Obituaries
Mary Lou Hill
Mary Lou Hill, age 89, of Eaton Rapids, MI, passed away on April 5, 2024, in Tavares, FL. She was born in Eaton Rapids, MI on May 24, 1934, to Daniel P. And Mary E. Shinaver. She was preceded in death by four brothers and seven sisters and her husband, Dexter R. Hill, Sr. She is survived by her children, Dexter R. Hill, Jr., David (Debbie) Hill, Harvey Hill, Lori (Tommy) Rhodabeck, Patti (Robert) O’Neil, several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Mary Lou went on to become a successful business owner, running LuLu’s Garden Restaurant in Eaton Rapids from 1974-1994. A celebration of life gathering will be planned in Mary Lou’s honor. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
Joyce Arleene (McIntyre) Middaugh
Joyce Arleene (McIntyre) Middaugh, age 86, peacefully passed away, surrounded by her loving family in Lansing, MI, April 7, 2024. She was born May 14, 1937, in Mulliken, Michigan to Harley and Geraldine McIntyre.
On a beautiful summer day, July 16, 1955, Joyce married her soulmate Marion E. Middaugh, with whom she embarked on a life-long journey of companionship and devotion. Together, they raised a family, creating a home filled with laughter, delicious meals, and unconditional love.
As a passionate gardener, Joyce found solace and joy in the beauty of nature, tending to her plants with the same care she extended to all aspects of her life. She delighted in the blooms and harvests that were the fruits of her labor. As an enthusiastic sports fan she was always cheering on her favorite MSU Spartans. Joyce was sure each family member was given one of her handmade quilts, either knitted, crocheted, or embroidered, and each is a cherished heirloom.
Above all else, Joyce is celebrated as a perfect mother, not just in name but in every action and sacrifice. She instilled love and kindness in her children: Julia Middaugh-McArthur, Michael Middaugh, and James E. (Rena) Middaugh. Her grandchildren: Tina Cole-Day, Rebecca Lobdell, Lisa (John) Warner, Michael Middaugh II (Katie Baum), Sheri (Jeff) Ide, Sheli Knott, Jaclyn (Tyler) Ripley, Janet (Matthew) Kruse, and James R. (Mikayla) Middaugh, knew her as a source of endless encouragement and wisdom. She was a treasured matriarch to 23 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren. She is now reunited with her parents and her dear husband, Marion, who preceded her in death.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2024 at the Mills Funeral Home, Peters & Murray Chapel, Grand Ledge with visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. A graveside service will follow at the Delta Center Cemetery. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia Research Foundation, in memory of Joyce Middaugh.
Nyle Robert Weiler
Nyle Robert Weiler, a man known for his need for speed, died in his home on Sunday, April 7, 2024, after a courageous battle with ALS. Nyle, 72, grew up on the family farm in Vermontville, Michigan, the son of Dick and Rachel (Viele) Weiler. After graduation from high school, he enrolled in trade school and became a carpenter. He started T&W Builders with his childhood friend, David Thrun. Together they installed many kitchens in the mid-Michigan area before he moved on to become a Union Carpenter. As an avid Spartan fan, he was especially happy to share that he installed the ceilings at the Jack Breslin Center on the campus of MSU. Nyle retired at the age of 49 from Bouma Corporation as a foreman who managed the remodels of countless Meijer stores. After his diagnosis, he conveyed how fortunate he felt to have enjoyed so many of his other hobbies while he was a healthy man. His passion for speed led to muscle cars, dune buggies, snowmobiles, and motorcycles, but his biggest love was his open-wheeled modified race cars. He was crowned the 1998 Michigan Modified Asphalt State Champion and won back-to-back Spartan Speedway track championships in 1997 and 1998. When Nyle was not racing he loved spending time with Kris at the cottage on Higgins Lake where he developed many great friendships. Nyle had a large circle of friends and he was known as one of the good guys. He enjoyed hunting, bowling, golfing, poker during the racing off-season, racquetball at the courts he helped build in Nashville, Michigan with ten other friends and traveling to many locations around the world; including riding his Harley to Alaska, visiting Italy with Kris’s family and three weeks in Hawaii with beloved friends Larry and Renee Lowrie. Some of his proudest accomplishments in life were his son, Zack and the home that he built on the family farm where he lived for over 50 years.
Nyle is survived by his life partner of 26 years, Kris Hudson; son, Zachary (Andrea) Weiler; grandson, Zane Weiler; mother, Rachel Weiler; twin sister, Nancy Weiler; sister, Susan (Paul) Trinklein; Kris’s family, Karen Hudson, Tom Hudson, Thomas (Sheila) Topham, Ryan (Anna Dematatis) Topham, Matthew (Kurt Lu) Topham; and many extended family members and dear friends. He was predeceased by his father, Dick Weiler. Special thanks to the Sparrow Home Hospice Team for the support and care they provided.
Friends are encouraged to support Nyle’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation was Friday, April 12, 2024, from Noon until 2:00 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte. A funeral service followed at 2:00 p.m. with Chaplain Allison Ellsworth officiating. The funeral was webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Nyle’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smartphone). In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the family for his grandson Zane’s 529C College Fund or The Susan Mast ALS Foundation. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Grover “Gil” Gilbert Jessen
Grover “Gil” Gilbert Jessen, a jack of all trades, passed away on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024. Gil, 80, was born on May 26, 1943, in Dallas, Texas, the son of Clarence John and Dorothy (Harvey) Jessen. In 1965, Gil enlisted in the United States Army where he proudly served in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1968 and he was awarded three Purple Hearts for his service towards his country. While at a party with his friend, Gil met Marilyn Bowden. His piercing blue eyes and being dressed in his military uniform won Marilyn’s heart. On April 12, 1969, the couple was married. Gil earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Medicine from Duke University. To this day he was an avid Duke Blue Devils fan. He worked for 55 plus years in the medical field as a Nuclear Medicine Tech.
Family meant the world to Gil. He loved playing, coaching, and officiating hockey. The family spent their summers at the family cottage on Houghton Lake. Later in his life Gil took up a passion for cooking alongside his daughter Missy. His love for the outdoors led to countless fishing and hunting adventures. Gil had a strong respect for different genres of music. He was an active member of the New Hope Community Church, devoting his life to the Lord, and loved reading his bible. Above all his biggest joy in life was being with his family.
Gil is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marilyn; children, John Jessen, and Melissa “Missy” Jessen; sister, Jan Marie Jessen. He was predeceased by his parents, and best friend, Joseph Schwartz.
Friends are encouraged to support Gil’s family by attending services or sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 12:00 Noon at the New Hope Community Church in Charlotte with Pastors Randy Royston and Victor Williams officiating. A visitation will be held just prior to the service from 11:00 a.m. until noon. There will be a luncheon following the service for a time of continuing fellowship. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to New Hope Community Church. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Jeffry Scott Stoecker
Jeffry Scott Stoecker, age 59 of Charlotte, Michigan, passed peacefully after a brief battle with cancer surrounded by family Friday April 5, 2024. Jeff was born May 1, 1964, to Donald and Patricia Stoecker. He graduated from Charlotte High School in 1982. Jeff met the love of his life Norma June Stoecker in 1992 and began a long lasting and strong relationship in late April of the same year. The two were married June 29, 2001, and spent the years together building and nurturing a still growing family, that of which has become Jeff’s legacy. A soft-spoken man of wit, charm, and of the utmost integrity, possessing the biggest and warmest heart for all those he cared for would have done anything and everything to protect those he loved. Jeff chose to be a father where he was not obligated, ultimately adopting Norma’s two sons Michael and Levon later in their adult lives. Jeff and Norma also played a major role in the raising of their grandson Mathias. Jeff was an amazing father and loved raising the boys and teaching them to be men of integrity, kindness, and respect. He was so proud to give them his last name and provide the opportunities to continue his lineage and legacy, though not through heredity, but through the qualities he lovingly instilled in all three whom have and will continue to be the men he raised them to be.
Jeff worked at the Eaton County Governmental Complex in the Physical Plant as a master problem solver where there were few things he could not fix or issues he could not resolve. He enjoyed working with his hands and helping to keep the facilities operational and in tip top condition. Jeff retired from the county in 2019 and spent the years that followed gardening and helping with the educational development of his granddaughters Aubree, Emery, and Islie, of whom he utterly adored.
Jeff is survived by his life partner and wife of a combined total 32 years Norma Stoecker; parents, Donald and Patricia Stoecker; sister, Vicki (David) Wickens; sons, Michael (Karissa) Stoecker of Vermontville, Levon (Samantha Boucher, fiancé) Stoecker of Grand Ledge; grandsons, Mathias Stoecker and Roarke Hammond; granddaughters, Aubree Roth, Emery Stoecker, and Islie Stoecker; best furry friend “Cat” AKA Snickerdoodle; aunts, Cindy (Leonard) Maybee, Sharon (Doug) Hildreth; uncles Gerald (Denice) Stoecker, Cliff (Cathy) Carey II; cousins, Scott (Andrea) Stoecker and their daughter Elena, Debbie (Darrin) Gray, Cliff Carey III, Amy (Dave) Bowman, and Alex Hildreth; and many other friends and family members.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Theodore “Ted” and Alice Stoecker, Clifford and Esther Carey, and Agnes Carey; nephews, Curtis Harris and Cody Wickens; and cousin, Brian Hildreth.
The family would like to express a most sincere thank you to Dr. Weiss as well as the staff of the Oncology Department of 5 West at Sparrow Hospital of Lansing. Most specifically we owe a debt of gratitude and appreciation to Naomi, Jess, Jeanette, Alexa, Kelly, Desean, and Esha and Dr. Clouse whose combined kindnesses made our difficult journey as bearable and comfortable for Jeff and every one of us. He would have told you all that you were 5-star rockstars.
Funeral services were held on Thursday, April 11, 2024, at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home with Rev. Fr. Dwight Ezop celebrating. The family received friends on Thursday at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Needmore Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers or financial contributions, the family requests that donations be made to the St. Judes Children’s Hospital in Jeff’s name or a tree be planted in his memory.
To view Jeff’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com.