Obituaries
Richard Charles Sanders
Richard Charles Sanders of Eaton Rapids, passed away September 9, 2022, at the age of 93. He was born in Brookfield Township, MI on August 2, 1929, the son of Jay and Norene (Potter) Sanders. Richard was a United States Army Veteran. He worked for General Motors for 30 years, managed a trailer park in Arizona, and owned Sanders Auto Salvage for two years. He was a member of Jaycees, enjoyed fishing and playing trumpet in the Sanders Family band.
Richard is survived by his three children: Shey (Steve) Zenker, Pamela Tigner, Kevin (Deb) Sanders; nine grandchildren; many great grandchildren; brothers, Ralph (Linda) Sanders, Clair Sanders; sister, Esther (Dean) Shrontz; sister-in-law, Lauralee Sanders. He is preceded in death by his wife, Virginia; parents; brothers: Bruce and Lennis.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. Interment took place at Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. Those desiring, may make memorial contributions to Eaton Community Palliative Care, 2675 S. Cochran Ave., Charlotte, MI 48813. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. To leave condolences for the family, please visit our website, www.millsfuneral.com.
Janet Marian Higgins
Janet Marian Higgins of Eaton Rapids, passed away on Friday, September 2, 2022, at the age of 88. Born July 25, 1934, to Donald and Harriett (Robinson) Williams in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. Janet worked for Eaton Stamping in several roles for many years including Personnel Director. She was an avid golfer and big MSU fan. Family was most important to Janet and she was the matriarch of the family always planning and organizing family gatherings. She was a beloved woman that will be dearly missed by all who remember her. Preceding her in death were her husband, Bruce Higgins and five siblings as well as her parents.
Surviving is her daughter, Janice Higgins; brothers: Charles (Phyllis) Williams, Keith (Carol) Williams; sister-in-law, Sharon Williams. She was especially close to several nieces and nephews and many treasured grandnieces and grandnephews.
A private family graveside service has already been held. If you wish to make a donation in her memory, please consider the American Diabetes Association or Fanciful Farms of Eaton Rapids. To share memories and condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Marjorie Claire Gulliver
Marjorie Claire Gulliver of Independent Village of Grand Ledge and formerly of Eaton Rapids, MI passed away on September 9, 2022, at the age of 91. Marjie was born on December 20, 1930, in Sault Sainte Marie, MI the daughter of Stuart and Melba (Filer) Ten Eyck. She graduated from Sault Sainte Marie High School class of 1948 and went on to receive her Registered Nursing Degree from Sparrow Hospital in 1953. Marjie worked in surgery for Sparrow Hospital and retired in 1986. She was a talented artist and loved to do arts and crafts and especially enjoyed wood craft painting. Marjorie was an avid MSU Spartan fan and particularly enjoyed the hockey program, traveling with the Spartans to championship games. She was a past member of the All Saints Episcopal Church in East Lansing where she was a member of the Altar Guild. Family was most important to Marjie and her devotion showed through her love and compassion for her husband, children and grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Richard Gulliver; daughter, Wendy (Richard) Allison; son, Gary (Theresa) Ten Eyck; grandchildren: Benjamin Jones, Sarah Ten Eyck, Lily Ten Eyck; great grandchildren: Mathias Stoecker, Marah Jones, Malek LaRose; brothers, Gary P. Ten Eyck, Michael (Betty) Ten Eyck; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Marjie is preceded in death by her parents, son Rick, and grandchildren, Rebecca LaRose and Daniel Jones.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids Chapel with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the Gulliver Ten Eyck Scholarship Fund at Lake Superior State University. To share memories or leave condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Duane Wollpert
Duane Wollpert, of Albuquerque, NM, formerly of Charlotte, MI, passed away on Friday, June 17, 2022. Duane was born September 11, 1936, in Grand Ledge, MI, but grew up in Charlotte where he worked on the family farm. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Smith in May 1956. They had three children and had a nice family life until her untimely passing in 1971. He then married Charlotte Kelty and moved to Okemos, MI and several years later moved to Albuquerque, NM, and then to Redondo Beach, CA where he worked for TRW. Duane was an intelligent man who loved his family, the space program, astronomy, and was an electronics hobbyist. He kept his sense of humor to the end.
Duane was also preceded in death by his wife, Charlotte; parents, Merrill and Nellie Wollpert; brother and sister-in-law, Wallace and Ginny Wollpert of Mulliken, Mich.; granddaughter, Elizabeth Porras of Lancaster, Cali.; and grandson, Darian Kelty.
Duane is survived by his three children: Judy of Charlotte, Mich., Tami of Albuquerque, NM, and David of Albuquerque, NM; and three stepchildren: Diane (Chuck) of Loveland, Ohio, Eric of Sarasota, FL and Dana (Fred) of Lancaster, CA. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren: Sharri Wolfe, Amber Griffes, Nick Scott, Michael Scott, Jennifer Bissell, Denise Chaffee Hongslo, Jason Vogel, Sarah Brittin, Bright Kellogg, John Pakozdi, Ginny Savelli, Nathan Kelty, Erica Cristea, Diana Fowler, Nicole Rejniak, Hudson Porras, and Connor Porras. He is also survived by 34 great-grandchildren, and two great great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held in Charlotte at a later date.
Peter Klont
Peter Lynn Klont, 60, a fun-loving husband, father, and friend to many, died Friday, September 2, 2022, in Lansing. Pete was born May 27, 1962, in Charlotte, the son of Peter Eugene and Judith Ilene (Bailey) Klont. He graduated from Charlotte High School in 1981 before earning two associate degrees. He then went to work briefly at General Motors before settling into a career with Consumer’s Energy, where he worked over 30 years, mainly as a Head Storekeeper. In his early years, he was known to drag race, and developed a lifelong passion for motorcycles. On April 29, 2000, he married Lauri Ann Converse, and the two started their family. Together, they raised two children and enjoyed family time spent on the lake in Coldwater.
Pete is survived by his wife: Lauri Klont; daughter, Kelsey Klont; brother, Jeff (Deb) Klont; sister-in-law, Sondra Klont; aunt, Marion Jones; and several extended Klont and Converse family members. He was predeceased by his son, Karson Klont; brother, Terry Klont; uncle, Rodney Klont; and his parents.
Friends are encouraged to support Pete’s family by sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. A memorial gathering is being planned for a later date. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to any charity of choice. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.