subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
 
December 21, 2000

Obituaries

ELK RAPIDS - Thomas William Masserang, 67, of Elk Rapids and formerly of the Dearborn area, died on Tuesday.
      He was born on January 14, 1933, in Detroit, to Marcel and Mary (Coldwell) Masserang. On April 4, 1959, he married Doris Bruckner at Sacred Heart Church in Dearborn.
      Thomas served in the U.S. Navy as an aviation machinist from 1953 to 1955. He graduated from the University of Detroit in 1963 with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Thomas was employed as an accountant for Top 'O Michigan Rural Electric, retiring in 1993. He was an active member of Sacred Heart Parish; a member and officer for the Knights of Columbus, he was knight of the month in December, 2000. He was a Rotarian and served as treasurer for 13 years. He was also a Paul Harris Fellow, Elk Skegemog Lakes Association current treasurer and a member of the National Association of Accountants. Thomas served on the Elk Rapids Village Council from 1983 to 1985, and was a National Rifle Association member.
      Thomas is survived by his wife, Doris, of Elk Rapids; Barbara (Lawrence) LaSusa of Barrington, Ill.; Sandra (Jeff) Ehlers of Neenah, Wisc.; Amy (Mark) Nyquist of Minneapolis, Minn.; Susan Masserang of Palo Alto, Calif.; one brother, Gregory (Lorelei) Masserang of Clarkston; and five grandchildren. Thomas was preceded in death by his parents.
      Visitation will be on Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Elk Rapids Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes, with Evening Prayer from the Order of Christian Funerals at 7 p.m.
      Mass from the Order of Christian Burials will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, with Rev. Robert J. Zuchowski as celebrant. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Kewadin.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to Sacred Heart Church Building fund or Munson Hospice.
      Arrangements have been entrusted to the Elk Rapids Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.
     
      TRAVERSE CITY - John Harley Young, M.D., 78, of Traverse City, died Tuesday at the Grand Traverse Pavilions.
      He was born on August 16, 1922, in Dayton, Ohio, to Harley Francis and Amy (Haines) Young. On December 3, 1949, in Matawan, N.J., he married June Mason.
      John was an Eagle Scout in 1937; and graduated from Steele High School in June of 1940. He attended DePauw University in Indiana from September 1940, graduating in February 1943. He then attended Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. from March 1943 to March 1946, earning his M.D. under full scholarship. He interned at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital (now the Brigham and Women's Hospital) in Boston, Mass., and was Chief Resident of Psychiatric Services at the University of Maryland Hospital. He was the Assistant in Psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical School from June, 1953 to July, 1954.
      In July of 1955, Dr. Young became Director of Outpatient Services for the North Dakota State Hospital and served that post through July of 1959. He presented a paper, "New Drugs in Psychiatry" to the District Meeting of the American College of Physicians held at the State Hospital, Jamestown, N.D., on September 10, 1955. He was certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (Psychiatry) in October, 1955.
      Dr. Young was commissioned in the Naval Reserves in October, 1942, and officially entered the U.S. Navy in March, 1943. He was commissioned into active duty on July 10, 1947. In 1950, he was named Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners. He served actively in the U.S. Navy until May 22, 1953, attaining the Highest rank, Lieutenant Master Chief.
      Dr. Young had an active career as a lecturer in Psychiatry, and made many speeches throughout Michigan and other states. He delivered lectures at the Nebraska Psychiatric Institute during the years 1957 to 1959, and at the University of North Dakota in 1958 and 1959.
      In July of 1959, Dr. Young became the Director of the Outpatient Clinic at the Traverse City State Hospital, where he served until 1965. He also was the Director of the Northwest Michigan Child Guidance Clinic, Inc., in Traverse City, from 1961 until September 12, 1991. At the clinic he introduced and developed the Doula Teen-Parent Program.
      Dr. Young was a member of the Rotary Club from 1955 through 1965. He served on the Human Relations Council from 1970 to 1973, and was Chairman for one year. He was also a member of the GTA Council of Churches from 1962 to 1966, acting as Chairman for one year. In 1981, Dr. Young served as an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. He was a member of the School Board from 1977 to 1987, and held all offices. Dr. Young also was actively involved in Habitat for Humanity in Traverse City. From 1981 through 1987, Dr. Young served on the Probate Court Advisory Committee.
      Dr. Young won an award from the Michigan Foster Parents Association in 1987. He also won a Humanitarian Award from the Department of Child and Family Services in 1990.
      He is survived by his wife, June G. Young, and children, Peter M. (Karen) Young, Michael A. (Noraini) Young, Joseph N. (Rebecca) Young, Rebecca A. (Anthony) Neroni, and Kristin L. Guthrie. Also surviving is John's sister, Eunice Mehaffi; and many grandchildren. "We will all miss you dearly."
      A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at The Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Dr. Homer Nye officiating. All are welcome to attend.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to Harvard Medical School or the Child Guidance Clinic in Traverse City.
      Arrangements are being handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home of Traverse City.
     
      ARTHUR DWIGHT BEACH, 58, of Mesick, died Monday, Dec. 19, 2000, at his residence. He was born Sept. 3, 1942, in Mesick, the son of Arthur and Ethel (Brown) Beach.
      Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Terwilliger Funeral Home in Kaleva. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. until the time of the service.
     
      HILTON ROBB, 88, of Elk Rapids, died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2000.
      Arrangements are pending by the Elk Rapids Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.
     
      SARAH L. RUTHENBERG, 13, of Traverse City, died Tuesday morning at Munson Medical Center from natural causes. She was born on May 14, 1987, in Macomb County, the daughter of Rick and Pamela S. (DeSmith) Ruthenberg.
      Visitation will be on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City.
      Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, with the Rev. Dr. Gary Hogue officiating. Burial will be in the Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.
      A full obituary will appear in Friday's edition.
     
      HARRY J. SMITH, 87, of Manistee, died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2000, at his home.
      A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Friday at 9 a.m. at the Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Manistee. Final interment will take place at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Manistee. There will be no visitation.
      Arrangements are being handled by the Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee.