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Obituaries in 2000
Hartford Michigan |
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Roy F.
Kuehnle Sr., 80, of Weslaco, Texas, died Saturday,
December 30, 2000, at Edinburg Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services were held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday,
January 5, 2001, at Guerra Funeral Home Chapel in Weslaco, with the
Rev. Myron Ricketts officiating. Visitation was held from 5 to 7:30
p.m. on January 4. Arrangements were by Guerra Funeral Home,
Weslaco.
Mr. Kuehnle was born in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to
Hartford,
Mich. in 1967, where he resided on Van Auken Lake until moving to
Weslaco in 1996. He had
worked at
Hartford Public Schools, retiring in 1982. He had been
a winter Texan for 15 years before moving to Weslaco.
He served in World War II in
the Pacific and Guadalcanal area with the 497 AAA.
Survivors include: his wife, Alice G. Varley Nelson of
Weslaco; one daughter, Lois Dostal of Lemont, Illinois; one
stepdaughter, Diane Goodwin of Santa Monica, California; one
daughter-in-law, Sue Kuehnle of Hartford; one sister, Bertha Ann Flynn
of Valparaiso, Indiana; nine grandchildren; and five
greatgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by one son, Roy F.
Kuehnle Jr., in 1998.
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Loraine
Leonard, 78, was found frozen to death at her residence
at 430 N. Center Street.
Mrs. Leonard, a widow, suffered from "Alzheimer’s and
dementia," said Hartford Police Chief Paul Muinch. "The
family had been checking on her daily but, due to the bad weather
and deep snow, they didn’t make it over on the 13th."
Muinch said a family member found her around 9:00 a.m.
on the 14th and called 911 for assistance. A front-end loader was
needed to plow through the deep snow to the rear of the residence,
approximately 150′ from the roadway.
"She apparently let her dog out and the door shut
behind her," said Muinch. "When we arrived, the dog was curled up on
top of her, trying to keep her warm." Muinch said, if the family
member had not found her when they did, "The dog would have frozen
to death shortly I’m sure."
Muinch said the County Coroner listed "exposure" as the
cause of death.
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Ruth Williams Dowd, 85,
died Sunday, December 10, 2000, at Lakeview Continuing Care,
Lawton.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, at
Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford, with Pastor Timothy Nyhuis
officiating. Visitation will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Maple Hill
Cemetery,
Hartford. Memorials may be made to
Hartford
Federated Church.
Mrs. Dowd was born July 16, 1915, in Essex Fells, New
Jersey, the second child of John Williams Jr. and Hattie Windrich
Williams. After her mother’s early death, she moved to the Midwest
and was raised by her aunt and uncle, the late Elmer and Ava
Williams. She graduated from Hartford High School in 1934, was an
active member of Hartford Federated Church and Michigan
Farm Bureau, and was awarded a Farm Bureau "Woman of the Year Award"
for her many years of service.
Survivors include: three sons– Stanley (Sue) Dowd,
Bruce (Katherine) Dowd, and Leslie (Kelly) Dowd; a daughter, Doris
(Bill) Austin; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; a niece,
Sally Noble of Colorado; and a nephew, Douglas Williams of Colorado.
She was preceded in death by: her husband, Arthur F. Dowd, whom she
married November 14, 1936; and a brother, Howard.
Note: Ruth was
a
1934 graduate of Hartford High School.
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Elinor L. Wagner,
74, of Watervliet, died Monday, December 4, 2000, at her home.
Cremation has taken place. There was a graveside prayer
on Wednesday in Coloma Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice at
Home, South Haven. Local arrangements were by Hoven Funeral Home,
Buchanan.
She was born to James and Anna Hathaway on March 5, 1926, and lived
most of her life in this area. She married Charles F. Wagner on
March 1, 1946.
Survivors include: three daughters — Diann (Bobby)
Souders of Indiana, Vicki Lusk, and Kathleen Mooney of
Hartford;
one son, Charles A. of Stanwood; a sister, Genevieve Hartman of
Springdale, Arkansas; a brother, Robert (Dawn) Hathaway of
Scottsdale, Arizona; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; many
nieces and nephews; and special good friends. She was preceded in
death by: her husband, Charles F. Wagner; her parents; a daughter,
Carol Clifford; a sister, Myrtle; a brother, Roy; and a grandson,
Bobby Charles. Elinor’s sister, Margaret, died 14 hours after she
did.
NOTE: The Wagner family resided in Hartford on Haver
Street for several years.
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"Richard" Edward Garner,
passed away on November 24, 2000, in Tucson, AZ. Born May 1, 1929,
in Chicago, IL, he was 71.
Cause of death was listed as respiratory
failure due to chronic lung disease that could be attributed to long
term excessive smoking.
He graduated
from Hartford High School in the Class of
1946 and
immediately
enlisted in the US Navy. After serving 21 years active
duty, he retired at the rank of Lieutenant. His duty assignments
took him throughout the world. In the early days of the Space
Program he served aboard the Aircraft Carrier Kearsarge which was
assigned responsibility for recovery of the astronauts and the space
capsules.
After his retirement from the Navy, Garner owned and
operated a television sales and service in California. He later
moved to Tucson after selling this business and joined the faculty
of Pima Community College in the Electronic Department. He
eventually served as Department Chairman. He retired from the
College after 15 years. He was an active member of the Fleet
Reserve Association in Green Valley Arizona serving a one year term
as that organization’s President.
In addition to his wife, Dick is survived by his six
children from an earlier marriage to Ruth Kimball. He, also, is
survived by his sister, Frances Garner Fredericks of Kalamazoo and
Tucson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and
Louise Garner of Hartford and seven brothers and sisters.
Cremation took place in Tucson. His ashes were buried
at sea in a formal Naval Ceremony.
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Helen
Marguerite Rice, 68, of
Hartford,
died Sunday, November 19, 2000.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2, at
Midway Baptist Church, Watervliet. Donations may be made in her
memory to Area Agency on Aging Region IV (Care Management Program)
at 2900 Lakeview Ave., St. Joseph, MI 49085, in appreciation for all
of the care and services provided for her.
She leaves behind an amazing legacy of love and courage
after battling MS for more than 50 years. She was a faithful prayer
warrior, a devoted and competitive Phase Ten Card Player, and will
be missed by her family and many friends.
Survivors include: her children — Debbie (Lynn) Sims
and Douglas (Patty) Rice of Homewood, Illinois, Floyd M. Rice Jr. of
Texas, and Dawn (Guy) Bockover of Hartford; 12 grandchildren; many nieces
and nephews; three brothers–Rev. Wendell Mullen, the Rev. Waldo
Mullen, and Wayne Mullen; and a sister, Joan Mullen. She was
preceded in death by: her parents, Stillman and Helen Mullen; and
two sisters — Dorothy Mullen and Annie Atwater.
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Jose R. Hernandez,
59, of Winter Haven, Florida, died Wednesday, November 8, 2000, at
Winter Haven Hospital.
Funeral Mass of the Resurrection was offered at 10 a.m.
on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, with Father
Frank Cerio as celebrant. Interment followed in Lake Wales Cemetery,
Lake Wales, Florida. Friends called from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday
Visitation was held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Johnson Funeral Home
in Lake Wales, with a prayer vigil at 6 p.m.
Mr. Hernandez was born November 20, 1940, in
Brownsville, Texas, and moved to Winter Haven eight years ago
from
Hartford,
where he resided for 30 years. He retired after 30 years of
service as a Supervisor for Bendix Automotive in Saint Joseph; was a
UV moldier for General Graphics in Auburndale; and was a member of
Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Lake Wales.
Survivors include: his wife, Maria Louise Hernandez of
Winter Haven; a son, Michael Hernandez of Winter Haven;
daughters–Sylvia Hernandez-Parkman of Greenville, Mississippi, and
Kayla Lynn Parkman and Jessica Maria Parkman, both of Winter Haven;
and a son, Jose Darrell Parkman of Winter Haven.
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Clifford
Martin Brown II, 63, of Baldwin, Michigan,
formerly of
Hartford, died Tuesday, November 7, 2000, at Veterans
Administration Medical Center, Ann Arbor.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 10,
at Hartford
United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Ron Hansen officiating.
Visitation was held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Calvin Funeral
Home,
Hartford. Burial with military rites was held at 10 a.m.
Monday, Nov. 13, in Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta.
Memorial contributions may be made to the
Hartford
United Methodist Church JOASH Fund.
Mr. Brown was born December 3, 1936, in Moline,
Illinois, the son of Lowell and Helen (Trigg) Brown, both of whom
preceded him in death. He retired from Whirlpool Corporation in
1996, after 33 years of service.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran;
member of
Hartford United Methodist Church; and Cornell Lab of
Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. He gave bird presentations at schools,
state parks, senior centers, and churches; and was active with his
family, grandchildren, and community.
Survivors include: his wife, Connie, whom he married on
Dec. 2, 1961; a daughter, Tamara (David) Kling of Watervliet; a son,
Clifford Martin Brown III of Kalamazoo; a grandson, Kendall Kling of
Watervliet; a granddaughter, Brooke Kling of Watervliet; and five
brothers–Christopher Brown and Doug Johnson, both of Illinois, and
Dan Brown, Douglas Brown and Donald Brown, all of Michigan.
Note: Clifford
was a
1956 graduate of Hartford High School.
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Judith K. Klett, 50, of Decatur, died Saturday, October 28, 2000, at
home.
Friends called from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, at
Newell Funeral Home, Decatur, where private family services were
held Wednesday, with the Rev. David Adams officiating. Cremation
followed the services.
She was born April 4, 1950, in Batesville, Arkansas,
the daughter of Warren and Norma (Deal) Malone. She was a very
artistic person and enjoyed writing poetry.
Survivors include: a daughter, Carly M. Klett of Paw
Paw; a son, Colin C. (Jillian) Klett of Decatur; a grandson, Hunter
L. Klett; three sisters–Phyllis (Michael) Stielstra of Ludington,
Michigan, Beverly (Michael) Cheshire of
Hartford,
and Shelia (Don) Closson of Riverside; and a brother, Michael
(Debbie) Everett of Keeler.
NOTE: Judith
was a 1968 Hartford High School graduate.
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Esther Mathilde Gourdie,
92, of Hartford, formerly of Mt. Morris, Michigan, died Wednesday,
October 18, 2000, at her daughter’s home in Hartford.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct.
21, at Hartford United Methodist Church, of which she was a member,
with the Rev. Ron Hansen officiating. Visitation was held from 10
a.m. until the time of the service. Burial was held at 3 p.m. at
Flint Memorial Park in Mt. Morris. Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford,
was in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions may be made in her name to Hartford United Methodist
Church JOASH Fund.
Mrs. Gourdie was born January 12, 1908, in Astoria,
Oregon, the daughter of Ole and Berthine (Newgaard) Harem. She was
former owner of Gourdie’s Grocery of Mt. Morris, with her husband,
William; was a life member of OES El Said 28; and a volunteer for
more than 12 years at Community Hospital, Watervliet.
Survivors include: a daughter, Maxine (Richard) Melvin
of Hartford; three sons–William (Beverly) Gourdie of Traverse
City, Barrett (Joan) Gourdie of Barrington, Illinois, and Bradford (Moreen)
Gourdie of Apopka, Florida; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren
and two great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by: her
husband; a grandson, Douglas Melvin; and seven sisters and
brothers.
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Virginia M. Snodgrass,
of Palm City, Florida, formally of
Hartford,
passed away on October 14, 2000 in Martin Memorial Hospital, Stuart,
Florida.
Cremation has taken place and the family asks if
memorials are made please make them to the Kidney Foundation or the
American Cancer Society or The Alzheimer Foundation.
She was born in Muskegon on May 16, 1926 and was
a life member of Order of
Eastern Star Hartford Chapter and the White
Shrine.
She is survived by her daughter Karen (Eldon) Hallmark;
four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren-Kim (Joe) Pearce,
Stefani and Seth of Stuart, Florida, David (Heidi) Hallmark, Coilin
of Rhoda, Germany, Kyp (Melanie) Hallmark, Katy, Mackenzie, Teralyn,
of Palm City, Florida, Steve (Kimberly) Hallmark, Andrew, Nickolas,
Victoria of Port St. Lucie, Florida. She is also survived by two
brothers. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years
Clarence "Red" Snodgrass in 1999, her mother and father, two
brothers, and two sisters.
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Mary A. Smith, 83, of Covert, passed away Saturday,
Sept. 30, 2000, at Metron of Allegan.
A wake will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the
First Baptist Church, Covert, where funeral services will take place
at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Sherman McClain officiating. Burial
will be in North Shore Memory Gardens, Hagar Shores. The
Bangor Chapel, D.L. Miller Funeral Home, is in charge of
arrangements.
She was born June 9, 1917, in Hartford, the daughter of
Emerson and Mabel Lee. Mrs. Smith was a retired school bus
dirver for Covert Public Schools. She had lived in the area
all of her life, and was a member of the First Baptist Church,
Covert, and the Eastern Star.
Survivors include 10 grandchildren – Marvin Carrington,
Gregory Carrington, Maryalice (Paul) Pyron II, Edward Barnes, Paul
Barnes, Angela Copprue, Maracio Barnes, Shera Barnes, Jacoby Barnes
and Roderrick Barnes; 19 great-grandchildren; one
great-great-great-grandchild; a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elbert "Dude"
Smith; a daughter, Geraldine Barnes; and a grandson, Elbert
Carrington.
NOTE: Mary attend the
1936 Class of Hartford High School.
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Nelda
Dyer, 87, of Mattawan, died Thursday, March 23, 2000, at
Rose Arbor in Kalamazoo.
She was born Sept. 23, 1912, to Harold and Lou (Tappan)
Barnes. Mrs. Dyer graduated
from Hartford High School in 1931, and attended Western
Michigan University for two years. On Oct. 21, 1933, she was united
in marriage to Clarence Dyer, who preceded her in death in 1994. She
and Clarence enjoyed many years of square dancing together.
She is survived by a daughter, Susan (Robert) Spencer;
two sons James L. (Patricia) Dyer of Howell, Mich., and Michael J.
(Mary) Dyer of Mattawan; eight grandchildren; 11
great-grandchildren; a sister, Patricia (Ray) Sudeikis of Gobles;
and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at
Betzler & Thompson Funeral Home, Paw Paw. Interment will be Monday
at 1 p.m. at Hill Cemetery in Lawrence. Memorials may be made to
Rose Arbor.
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