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Funeral Services:

Mary Beatrice “Squeek” Steele of Eaton Rapids passed peacefully with her family by her bedside at the age of 98 on June 16, 2022. She was born in Lansing, Michigan on May 23, 1924, one of 10 children born to Malcolm and Aletha (Medcoff) Bollman and is the last of her siblings. Squeek at one time worked for Horner Woolen Mills, the Heifetz Pickle Company, and owned and operated a convalescent home for several years out of her home on Plains Road.
Preceding her in death was her daughter, Versavene; husband, William J.; two sons, Allen (Linda) and Gordon; and son-in-law, Conner Strader.
Surviving are her three children: Vickie Strader, Cyril (Julie) Steele, Bill (Betty) Steele; 17 grandchildren, many great grandchildren and a great-great grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews; life-long friend and neighbor, Margret Bradford; brother-in-law, David Adams of Charlotte, Michigan and sister-in-law, Marion Slusser of Stanton, Michigan.
Always the mother figure, she wrapped her wings around anyone that entered her home, like Chuck (Penny) Cooper who became just one more son to take care of.
A funeral service was held on Tuesday, June 21 at the Skinner Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Family have suggested that memorial gifts may be made to Hospice of Lansing, which enabled her to stay in the home of daughter, Vickie and the family is very grateful.

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Dorothy “Jean” Bramble, a very humble and loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend, died surrounded by her family on Sunday, June 19, 2022. Dorothy, 90, was born June 16, 1932, the daughter of Carson and Dorothy (Halbeisen) Briggs. She was a graduate of Charlotte high school class of 1950. On February 3, 1951, she married John “Michael” Bramble. Motherhood was Jean’s calling, she and Mike had 10 wonderful children, and even though she had that many children that didn’t stop Jean from working a fulltime job. She was a long-time employee at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. Jean was a very strong woman; anything she decided to do, she did. She was a self-taught woodworker, seamstress, and furniture builder. Working in her gardens was her favorite, making things grow and beautifying her landscape, she loved getting her hands dirty. Later in life she did enjoy traveling with her adult children. Her biggest passion in life was her family.
Jean is survived by her children, Kristi Bramble, Karen (Bill VanLuyn) Benardino, Margaret Hinton, Mary McCormick, Kevin Bramble, Matthew Bramble, Theresa (Steve) Blank, Kyle (Nit Choulramountry) Bramble, and Jamie (Bryan) Cushman; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and extended family members. She was predeceased by her husband, John Michael Bramble; son, Joel Bramble; sister, Shirley Briggs; brother, Jon Briggs; and her parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Jean’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. Funeral services were Thursday, June 23, 2022, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop officiating. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to The Care Team (Hospice), 756 W. Fulton Ave., Grand Rapids, MI 49504. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.

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Funeral Services:

Keith Allen Moon, 64, of Olivet, Michigan passed away on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, at home.
He was born on September 19, 1957, in Lapeer, Michigan and was adopted a year later and raised with his sister by Caroll and Margaret “Peggy” (Johnson) Moon in Olivet, Michigan. On May 18, 1990, he married Donna MacNamee in Olivet, Michigan.
Keith started working with Crandell Brother’s Trucking in Charlotte, Michigan on April 24, 2014. He loved working at Crandell’s as a truck driver and they loved him as well. He was a longtime member of the Teamsters Union.
Keith loved to joke around with people and wanted to make them laugh. He enjoyed tractor and truck pulling, mowing his yard and a good meal, of which he talked about frequently. Keith had his own drag car and raced as a hobby. Keith was a very proud member of the Olivet community. More than anything he loved being surrounded by his family.
In May of 2019 he found his biological family and enjoyed spending time with them at the racetrack watching his nephew race. He was most happy during the last years of his life getting to know them.
Keith is survived by his loving wife; Donna, his daughters; Tracy (Will) Harmeyer of Willmington, North Carolina and Hayley (Sean Farmer) Moon of Marshall, Michigan; his stepsons, Richard (Megan) Waara of Lake Orion, Michigan, Nick Waara of Vermontville, Michigan. He is also survived by five grandchildren and nine brothers and sisters.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A celebration of Keith’s life will take place at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to the family.
Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 205 N. Elizabeth St., Bellevue, Michigan 49021. Please visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the on line guest book or to leave the family condolences.

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Funeral Services:

Donald D. Wertz, age 76, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 17, 2022, at Eaton Community Palliative Care with his family by his side. He was born March 23, 1946, in Battle Creek the son of Duane and Martha (Welch) Wertz. On June 25, 1966, he married Linda K. Bartlett. Donny along with his brothers, owned and operated Wertz & Company in Charlotte, which was started by their father in 1946. They sold John Deere Equipment, Polaris Snowmobiles, and Hydrodyne Boats. He was also the proud owner of Donny’s Office in Charlotte for several years. Donny loved old cars, vintage aircraft, and snowmobiles. In 1999, his 1959 Dodge took “Best Restored” at the Goodguys Motor City Nationals and was pictured in the August edition of the Goodguys Gazette Magazine. This was only one of several awards he obtained over the years. He was able to attend the Oshkosh Air Show and fly an AT6 Texan which was used to train pilots from WWII until the 1970’s. Donny was a volunteer with the Charlotte Fire Department for many years and a member of the Charlotte Rotary Club and Eagles Aerie 3552. He also served as chairman for the Frontier Days Rodeo.
Donny is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Linda; sons, Jeffrey (Shannon) Wertz of Charlotte, Todd (Beth) Wertz of Charlotte; grandchildren, Riley, Cameron, Dominic, Gabriel, and Sophia Wertz; siblings, Darry (Dee) Wertz of Charlotte, Angie (Fred) Earl of Cadillac; numerous nieces, nephews, and countless friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings, Dennis (Carla) Wertz and Marcia (Tom) Dewey.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Monday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service on Tuesday.
Those desiring may make contributions in Donny’s memory to Eaton Community Palliative Care or the Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department.
To view Donny’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com

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Funeral Services:

Violet Emma McCrimmon, age 93, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 22, 2022. She was born August 3, 1928, in Humble, Michigan the daughter of Homer and Valiria (Wagner) Crandell. Violet was a fiercely devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She worked hard her entire life to ensure that her family always had what they needed. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed camping with family, fishing, crocheting, and reading. Violet was a fabulous homemaker and ensured that her household operated like a well-oiled machine.
Violet is survived by her children, Duane (Kathy) Thompson of Charlotte, Karen (Keith) Tropp of Potterville, Ranee (Chuck Carey) Wickwire of Charlotte, Carla (Don) Neighbert of Olivet; seven grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; siblings, Frank (Ruth) Crandell of Charlotte, Raymond (Connie) Crandell of Arizona, Doris White of Arizona; and countless nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Floyd; daughter, Susan Knight; grandson, Jason Broskey; siblings, Billy Crandell, Darrell Crandell, Jerry Crandell, and Jeanette Howard.
A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, at 1 P.M. at Maple Hill Cemetery with Pastor Charles Jenson officiating.
Those desiring may make contributions in Violet’s memory to Eaton Community Palliative Care.
To view Violet’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com

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Funeral Services:

William Kenneth “Ken” Cool, 81, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on June 21, 2022, surrounded by his loving family.  Ken was born on September 19, 1940, in Lansing, Michigan to William and Beulah Cool. Growing up in Webberville, Michigan, Ken first attended a one-room country school, then Webberville High School. He graduated from Michigan State University and went on to earn a master’s degree from Western Michigan University. Proudly serving his country, Ken was in the U.S. Army, 2nd Infantry Division, with part of his time including a tour with the 304th Signal Battalion in Seoul, South Korea. In civilian life, Ken enjoyed a long career in accounting and public administration, spending the last years of his employment working for the State of Michigan’s Department of Education. Ken had numerous hobbies and interests, including international travel, cutting wood from the family acreage, financial planning and investments, and staying physically active. After his retirement, Ken continued working as a volunteer, sharing his talents preparing taxes and helping where needed at Charlotte’s Senior Center as well as assisting with the democratic process, in which he deeply believed, by serving as a poll worker for local, state, and federal elections.
Perhaps Ken’s greatest interest, however, was spending time with his beloved family. On January 2, 1965, in Michigan State University’s Alumni Chapel, Ken married Sarah Garfield. When asked to share about the beginning of their relationship, he wrote recently that he was simply “enchanted” with Sarah. Theirs was a marriage, a friendship, and a true partnership that lasted fifty-seven years. Ken is survived by Sarah. Others who survive Ken, and who will remember him for his honesty, gentleness, patriotism, humility, generosity, tolerance, intelligence, and quick sense of humor, are his three children; Susan (Mike) Hall of Ludington, Mike (Anne) Cool of Cadillac, and Jennifer (Todd) Davlin of Portland; numerous nieces and nephews, as well as his grandchildren: Tom Hall, Julia Hall, Jeffrey Davlin, Jill Cool, Sarah Davlin, Ellie Cool, and Marian Davlin, who survive him with memories of time spent around the water at his Duck Lake family home and on vacations together, shared stories and jokes around campfires and at family gatherings, and a smart, witty, loving, tech-savvy, involved Grampy who was deeply interested in each of their lives and who knew and accepted each of them lovingly and unconditionally. Ken was preceded in death by his mother and father as well as by his brother, Robert A. Cool.
The family invited friends to join them in a time of visitation at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, Michigan, on Friday, June 24, from 2-4:00 p.m. and from 6-8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday, June 25 at 11:00 a.m., with a period of visitation beginning just prior to the service at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Eaton Area Senior Center. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Ken on his tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com/obituaries/William-Cool/ The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.

December 14, 1943 - April 13, 2022

Funeral Services: July 23, 2022

Visitation: Memorial service at 1:00 PM, July 23, 2022, at Unionville Village Park, Unionville, Mich.

Lawrence “Larry” Cartwright, 78, of Washington, DC (formerly of Charlotte) passed away on April 13, 2022, in Bethesda, Maryland of COPD and congestive heart failure.
All are welcome to join a memorial gathering at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, July 23, 2022, at Unionville Village Park, Pickle St., Unionville, Mich. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to Camp Nebagamon Charities (cncharities.org).
Larry was predeceased by his grandparents Harry and Mildred (Morford) Cartwright, Frances “Frank” and Florence (Comment) Lenhard; his parents, Bob and Marie (Lenhard) Cartwright; and his ex-wife, Roberta (Jamsen) Cartwright.
He is survived by daughter, Sarah Cartwright; son-in-law Scott (McDermott) Cartwright; granddaughter, Shan Shan L. Cartwright of Washington, DC; and five younger sisters: Kathie (Lynn) Abke of Bad Axe, Colleen (Dave) Schoenfeldt of Macomb, Holly (Dan) Geurts of Gladstone, Bonnie (Rick) Ziesemer of Bay City, and Tracy (Paul) Kemp of Sebewaing, and many beloved niblings and cousins.
Lawrence Robert Cartwright was born on December 14, 1943, in Saginaw to parents Robert Morford Cartwright and Helen Marie (Lenhard) Cartwright. Larry grew up in Unionville and graduated in 1961 at the top of his class. He attended Michigan Technological University and transferred to Michigan State University where he graduated with a B.S. in mathematics and secondary education.
Larry worked as a counselor and administrator at Camp Nebagamon in Lake Nebagamon, Wisc. from 1962-1978. It was truly where he was happiest. As a counselor, he lived in the rough for weeks at a time. He later worked as assistant director.
Larry taught high school mathematics from 1968-1974 in Bay City, Mich., where he met Roberta Lynn Jamsen at the Bay City Players community theatre group. Larry and Berta were married March 16, 1974, in Unionville. They moved to St. Louis, Missouri for two years, during which their daughter, Sarah, was born.
He taught high school physics, photography, and mathematics in Charlotte, Mich. from 1976-2001. “Mr. C” was well-known for promoting lab science with colorful demonstrations. He was especially proud that several of his students went on to attend the US Navy’s highly selective NNPTC nuclear power program.
Larry and Roberta separated in 2012. They each moved separately to Washington, DC, to be closer to their daughter and her family. Ever the educator, Larry organized weekly cultural programs and trivia nights for his apartment community. He was an avid technologist and also self-published several novels.
He will be remembered for his kindness, acceptance, astronomy lessons, and truly stunning gardening skills. A memorial service is planned for 1:00 p.m., July 23, 2022, at Unionville Village Park, Unionville, Mich.

Funeral Arrangements by: family

introduce their Daughter

Weight: Hazel: 5 lb, 11 oz Elizabeth: 6 lb, 4 oz Height: Hazel: 18.5 in Elizabeth: 19.5 in

Born May 18, 2022

James and Alison McRae of Charlotte proudly announce the birth of their fraternal twin daughters, Hazel Shirley and Elizabeth Rose McRae, on May 18, 2022. Hazel was born at 8:24 a.m., 5lb, 11oz, 18.5 in long and Elizabeth was born at 8:26 a.m., 6lb, 4oz, 19.5 in long. They were welcomed by grandparents Jim and Vicki Tuma and Brett and Cathy McRae of Charlotte, Uncle Andy Tuma, Aunt Amanda Slack, and Aunt Charron McRae.

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Janet Gail Garner, 86, passed away on June 9, 2022. A Charlotte resident, she worked as a Glassworker at OI. Arrangements by Pray Funeral home.

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Funeral Services:

With sadness and love, the family of Helen Marie Brzycki, 89, of Olivet, Michigan, announces her passing on Monday, June 13, 2022. She died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family. Helen was born on June 15, 1932, to Joseph and Mary (Solar) Maresh in Marshall, Michigan. On June 25, 1949, she married Zygmunt Brzycki at St. Mary Catholic Church in Marshall, Michigan. Helen was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Bellevue, Michigan and the PNA Club in Battle Creek, Michigan. She loved to polka dance, travel, bake, garden, birdwatch, overfeed her cat, and play board games and card games. Helen will be missed for her distinctive cooking, especially of traditional Polish and Slovak dishes. When her grandchildren were growing up, she enjoyed spending time teaching them about their heritage through cooking and attending Polish dances. She was a loving cheerful person who was happiest spending time with her family. Helen is survived by her children: Michael Brzycki of Nashville, Richard (Linda) Brzycki of Charlotte, Susan (Alan) Patterson of Bellevue, Patricia (Brian) Bridson of Laingsburg, and Diane Schmidt of Okemos; her grandchildren: Kristen (Tim) of Nashville, Jeremy of Vermontville, Jeffrey of Hastings, Angela (Joe) of Charlotte, Adam of Olivet, Joseph of Vermontville, Jacob of Bellevue, Emily of Kentwood, Leah (Ben) of Haslett, Marlena of Lyons, and Sheila (Matthew) of Fowlerville; her great-grandchildren: Jessica, Donald, Alex, Kaitlyn, Cameron, Caleb, Katie, Fiona, Charlie, Stevie, Andie, Cheylynn, and Lilyann; and her great-great-grandchildren: Jalyn and Robbie. She was preceded in death by her husband Zygmunt, her parents Joseph and Mary Maresh, and her siblings: Margaret Eipper, Josephine Perry, Frank Maresh, Julia Gavenda, Mary Ann Maresh, and Tony Maresh. Friends are invited to say a final goodbye on Monday, June 20, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church in Bellevue, Michigan with the Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 11:00 a.m. Fr. Dwight Ezop will officiate. Burial will take place in the West Carmel Cemetery, Carmel Township, Michigan. Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 205 N. Elizabeth St. Bellevue, Michigan 49021. Please visit www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guest book or to leave the family condolences.