Obituaries
Robert E. King
Robert Eugene King, 85, lifelong resident of Charlotte, passed away April 17, 2018 in Lansing. He graduated from Charlotte High School; he was president of the Charlotte FFA and received the FFA Star Farmer of Michigan, played football and was a Golden Gloves boxer. After graduation, he entered general livestock farming full time, then in 1953 reduced the farm to a cash crop operation, and started employment with AEC (Hoover Group) that lasted 33 years. Robert was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1955, served two years in the 3rd Armored Division. He continued farming and then later worked for and retired from East Jordan Iron Works in Sunfield. He enjoyed building model airplanes when he was younger and worked on genealogy in his later years.
Survivors include his daughters, Shannon (Lee) Hoover and Kim (Michael) Birsen; granddaughters, Alexandria Birsen and Samantha Birsen (Brandon Dykstra); three brothers, Ivan King Jr., Vincent (Shirley), and Thomas (Sharon), many nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, H. Ivan and Winifred (Sanford) King and brother Richard.
In honoring Robert’s request, no services will be held and cremation has taken place.
For those wishing, memorial contributions may be given to Eaton Community Palliative Care, 2675 S. Cochran Road, Charlotte, MI 48813 in memory of Robert King.
The family is being served by the Peters & Murray Funeral Home in Grand Ledge. Online condolences may be made at petersandmurrayfuneralhome.com.
Larry A. Gomoll
Larry Anthony Gomoll, a free-spirited, loving father, grandfather, son, brother and loyal friend, died unexpectedly on Sunday, April 15, 2018 at his home. Larry, 55, of Charlotte was born September 6, 1962 in Detroit, the son of James and Angeline (Merlo) Gomoll. He attended Everett High School in Lansing, where he was a diver on the swim team. Following graduation in 1980, he started his family and a multi-faceted self-employed sales career. Larry’s hyper-active lifestyle saw him starting a bedding company, selling cars, and marina sales. He shared his many talents with his close friends and family, creating countless extravagant memories up north at the cabin, travelling together in the Corolla. No matter what curveballs came his way, Larry made a wonderful life for his family, especially spoiling his grandchildren.
Larry leaves behind his loving girlfriend, Spring Sheldon; parents, Jim Gomoll and Angie Orzel; three children, Karry (Willie) DeBerry, Chelsea (David) Carpenter, and Mindy Quimby; seven grandchildren, Malaki, Breann, Kaiden, Leiloni, David Jr., Kaizen, and Jannah; two sisters, Loriann Gomoll and Angela Orzel; nieces Holly and Danyell; nephews Adam and Jordon; and former wife and forever friend, Kay Quimby.
Friends are encouraged to support Larry’s family by attending visitation on Friday, April 20, 2018 from noon to 2 p.m., followed by the funeral services at 2 p.m. at Pray Funeral Home in Charlotte, with Pastor Darrell Clements officiating. Interment will take place at Maple Grove Cemetery in Mason.
If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to the family in the care of Karry DeBerry.
Friends and family are encouraged to share memories of Larry on his tribute page at PrayFuneral.com.
Amy M. Dankenbring
Amy Marie (Foster) Dankenbring, 47, of Charlotte, passed away April 8, 2018 following a long battle with brain cancer.
Amy earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and an associate’s degree in applied science. She graduated from Maple Valley High School in 1989. She worked at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing for 15 years.
Amy is survived by her husband, Robert Dankenbring; children, Adam Foster, Dustin Foster, and Nicole Foster; five grandchildren; one sibling, Dawn Foster; and parents, Kenneth and Marsha Foster.
Virginia I. Zimmerman
Virginia Irene Zimmerman passed away on January 25, 2018 at Henry Ford Allegiance Health Hospital. Virginia is survived by her daughters, Frances Richards and Patricia Conner, both of Jackson; and sons, William (Barb) of Pleasant Lake and Joseph (Becky) of Chathom; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Ritter of Charlotte, Lucille Eldred of Leslie, and Betty Zimmerman of Onondaga; nine grandchildren; four step-grandchildren, many great and great great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold; son, Roger, and siblings, Edna Paine, Bethel Stewart, Alberta Conant, and Carl Paine.
Virginia was born the fourth of five children to George and Estelle (Barns) Paine in Charlotte on March 23, 1918. She graduated from Charlotte High School in 1935 and married her high school sweetheart, Harold W. Zimmerman, in 1936. Together they enjoyed 63 years of marriage. She was a past member of the Rose City Chapter of the ABWA and was a very active in the 4H club as a leader. She worked at JC Penney and then at MESC, where she retired in 1981. Virginia loved to sew and quilt, making a quilt for each of her kids and many of her grandchildren. She was an excellent and innovative cook and baker. She was noted for her pies, even teaching family members the special techniques required.
The family would like to thank her grandson, Steve, who generously spent nights with her at the hospital. Services celebrating Virginia’s long life will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018, at 1 p.m. at the Vickers Leslie Funeral Home, 109 N. Church Street in Leslie, with Dr. Charles Dillman officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be directed to Cascades Humane Society, 1515 Carmen Drive, Jackson, MI 49202, N. Jackson Lions Club, In Care of Lautzenheiser, PO Box 6581, Jackson, MI 49204, or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Vickers Leslie Funeral Home.
Margaret Butler
Margaret (Marie) Butler, 51, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, on Saturday, April 14, 2018. She was born December 21, 1966 in Charlotte.
Marie loved her family first and spending time with them. Marie was a very talented crafter and quilter. She also loved to spend time in her garden, camping in the summer with family and friends, going to a local speedway for her husband’s races on weekends. Marie found a love for Texas after making it her home for five years, making lifelong friends and memories.
Marie leaves to cherish her memory, her husband and high school sweetheart, Jim Butler; their three children, Rachel Butler, Taylor Butler and Blaine Butler; her two grandchildren, Jessie and Jaxton; her sister, Aimee Martens; her brothers, Mark (and Marnia) Martens and Tim Martens; her mother, Sue Burchfield (Martens); her step-mother, Carol Martens; step-sisters, Stacie Barstow and Shalon Dailey; and her lifelong friend, Lynn Sevitts Hicks.
Marie rejoins her father, Norm Martens and brother, Kirk Martens.
The family will have a celebration of Marie’s life on Saturday, April 21, 2018 at 2 p.m. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. at New Hope Community Church, located at 436 W. Harris Street, of Charlotte, with pastor Randy Royston officiating.
The family would like to extend their deepest appreciation and many thanks to Sparrow Hospice of Lansing.
Memorial donations may be made to the family in memory of Marie.