Obituaries
Carl B. Rial
Carl B. Rial, Sr., age 70, died on March 14, 2021. There are no services planned at this time. Memories and condolences can be shared in Carl’s online guestbook at VickersFuneralHomes.com.
Margo E. Lamoreaux
Margo Ellen Lamoreaux, age 71, died on March 11, 2021. A celebration of Margo’s life is being planned for a later date. Memories and condolences can be shared in Margo’s online guestbook at VickersFuneralHomes.com.
Harold Trew Pinksa, of Eaton Rapids, Mich. passed away on Saturday, March 13, 2021 at the age of 93. Harold was born on May 28, 1927 in Fayette City, Penn., the only child born to Joseph and Florence (Trew) Pinksa. He graduated from Lansing Eastern High School class of 1945 and went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in horticulture from Michigan State University. Harold proudly served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany towards the end of WWII. He worked as grocery manager for Market Basket in Lansing and a grocery buyer for National Foods in Kalamazoo and Muskegon. Harold eventually went to work for the State of Michigan in the highway department as a right of way buyer where he was heavily involved in the purchasing of land for the MLK Blvd. expansion and the development of Highway 696. He married the love of his life Patricia (Gaunt) Pinksa June 20, 1952. They spent 67 years raising their family, traveling the world where they visited countries on five continents and conquering together. Harold was an avid MSU Women’s Basketball fan, a season ticket holder and a member of the Fastbreak Club. He was an outdoors man who loved to cross country ski, snowshoe and walk in the woods. For many years he was an active player and later ran the community volleyball program. He was a talented horticulturist who had many gardens and loved tending to his roses.
Harold is preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Pinksa; son, Randy Pinksa and his parents.
Surviving are his daughters, Carolyn (Tom) Rocheleau, Francene (Jim) Rasmussen; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids Chapel. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the MSU Women’s Basketball program or to a charity of your choice. To share memories or leave condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
Larry Lyle Johnson, age 80, a good and faithful servant, went peacefully into the arms of Jesus on March 13, 2021 in his home surrounded by his family.
He was born July 10, 1940 to Lyle and Helen (Hegle) Johnson. He married Carol Jeanne Larry on February 3, 1963. Larry and Carol graduated in 1959 from Ithaca High School and were blessed to be raised in Ithaca, Mich. where their families lived, worshipped and worked together.
Larry graduated in 1962 from Ferris Institute in Big Rapids, Mich. with an Architectural Technical Associate Degree. He was a partner at Keystone Design Group in Lansing where he supervised construction, retiring in 2003.
In 1978, he designed and built their home in Eaton Rapids, Mich. He was an active member of Robbins United Methodist Church and for the last ten years at First Baptist Church of Eaton Rapids.
He lived a generous life, serving God and others. In the early 1980’s he attended a mission trip to the Appalachian Mountains with his daughter’s youth group, where God drew his heart toward missions. He continued to serve and lead mission trips for thirty years. He loved the mountains and had a special place in his heart for Henderson Settlement in Frakes, Ky. Locally, he volunteered at Southside Community Kitchen, Youth Haven Ranch, and The City Rescue Mission of Lansing. For over twenty years he spent countless hours in his shop sharing woodworking talent with the We-R-A-4-H Club youth. He also served on the Aurelius Township Board for many years. He enjoyed woodworking, hunting and golfing.
His patience, gentleness, humility, and faith reflected his love for God, his family and his country. Rooted firmly in his faith, he faced his illness bravely and remained an inspiration and encouragement to us all.
He is survived by his wife, Carol; children, Lori (Walter) Irwin, Peggy (Ylli) Bodinaku, and Amy Ammann whom he loved as a daughter; five grandchildren: Kathryn (Adam) Yusko, Hannah Irwin, Amelia, Juliet, Christian Bodinaku; great-grandson Teodors Yusko. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Michael Johnson. He was welcomed in Heaven by his sons, Gregory and Gabriel.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 20, 2021 at the First Baptist Church with visitation taking place one hour prior to the service. Due to family health concerns, we are asking those attending to please wear a mask. For those unable to attend in-person, the service will be streamed via Facebook from the church’s website, facebook.com/FirstBaptistER.
Interment will be in Fowler Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Henderson Settlement, P.O. Box 205, Frakes, KY 40940 or Youth Haven Ranch, P.O. Box 97, Rives Junction, MI 49277. To share memories or leave condolences please visit SkinnerFuneralHomes.com.
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live.” John 11:25.
Richard A. Verhelle
Richard Allen Verhelle, of Eaton Rapids, went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 10, 2021 at the age of 80. Dick was born in Charlotte, Mich. on November 13, 1940, the son of Albert and Mary (VanDeMoortel) Verhelle. He graduated from Eaton Rapids High School in 1958. Dick served his country in the US Navy during Vietnam War. He then went to work for Western Electric, AT&T and Lucent as an Operations Area Manager for 34 years before retiring in 1995. Dick was a charter member of St. Peter Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree.
Dick is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lois (Manchester) Verhelle; daughter, Janene (Terry Mitchell) Rowe of Ohio; grandchildren, Chelsea (Nicholas) Sicillian, Terry “Trey” Mitchell III and Alissa (Jeremy Neff) Rowe; great-grandchildren, Kennedy Neff and Taylor Sicilian; sister, Margaret (Roger) Creighton. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Denise Verhelle Coats and brother, Robert Verhelle.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, March 18, 2021 at St. Peter Catholic Church in Eaton Rapids. A Rosary was prayed at the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent De Paul – St. Peter’s Chapter, 515 E. Knight St., Eaton Rapids, MI 48827. Please visit the Mills Funeral Home website to place online condolences at millsfuneral.com.