Obituaries
Ruth Bus
Ruth Bus of Kalamazoo passed away February 28, 2022 surrounded by her family. Ruth was born in Hastings, MI on July 8, 1954 the daughter of Ernest and Dolores (Hollister) Herman. She was employed by State Farm Insurance as a Claims Processor. Ruth was a published poet. She enjoyed crocheting, crafting, Faith, sewing, painting, cooking and baking. Ruth was known for her potato salad, apple pie, and fudge. Ruth loved southern gospel music, hiking in her favorite season (fall), salmon fishing after being taught how by Tim, and going camping for a week at a time in Northern Lower Michigan. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Christopher Good. Ruth is survived by her husband Timothy, whom she married August 31, 2010 in Swedeberg, NE. Also surviving are her children and grandchildren whom she loved dearly: Angel and Kyle Christopher of Vermontville, MI.; Dean Beardslee of VA.; Nicole and Zac Soderberg of Olivet, MI.; Deah and Robert Ayles III of Eaton Rapids; Laura and Keith Edwards of Charlotte; step children: Diane Haddad of Eaton Rapids, Robert and Melissa Good of Eaton Rapids, and Christopher Bus of Kalamazoo; 31 grandchildren, siblings: Karen and Bart Dempsy and Stephan Herman, all of Vermontville, MI.; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Memorial services will be held in April – please contact family members for information. Memorials may be made to Centrica Care Navigators. Arrangements by Redmond Funeral Home, Kalamazoo. www.redmondfuneralhomes.net
Norman L. Stadel
Norman Lee Stadel, 76, a man of the outdoors and life-long “big kid,” died peacefully at home on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Norman was born March 21, 1945 in Charlotte, the son of Norman DeVere and Thelma Irene (Barlond) Stadel. He graduated from Bellevue High School in 1963 and soon after married the love of his life, Mary French on June 18, 1966. The two happily raised their family on the Stadel family farm, the same house where Norman lived his entire life. Norman worked 16 years at Airway in Olivet before 25 years at Bosch Fuel Systems in Kentwood, where he retired in 2005. At home on the farm, Norman loved the outdoors, especially hunting, fishing and farming. He could often be found tinkering and fixing just about anything. Even in his last days he was adamant about cleaning the chimney out on his own. He was an independent man and stubborn, but he held a soft place in his heart for animals and, above all, his family.
Norman is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Stadel; their children, Donna Robinson, Norman (Vanessa Jeffers) Stadel, Jr., Debra (Daniel) Glasscock, and Michael (Spring) Stadel; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother-in-law, Floyd Walker; and his extended French family, Charlotte Donaldson, Georgia Farr, Ruth French, Wilma Ketchum, Chuck French, Sr., Marty French, Sr., Rick French, and Bill French, Jr.; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Ruth Walker and Linda Clarke; brother-in-law, Dean Clarke; and his parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Norman’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his tribute page at www.prayfuneral.com. A Funeral Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 14, 2022 at Pray Funeral Home with Pastor Lester DeGroot officiating. Visitation will be from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m., just prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will take place in Kalamo Hillside Cemetery. If desired, please plant a tree in memory of Norman. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Ryan Savage
Ryan R. Savage passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, March 2, 2022 at the age of 31. Ryan was born August 21, 1990 in Lansing, Michigan to Ron and Kitti Savage.
Ryan grew up in Eaton Rapids where he attended Eaton Rapids Public Schools graduating with the Class of 2008. He attended LCC’s High Performance Engine Program. Ryan’s love for football started with his dad coaching him in the Eaton Rapids Youth Football League from Flag through the 8th grade. He continued playing until he graduated. His love of cars began before he could even walk, always having a “Hot Wheel” in his hand. Car shows became a regular hobby for he and his dad, along with his siblings, for decades. Anyone who knew Ryan, knew his love and passion for anything that had to do with cars. He continued the tradition of his dad, by coaching his son Gavin in the Leslie Youth Football Program. He and his fiancée, Sam, had just purchased their new home and were so excited to be planning a wedding, and couldn’t wait for the arrival of their son. Ryan was employed at EATON Aerospace in Jackson, MI, where his work family meant a great deal to him.
Ryan is survived by his son, Gavin; his parents; sister Elisha; brother Joshua; fiancée Samantha Bregg, her daughter, Karissa, and son, Ryan William, expected to arrive in June; Grandma Leona McLaughlin; many aunts, uncles and cousins, along with many, many friends and car buddies.
Ryan was preceded in death by his grandparents, Rick and Sally Savage, and Jim McLaughlin; and uncle, Rod McLaughlin.
Ryan’s life was honored on Tuesday, March 8 at the First United Methodist Church in Eaton Rapids. A private interment will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking that donations be made to a Trust Fund being set up for Ryan’s boys and checks may be made out and mailed directly to: Elisha Savage, 206 North Donegal, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827. Arrangements by Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids.
Sanford L. Wolf
Sanford (Sandy) Louis Wolf of Springport, passed away March 4, 2022, at the age of 67. Sandy was born in Eaton Rapids, September 22, 1954, the son of Edwin and Marilyn (Keesler) Wolf. He was a 1972 graduate of Springport High School, loved playing pool, and played on several leagues. Sandy retired in 2017 as a machinist after many years to care for his beloved wife, Debra. Classic cars were a passion of his. He owned a beautiful Cutlass convertible and proudly took it to many car shows over the years.
Sandy is survived by his brother, Steven (Diane) Wolf of Eaton Rapids; sister, Sheila Day of Olivet; several nieces and nephews, and his four fur babies. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Debra Wolf; brother, Samuel Wolf.
Funeral services were Tuesday, March 8, 2022, at the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. Those desiring may make memorial contributions to the VFW Adams-Rockey Post 6056 or the Humane Society of Michigan. To leave online condolences for the family, please visit our website, www.millsfuneral.com.
Amelia Place
Amelia (Marie) Place, a dearly loved woman, who devoted her life to the Lord, passed away on February 24, 2022. Marie, 91, was born on August 1, 1930, to Stephen and Elizabeth (Dumont) Gasper in Wyandotte, Michigan. While cheerleading a Hillsdale High School basketball game in 1946 she met her husband to be, Lyle Place and they married on her birthday, August 1, 1948, in Hillsdale, Michigan. Together, Marie and Lyle raised four children, three daughters and one son, in Hillsdale and later in Charlotte. Lyle and Marie owned and operated two businesses in Charlotte, a stained-glass door company called Charlotte Art Glass and Goosebumps, where they made ceramic and stoneware pieces as well as porcelain collector dolls. Additionally, they owned a stained-glass retail store in Lansing. Marie’s loving heart was clearly visible in the organizations she volunteered in. She volunteered with Charlotte Hospice, Meals on Wheels and Charlotte Helping Hands. She was active at: Ann Arbor Baptist Church; Gladwin Cornerstone Baptist Church; Bellevue First Baptist; First Baptist Church, Charlotte; New Hope Baptist Church, Ellington, Florida; College Baptist Church Hillsdale; and Bankers Baptist Church. Marie was active with her church, she started many prayer groups, participated with multiple prayer partners and was a witness to many non-Christians. Marie went on a medical mission trip to Haiti with her daughter, Rita, and her granddaughter, Crystal. Traveling was a big part of Marie’s life: Turkey, Alaska, and Hawaii were a few of her big trips.
Marie is survived by her children, Linda Place, and Lyle (Mary) Place II; grandchildren, Jennifer (Mark Zsoter) Lynch, Nathan Grove, Jeremy (Megan) Grove, Crystal (Patrick) Galivan, and Ryan (Amanda) Burcham; great-grandchildren, Austin, Liam, and Marielle Lynch, August Grove, Rainer, Preston, and Hadley Grove, Brielle Galivan, Elijah and Edwin Burcham. Marie was preceded by her husband, Lyle; daughters, Marcia Feldpausch and Rita Place; grandson, Ricky Burcham; brother, Louie Gasper; and her parents.
The Funeral service was held Thursday, March 3, 2022, at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastors Jonathan Barber of Ann Arbor Baptist Church and Pastor Don Francis of Bellevue Baptist Church officiating. The funeral service was webcast live so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Marie’s (Amelia’s) tribute, then click on photos & videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). A link will appear on this page to watch the webcast.
If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to American Kidney Fund. Family and friends are encouraged to share remembrances and condolences online in Marie’s (Amelia’s) Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, MI.