Obituaries
Ruth Ann Thuma
Ruth Ann Thuma, age 88, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, June 22, 2025. Born on October 15, 1936, in Lansing, the daughter of Frederick and Mary (Perrin) Cleeves.
Ruth moved with her family to Eaton Rapids at the age of three and graduated with the Eaton Rapids High School Class of 1955. She married Art Thuma on June 9, 1956 and together they had three children. Over the years, Ruth held a variety of jobs, including positions at the Accident Fund Insurance, Sears in Lansing, Weight Watchers, and also worked as an Avon representative. However, her most cherished role was a homemaker and a devoted mother to her three children she shared with Art Thuma.
Ruth was a faithful and longtime attendee of First Baptist Church in Eaton Rapids. In her free time, she enjoyed crafting, painting, needlework, baking, and working on puzzles.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her granddaughter, Jennifer (Thuma) Schmidt; and her siblings, Robert Cleeves, Kenneth Cleeves, Frederick Cleeves, Dorothy King, and Jack Cleeves.
Ruth is survived by her children, Wayne (Marla) Thuma, Rodney (Sue) Thuma, and Sheri Thuma; her grandchildren, Josh (Sabrina) Thuma and Ethan (Sondra) Thuma, Harrison Thuma; great-grandchildren, Brady Thuma and Abigail Schmidt; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Eaton Rapids. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church in memory of Ruth A. Thuma.
To share memories or leave online condolences, please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Karon Rae Pewoski
Karon Rae Pewoski of Charlotte, passed away June 22, 2025, at the age of 77. Karon was born in Lansing, Michigan on January 16, 1948, the daughter of Raymond and Bernice (Lott) Colbath. She retired after over 35 years of service for General Motors. Karon was a big fan of baseball and loved her Detroit Tigers. She was an animal lover of all kinds. Above all else, Karon was a very generous person, she would give you the shirt off her back.
She is survived by her daughter, Kristen (Matthew) Grubaugh of Eaton Rapids; stepchildren, Cindy Pewoski of Charlotte, Jon (Michelle) Pewoski of Hastings; grandchildren, Michael, Nathan, Madison (Justice), Kylie, Landon, Alexis, Jeffrey; great grandchild, Scarlett; siblings, Bonnie Jordan, Sharon (Rodger) Craft, Sam (May Pouzar) Colbath as well as several nieces and nephews. Karon was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Stanley Pewoski; nephew, Derek Sadler.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society in loving memory of Karon Rae Pewoski. To leave condolences for the family, visit our website www.millsfuneral.com.
Joe Thomas Darrow
Joe Thomas Darrow, 63, of Eaton Rapids, passed away peacefully on June 20, 2025, surrounded by family after a long and courageous battle with Primary Progressive Aphasia. Joe was born on September 6, 1961, in Mason, Michigan to Thomas and Lois Darrow.
After graduating from Mason High School, Joe began his career in cable and later transitioned into telecommunications. He possessed a vast knowledge of the business and a remarkable talent for problem-solving, so much so that whenever an issue came up, the go-to response was always, “Ask Joe.”
A passionate outdoorsman since childhood, Joe found great joy in hunting, golfing, and disc golfing. More than anything, he cherished the time spent with his children and grandchildren. He loved his family deeply and made it his mission to keep them laughing with his quick wit and legendary pranks. Joe’s sense of humor, contagious laughter, and joy for life left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of knowing him. He will be profoundly missed. Joe was one of a kind, unforgettable, irreplaceable, and loved beyond words.
He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Jill Diane Darrow; his children, Tyler Joseph Darrow and Carly Diane (Kyle) Hardy; his parents, Thomas and Lois Darrow; his sisters, Pam (Doug) Darrow Sieb and Kim Darrow Sutliff; and his beloved grandchildren, Fiona Lucille and Easton James.
A Celebration of Life honoring Joe will be held on Sunday, September 28, at the Michigan Wildlife Conservancy, Bengel Wildlife Center, 6380 Drumheller Road, Bath Township, MI. A brief memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m., followed by food, fellowship, and shared memories from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (AFTD). Your generous gift will bring help and hope to all who are affected by FTD. Donations in memory of Joe may be made online at www.theaftd.org
Alberta Louise Bailey
Alberta “Bert” Louise Bailey, a remarkable woman who passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at the age of 92, left behind a legacy of love, resilience, and a passion for horses. Born on March 27, 1933, in Lynchburg, Ohio, Bert was the daughter of Quiton and Helen (Spurlock) Caplinger.
Bert’s life took her to Eaton Rapids, Michigan, where she attended school and later embarked on a journey of raising her three daughters as a single mother. Throughout her career, she held diverse jobs, including roles at the Vic & Billie’s Party Store, Lansing Country Club, American Bank & Trust, General Motors, and as a bus driver for Springport Public Schools. However, her true calling lay in her love for horses.
Bert’s dedication to horses was unwavering. She spent countless hours raising, training, and breeding Arabian horses, eventually transitioning to training and racing Thoroughbreds. Her passion for racing led her on thrilling adventures across the country, taking her to iconic destinations like Chicago, Miami, California, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Outside of her professional life, Bert enjoyed gardening, crocheting, and connecting with others. Known as a social butterfly and “one of a kind,” she brought warmth and energy to every room. She was also a former member of Griffith United Methodist Church.
Bert is survived by her daughters, Robbie Bailey, Sandy (Roger) Bailey Bristol, and Suzette Randall; her grandchildren, Jimi (Wendy) Fall, Nicole Bristol, Toni Pitcher, and Brandi Lee; and her great-granddaughter, Mya Bough. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Robert Faurot & Clifford Bailey; and her daughter, Suzanne Kaczor.
A celebration of Bert’s life will be held at Falsetta’s Casa Nova, located at 138 S. Waverly Rd., Lansing, MI on Saturday, July 12, 2025, from noon to 2:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to the Capitol Area Humane Society in her name.
To share memories or offer condolences, please visit: www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com
William Andrew Lindsey II
William “Bill” or “Willie” Andrew Lindsey II, 55, of Olivet, Michigan, a very gifted mechanic with a big heart, passed away on June 21, 2025 surrounded by the love of his family. Born on March 1, 1970, in Alma, Michigan, Bill was the eldest of three children born to Gordon James Lindsey and Mary Anna (Macha) Lindsey. From a young age, he loved playing outside, taking things apart just to see how they worked, and helping his dad with their many projects. He learned so much from watching and assisting his dad.
As he grew, Bill discovered the things that brought him the most joy-working on and building trucks and cars, lifting weights, cranking up loud music, and making the people around him laugh. Bill and his family created a space that felt like home to so many-especially the kids who spent countless hours in the yard wrenching on their cars and making memories. His big laugh, infectious smile, and even bigger heart left an impression on everyone he met.
Bill spent many years working on local dairy farms in the Ithaca/Middleton area before finding his place at Bader and Sons, now Hutsons Inc. where he became an irreplaceable service technician. Known for his uncanny ability to diagnose a problem just by listening to an engine, his mechanical gifts were accompanied by his kindness and the pristine detail he brought to his work.
He made his home in Alma, Michigan, where he proudly raised his two older children, born in 1999 Morgan Rae Lindsey, and in 2003 Jacob William Lindsey. Later in life, by what he called an unexpected event, Bill met his “love of my life,” Dawn Marie Lupini. The two settled and made their forever home in Olivet, Michigan, where they are raising their daughter, born in 2016, Vanessa Rosetta Lindsey.
In Olivet, Bill had the space to enjoy what he loved to do, work in his shop, clean and detail his cars, trucks, or many toys and took great pride in keeping his property immaculately maintained. He loved order, beauty, and precision-whether it was his lawn, his vehicles, or his hair.
Bill put his family first and was a shining example of what it means to be a loyal friend, devoted partner, proud and present father, hard worker, loving son and brother. He understood the art of forgiveness, responsibility and courage. His brief illness was due to a genetic disorder within his heart that came on swift and unexpected.
Bill will be deeply missed and forever remembered by those who knew and loved him, including his wife, Dawn; daughters, Vanessa and Morgan; son, Jacob; mother, Mary Lindsey; brother, Gordon James Lindsey, and sister, Holly Anna Lindsey-Meyers (David); brother-in-law, Darin Lupini (Melissa). He is also survived by his beloved nieces and nephews: Avery, Hazel, Raelyn, Michelle (Nick), Andrew, Matthew and Anna, along with his great nephews and niece; Mother and fathers-in-law Pam (Gordon) Harder and Dean (Laura) Lupini; many loyal and loving aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and coworkers. Bill was preceded in death by his father, Gordon Lindsey.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, with location to be determined. A sincere thank you to all those who have sent their support, condolences, love and prayers.
Friends are encouraged to support the Lindsey’s family by attending services or sharing memories on Bill’s Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Vanessa Lindsey College Fund in the care of Dawn Lindsey. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.