Obituaries
Daniel Robert Hamel
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.
Posted by Design | July 27, 2023
Mary Ann Arnold
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.
Posted by Design | July 20, 2023
Charles A. Gardner
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.
Posted by Design | July 20, 2023
William Murray Horton
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.
Posted by Design | July 20, 2023
Dorothy Ann Cummings Foster
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.
Posted by Design | July 20, 2023
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