Obituaries
Edna Marie Sprague
Edna Marie (Erickson) Sprague, 92, of Charlotte, died peacefully on Friday, December 1, 2023. Edna was born March 30, 1931, in Milesville, SD, the daughter of Herman Carl and Iva Jane (Garlock) Erickson. She married Glen Burdette Sprague on September 26, 1954, at the Lutheran Church in Phillip, South Dakota. To this union were born three children, Linda, Jackie, and Kelly. She loved being a mother to them. In her early years, Edna worked at various cafes and restaurants in South Dakota and Iowa. Later in life she worked at the Litchfield School District cafeteria in Arizona. She and Glen moved their family to Arizona in 1968. She proudly earned her GED on May 21, 1970. She became a grandmother in 1975, eventually having ten grandchildren who brought her great joy. She babysat neighborhood children and grandchildren beginning in 1979 while their parents worked and eventually opened her home daycare in 1985. In 1989 she and Glen moved to the family farm in Iowa after Glen’s dad passed away. After Glen passed away in 2000, she stayed in the farmhouse for a few more years until the upkeep of the land became too much for her and she moved into an apartment in nearby Frederika, IA.
In the spring of 2005, she moved to Charlotte where she spent much of her time volunteering in service to others. Edna started volunteering at Hayes Green Beach Hospital in October of 2005 and continued for 16 years. From 2005 to 2020, she completed 103 lap afghans that she crocheted and donated to care centers. She also made and embroidered baby quilts for her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was a devoted Lutheran, mainly active at St. John Lutheran Church Circle in Iowa where each year she made numerous quilts to donate to the Children’s Cancer camp in Florida and Peace Lutheran in Charlotte. She also enjoyed baking, especially bread, cinnamon rolls, cookies and pies. She was especially known for making cookie filled Christmas wreaths made of cinnamon rolls that she gave to her children’s teachers, family and friends during the holidays. She loved her flowers (both inside and out) always making sure she had a hummingbird plant for the hummingbirds, along with her vegetable garden. She was always either tending them or canning and was once featured in the local newspaper with her enormous vegetables. Many will remember her for always looking for ways to help others.
Edna is survived by her daughters, Linda (Jim) Wall, Jacqueline “Jackie” (Gary) Crowe; son, Kelly (Sally) Sprague; grandchildren, Lesa (Gary) Wischmeyer, Jessica (Glen) Dever, Steven (Kendra) Andrews, Kimberly (Eric) Olsen, Scott (Shelly) Crowe, Elijah (Shannon Blanco) Sprague, Zac Sprague, Sarah (Robert) Goodwin, and Alixander Sprague; great-grandchildren, David, Alexis, and Nathan Wischmeyer, Jonathon Andrews, Sarah (Walter) Moore, Liz Kokaly, Katherine Dever, Michael Blanchard, Bailee Andrews, Adam Olsen, Auden Blanco, Elaina Warren Goodwin, Brayden Goodwin, and Brooklyn Goodwin; great-great-granddaughters, Aylah and Maya Moore; sister, Lydia Rowe; and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family. She was predeceased by her husband, Glen Sprague; grandson, Brian Andrews; great-grandchildren, Andrew Wischmeyer and Anastasia Wischmeyer; sister, Lillian Carlson; and brothers, Harvey Erickson, Eddie Erickson, Donald Erickson, Henry Stengel, and Robert Stengel.
Friends are encouraged to support Edna’s family by attending services or sharing memories on her Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 11 at Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte, MI. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at Pray Funeral Home with Pastor Neil Brady officiating. The funeral will be webcast so you may watch it from any computer, smartphone, or mobile device that has internet access. Go to www.prayfuneral.com, click on Edna’s tribute, then click on Photos and Videos from your computer (or Media from your smart phone). If lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to a charity dedicated to the treatment of Macular Degeneration. 1-888-MACULAR (1.888.622.8527). The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Gary David Peterson
Gary David Peterson of Tompkins Center, MI passed away peacefully at home on December 1, 2023, at the age of 81. Gary was born in Charlotte, MI, August 18, 1942, the son of Benjamin and Freda (Rebhan) Peterson. He was a 1959 graduate of Springport High School. Gary took first place in his county for the Dekalb Junior Two Acre Corn Growing Contest. He proudly served in the United States Army National Guard, based in Munich, Germany, where he operated the cargo trucks, Jeeps, and five-ton tractor trucks. Gary once told his family he got a ticket for going five miles over the speed limit on base, needless to say, he never did that again. He married the love of his life, Charlotte Hall in 1966. Gary worked for Nelson Tree Service for many years. He liked to hunt, fish, play the lottery and play his deuces wild tabletop game.
Gary is survived by his children, Sandi (Tim) Newman, Debbie (Jeff) Lonsbery, William Peterson; seven grandchildren; five great grandchildren; sister, Norma Binkowski and two nephews. He was preceded in death by, his parents and wife Charlotte Peterson in 2018.
Graveside services will be held at a later date. In memory of Gary, play a few dollars on the lottery. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel in Eaton Rapids. To leave condolences for the family, please visit our website www.millsfuneral.com.
Dominga Perez Castaneda
Dominga Perez Castaneda, age 93, of Charlotte, passed away peacefully at her home with her son by her side on Tuesday, December 5, 2023. She was born March 30, 1930, in Texas, the daughter of Juan Carlos and Francis (Gonzales) Perez. Dominga spent her younger years in Texas before moving to Michigan in the 1960’s. She adored her family and cherished each and every one of them. Spending time together with them brought her heart much joy. Dominga loved playing BINGO, traveling to the casinos, especially Las Vegas. She will be dearly missed by her family and many friends.
Dominga is survived by her children, Rosa Cook of Florida, Francis Corral of Chicago, IL, John Castaneda of Mulliken, Charles Castaneda of Charlotte; 14 grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Carlos in 1989; daughter, Bertha Quijas; siblings, Mary Belmares, Ray Perez, Joe Perez, and Ralph Perez.
In keeping with Dominga’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no services will be held.
Those desiring may make contributions in Dominga’s memory to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, www.lls.org.
To view Dominga’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com.
The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.
Linda L. Terry
Linda L. Terry, 73, of Rockford, MI and formerly of Battle Creek, died December 1, 2023. Linda was born September 12, 1950, in Battle Creek to Lloyd and Jean (Siefke) Terry, Sr. She graduated from Bellevue High School in 1968 and went on to Michigan State University, where she graduated with two master’s degrees. Linda was a teacher for 40 years with the majority of her teaching career spent at Rockford Public Schools. She retired in 2008.
Linda enjoyed spending time in nature, especially working with flowers, and loved animals. She especially loved to go shopping. Every year she traveled to Mackinac Island for the “Somewhere In Time” weekend. Linda enjoyed traveling with her friends and visited many states, national parks, and countries over the years. She also attended different theater shows and concerts.
Linda is survived by her siblings, Lloyd (Susan) Terry, Jr., Mary Terry, Gail (Tom) Burd, Julie (Gary) Riegel and Annette Terry; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, and cousins. She also leaves behind her special companions, her cats, Kallie and Kerby. She was preceded in death by her parents and her aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral services to celebrate Linda’s life were held on Friday, December 8, 2023, at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, officiated by Rev. Linda D. Stoddard. Interment followed at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. Memorial donations may be made to Operation Smile (cleft lip and palate organization) at www.operationsmile.org. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com.
Vaughn Karl Buchholz
Vaughn Karl Buchholz, a cherished husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, and friend, was called home on December 2, 2023, in Grand Ledge, MI, following a five-plus-year battle against pancreatic cancer. He was 65. Born on April 22, 1958, in Lansing, MI, he was a son to the late Harold and Betty (Reed) Buchholz and grew up to be a man of strength and character, touching the lives of all who knew him.
Vaughn’s life was a portrait of devotion, illustrated by his loving marriage of 43 years to his beloved wife, Debbie. Together, they raised two wonderful daughters, Tracy (Brian) Summers and Michelle (Garrett) Masters. His role as a grandpa was one he cherished deeply, and he shared an unbreakable bond with his granddaughters, Peyton and Regan (Summers), and Madison (Masters). He is also survived by his brother, Vance (Kristine) Buchholz; and his nephews, Brad (Christie) and Justin (Chelsea). He is preceded in death by his parents; and father and mother-in-law, Jim and Ruth VanWyk.
A proud graduate of Charlotte High School, Vaughn was a lifelong farmer who also dedicated 30 years of service to General Motors. Possessing a work ethic that never remained idle, it was in the simple things that Vaughn found the greatest joy—tinkering and fixing things, a testament to his knack for problem-solving and his desire to help others.
Vaughn was a man of faith, actively involved in the Grand Ledge Baptist Church. An avid admirer of God’s creation, Vaughn relished in the beauty of nature, whether it was farming, camping or taking the pontoon out on Gun Lake.
Vaughn never met someone who remained a stranger for long. His warm, inviting spirit drew people to him, and he had a unique ability to make anyone feel at home.
A Visitation was held Thursday, December 7, 2023, at the Mills Funeral Home, Peters & Murray Chapel, 301 E. Jefferson St., Grand Ledge. Funeral Service was held on Friday, December 8, 2023, at Grand Ledge Baptist Church, 1120 Willow Hwy, Grand Ledge with a lunch provided immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to ProMedica Hospice, Eaton Special Riding Volunteer Association, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of Vaughn Buchholz. Online condolences may be placed at www.millsfuneral.com.