Obituaries
Daniel C. Witt
Daniel C. Witt, age 59, passed away at Sparrow Hospital on Saturday, June 20, 2020. He was born on April 2, 1961 the son of Cari and Dorothy (VanElls) Witt. Daniel graduated from St. Johns High School in 1979 and worked in construction.
He is survived by his fiancé, Jan Powers (Witt); son, Kory (Melissa) Witt; grandchildren, Kaila, Karii, Kayden and Kyra; mother Dorothy Witt; and siblings, Diane Witt, Terry (Joanie) Witt, David (Sally) Witt and Debra (Gordon) Carman.
He was preceded in death by his father Cari in 2019. At his request there will be no services and donations are suggested to the family for expenses. Mail to Diane Witt, 9753 W. Lehmann Rd., DeWitt Ml 48820.
The family was assisted with these arrangements by Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns.
Christopher A. Whitmore
Christopher Alan Whitmore, age 31, of Potterville, a gentle and caring soul, died unexpectedly on Friday, July 3, 2020. Chris was born November 9, 1988 in Lansing, the son of Orval O. and Robin K. (Mannor) Whitmore. Growing up, Chris was known as the “baby of Potterville,” as he loved to socialize with his parents’ many friends and colleagues around town. He was beloved by his teachers, and at an early age demonstrated great intelligence, especially with computers. Following school, he was blessed with a daughter, MaKayla Whitmore, whom always was number one in his heart. He will be missed by a large host of friends, and forever loved by his family.
Chris is survived by his daughter, MaKayla; parents, Orval and Robin Whitmore; brothers, Robert C. Guy, Billy Jo (Kelly) Guy, and Keith R. (fiancé Shelby Morey) Whitmore; nephews, Kaine Buletza and Ezekiel Whitmore; niece, Kaylani Guy; and several uncles, aunts, and cousins. He was predeceased by his grandparents, Bernard and Betty Whitmore, and Robert and Marilyn Mannor; uncle, Timothy Mannor; and cousin, Jennifer Whitmore.
Services took place graveside on Thursday, July 9, 2020 at Benton Twp. Cemetery with Kathy Doby officiating. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Chris on his tribute page at prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Donald A. Karn
Donald Alan Karn, age 57 of Hastings, a man who loved deeply in his own way, died unexpectedly June 27, 2020. Born in Lansing on September 16, 1962 to Wayne and Anna Mae (Jansen) Karn, Don grew up in Charlotte and graduated from Charlotte High School in 1980. He was a man that always completed what he started and was always there for his kids. An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting deer (which gave him meat for his famous venison jerky) and fishing for salmon on Lake Michigan. He was also a handyman, learning as early as his junior high school days that he could fix anything. Don also enjoyed camping excursions with his family as he was growing up, NASCAR races with his kids, cooking and baking and his church, Nashville Baptist.
Don is survived by his daughter, Lindsay (Bradley) Horton; sons, Nathan Karn, Nicholas Karn, and Matthew Karn; parents, Wayne and Anna Mae Karn; siblings, Ken (Tammy) Karn, Jerry (Julia) Karn, Ryan (Lana) Karn; and his former wife, Melissa Karn. He was predeceased by his grandparents, George and Caroline Karn, and Peter and Wilma Jansen.
Funeral services were held Monday, July 6, 2020 at the Pray Funeral Home Garden, in Charlotte, with Pastor Lester DeGroot officiating. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Donald on his tribute page at prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Mary S. Wadsten
Mary S. (Smith) Wadsten, age 89 of Southfield, formerly of Charlotte, passed in peace on July 2, 2020. Mary is survived by her sister, Anne (Smith) Kent; sister-in-law, Carole (Wadsten) and Leo Link; many nieces and nephews: Glenn and Mary (Madry) Shook, Tom and Teresa (Kent) Gloden, Jeff and Kris (Kent) Hynes, Kevin and Cassandra Wadsten, Matt and Joyce (Redwood) Tellitocci, Scot and Sherri (Katz) Pirie, Kyle and Marcia Wadsten, Sandra (Wadsten) Johnson, Steve Wadsten, Nancy (Redwood) and Brian Salin, Gregory Watson and dear friend Carolyn Plsek. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Donald Wadsten; her parents, Joseph and Mary (Vrbensky) Smith; sisters, Frances (Smith) Madry and Elsie Smith; brothers-in-law, Louis Madry and Gerald Kent; nephews, John Kent and Larry Redwood; and niece Gayle (Redwood) Stanek.
Mary graduated from Charlotte High School in 1948 and from Wayne State University in 1953, where she received her master’s degree in elementary and secondary education majoring in business administration. She completed 30 hours beyond her master’s degree studying at the University of Hawaii and Arizona State University. She held positions of business teacher, office and distributive education coordinator and business department head at Cody High School in Detroit, where she began her career and worked until she retired in 1986. She also taught part-time at Wayne State University, University of Detroit, Oakland Community College and Henry Ford Community College. She conducted numerous workshops for Professional Secretaries International at Schoolcraft College and the Detroit College of Business.
Mary lived life to the fullest and was a classy and beautiful woman. She loved her family and friends, golf, dancing, bowling, skiing, baking and her career. She loved planting her flowerbeds that were always magnificent. She touched the lives of many community friends whom she met throughout her daily travels over the years and carried their favorite chocolates to gift as tokens of appreciation and affection for each of them. She helped many by being a great listener, friend, supporter, advocate, editor and advisor. She never slowed down or stopped. Her superb work ethic, intellect and kind heart were apparent in all aspects of her life. She was an amazing friend to anyone she met, always leaving her friends and relatives feeling special, understood, and encouraged. She showed great interest in her nieces and nephews from childhood to adulthood and served as a wonderful role model to them.
Mary leaves behind many relatives and friends who will miss her, her spirit and her vibrancy.
St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte. A Funeral Mass with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop officiating was held on Tuesday, July 7, 2020 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Charlotte. Interment took place in Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to either Beaumont Hospice (1975 Technology Dr. Suite J120, Troy MI 48083) or Helping Hand Homecare Service (2360 Paris Dr., Troy MI 48083).
Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Mary on her tribute page at prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Elaine B. Craven
Elaine Beverly Craven, age 93, of Charlotte, died peacefully on Sunday, May 31, 2020 in Lansing. Elaine was born April 2, 1927 in Lansing, the daughter of John H. and Daisy E. (Mascho) Brethauer. She married Frank La Vern Craven on June 7, 1946 and the two raised five children. In her early years, she worked as an elevator operator for RE Olds. Eventually, she went to work as a cook at the Charlotte Junior High School. She and Frank enjoyed 30 years of annual trips to Harlingen, TX, and time spent together with family in the outdoors, especially camping and even fishing together. They also loved to go out dancing together. Elaine served as a Den Mother for her sons during their Cub Scout years, and as a Bluebird leader with Judy. She was a skilled crafter, creating quilts and Christmas decorations for her family and friends. She was a faithful member of Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church for many years. Above all, she loved her family, and treasured her 71 ½ years of marriage to Frank before his passing.
Elaine is survived by her sons, Roger (Ruth) Craven of Charlotte and Gregory (Johanna) Craven of Grand Blanc; daughter, Judy (Jim) Greening of Charlotte; 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank La Verne Craven in 2017; and her sons, Tim Craven in 1986, and Garry Craven in 2018.
A private family graveside service took place at Maple Hill Cemetery in Charlotte. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Lawrence Avenue United Methodist Church, Eaton Rapids Community Christian Church or Hope Landing. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Elaine on her tribute page at prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.