Obituaries
Emily Frances Hills Byrens
Emily Frances Hills Byrens passed away on Christmas Day, surrounded by family. She was born December 14, 1932, in Battle Creek, Michigan. She was the daughter of Helen Hope (Sackett) Hills and Dr. Carlon Russel Hills.
She grew up in Battle Creek and was very involved in music and the arts. She graduated from Michigan State College in 1953 and Union Theological Seminary in New York City two years later with a Master of Sacred Music degree.
While at Union, she met her future husband, Danford M. Byrens, who survives her after a marriage of sixty-seven years. Their shared love of music brought joy to their lives and the lives of those around them.
Emily and Dan had seven children who survive her: Margaret and Kent Kuiper of Bellevue, Dave and Kim Byrens of Marshall, Dan and Kim Byrens of Duck Lake, Robert Byrens and Jerome Nickels of Grand Rapids, Steve and Sonia Byrens of Marshall, Sue and Mike Wilson of Marshall, and Tracy and Rick Mulligan of Richmond, Virginia. They were blessed with thirty-two grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.
Throughout the years, they brought their musical talents to churches around the state and the country, including: First Congregational Church of Battle Creek, St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Battle Creek, Trinity Episcopal Church of Marshall, and Olivet Congregational Church. In addition, they joined the music faculty at Olivet College where they served for many years.
Emily returned to school in the 1960’s and earned a registered nursing degree from Kellogg Community College. Soon she was juggling three jobs to support her family while Dan worked two himself. However, she always found time to attend her children’s many sporting events and performances.
After retiring from Olivet College, they accepted teaching positions in the music department at Silliman University in the Philippines where they made many lifelong friends.
After spending several years and serving a variety of musical positions in a Tennessee retirement community, Emily and Dan returned to the Olivet/Marshall area where they were surrounded by family and friends, including her nephew, Mike Love, and his wife Karla.
Emily was a truly amazing woman: wife, mother, teacher and friend who will be missed by all.
The family will hold a celebration of her life in the spring. If you feel moved to celebrate her memory, please make a contribution to Olivet College in her name in lieu of flowers.
Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, 723 US Hwy. 27 N., Marshall, Michigan 49068. Please visit www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guest book or to leave the family condolences.
Richard A. Holz
Richard A. Holz, age 77 of Charlotte, passed away on Monday, December 26, 2022, at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. He was born August 16, 1945, in Mount Clemens, Michigan the son of Frederick and Virginia (Wilkinson) Holz. On May 14, 1967, he married Mary Alice Allen in Muskegon. Richard had a passion for landscaping. He made sure that all of the lawns he worked on were impeccably groomed and sculpted. He also worked as a truck driver and enjoyed it as well. In his spare time he liked to canoe, camp, and spend time with those he loved most.
He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary; daughter, Christina Kay (James Yeomans) Holz of Olivet; son, Richard David Holz of Sunfield and special friend Autumn Osterman of Tennessee; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; sisters, Diane (Gary) Schwab of Hendersonville, NC and Deborah (Dennis) Pumford of Macdoel, CA.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents; mother and father-in-law, Eugene and Irene (Wimberley) Allen; brothers-in-law, Larry Allen and Mike Carpenter.
Funeral services were held on Friday, December 30, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Lansing Seventh Day Adventist Church, 5400 W. St. Joe Hwy., Lansing, MI 48917 with visitation being held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. just prior to the service. A graveside service followed at 1:30 p.m. at the Gresham Cemetery located in Chester Township, Eaton County, Michigan.
Those desiring may make contributions in Richard’s memory to the Greater Lansing Seventh Day Adventist School, 5330 W. St. Joe Hwy., Lansing, MI 48917.
To view Richard’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com.
The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.
Anita Russell
Anita Jayne Russell, age 85, of Olivet, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 20, 2022. She was born August 20, 1937, in Marshall, the daughter of Jake and Effie (Guyton) Shreve. On September 30, 1955, she married Joseph Lee Russell. Anita was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. In her younger years when money was scarce, she would often take her children for a picnic at a local roadside park. Anita also enjoyed sewing. She made doll clothes, clothing for her children, and patched many pair of jeans until it was patches upon patches. Anita and Joe enjoyed attending grange parties and square-dancing together. She canned and preserved foods for her family of seven up into her 70’s and prepared bountiful meals every Christmas, Thanksgiving, and for many family reunions. Anita enjoyed reading the FoxFire series of books throughout the years and her extended family was known for their wild game dishes. She had a sense of humor and will be remembered for her feisty personality.
Anita is survived by her children: Jan (Matthew Taylor) Russell of Olivet, Joe (Angela) Russell II of Olivet, John Russell of Olivet, and Joni (Will) White of Charlotte; grandchildren: Daniel (Angela Porter) Corralez, Justin Corralez, Joshua (Kelly) Russell, Jordan (Casey) Russell, Zach (Ashley) Russell; seven great-grandchildren: Audrey, Amelia, and Jay Lee Russell, Kaius Russell and Keion Adams, Oliver and Calvin Russell.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 63 years, Joseph; daughter, Judy Langridge; four sisters; and three brothers.
In keeping with Anita’s wishes, cremation has taken place and a graveside service at Bosworth Cemetery will be held at a later date.
Those desiring may make contributions in Anita’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org.
To view Anita’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com.
The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.
George Theunick
George Aloysius Theunick, known as “Fisherman George” by his family and friends, passed from this life on Saturday, December 24, 2022. George was born in Cheboygan, Michigan on January 27, 1953, and started his career as a mason for Marco Masonry when he moved to the Lansing area. He had a hand in building many of the landmark buildings in the Lansing area and would proudly point out “his work” and tell a bit of history about each one as he drove around the area with family.
George married Deborah Brown on November 11, 1978, in Marion, Michigan. George and Deb considered their home near Duck Lake to be a little bit of heaven, with woods and the lake close by. His favorite place to be was by the water, which included a beach, wading a river, and walking a bank. His favorite pastime was fishing, casting a line, reeling it in, all the while creating an abundance of fish stories. He and Deb would spend days fishing and sometimes Deb could keep up as they waded a stream or fished the shore of Platte River Bay.
George and Deb loved going on adventures, canoeing and camping resulting in many “adventure” stories. George’s last big adventure was crossing into Wisconsin on the S.S. Badger. Although fishing was George’s passion, he just loved the outdoors. He enjoyed tending the garden and being out in the woods hunting and trapping, too.
George had an artistic bent, as well, demonstrated in his love of drawing and painting. Recently he brought his own kiln home and made fused glass creations. These included pictures, jewelry, and one of his favorites, a large platter decorated with, what else, a fish!
George loved his family and friends: euchre with his buddies on Fridays and then with his Duck Lake Party Store gang every morning. His granddaughters, Adalyn, Clara, and Lily captivated his heart though, he adored them.
George is survived by his wife, Deborah; his daughter, Elizabeth (Daniel) Fulgham; granddaughters, Lily, Adalyn, and Clara; sister, Irene (Ken) Oliphant; and niece, Jessica. He was predeceased by his father, James Theunick; grandma, Irene Frechen; and aunt and uncle, Betty and Dave Crowner.
Friends are encouraged to support George’s family at visitation and funeral services. Funeral services were Friday, December 30 at 11:00 a.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with Greg Rinehart officiating.
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 George’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 the Parkinson’s Foundation. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Shelley Lueck
Shelley Lueck, age 55, of Lansing, passed away at her home on Saturday, December 24, 2022.
Shelley loved to ride horses and barrel raced when she was younger. She enjoyed listening to music, going to church, and spending time with her family.
Surviving Shelley is her mother and stepfather, Jeanne and Dave Kalczynski; daughter, Chelsey Piercefield; grandson, Clayton Conrad; sister, Kimm (Mike) Friar; brothers, Cory Kalczynski and Jason (Melissa) Kalczynski; many aunts and uncles; and several nieces and nephews.
Shelley was preceded in death by her father, Bill Lueck and her grandparents, George and Blanche Slee and Keith and Doris Hunter.
A celebration of Shelley’s life is being planned for a later date.
For those wanting to make a memorial donation in Shelley’s memory the family suggests you direct them to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
To leave an online condolence or share a favorite memory of Shelley, please go to www.SimpsonFamilyFuneralHomes.com.