Obituaries
Laura C. Berry
Laura C. Berry passed away peacefully in Tuscon, Arizona on February 9, 2022 at the age of 92.
Laura was born to Wilbur and Minnie (Hendershott) Schantz on March 22, 1929, in Hastings, Michigan. The youngest of three children, she was raised on their farm in Baltimore Township. After graduating from Hastings High School, she married the love of her life, Donald E. Berry, on June 15, 1946. Together they had six children while working their farm in Bellevue, Michigan. They were married for 45 years until Donald passed in 1992.
Laura couldn’t stand being idle and was always busy with garage sales, working in her flowerbeds, visiting with friends and family, baking cookies, and helping others. She loved arranging annual family get-togethers and holiday celebrations. For many years she volunteered her time with church activities, Hospice, Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, and Siren Organization for abused women. She was recognized by the American Red Cross for having donated over 20 gallons of blood in her lifetime. She also spent countless hours crocheting afghans to which she donated to provide comfort and warmth for many newborns and adults.
Laura’s priorities were faith, family and friends. She was devoted to her family, especially her many nieces, nephews and their families as well as many friends she considered family. She took great pride in her grandchildren Jill (Alan) Austin, Kelly Dilley-Anton, Chad (Andrew Skar) Anton, Alison Ericson, Ethan Berry, Jonathan Berry, and Eren (Corey) Berry Smith and her great-grandchildren, Josef, Jacob, Jaden, Charlotte, and Evelyn.
Preceding her in death were her parents, her beloved husband, two sons Donnie and Bert, and her sister Bernadine Van Syckle. She is survived by her brother Karl Schantz, children Edward (Loretta) Berry, Dale (Denise) Berry, Cleone Anton, and Yolanda Berry, her grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Laura left us many fond memories, was loved by all, and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her.
There will be no services at this time, but a memorial service will be held at a later date. Burial will be at the Dowling Cemetery near Dowling, Michigan.
Memorial contributions can be made to Eaton Community Palliative Care, 267 South Cochran, Charlotte, Michigan, 48813.
John D. Gardner
John David Gardner was born February 12, 1930, passed away January 26, 2022 (2 weeks before his 92nd birthday) He was 1 of 3 children of Earnest and Gretchen Gardner (Eaton County) and farmed with them until their passing. They had 3 children of their own, Stephen, Delores & Mark. Stephen is the only living heir. John was a lifelong resident of Eaton Co. Mich. “Staunch Republican” He was married to his wife Rose E. Gardner (Dunning) for 70+ years. Rose is currently living in an assisted living community in Battle Creek, Mi. Throughout John and Rose’s earlier years of marriage, they took in adult men from Kalamazoo intuitions to live and work on the farm. They also counseled & housed many teenage boys from troubled homes or backgrounds. Some continue to communicate with them today. He was a lifelong farmer of dairy, beef, eggs, field crops, MM Farm equipment, etc. He was on the board of directors for McDonald Dairy of Flint, Mich. for many years. He and Rose greatly anticipated the company’s annual paid trips that were held and conducted throughout large major cities across the USA. He and son Stephen developed, designed & built one of the very first self-sufficient farm operated crop drying, storage and transportation systems in Eaton Co. Many educational and farm group organizations toured the facility. He took great proud into this fledging enterprise. He was also on board of directors of Eaton Farm Bureau, elected to a term on Eaton Co. School board and served on many church groups/originations throughout his lifetime. He and Rose were especially fond of Pastor Lester DeGroot of Nashville Baptist Church. His Honesty and Integrity was without question. I felt proud to be his son. The only man I ever knew that didn’t ever smoke, chew, drink, cheat or swear (well only twice that I heard, swear that is). I also believe that his time on school board GREATLY soured him to the day-to-day politics and interworking of a perceived corrupted and arrogant institution.
Please feel free to visit our web page made especially for John D. Gardner to light a candle or leave a condolence, www.rosierfuneralhome.com The family is being served by the Independent Family Owned Funeral Home in Sunfield: Rosier Burial and Cremation Services.
Gary L. Holtz
Gary Lee Holtz of Charlotte, a man of kindness and a keen intellect passed away on Wednesday, February 9, 2022. Gary was born on May 25, 1936, to Leon and Dorothy (Plattner) Holtz. Gary studied at Tri-State College and later MSU, earning his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, then his master’s degree in Heat Transfer at USC. He married the love of his life, Nancy Holmes, in August of 1957 and they built a home and life together.
Gary worked in the aerospace industry with the companies of Atomics International, Lockheed and retiring from The Aerospace Corporation on April 1, 2003, after 40 years there. Following his retirement Gary continued in the industry as a consultant, and opened his own machine shop, Kestrel Company. Using his machine shop, Gary also restored a prize-winning Ducati motorcycle, and in the 1980’s he designed a tofu cutter for La Baselo Tofu Company.
A lover of the outdoors, Gary enjoyed backpacking in the Sierra Nevada’s with his children. Antique restoration was another refined skill of Gary’s, and he was an avid reader of mysteries and historical novels. His knowledge of history and details was unique; he always knew a little bit about everything.
Gary is survived by his wife of 64 years, Nancy; daughter Karen E. Holtz (Dan Weick); granddaughter, Syrina Rae Lounsberry; and sister, Linda A. Sells. He was predeceased by his sons, Gary Lee Jr. and Steven Gary; parents, Leon and Dorothy; sister, Janet L. Larson; and brother, Doyle.
Friends are encouraged to support Gary’s family by sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation is Friday, March 4, 5-7:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte. Memorial services are Saturday, March 5, 11:00 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Charlotte. If memorial contributions are desired, Peace Lutheran Church, The Lupus Foundation, Capital Area Humane Society, or SIREN/Eaton Shelter are suggested by the family. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Pauline E. Thompson
Pauline Elinore Thompson, age 100, of Charlotte, went home to see Jesus on Monday, February 14, 2022. She was born November 1st, 1921, in Charlotte, Michigan to Ben and Edith (Wilmore) Baas. On February 5, 1944, she married Howard Eugene Thompson. Pauline was a long-time member of Calvary Baptist Church in Charlotte. She enjoyed spending her time reading, watching the Tigers, watching March Madness, and playing table games.
Pauline is survived by her children: Terry (Gary) Collier of Hope Mills, North Carolina, Edie (Bob) Mertens of Coleman, Wisconsin, Dean (Marcia) Thompson of Caledonia, Michigan, Dale (JoNesta) Thompson of Charlotte, Michigan, Donna (Mark) Morgan of Latham, Illinois, Jim (Terri) Thompson of Cedar Springs, Michigan. She was also survived by 18 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents Ben and Edith Baas, her husband, Howard, and her granddaughter, Erica Thompson.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 21, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home with Pastor Tim Potter officiating. For those desiring to watch the funeral service online you may do so by visiting listentochurch.com/listen/bgk .The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Gresham Cemetery.
Those desiring to make contributions in Pauline’s memory could make them to Calvary Baptist Church in Charlotte or the Activities Department at Eaton County Health and Rehabilitation Services.
To view Pauline’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com
James Sivyer
James “Jim” Edward Sivyer of Vermontville, a man truly devoted to his family, died February 10, 2022, at the age of 53. Born in Lansing on May 3, 1968, to Dewain and Monika (Secker) Sivyer, Jim’s mom gave him a blue lunch box as a gift when he began working at age 17 that he took to work every day for the last 36 years.
As a construction superintendent with Grand River Construction, Jim learned the skills which helped him build the home of their dreams for himself and his wife, Linda. He also built a dream home for his son and daughter-in-law, Cody and Shannon.
When he wasn’t working. Jim loved being outdoors, especially time spent hunting and fishing. There were annual fishing trips to Canada with his son, and he enjoyed ice fishing, fishing trips with his blue boat, and any opportunity to fish for Walleye. He also enjoyed camping in Au Gres on Lake Huron. Jim’s pride and joy was his granddaughter, Ellie.
Jim will be dearly missed by his family, including wife of 31 years, Linda; son, Cody (Shannon) Sivyer; granddaughter, Ellie; siblings, Susan (Ed) Daood, Richard (Martha) Sivyer, and Cynthia (Brad) Huff; mother and father-in-law, Jon and Mary Lou Tannery; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jeff (Linette) Tannery, Susie “Bestie” Tannery, Keith Tanner; nephew, Owen Tanner; and numerous other nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his mother, Monka Sivyer on February 5, and his father.
Friends and family are encouraged to share memories and stories of Jim on his tribute page at www.PrayFuneral.com. A memorial service is being planned for Spring of 2022. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.