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April 27, 2003ObituariesMANISTEE - Arthur L. Bussa, 72, of Manistee, died Friday, April 25, 2003.Born Sept. 15, 1930, in Hazel Park, he was the son of Archie and Virginia (Westervelt) Bussa. He married Mary Ellen Fox, in Clawson, on Aug. 11, 1961. Art was a salesman for Builders Plumbing Supply in Lansing prior to his retirement. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, having served during the Korean War, and was a member of the American Legion. Art was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. He served on the church vestry in the positions of junior warden and senior warden. Art's greatest loves were his family, flying, fishing and boating. Surviving are his wife, Mary Ellen; a daughter, Kay (Larry) Steckelberg of Leslie; two sons, Christopher Arthur (Jill) Bussa of Troy and Robert Lewis (Amber Fry) Bussa of Saranac; seven grandchildren; two brothers, Leon Bussa of Traverse City and Douglas (Jo Ann) Bussa of Washington; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Memorial services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 3, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Manistee. Following the services, his cremated remains will be scattered in the church's Memorial Garden. The family requests memorial contributions be given in lieu of flowers to Holy Trinity Episcopal Church or Hospice of Michigan. Arrangements by Johnson Funeral Home, 480 Water St., Manistee, MI 49660. KEITH GERALD "WHITEY" ACHA, 77, of Brethren, died Tuesday, April 22, 2003, at Manistee County Medical Care Facility. Graveside services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m., Monday, April 28, in Benzonia Township Cemetery. Pastor Dan Ingersoll will officiate. The Bennett-Barz Funeral Home in Beulah is in charge of arrangements. DANIEL J. LANE, 47, of Traverse City, died unexpectedly at his home. Cremation will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Manistee. The Oak Grove Cremation Center is serving the family. JOHN F. TEZAK JR., 88, of Interlochen, died March 19, 2003, at Birchwood Nursing Center in Traverse City. Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Thursday, May 1, in Inland Township Cemetery. The Bennett-Barz Funeral Home in Beulah is in charge of arrangements. ELBERTA - Donna B. Weslock, 89, of Elberta, died Saturday, April 26, 2003, at Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital LTC. Born Oct. 24, 1913, in Elberta, she was the daughter of William Paul and Eva E. (Schaeffer) Smeltzer. Donna was employed as postal clerk at the Frankfort Post Office for several years until her retirement. She was a member of Elberta United Methodist Church, the Elks and Frankfort Eagles. She enjoyed gardening and was a member of the Periwinkle garden club; she was also an avid bowler. In September 1933, she married James Tanner, who preceded her in death in 1976. She then married Charles Weslock in October 1979, and he preceded her in death in 1992. She was also predeceased by her daughter, Theadora Nan Tanner; and a sister, Lucille Dryja. Donna is survived by two sons, Donald (Rosemary) Tanner of Elberta and William E. Tanner of Frankfort; nine grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, from Elberta United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Greg Culver officiating. Interment will follow in Gilmore Township Cemetery. Friends may call on Monday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Frankfort Chapel, McElduff Funeral Homes. Memorials may be directed to Elberta United Methodist Church or Paul Oliver Memorial Hospital LTC. FALL RIVER, Mass. - Thomas M. Barczak, 60, of Fall River, Mass., died Tuesday, April 8, 2003, at The Oaks, New Bedford, Mass. Born in Saginaw, the son of Helen (Kersheske) Barczak Jacob of Traverse City, and the late Michael Barczak, he lived in Ridgefield, Conn., and Fall River, Mass., for many years. A U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War and a graduate of Norwalk State Technical College, Norwalk, Conn., he had been employed by AMF, Inc., Stamford, Conn., and Lightolier, Fall River, Mass. He was a member of the American Society for Testing Materials, the Society of Plastic Engineers and the American Society of Metals. He enjoyed fishing, sailing, going to stock car races and going to concerts. Besides his mother, survivors include a son, Joseph Barczak of Danbury, Conn.; a daughter, Jennifer Barczak of Providence, R.I.; a brother, Gerald Barczak of Traverse City; two sisters, Rose Bareham of Grand Ledge and Jean Barczak of State College, Pa. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at noon on Friday, May 2, at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church in Empire. The Rev. William Lipscomb will serve as celebrant. Burial will take place in St. Philip Neri Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church on Friday morning prior to the Mass from 11 a.m. to noon. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, Empire; or Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, 330 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02215; or The Oaks, 4525 Acushnet Ave., New Bedford, MA. Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home is serving the family. GRAYLING - Thomas James Close, a man who spent most of his life rooted in Kalkaska, advocating for the children of its community, died Thursday evening of a heart aneurysm while working on his prized Volkswagen at home. He was 69. Thomas is survived by his wife, Sandra J. McAnallen; two sons, Jonathan D. (Jessica) Close of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Jamie (Christianna) Close of Marquette; a stepdaughter, Julia S. McAnallen of Washington, D.C.; three grandchildren, Max and Maggie Close-O'Rourke of Cincinnati, and Jalynn Bea Close of Marquette; and a brother, David W. Close of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Katherin Close. Thomas earned his bachelor's degree in 1956 from St. Joseph's College and his master's degree in 1969 from Central Michigan University. He continued his education in the early 1990s at Michigan State University. The Adrian native began his lifelong career in 1959 with Kalkaska Public Schools as a high school history teacher, eventually becoming vice principal and guidance counselor of the middle school. He retired in 2000, but continued working as an administrator for the school system. Thomas was an active community leader. He was a member of the Rotary Club and a Lamplighter Award recipient. In his spare time, Thomas enjoyed working on his house in Grayling, fishing on Lake Margarethe, working on his vintage VW Beetle and traveling with his wife to tropical beaches. Thomas touched the lives of every person he met. A memorial service will be held for Thomas at 4 p.m., Tuesday, April 29, at Kalkaska Middle School gymnasium. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association. Arrangements were made by Wolfe Funeral Home in Kalkaska. | |
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