Obituaries
Richard E. Spitzer
Richard E. Spitzer, age 91, of Vermontville passed away Sunday, April 5, 2020, at his home with his family by his side. He was born April 23, 1928, in Charlotte, the son of Edwin and Helen (Blair) Spitzer. Dick graduated from Nashville High School with the class of 1946. Soon after graduating, Dick and his parents bought an 80-acre piece of property in Gulliver, Mich. This place has brought the family much joy throughout the years. Whether it was for deer season or just a family get away, Dick loved being together with family. On January 21, 1950, he married Margaret Joan Shapley in Angola, Ind. Together, they enjoyed wintering in Florida and spending time at their cabin in the Upper Peninsula. Dick also liked working in his garden. Dick retired after 36 faithful years of service as a supervisor for General Motors in Lansing.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Margaret; daughter, Cindy (Allan) Harvath of Charlotte; son, Richard (Teresa) Spitzer of Charlotte, nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents.
A private family graveside service was held on Wednesday, April 8, 2020, at Kalamo Hillside Cemetery with Pastor Charles Jenson officiating. A public celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Those desiring, may make contributions in Dick’s honor to West Carmel Congregational Church. To view Dick’s obituary online, or to leave a condolence for the family, visit burkhead-greenfuneral.com.
Barbara Linsley
Mrs. Barbara Linsley, age 85, of Kalamo passed away Thursday, April 2, 2020, at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Barb was born in Kalamo on January 13, 1935, the daughter of the late Elston and Ethel (Palmer) Smurr. She was raised in the Kalamo area, attending North Kalamo School and Charlotte High School. On June 16, 1951, she married Mr. Bernard Linsley, who farmed in Kalamo. The couple made their home together in the Kalamo area, where they raised their family and established their farm. They shared their home with several foster children. Barb’s family, the Smurrs, also farmed in the Kalamo area, and her two sisters married Bernie’s two brothers.
Barb was a perfect lady and took great pride in the care of her family and her home. She raised her family at Nashville Baptist Church, where one of her true joys was singing in the choir each Sunday and occasionally singing solos. She enjoyed reading her Bible, novels and history books.
Barb loved working around their home and farm, enjoying horses, gardening and teaching her grandchildren how to fish. For a short period of time, she sold real estate. Along with her husband, Barb enjoyed renovating houses and, through the years, completed over 33 house renovations in the area. They spent their entire married life in the very first home they restored.
“Work hard, then play hard” was a creed that Barb and Bernie shared during their nearly 69 years of marriage. They traveled extensively across the United States as well as Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. In later years, the couple purchased homes in Florida that became their winter escape for over 30 years. They also enjoyed spending time at family property in Kalkaska and a cabin on Thornapple Lake.
Barbara is survived by her beloved husband Bernie; two sons, Glen (Donna) Linsley and Ed (Linda) Linsley; two sisters, Gloria Linsley and Mary (Jerry) Linsley; her brother Douglas (Patricia) Smurr; nine grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother-in-law Don Linsley.
Graveside services were held privately for the family at Hillside Cemetery in Kalamo on Wednesday, April 8, with Pastor Lester DeGroot officiating. A memorial service celebrating Barb’s life and beautiful Christian faith will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Nashville Baptist Church.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Nashville. For further details, visit the website at danielsfuneralhome.net.
Edward R. Lynch
Edward (Ted) R. Lynch — a fun-loving, caring and inspirational Cockney lad from South London — died peacefully on Sunday, April 5, 2020, at Sensations Memory Care with his wife, Nancy, by his side and his son, Tony, present on a video call. Ted fought a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Ted was born on January 31, 1946, in South London where he grew up. Ted was a lifelong supporter of Millwall Football Club (soccer to you Yanks). Life was not easy in South London after the war, and Ted learned what he called his “siege mentality.” While growing up, Ted loved getting into mischief with his brothers and cousins and had many stories to tell of those days. He cared deeply about people but didn’t tolerate wankers. He didn’t pretend to be anything else than what he was. Ted could talk (and did he ever love to talk!) to everyone and anyone. Everyone who met him felt comfortable.
After leaving school, Ted went to work in the London film industry with his dad as a scenic painter and grip. He worked on many films including “Star Wars,” “James Bond” and “Indiana Jones.” He had so many stories from those days; for example, the trees in Yoda’s swamp were full of beer cans. He met many big stars but treated them like any other people, and they liked coming to the carpentry shop on set to talk to him and the other guys.
After moving to the United States in 1987, Ted lived in East Lansing with his second wife and became a fixture in Mid-Michigan soccer during the 1990’s — coaching club, high school, ODP and even becoming the state director of coaching in 1996.
Most everyone loved being around Ted, and if they didn’t, they certainly remembered him! His naturally colorful language shocked and bemused, and his humor, smile, mischievous winks and positive spirit made players and friends feel invincible.
Ted went to work at the VFW National Home for Children in Eaton Rapids in 2002. While working there, he inspired innumerable kids and parents with his sunshine personality, wit and love of life. He never talked down to the kids, and they loved him for it. He always told them that you can’t control some situations, but you can control how you react to them. Ted became involved in the Eaton County 4-H program and came to love working with the swine program. He often said that, before he became a 4-H leader, the closest he came to a pig was a bacon sandwich. He was very impressed with 4-H and how everyone in the county came together at fair time to make everything run smoothly.
Ted loved the American people; always commenting on how nice they are. He became a United States citizen in 2004 and led activities at the National Home encouraging patriotism and community service. He loved taking the teens on trips to Washington, D.C. and to visit veterans at VA hospitals. He often said that America saved the world in WWII and that we gave Britain the baked bean.
Ted met his third wife, Nancy Bowers, at the National Home, and the two of them married in 2013. They purchased a home in Vermontville and a deciding factor in buying the house was that it was close to MOO-ville. The girls there knew when they saw Ted to make a chocolate-dipped waffle cone with Almond Joy ice cream.
Ted loved making people laugh, working, playing with children, traveling to London and Mexico, the Mexican people, Millwall Football and most of all his wife and family. His passing leaves a void in hundreds of people’s lives. He never lost his personality in spite of the dementia. Even though he was only at Sensations for two months, he made a giant impression on the staff and did his best to make them laugh. Ted would want us to remember to always have fun, have a laugh and always treat each other well. Always expect the ball and D.G.C.
Ted is survived by his wife, Nancy Bowers; sons: Tony (Naomi) Lynch, Danny Lynch; grandchildren: Harry, Billy, Alice, Lacey; his mother, Mary; four sisters; and loads of nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Donations can be made in Ted’s name to Sensations Memory Care or Eaton County 4-H.
Sheila Accivatti
Sheila Terese Elizabeth Accivatti — beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend — passed away Tuesday, March 31, 2020, after a long illness. She was 71 years old.
Sheila was born Dec. 25, 1948, to Tosca Lidia Marie Barsi Sathoff and her husband. Sheila’s younger brother, Kirk, arrived several years later, and they grew up together in Sterling, Ill. Sheila attended Newman Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1967.
Sheila’s mother, Tosca, married Owen Hagen in December 1969, and he became a loving father to Sheila and Kirk in every meaningful way. Through Tosca and Owen’s union, Sheila gained three siblings: Michael, Nancy and Jodi.
After high school, she studied nursing at St. Anthony Hospital School of Nursing in Rockford, Ill. During that time, she met her first husband, David LaLumia, whom she married in November 1972. Together they had two daughters, Cara and Julia, and they divorced after 11 years of marriage. Sheila cared for her daughters as a single parent for a number of years and did so with aplomb. On Nov. 9, 1985, two families again became one when she married James Accivatti and became a mother figure to daughters Theresa and Kathryn.
Sheila and Jim had a love that was always sincere and usually playful, through both tough and easier times over more than 35 years. They showed by example how to nurture a relationship through life’s ups and downs with affection and good humor. Sheila loved her family near and far. She was known to make unannounced trips to Sterling to surprise her mother, at least once during a blizzard aided by brother-in-law Bud LeFevre. She made untold sacrifices for her children, and her grandchildren were her joy and her reward.
Sheila was a woman of words. She was a lifelong writer with a deep appreciation for the craft. She was the storyteller of her family, weaving together loose ends from lives left behind in Italy, a mid-century coming-of-age in Illinois, and growing a new life with permanent roots in Michigan. Each letter, birthday card and lunchbox note she wrote was a small piece of art — always thoughtfully and lovingly composed. She also was a gifted crocheter, who made many beautiful baby blankets and afghans that her family will treasure for years to come.
Sheila was preceded in death by her brother, Kirk Sathoff, and her parents, Owen and Tosca Hagen. She is survived by her husband, Jim Accivatti, of Charlotte; daughters Cara (Jason) Barnes of Richland, Mich.; Julia LaLumia of Lansing; Theresa Accivatti of West Bloomfield; and Kate (Jeff) Schamanek of Rochester; former husband David (Julie, Luke, Nathan, Zachary) LaLumia of Eagle; grandchildren Zachary, Melissa, Jessica, Allisyn, Jackson, Theodore, Ava and Eleanora; and siblings Mike Hagen of Southport, NC, and Nancy (Ron) Jensen, Jodi LeFevre, and Bud (Lisa) LeFevre, all of Sterling, as well as many loved nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held later this year to celebrate Sheila’s life. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 15829, Arlington VA 22215. Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Sheila on her tribute page at prayfuneral.com. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Sandra L. Eldred
Sandra Lee Eldred, age 80, of Charlotte passed away on Friday, April 3, 2020. Sandy was born on March 3, 1940 in Lansing, the daughter of Harold and Olga Porter. She attended Sexton High School, where she was a cheerleader, and graduated class of 1957. Sandy worked as a secretary for several companies but most recently for the Fraternal Order of Police Capital City Lodge. She was very active at Hayes Green Beach Hospital, where she volunteered for 13 years in the pulmonary and heart rehab unit. Sandy was adventurous, outgoing and had a huge heart to help others. She loved spending time with her family — especially camping, fishing and golfing with her best friend and husband of 36 years, Daryl.
Sandy is survived by her husband, Daryl Eldred; son, Kurt (Linda) Surato; daughters, Vonda Johnson, Kristie (David) Buehler, Karole (Mark) Schutte; grandchildren, Brooke (Kyle) Stephenson, Noah Johnson, Dale (Stephanie) Arnold, Andrea Arnold, Kaleb Schutte; great-grandchildren, Emma, Hailey, Astrid, Alistair; brothers, Hal (Betty) Porter, Chuck Porter; sisters, Thelma Hadden, Betty Porter and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, son, Bradley Eldred; sister, Gwen Boyd; brother, Ronald Porter; brother-in-law, Don Hadden and sister-in-law, Sally Porter.
A private burial and funeral has already been held. A public memorial service will be held at a later date. Follow the funeral home website, at skinnerfuneralhomes.com, or call for service details. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the COPD Foundation. The family would like to extended a special thanks to the staff and caregivers from McLaren Home Hospice for their compassionate care over the past five months.