Obituaries
June F. Johncock
June F. Johncock, age 90, was called home to Jesus on August 16, 2024, from her home in Olivet, Michigan. She was born to Fred and Laura (Blausey) Kunkel, September 11, 1933, in Shelbyville, Michigan. The family moved to a larger farm in Eaton Rapids in 1943 to raise onions. After graduating, she married Robert Johncock on December 31, 1952, after the New Year’s Eve church service at First Lutheran Church, in Charlotte, Michigan.
June and Robert raised their children on a farm, in Olivet. June became a secretary for the Olivet Community School Superintendent. She attended KCC and Western Michigan University to become a teacher. June taught 21 years at Bellevue Elementary School. After retiring, she helped homeschool her grandchildren.
June was a longtime member of Zion Lutheran Church. Faith was very important to June, and she was involved in Lutheran Women’s Missionary League and was also a Sunday school teacher. She enjoyed attending Bible studies and reading her devotionals. June also loved to travel with her family, and they visited all over the United States, including Alaska, Maine, Texas, and Florida. She had also traveled to Germany and Jerusalem.
June is survived by her children Susan (David) Moody of Olivet, Michigan and Steven (Diane) Johncock of Frostproof, Florida and Bellevue, Michigan; grandchildren Elizabeth Moody, Jonathan Moody, Nathan Moody, Joseph Moody, and Nehemiah Moody; great-grandchildren Isabelle Moody, Tobias Moody, and Juniper Moody.
She was preceded in death by her husband Robert; siblings Alfred Wittman, Lao Kunkel, Eleanor Vasques, Louisa Nail, Mae Getter, Dale Kunkel, and Ronald Kunkel; and her parents.
June is at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services where visitation took place on Friday, August 23, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will take place at Zion Lutheran Church on Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Anthony Voltattorni officiating. June will be laid to rest at Rose Hill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids, Michigan
For memorial donation, please consider Zion Lutheran Church.
Rev. Arthur Robert Salisbury
Rev. Arthur Robert Salisbury, a loyal husband and father lived his life as his testimony to Christ. He passed peacefully at home in Idaho on Thursday, August 15, 2024. Arthur moved to Idaho to be near his children and grandchildren after his loving wife, Norma Salisbury passed in August of 2021. He wasborn in Lapeer, Michigan on February 27, 1932, to Hilda and Elmer Salisbury. He grew up and attended school in the rural area of Lapeer, that is where he met his future bride Norma, and they married on August 11, 1951.
Arthur was always helping the people around him and abroad, including many trips to different countries and mission fields. He was involved in the community, as a minister, on the School Board, Eaton County Sheriff Chaplin, as well as instrumental in the creation and operation of the first Eaton County Drug Counseling Center.
He loved construction work, during his time as pastor of the Charlotte Church of the Nazarene, with the help of the men in the congregation, the sanctuary was completely remodeled, and the basement was dug out by hand with a chapel and classrooms added. He also loved masonry work, building many split stone, marble, and sandstone fireplaces over the years.
Arthur is survived by his children, son, Arvid (Katie) Salisbury, and daughter, Arla (Lee) Barnhill; five grandchildren, Jenica Lawrence, Astin Salisbury, Brock Salisbury, Cody Barnhill, and MaLeesha Wilmoth; and 11 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Norma Elaine Salisbury and his parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Arthur’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was Friday, August 23, 2024, from 7– 9:00 p.m., at Pray Funeral Home. Funeral services are Saturday, August 24, 2024, at 1 p.m. at New Faith Church of the Nazarene in Charlotte with Pastor Tom Surdenik 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 Arthur’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 Horizon Home Care Hospice of Meridian, Idaho. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Edna Marie Schumacher
Edna Marie (Snider) Schumacher, an avid reader and very knowledgeable, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister, died on Friday, August 16, 2024, in Hale, MI. Edna, 85, of Charlotte was born on January 17, 1939, in Salem, West Virginia, the daughter of Arnold and Mabel (Swiger) Snider. Being one of 13 children, her older brother challenged her that if she did well in school, he would help her with college. Edna excelled in school and was the Reader High School Salutatorian which earned her a scholarship to Marshall University. She later earned her master’s from Western Michigan University. On September 26, 1962, she married William “Lee” Schumacher, and together they started a family and created many lasting memories.
Edna was a lifelong member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte. She was the school librarian for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic School from 1993-2003 after being a high school librarian for the public schools for 35 years. Most of her career was spent at Olivet High School, where she also taught English; the students nicknamed her “Mrs. Kotter.” Edna and Lee spent their summers on Long Lake in Hale, MI at the family cabin. Once she retired, they moved to the family cabin on Long Lake. Other hobbies that she enjoyed included thrifting, garage sales, watching history shows, Johnny Carson Late Night TV, traveling around the US, bird watching, cooking, and most importantly having visitors and spending time with her family.
Edna is survived by her husband, Lee; children John Schumacher, Tama (Fred Wieting IV) Boucher, and Shyla Tailor; grandchildren, Jessica (Greg) Adamczyk, Julie (Jason) Baker, Rhiana Tailor and India Tailor; great-grandchildren, Cole, Emma, Jameson, Carson; siblings, Mary Snider, Trixie J. Robinson, and Shirley Thorne; and several extended family members. She was predeceased by her parents, and several siblings.
Friends are encouraged to support Edna’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Funeral services were Friday, August 23, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop officiating. Visitation was held just prior to the service at the church from 10-11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. 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 Edna’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 Charlotte Community Library. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Robert Ronald West
Robert Ronald West, age: 75, from Charlotte, Michigan passed away on August 15, 2024. A service was held on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Arrangements by Pray Funeral Home, Inc.
Rozena Kathleen Tennant
Rozena “Rose” Kathleen Tennant, a proud mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister, died just shy of her 80th birthday on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Rose, 79, of Eaton Rapids, was born on July 29, 1944, in Stockbridge the daughter of Harry and Helen (Lutz) Hoffman. In 1971 Rose married Ernest David Tennant and together they created many lasting memories until his passing in 2022. Others knew Rose for her hospitality, she loved cooking and baking and giving her treats to others around the neighborhood. Rose turned back to her German Heritage every Christmas and made the best German Christmas cookies. She kept a very neat and tidy home extending to her flowerbeds, as there were never weeds to be found. Family meant the world to Rose. As a family there were the trips around the country, camping trips, supporting her boys with scouts, and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Rose is survived by her son, Troy Tennant; stepson, Kyle (LeAnn) Tennant; grandchildren, Alexis (Russell) Pliley, Ryan (Maisie) Tennant, Stephan Tennant, and Connor Tennant; five great-grandchildren; brother, Clifford (Christine) Hoffman; and dear friend, Sally Boehlke. She was predeceased by her husband of 50 years, Ernest; son, Tim Tennant; sister, Mary Kill; and her parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Rozena’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was Saturday, July 20, 2024, 10-11:00 a.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte with a funeral service following at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Todd McLane 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 Rose’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smartphone). If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Oaklawn Hospice or the Faith Assembly of God. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.