lieu of flowers, Krys requested contributions be made to SIREN/Eaton Shelter in Charlotte, Michigan. Friends are encouraged to support Krystal’s family by sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.

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Michael Henry Mosko

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Michael Henry Mosko of Eaton Rapids, passed away July 18, 2023, at the age of 78. Mike was born in Detroit, MI on April 20, 1945, to John and Helen Mosko. He would never pass up an opportunity to be outdoors. Some of his favorite hobbies were hunting and fishing.

Mike is survived by his loving wife, Bethel (Rodgers) Mosko of Eaton Rapids; daughter, Darlene (Cory) Monroe of Howell; brother, John (Kathy) Mosko of Mesick; grandchildren, Justin Taulbee, Victoria Tinsley, Dominick Tinsley; great-grandchild, Savannah Campbell. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jerry Mosko.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. To leave condolences for the family, please visit our website www.millsfuneral.com.

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James Earl Harding

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Funeral Services:

James Earl Harding, went to be with his Lord on July 17, 2023, at the age of 76. James was born May 2, 1947, in Lansing, MI to Milford and Ann Marie (Elsenheimer) Harding. He was one of the original founders and Captain for Hamlin Township Fire Department and was also a volunteer for the City of Eaton Rapids Fire Department. James retired from Consumers Energy in 1996 after 30 years of service.

James is survived by his loving wife, Kerin (Beteau) Harding of Eaton Rapids; children, Todd (Salli) Harding of Eaton Rapids, Krista (Jason) Lipp of Mason; grandchildren, Jacob Lipp of Michigan, Rebecca (Brent Desgrange) Harding of Florida, Brendin (Ellie McGarry) Lipp of Eaton Rapids, Alexandra (Matthew Maurer) Harding of Eaton Rapids; great-grandchildren, Isaiah Lipp, Nolan Lipp and Oliver Jakeman; sister, Judith Hasenick of Arizona and several nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Milford and Naomi Harding; biological mother, Ann Marie Harding; sister, Nancy Rynard.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. For those desiring, memorial contributions can be made to the First Congregational Church of Eaton Rapids. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel. To leave condolences for the family, please visit our website, www.millsfuneral.com.

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