Obituaries
Duane L. “Pete” Shrontz
Duane L. “Pete” Shrontz, age 83, of Marengo Township, the current Marengo Township Supervisor, passed away in the love and care of his family at his home on Monday afternoon, December 9, 2019.
Pete was born on June 20, 1936, at Hayes Green Beach Hospital in Charlotte to Dale and Mildred (Goodwin) Shrontz. He graduated in 1954 from Olivet High School. His first job after graduation was driving school bus for the Olivet schools. In 1955, he started to drive for Michigan Milk Haulers while helping his father with his farming operation in Walton Township.
On January 21, 1968, he married Joyce (Kreger) Scripter. The couple moved to where their home is now in Marengo Township. In 1969, Pete and his wife Joyce began Shrontz Milk Service. The couple operated the milk hauling operation from their home until they retired and sold the business in 2004.
Pete served his township in several capacities during his lifetime to help insure his family and neighbors a well-deserved quality of life. From 1988 until 2002, he served with the Marengo Township Fire Department, responding to calls for help both day and night. He served as a Marengo Township trustee, first being appointed to fill a term in 2003. In November of 2004, he won the seat in the general election.
While serving on the township board, he was appointed to fill the position of supervisor on Feb. 3, 2012. The township residents elected him to the supervisor’s position in November of 2012, and he still currently served in that office until his death.
Pete and Joyce enjoyed several vacations, which included trips to Amsterdam, Hawaii and London, besides a multitude of trips to Las Vegas. They enjoyed camping, playing cards and going out to eat.
Pete was a dedicated fan of Michigan State University sports, Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Lions and high-school sports. Many games were rehashed with his daughter Lorie, with Pete’s slant on what would have been the proper coaching!
Pete is survived by his wife of nearly 52 years, Joyce; daughter Lorie (Dean) Hartley of Lansing; step-children Donna (Doug) Miller of Concord, Phyllis Hoffman of Albion, Bob (Sue Taylor) Scripter of Spring Arbor, and Roxanne (Michael) Gifford of Miller, MO; his son-in-law Al Denbrock of Albion; 17 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. Pete with Joyce enjoyed their family roles as grandparents over the years with the many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Dale and Mildred Shrontz, his sister Joyce Ott and his step-daughter Diane Denbrock.
Friends were invited to call at the Marshall Chapel of Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, at 723 US Hwy. 27 N. in Marshall, on Friday, Dec. 13. from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral services are scheduled to be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Albion on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 1:30 p.m. with Pastor Paul Koehn officiating. Interment will follow in Albion Memory Gardens. A luncheon will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church after interment.
The family suggests you remember Pete with a contribution to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 100 Luther Blvd., Albion MI 49224; Marengo Township Fire Department, 14201 23 Mile Road, Albion MI 49224; or Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund, www.heartlandhospicefund.org.
To leave a message for the family, visit kempffuneralhome.com.
Dennis Eugene Wertz
Dennis Eugene Wertz, age 84, of Charlotte, passed away Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at McLaren Hospital in Lansing. He was born August 14, 1935, in Charlotte the son of Duane E. and Martha L. (Welch) Wertz. Denny graduated from Charlotte High School with the class of 1954. On May 15, 1955, he married Carla Gene Powers at the First Congregational Church of Charlotte. Denny, along with his family, owned and operated Wertz and Company John Deere in Charlotte for many years. He also served on the Charlotte Fire Department for the majority of his life as assistant chief. Denny loved racing Polaris snowmobiles. He also enjoyed raising a menagerie of animals for everyone to enjoy but had a special place in his heart for Weimaraner dogs. He also played and sponsored the Wertz and Company men’s fast-pitch softball and bowling teams. Denny loved his family but was especially fond of his grandchildren.
He is survived by his daughters: Deniece (Bill) Kellogg of Grand Ledge, Deanna Wertz of Olivet, Darci (Todd Hogeland) Wertz of Charlotte, Darla (Troy) Scott of Lansing; grandchildren: Mikel Kellogg, Corie (Eric) Lawrence; Billy (Malori Grantham) Kellogg, Deni Swinton, Dustin Scott; great grandchildren: Laityn Kellogg, Dawson Kellogg, Miles Lawrence; siblings: Darry (Delores) Wertz, Angie (Fred) Earl, and Donald (Linda) Wertz.
Denny was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Carla in 2006; and sister, Marcia (Thomas) Dewey.
In keeping with Denny’s wishes, a celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Those desiring, may make contributions in Denny’s honor to the Great Lakes Weimaraner Rescue, PO Box 372, Grand Haven, MI 49417.
To view Denny’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family, visit www.burkhead-greenfuneralhome.com.
David M. Sutherland
David M. Sutherland, of Florida, died at 11:30 a.m. on December 6, 2019, in Fort Myers. David was born on December 28, 1957, in Hastings, MI, the son of Mile and Mary (Nielsen) Sutherland. He attended Lakewood and Eaton Rapids schools. He served his country in the Navy. He was a very talented handyman.
David is survived by his brother, James R. Sutherland. Preceding him in death were his parents, and his son, David J. Sutherland.
Services will be held at a later date. The family would like to thank the Mills Funeral Home — Shelly Odell Chapel for their assistance.
Skyler James Dyer
Skyler James Dyer of Eaton Rapids passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2019, at the age of 26. Skyler was born on January 11, 1993, in Lansing, the first of three children to Brent and Babe (Shelden) Dyer. He graduated from Eaton Rapids High School, class of 2011, and went on to attend Michigan State University, where he was currently enrolled studying computer science. Skyler was passionate about music and sports, especially European soccer and MSU, attending the basketball games in the Izzone and football and hockey in the student sections. He was a talented photographer and tap dancer and enjoyed video games and Friday-night movies with his friends. Skyler made numerous friends that became more like family, throughout the United States and abroad, through his memberships with the Tennessee Squires Association and the Michigan Grand Prix Club. Skyler also loved to travel with his family and spend time at Lake Odessa.
Skyler is preceded in death by his grandparents, Ken Dyer, Sr., Gram and Pa Rogers; great-grandparents, Vi and Joe Simmons.
He is survived by his parents, Babe and Brent; brother, Brody Dyer; sister, Breann Dyer; grandparents, Merrill “Bird” and Trudy Shelden, Bob and Barb Kurtz; aunts and uncles, Angel (Chris) Thomas, Kenny (Heather) Dyer, Snapper (Sara) Shelden, Sid (Christie) Shelden; cousins, T.J. Dyer, Meghan Dyer, Amiah Thomas, Noelle Thomas, Braylen Thomas, Ebony Shelden, Noah Shelden, Teleri Shelden, Emmalynn Shelden, Ian MeClellan; his cat, Zane and dogs, Motlow and Peaches.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, December 12, at the Skinner Funeral Home, Eaton Rapids Chapel. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the family’s Go Fund Me page or to the Capital Area Humane Society in memory of Skyler. To share memories or condolences, visit www.skinnerfuneralhomes.com.
Betty Lou (Moubray) Danford
Betty Lou (Moubray) Danford, age 90 — a wonderful daughter, sister, mother, grandmother and friend — passed away December 2, 2019, at Eaton Community Palliative Care. Born October 25, 1929, in Lansing to Carlos and Hazel (Levis) Moubray, she attended Miller Road elementary in her early years and later graduated from Dimondale High School. A lifetime member of Dimondale United Methodist Church, Betty was married there in August of 1953 to George William Danford, and remained active with many church groups and activities throughout her lifetime. Betty lived in the Dimondale area for 80 years, residing at her home where she and George raised their family together for 61 years. Following her desire to become a nurse, Betty graduated from Mercy College, St. Lawrence in 1953, where she began her nursing career and taught nursing classes. She ended her nursing career at Ingham Medical Center (Ingham Sanitarium) with over 38 years of service.
Betty will be missed dearly by her beloved children, Catherine (Jerry) Timmons, Larry (Kimi) Danford; George Danford; and Bruce (Christine) Danford; grandchildren, Corey (Sara French) Danford, Kiersten (Crist Webb) Danford, Justin (Eleni) Danford, Katelyn (Thomas Huber) Danford, Jeri Lynn (Mark) Lauer, Laura (Carl) Logan; great-grandchildren, Malachi and Esther Lauer; sister, Doris (Jim) Smith; sister-in-law, Mary Moubray; brothers, Thomas (Cheryl) Moubray, Jim Moubray; Charles Steven (Carolyn) Moubray, and Ronald (Karen) Moubray; cousin, Gary (Cathy) Moubray; and several nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, George in 2008; her parents; and brother, Richard (Dick) Moubray; and sister-in-law, Joyce Moubray. The family appreciates the tender loving care and support Betty received from the Sparrow Hospice team and the Eaton Community Palliative Care staff.
A celebration of Betty’s life was scheduled to be held at the Dimondale United Methodist Church on Friday, December 6, 2019, at 11 a.m. with Pastor Linda Farmer-Lewis officiating. Visitation was held prior to the Life Celebration, from 9-11 a.m. Interment will be at Dimondale Cemetery. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to Eaton Community Palliative Care in Betty’s memory. Friends and family are asked to share memories of Betty on her Tribute Page at www.PrayFuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.