Obituaries
Johannes and Hendrika Matthyssen
It is with great sadness that we announce that Johannes (Joop/Joe) and Hendrika (Henny) Matthyssen passed away peacefully at home surrounded by their loving family. Johannes was born on May 15, 1930 to Joannes and Gijsberta (Geurtsen) Matthijssen and passed away on May 16, 2024 at the age of 94. Hendrika (Henny) Matthyssen was born on December 28, 1930 to Anthonie and Bertha (Hazeleger) Renes and passed away on March 13, 2024 at the age of 93. They were both born in Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Joe and Henny Matthyssen were married on December 2, 1954 in Utrecht. They immigrated to the U.S. in March of 1957. Shortly thereafter, Joe began his rewarding career as a Machinist/Sales Engineer at Industrial Welding Inc. (Enprotech Mechanical Services) for 34 years. In his spare time, Joe pursued his passion for soccer by playing, coaching, and refereeing soccer for more years than we can count! However, the true love of his life was always his wife, Henny. They spent 69 loving years together and often talked about how wonderful their lives have been together living in the U.S. Joe always said that his wife was “his number one!” He devoted his entire life to loving and taking care of his family.
Henny was a homemaker whose greatest passions were taking care of her wonderful family and sewing. Henny was an extremely talented self-taught seamstress and started sewing when she was only twelve years old and continued sewing until she was 92 years old. In the Lansing area, she was a founding member of the Lansing Clippers and American Sewing Guild, and belonged to various bowling leagues. She enjoyed her volunteer work (sewing projects) and attending her children’s athletic events. She loved baking, cake decorating, cooking Dutch recipes, and reading. For the last twenty years, she spent her time making beautiful quilts for her entire extended family. Each one of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have a quilt made especially for them. Her love of sewing was only surpassed by her love for her family; especially for her husband, Joop. They were soul mates and made a wonderful life together in the United States.
Joe and Henny were preceded in death by their parents; Joe’s brother, Frans Matthijssen, and his sisters, Greet Matthijssen and Berta Gerritsen; and Henny’s seven brothers and sisters. Joe and Henny are survived by their three children, Johanna (Brian) Haack, Yvonne (Dennis) Barens, and Johnny (Kim H.) Matthyssen; along with their eight grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. Joe and Henny are also survived by Joe’s brother, Gerard (Ada) Matthijssen, his sister, Joke Matthijssen, and their sister-in-law, Johanna Matthijssen; and many nieces, nephews, and other extended family in the U.S., Canada, and The Netherlands.
Friends are encouraged to support the Matthyssen family by attending services or sharing memories on their Tribute Pages at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation for Joe and Henny is Friday, June 7, 2-4:00 p.m. and 6-8:00 p.m. at Palmer Bush and Jensen Holt Chapel, 5035 Holt Road, Holt. Memorial services are Saturday, June 8, 11:00 a.m. at Palmer Bush and Jensen Holt Chapel. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either of the following: Holt Public Schools to help support the Holt High School Soccer programs (donations should be mailed to the Superintendent’s Office at 5780 West Holt Road, Holt, MI 48842) or to The National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org). The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Wendell Lamar Burk
Wendell Lamar Burk was born on December 15, 1934, in Alagansee Township, Michigan to Ralph Burk and Luceille (Kriser) Burk. He grew up in southern Michigan and graduated from Fremont Public Schools in Indiana in 1953. He married the love of his life, Virginia (Cooper) Burk on March 12, 1955, in Angola, Indiana. From this union, they had one child, Craig Burk.
Wendell and Virginia moved to Eaton Rapids in 1965 after losing their home in the Palm Sunday tornado earlier that year. Wendell started a new job at General Motors and got into skilled trades as a welder. He was a long-standing member of the UAW Local 652 and was very proud of it. He could fix anything and being a skilled welder, he was always working on something for a friend or neighbor. Wendell spent a lot of time tinkering in his garage, mostly spent working on his cars. Or you could find him down in his leather shop, making handmade belts and wallets. The project he was most proud of was his 1935 Chevy Street Rod that he built from the ground up. They drove it to hundreds of car shows all over the country together. Wendell loved cars from a young age. He had gasoline running through his veins. He started racing dirt track stock cars and go-karts in his early years, switching to two wheels later in life, you could find him tearing up the trails on his CR500 near the family camp in Luther, Michigan. He also enjoyed old country music, watching western re-runs, and rooting for his Spartans… GO GREEN.
He loved spending time with family and friends any chance they got. Friday nights were always spent taking the family out for dinner before their weekly trip to Meijer for groceries. Soon after getting their cart, Wendell and his only grandson would sneak away to the toy department to check out the newest Nintendo games and toy cars. Wendell’s greatest joy was his family, especially his grandson and great-grandson.
Wendell is survived by his loving wife, Virginia Burk of Eaton Rapids, Michigan; his son, Craig Burk of Charlotte, Michigan; his grandson, Dustin (January) Burk of Jackson, Michigan; his great-grandson, Cooper Burk.
There will be a Memorial Luncheon on June 8, 2024 from 1:00-3:00 p.m. at the Eaton Area Senior Center (306 S. Cochran Ave., Charlotte, MI 48813). We welcome everyone to bring their show cars.
Any memorial donations can be directed to the Mid-Michigan Autism Association (PO Box 27462, Lansing, MI 48909).
John Oscar Saurer
John Oscar Saurer, 88 of Venice, Florida, passed away into eternal life surrounded by his beloved family, on May 19, 2024 after a brief illness. He was a Christian and lifetime member of the Presbyterian Church. His faith sustained him until the end.
John was born on December 8, 1935 in Pleasant Lake, IN to Reuben and Marjorie (Matson) Saurer.
John was raised in Charlotte, MI and in 1952 he met his future wife, Beth Kays, working at a summer camp at Duck Lake, MI. He graduated from Charlotte High School in 1954 and attended Western Michigan University. He and Beth were married in December 1956, and he graduated in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration. John enjoyed a successful career in Sales & Marketing and his various jobs took him from Austin, TX to Albion, MI. It was in Albion that John and Beth raised their family, and he began a career at Albion Malleable in the Management Training Program. He also worked in Production Control, Sales and became Manager of Component Supply. He resigned from Albion Malleable and joined the J.W. Hallock Agency, later known as Galtaco Inc., working in material handling and sales of castings for motor vehicles. John retired in 1990 and began spending winter seasons in Florida. He and his wife became full-time Florida residents in 2002, where he enjoyed bird watching, fishing, golfing, nature, family time, all pets, and the love of his dog, Muffin.
He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 67 years Beth (Kays) Saurer; daughter Cylinda (Haskins) and husband Tim of Englewood, FL; son Craig Saurer and wife Sue of Rotonda, FL; daughter Christie (de Nicola) and husband Tony of Englewood, FL. Precious grandchildren Taylor Haskins and partner Jason Sharer of Greenville, MI; Spencer Haskins and wife Mellissa of Keaau, HI; Michael Saurer and wife Lindsay of Lincolnshire, IL; Leslie (Saurer) Smith and husband Drew of Port Charlotte, FL; Kaley (de Nicola) Study and husband Alex of Bradenton, FL; Ted de Nicola and wife Catherine of Wyckoff, NJ; and CJ de Nicola and wife Jaclyn of Hoboken, NJ.
John is also survived by his most recent family blessings, his great-grandchildren: Korah and Ellianna Haskins; Grayson Saurer; Bennett, Adelaide and Roman Study; and Hazel de Nicola. He is also survived by his brother Richard Saurer and wife Judy of Salt Lake City, UT; brother Robert Saurer and wife Paula of Henderson, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will occur this summer for family only.
Kendrick Keith Hayward
Kendrick “Kenn” Keith Hayward of Eaton Rapids, MI passed away on May 18, 2024, at the age of 85. Kenn was born on July 27, 1938, in Michigan, one of the 12 children of Marenus and Frances (Cucksey) Hayward. He met his wife, Sue Hunt, while stationed with the US Air Force on the Royal Air Force Alconbury base in Cambridgeshire, England, where he worked as a switchboard operator, and Sue worked as a civilian switchboard operator. They married on January 1, 1960, at the Eaton Rapids Church of the Nazarene, and together lived in Eaton Rapids for their entire married lives. Kenn spent many years working as a die sinker at Lindell and Melling drop forges in Lansing and was a landlord to many tenants at several properties that he and Sue purchased over the years. Along with Sue, Kenn was the owner and operator of the Basket Case antique shop in downtown Eaton Rapids for 25 years and enjoyed going to area auctions and yard sales to look for treasures that he could fix up and sell. He especially loved tinkering with old clocks, radios, and toys, many of which he kept at home to enjoy. He also loved fixing up bicycles. Kenn loved traveling and especially enjoyed his trips to England and annual motorhome camping trips in destinations with water. He enjoyed birdwatching and would keep a pair of binoculars handy while on vacation so he could see the birds and other wildlife closely in order to identify them. More than anything, Kenn was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who cherished his family and the time he spent with them. He greatly appreciated his extended family, as well, and rarely missed a family reunion.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sue Hayward; daughter, Michelle “Shelly” Hayward; his parents, and 10 siblings. Surviving are his sons, Wayne (Tracy) Hayward, Darren Hayward; daughter, Yvette Hayward; eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
A graveside service was held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at Rosehill Cemetery in Eaton Rapids. The family received family and friends at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids chapel on Friday, May 24, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. To share memories or leave online condolences please visit www.SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Saundra Lou Stevens
Saundra “Sandy” Lou Stevens, 85, of Olivet, passed away on May 16, 2024, at the McLaren
Hospital in Lansing, MI.
She was born on November 22, 1938, to Leslie and Genevieve (Waidelich) Holt in Marshall, MI.
Sandy married Lynn C. Stevens on March 29, 1985, in Olivet.
She worked as a machine operator for Eatons of Marshall for 30 years until she retired.
Sandy and Lynn owned and operated the Olivet Optic News. She drove a school bus for Olivet.In her 20’s she raced at Butler Motor Speedway in the Powder Puff division. She loved to scrapbook, write poems and short stories, build puzzles and play bingo. She liked to spend timein her flower beds and play games with her family when they got together. Sandy’s favorite thing was to whoop her kids at the card game called Hand and Foot. Sandy was a proud member of the Michigan FlyWheelers Museum in South Haven Michigan. Volunteering for Farm History days and working in the gift shop during the annual tractor show was one of her most favorite things to do. She loved keeping the family history and retelling the tales of her beloved father and his adventures in life.
Saundra is survived by her loving husband of 39 years Lynn C. Stevens; children, Kim (Leon) Bartlett of Pennfield, Mike Peters of Marshall. Leslie (Dale) Dailey, Jennifer Cantrell and Cori Ashley all from Olivet; grandchildren, Denise, Erin, Shaun, Samantha, Stefanie, Michael, Steven, Chris, Sara, Josh, Alexis, Ben, Morgan and Bailey; plus eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her son, Terry Peters and her parents.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, May 28, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Kempf Family Funeral & Cremation Services, Marshall, Michigan.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at the Kempf Family Funeral Home Marshall, Marshall, Michigan with Pastor Brandon Crawford officiating.
The burial will take place in the Lee Center Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the American Heart Association or American Cancer Society. To view the obituary and sign the online guestbook, or leave the family condolences please visit: https://www.kempffuneralhome.com.