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April 26, 2001

Obituaries

      BENZONIA - Bernard George Eckhout, 87, of Benzonia, formerly of Bear Lake, died on Tuesday at The Maples in Frankfort.
      Mr. Eckhout was born on Aug. 23, 1913, in Mt. Clemens, the son of Victor and Magdelena (Siebert) Eckhout. Mr. Eckhout graduated in 1932 from St. Mary's Catholic School in Mt. Clemens. On July 15, 1939, he married the former Lenore Marsh, who survives.
      Mr. Eckhout served his country honorably during World War II as a T/SGT with the Army's Signal Corps. He was the vice-president of Transformer Inspection Company in Royal Oak, retiring in 1978. Mr. Eckhout then moved to Bear Lake until he moved to Benzonia in 1996.
      He was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Mt. Clemens where he sang in the church choir and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He held membership in the AM Vets of Mt. Clemens. He is a member of St. Ann Catholic Church in Frankfort.
      Mr. Eckhout had been a summer resident of Bear Lake since 1939, where he enjoyed fishing, hunting and the outdoors.
      He is survived by his wife, Lenore; a son, Michael (Debbra) Eckhout of Arcadia; daughters, Christine Eckhout of Genoa, Nev., Jan (Steven) Linton of Macomb and Marybeth (Don) Zaleski of Frankfort; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Margaret Morgan of Oklahoma City, Okla.
      Mr. Eckhout was preceded in death by three brothers, August, Anthony and Joseph; and two sisters, Gertrude and Mary.
      Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday 11 a.m. from St. Ann Catholic Church with Father Casimir Zawacki Celebrant. An evening prayer service will be held on Thursday 8 p.m. at the Benzonia Chapel of McElduff Funeral Homes. The family will meet with friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Interment will be in the Pleasanton Cemetery. Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider The Maples in Frankfort.
     
     
      CEDAR - Pauline Garvin, 100, a lifelong resident of Cedar, died on Tuesday.
      She was born on Oct. 21, 1900, in Cedar, the daughter of Nicholaus and Frances (Rzepinski) Narloch and the fourth oldest of 17 children. On June 22, 1921, she married Felix Garvin.
      A homemaker, she was a member of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Cedar all of her life and a member of the Holy Rosary Society.
      She is survived by nine children, Matilda Pleva of Cedar, Anthony (Theresa) Garvin of Maple City, Roman (Ruth) Garvin of Traverse City, Stanley (Proxie) Garvin of Maple City, Alexander (Ellen) Garvin of Cedar, Josephine (John) Boczar of Dearborn, Elizabeth (Edd) Newell of Kingsley, Frances Mills of Brethren and Maxine (Ben) Taylor of Beulah; one sister, Susan Jorginsen of Wisconsin; two brothers, Andrew (Ann) Narloch of California and Anthony Narloch of England; 36 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; several step-grandchildren; and step-great-grandchildren.
      She was preceded in death by her husband, Felix, on May 27, 1988; two daughters, Agnes and Marie; two sisters, Sebalda and Victorianna, who were Felician nuns; two grandchildren; and 13 brothers and sisters.
      Visitation will be held today from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes and on Friday at 6 p.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, where a Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m.
      The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the church with the Rev. Chad Zielinski officiating. Interment will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the Mass Intentions or Family Wishes.
     
     
      TRAVERSE CITY - Dale Knepp, 81, passed away Sunday at Munson Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.
      Dale was born the son of Elton Dale Knepp on July 31, 1919, in South Bend, Ind.
      He was one of the founders and co-owners of Auto Air Industries in Lansing for most of his career until his retirement in 1985. After retiring, Dale and his wife Abbie took up permanent residence in Traverse City. Dale enjoyed spending time with his family, extensive travel and golf.
      He is survived by his wife Abbie; his children, Susan (Richard) Imme, Vickie (Gary) Meyer, Raymond (Pam) Knepp, Lynn Knepp, Robert Knepp, Tracy (Jim) Knoth, Susan (Andy) Urquhart, Jeff (Patty) Mahoney; 15 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister Audrey (Stanley) Kucharski; and one brother Raymond (Millie) Knepp.
      Cremation has taken place and a family memorial service was held. Dale will be interred at Oak Hills Cemetery in Owosso. Arrangements are being handled by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Traverse City.
     
     
      TRAVERSE CITY - Arthur Richard Thomas, 60, of Traverse City, died on Tuesday at McLaren Regional Medical Center. He was born on Aug. 22, 1940, in Flint.
      Arthur was a lifetime resident of Genesee County. He spent his summers in Traverse City and winters in Bradenton, Fla. He married Charlene Sudia on Sept. 8, 1962, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. He loved community service, boating, fishing, hunting, golf and his grandchildren. Arthur was member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church of Davison, The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church of Traverse City, Davison Jaycee's and belonged to the Kiwanis of Downtown Flint. Arthur was the past president and member of the board of directors of Goodwill Industries, an officer and board of trustee member for the Flint Elks Lodge No. 222, past board of directors member of Crime Stoppers, he was the director of Special Olympics for Area XIII, co-founder of the Bobby Crim Road Race, and was also a member of the Flint Steelheaders Association, Eagles Lodge of Traverse City and Flint Chamber of Commerce.
      He was a past owner of Thomas Appliance of Flint and a Director of Genesee County Intermediate School District and Special Education Transition Director for the Flint Board of Education.
      He is survived by his wife, Charlene; three children, Donald and wife Elizabeth Thomas of Linden, Kenneth and wife Cheryl Thomas of Linden and Jennifer Thomas Duke of Kansas City, Mo.; three grandchildren, Brandon Thomas, Emily Thomas and Kenneth Thomas II; sister, Marlene Thomas of Ontario, Canada.
      He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Marion Thomas.
      Visitation will be held today from 4 to 9 p.m. and on Friday from noon to 9 p.m. at the Swartz Funeral Home, 1225 West Hill Road. A Flint Elks Lodge No. 222 service will be held at 7 p.m. today and a Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Mr. Thomas will be in the church from 8:30 a.m. on Saturday until the time of service at the church.
      Funeral service will be held on Saturday at 9:30 am. at the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 404 North Dayton Street, with the Rev. Andrew A. Czajkowski officiating. Burial will be in the St. John's Catholic Cemetery.
      In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Family Fund for Area Charities.
     
      VERNA L. SLACK, 85, of East Jordan, formerly of Echo Township, died Tuesday, April 24, 2001, at the Charlevoix Area Hospital. Verna was born Dec. 21, 1915.
      Funeral services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. at the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes, where the family will receive friends Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.
     
      ELLEN MURPHY, 66, of Traverse City, died on Wednesday, April 25, 2001, at the University of Michigan Hospital.
      Arrangements are pending and a full obituary will appear at a later date. Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home is serving the family.