Obituaries
John P. Kuch
John P. Kuch, 85, of Hickory Corners, died February 14, 2024. John was born September 21, 1938 in Ann Arbor and was raised by John and Josephine Kuch. He graduated from Kalamazoo College and worked as an insurance adjuster in the local area for many years before his retirement.
John, along with his wife Martha, traveled to the Evart Music Festival every summer where they performed and presented workshops. He liked sailing, planes and was an avid model railroader. John enjoyed building railroad layouts in his basement.
John married the former Martha Walters. She sadly preceded him in death in 2022. John is survived by his two sons, James “Jaime” (Deborah) Kuch and Matt (Belinda) Kuch; grandchildren, David Kuch, Justin and Jessica McGinty, Paul and Samantha Smith, Quinn and Alyson Kuch-D’Ascenzo, Lorraine Kuch and Celia Kuch and a great-granddaughter, Hanna McGinty.
A memorial service to celebrate John’s life will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Gull Lake United Methodist Church, with a luncheon to follow. A private interment will be held at Prairie Home Cemetery in Richland at a later date. Those wishing to make memorial donations are asked to consider Gull Lake United Methodist Church. Arrangements by the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland Chapel. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.
Leroy Jackson
Leroy Jackson, 77, of Winthrop Harbor, IL passed away peacefully on February 22, 2024, at Grande Prairie Care and Rehabilitation Center surrounded by his loving family.
Leroy was born on August 28, 1946, in Michigan, the son of the late Herbert and Marian (Tomlinson) Jackson. He was educated in the schools of Michigan where he graduated from Eaton Rapids High School in 1964. Leroy married Karen Rickett on April 6, 1979, in Waukegan, Illinois. He was a member of the United States Navy for 20 years working as a Navy Electronics Technician. He loved growing up on the farm, working/providing for his family, and coin collecting. Most of all he loved spending time with his wife/family, especially with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his children, Scott (Christopher Remy) Rickett of IL, Gina (Patrick) Cross of IL, Kathleen (Armando) Castillo of WI; brothers, Wayne (Karen) Jackson, Dean (Marsha) Jackson; sister, Linda (Glen) Meyer; also included are his seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Leroy was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Marian; wife, Karen; daughter, Amanda; brother, David and his sisters, Ilene, Thelma Joan.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Roxanne Louise Gaedert
Roxanne Louise Gaedert, a sweet, caring woman who enjoyed making everyone around her laugh, died peacefully with her family by her side on Friday, February 16. She was born March 29, 1949 in Charlotte to Dale and Dolores (Johnson) Cloar. Roxanne married an adventurous, witty man, John R. Gaedert, in April 1973, and together they loved to travel, entertain others, and enjoy their family. With a wonderful, off the top of her head sort of wit, Roxanne always got everyone around her smiling and laughing at the silliest things. Family was the center of her world, she loved taking care of her husband, children, and grandchildren, but also entertaining and hosting special events like 4th of July celebrations for their entire neighborhood. Knowing how hard loss was on families, Roxanne was always compassionate to others during these difficult times and made special efforts to cook and bring them meals.
Roxanne wouldn’t want anyone to whine about missing her, just enjoy a glass of wine and enjoy good memories of her. She is survived by her children, Brinda (Gary) Ridenour, Cindy Gaedert-Gearhart (Tal Gearhart), and Johnny Gaedert; grandchildren, Gary (Shelby) Ridenour Jr., Carter Wing, Jersey Gaedert, Dawson Wing, Che Woods, and CJ Brown; two great-grandchildren, Tucker and Sage Ridenour; and sister, Annette Bruce; and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by the love of her life, John Gaedert in 2012; stepdaughter, Rebecca; and brother-in-law, Mike Bruce.
Friends are encouraged to support Roxanne’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation is Sunday, March 3, 2-5:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte. Memorial Services are Monday, March 4, 11:00 AM at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Pastor John Bailey officiating. The funeral will be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Roxanne’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Eaton Community Palliative Care. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Janet Marie Brown
Janet Marie Brown, a woman of faith who overcame so much over her lifetime, died on Friday, February 16, 2024. Janet, 83, of Charlotte, was born on June 23, 1940, in Ferndale, MI. the daughter of Clyde and Bertha (Bass) Ford. In the 8th grade Janet met Larry Brown Jr. and on November 14, 1959, she married her childhood sweetheart. They moved from Royal Oak to Gladwin where they lived for 30-plus years, where she worked for 26 years as an Office Administrator for the Gladwin Community Schools. Following the death of her husband in 2007 Janet moved to Charlotte. Janet devoted her life to volunteering around her community. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Charlotte, where she was involved in Wrapped-in-Love-Quilters and they made quilts for the local pregnancy center and local senior living centers. The biggest joy in her life was her granddaughters. They referred to her as “Nama” and she loved to be in the front row at all of their events. The family loved spending their summers at the family condo in Suttons Bay. Hobbies that Janet enjoyed were sewing, quilting, baking her amazing apple pies, shopping, an occasional trip to the casino, and watching The Young and the Restless. Janet hoped that her job once she gets to heaven was something that involved working with children or animals. She was selfless and had a heart of gold.
Janet is survived by her daughter, Kelly Friar; granddaughters. Emily and Ashley Friar; sister-in-law, Rolland Ford; brother-in-law, Larry Sauers; and several nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her loving husband, Larry; son, Kirk Brown; sister, Linda Sauers; and brother, Keith Ford; and her parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Janet’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was Thursday, February 22, 2024, at the First Baptist Church in Charlotte. A funeral was held on February 22, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church with Pastor Pete Kroll officiating. With an internment to take place at 3:30 p.m. at Highland Cemetery in Gladwin, MI. The funeral was webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Janet’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Ronald Lee Potter
Ronald Lee Potter, 75, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, formerly of Ann Arbor, Michigan, stepped into Heaven to be with his Savior and Lord on February 11, 2024. Ron’s life was guided by his faith and propelled by an intense curiosity about the world, a love and empathy for others, and an unwavering sense of humor. Ron was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, on March 26, 1948, the son of Charles Lee Potter and Elsie Geraldine (Babcock) Potter. He grew up in Bellevue, Michigan and attended Bellevue Community Schools. In his senior year of high school, he went on a blind date with Jill Van Dyke from the neighboring farm community of Olivet. They continued dating and married on July 19, 1969, in Charlotte, Michigan. Ron enrolled at Central Michigan University in a joint program with the University of Michigan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering in 1971. Ron pursued a fascinating career which took him to various parts of the U.S. and around the world. He nurtured many lifelong friendships along the way. During the 1970s, Ron built a foundation in project management on large engineering and construction projects. In the 1980s, he founded a firm specializing in project management software. He later served as chief executive officer at a software development firm. Meeting many groundbreaking consultants during the first two phases of his career sparked Ron’s desire to shift into the consulting business. Beginning in the 1990s until his retirement in 2019, Ron focused on executive teams, executive leadership, and corporate culture, through his company: Team Leadership Culture, LLC (teamleadershipculture.com). In 2004, Ron and his friend Wayne Hastings cowrote the book Trust Me: Developing a Leadership Style People Will Follow. It centered around leadership principles based on the Beatitudes. Above his devotion to U of M football and his passion for golf, Ron’s faith was the abiding factor in his life. Ron taught adult Sunday School classes, led small groups, sang in church choirs and served in church leadership positions in various churches. His highest honor was sharing his faith. In 2019, Ron and Jill celebrated their fiftieth anniversary with a family gathering on Mackinac Island. Ron is survived by his wife, Jill; his daughters, Amy (Andrew) Hetletvedt and Lindsay (Scott) Gustafson; four grandchildren: Judah Gustafson, Ella Gustafson, Charles Hetletvedt and Greta Hetletvedt; two sisters: Dena (James) Miller and Nancy (Jimmie) Hughes; one brother, C. Edwin Potter; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services were held on Friday, February 16, 2024, at Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, with Rev. Paul Arnold officiating. A private burial was held at Riverside Cemetery, in Bellevue, Michigan. In lieu of flowers, Ron requested donations to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (give.intervarsity.org) or the Jerusalem Project at Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan (calvarygr.org/next-steps/giving/). Condolences may be sent online at www.mkdfuneralhome.com.