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September 28, 2003

Obituaries

MARIAN ESSENBERG, 86, of Barryton, formerly of Traverse City, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, in Ft. Myers, Fla.
      Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the Daggett Funeral Home in Barryton. Burial will take place in Mt. Ever Rest Cemetery, Kalamazoo.
      Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
     
      JOYCE J. GEARHART, 66, of Mancelona, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003, at home.
      Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Antrim Church of Christ in Mancelona.
      Friends may call Monday, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., at the Mancelona Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.
     
      LINDA LOU HARRINGTON, 54, of Kalkaska, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003, at Munson Medical center.
      Visitation will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at Wolfe Funeral Home in Kalkaska.
      Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Norton Shores City Cemetery.
     
      DOROTHY A. ROBINSON, 99, of Harrietta, died Friday, Sept. 26, 2003, at Munson Medical Center.
      Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at Harrietta United Methodist Church. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Wexford County.
      Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. this evening at the Peterson Funeral Home in Cadillac.
     
      ELBERTA - Gary K. Jensen, 63, of Elberta, died Friday, Sept. 26, 2003, at his home.
      Born June 27, 1940, in Elberta, he was the son of Carl and Velma (Jennings) Jensen. He graduated from Frankfort High School in 1958.
      Gary was employed with A&P Tea Co. as produce manager from 1959 to 1961, then promoted to relief store manager from 1961 to 1963. Gary then joined the U.S. Army from 1963 to 1965, serving as company clerk and receiving an honorable discharge.
      Following his discharge, Gary became store manager for A&P Tea Co. until 1974. From 1974 to 1976, he was store manager for Ely's Superette. Gary was co-owner and store manager of Gateway Food Center in Frankfort from 1976 to 1986. From 1986 to 1989, he served as meat manager for Ely's Superette. Gary then became an apprentice electrician for Drydal Electric from 1989 to 1991. From 1991 to 1996, Gary owned and operated GJ Majestic Auto Cleaning. From 1997 until his retirement this year, he worked for Shop & Save Food Center in Benzonia.
      On Oct. 10, 1981, in Frankfort, he married Carolyn Joy Little, who survives. Gary is also survived by his mother, Velma; two sons, Shannon Jensen and Rick (Debbie) Jensen, all of Frankfort; a daughter, Tricia (Donnie) Palmer of Oklahoma; two stepsons, Michael (Carrie) Nigh and Scott (Kendra) Nigh, all of North Carolina; a stepdaughter, Luanna (Tim) Kirbach of Romulus; 14 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a sister, Connie (Perry) Ely of Beulah; and a brother, Ken (Jackie) Jensen of Missouri. His father, Carl, preceded Gary in death.
      Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29, from Trinity Lutheran Church, with Pastor S. James Petteys officiating. Interment will follow in Gilmore Township Cemetery, with military honors under the auspices of American Legion Post 221 of Frankfort.
      Friends may call today from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Benzonia Chapel, McElduff Funeral Homes.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to Benzie Home Health Care.
     
      FRANKFORT - Lewis D. Hawkins, 83, of Frankfort, died peacefully at The Maples-Benzie County Medical Care Facility in Frankfort on Friday, Sept. 26, 2003, after an extended illness. Lewis will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he touched.
      A lifelong resident of Benzie County, he was born July 16, 1920, to Anson and Viola Hawkins. He graduated from Benzonia High School and honored his country with services in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He married Dorothy L. Bruechert, his wife of 59 years, on Nov. 30, 1944.
      Lewis was active in the community, serving as cub master for the Boy Scout pack in Benzonia, a member of American Legion Post 221 in Frankfort and a member of Lighthouse Chapel. He was knowledgeable in many trades, but was best known for his work as a custom cabinet builder.
      Mr. Hawkins will always be remembered by his friends and extended family as being a true friend and unselfishly offering encouragement to all.
      Lewis is survived by his loving wife, Dorothy L. Hawkins; his son, Kenneth Hawkins of Williamsburg, Va.; a grandson, Arthur (Erica) of Miami, Fla.; a granddaughter, Michelle of Norfolk, Va.; a great-granddaughter, Jade; and his sister, Doris Rider of Benzonia.
      Preceding Lewis in death were his parents; his sister, Marie; his brothers, Nye, Leo, Paul, Cecil, De and Robert; and numerous nieces and nephews.
      Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at the Bennett-Barz Funeral Home in Beulah, with Pastors Elmer Polk and Albert E. Clark officiating. The family will receive friends Monday from 10 a.m. until time of services at the funeral home.
      The Bennett-Barz Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
     
      BENZONIA - A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, in the Benzie Central High School auditorium in Benzonia, to celebrate the life of Timothy P. Rosiek, a 13-year-old from Benzonia who died Sept. 19 from complications of Barth Syndrome.
      Tim was born Nov. 28, 1989, in Detroit, the son of Paul and Cheryl (Bacon) Rosiek. Barth Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects the heart, immune system and muscles, and it affects only males.
      Evangelist Robert Bodell, from Benzie Area Church of Christ in Frankfort, will lead the service. Tim knew the Lord and was an active member of this church. He was part of the Junior High Youth Group and also attended Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, where his teachers said "he was full of questions about heaven."
      Tim, an eighth-grade student at Benzie Central Middle School, suffered a heart attack on the playground at Crystal Lake Elementary School where his sister, Emily, is in the second grade. His family was attending the school's open house when he suffered the attack on Sept. 10.
      Two Boy Scouts and two volunteer firefighters/EMTs were at the open house and immediately administered CPR. Tim was treated at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City and then airlifted to Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. Despite heroic efforts and many prayers, Tim died on Sept. 19.
      Tim never let his illness get him down. He enjoyed swimming, fishing, riding his bicycle and four-wheel Odyssey, and PlayStation games with his best friend, Max Krueger, age 14. "Tim spent a lot of time at the Kruegers'; he was like their second son," said Cheryl Rosiek, Tim's mom.
      Tim loved animals. He had 10 cats and a dog named Mayzee. His dad, Paul, a finish carpenter, built the cats a house in the backyard of the family's 10-acre homestead. Tim was in charge of feeding and caring for the animals, "a job he enjoyed and took very seriously," said his mom and dad.
      "Tim was a sweet, gentle boy whose favorite foods were pizza and bacon," said his aunt, Pam Moran of St. Clair. "I will miss him very much. He was the only person I knew who enjoyed bacon more than me."
      Tim was close to his extended family, especially his 13-year-old cousin, Savanna Garrett of Milford. Savanna often accompanied Tim to his medical checkups at University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. She helped make the trips an "adventure" rather than a scary experience.
      A funeral Mass was celebrated on Sept. 22 at St. Linus Catholic Church in Dearborn Heights. Burial took place in St. Hedwig Cemetery in Dearborn Heights. Arrangements were handled by Sajewski Funeral Home in Detroit.
      Tim is survived by his parents, Paul and Cheryl Rosiek of Benzonia; sister, Emily; grandparents, Paul and Betty Bacon of Redford Township, and Henry and Wanda Rosiek of Canton Township; and many aunts, uncles and cousins in Michigan and Ohio. He was preceded in death by his brother, Michael, who also was diagnosed with Barth Syndrome.
      In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be given in Tim's honor to the Barth Syndrome Foundation, P.O. Box 23173, Lincoln, NE 68543-3173.
     
      BELLAIRE - Evelyn I. O'Hearn, 75, of Bellaire, formerly of Mancelona, died Friday, Sept. 26, 2003, at Munson Medical Center. She was born April 28, 1928, in Mancelona, the daughter of Earnest John and Ethel (Bays) Bradley.
      She was a lifelong resident of Mancelona. Evelyn and her husband, Bud Weesner, owned and operated Mancelona Sports for many years, and they also owned Mancelona Cleaners.
      Evelyn was a volunteer for the Red Cross, the Mancelona Senior Center and the Boy Scouts, where she served as den mother. She was a member of the Mancelona Eastern Star. She enjoyed ceramics, painting, was an avid poker player and also enjoyed playing softball for the Mancy Chicks where she was a pitcher. She was the Mancelona Centennial Queen.
      Evelyn is survived by two children, William J. (Anita) Doerr of Kingsley, Bonnie L. (Doug Richards) Bartz of Mancelona; two brothers, Earnest (Neva) Bradley of Elk Rapids, ErvaI "Mike" (Rosie) Bradley of Frankfort; two sisters, Elma Oosdyke of Traverse City and Ethelyn "Joyce" Frenchi of Manistee; seven grandchildren, Butch (Cindy) Bartz Jr., Chad Bartz, Mike (Lianna) Doerr, Rob (Megan) Doerr, Michelle Doerr, Rebecca (Kyle) Christianson and Mary (Jamie) Horten; two stepgrandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
      Evelyn was preceded in death by a son, Bobby Doerr; husbands, Bud Weesner and Eugene O'Hearn; three sisters, Elsa, Eulalee and Erma, and a brother, Edward Luke.
      Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at the Mancelona Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes, Interment will follow in Fairview Cemetery, Mancelona.
      The family will receive friends today from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
      Memorial contributions may be directed to the Antrim County Commission on Aging, the Northwest Regional Dialysis Center in Traverse City, or the Mancelona Senior Center.
     
      WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Leslie B. Netzorg, 92, of West Palm Beach, formerly of Columbus, Ohio, and Traverse City, died Monday, Sept. 22, 2003. He was born in Carson City, Mich.
      He was a regional sales manager for Levi Strauss & Co., retiring after 25 years. He was a former member of the Columbus Athletic Club.
      Les is survived by a son, David of Traverse City; grandchildren, David (Patti) of Orlando, Fla., Eric (Adele) of Center Village, Ohio, and Caroline Netzorg of Los Angeles, Calif.; great-grandchildren, Dayna, Corey, Becky and Noah; half sister, Margaret (George) Schubering of Florida; and nieces, Susan and Rebecca.
      Friends may call at the Moreland Funeral Home, 55 E. Schrock Rd., Westerville, Ohio, on Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
      A graveside service and interment will be held in Sunset Cemetery, Galloway, Ohio, on Tuesday at 2 p.m., with the Rev. David C. Netzorg officiating.
      Les will be fondly remembered as being positive, helpful, considerate and always a perfect gentleman.
      In remembrance, memorial contributions may be directed to Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church, 3900 S. Hiawassee Rd., Orlando, FL 32835.
     
      TRAVERSE CITY - Merton W. Shattuck, 87, formerly of Buckley, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003, at Grand Traverse Pavilions. He was born Aug. 7, 1916, in Rochester, and was a resident of northern Michigan for the past 30 years.
      Merton was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army. He was employed at General Motors before retiring in 1970. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and cutting firewood.
      Merton is survived by his four children, Robert (Beth) Shattuck of Hadley, Raymond Shattuck of Pontiac, David Shattuck of Auburn Hills and Tim (Gail) Shattuck of Somers, Mont.; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Marguerite McGraw of Oxford, Helen Hoadley of Lexington, Ohio, and Lois Harvey of Sandusky.
      Preceding Merton in death were three wives, Clara Green, Jean McDonald and Marguriette Dinger; four brothers, Lynn, William, Howard and Clarence; and a grandson, Robert Shattuck Jr.
      Visitation will be held Tuesday, Sept. 30, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., at Covell-Smith Funeral Home in Kingsley.
      A funeral service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, at the funeral home, with visitation one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Thomas Shelder from Buckley Gospel Tabernacle Church will officiate.
      Burial will be in Clark Cemetery, Fife Lake, with full graveside military honors.
      Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell-Smith Funeral Home, Kingsley.
     
     
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