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March 23, 2004ObituariesBETTY A. BARBER, 80, of Clinton, formerly of Central Lake, died Sunday, March 21, 2004, at her home in Clinton.No services are planned. Interment will be in Central Lake's Southern Cemetery in the spring. Arrangements are being handled by the Central Lake Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. TIMOTHY G. BLACKMER, 57, of Maple Forest Township, formerly of Dearborn, died Sunday, March 21, 2004, at his home. Visitation will take place today, March 23, from 2 to 9 p.m., with an Eagles service by the Knights of Columbus, and Wednesday, March 24, from noon to 9 p.m., with a rosary at 7 p.m. and a Veterans Service at 8 p.m., at Sorenson Funeral Home, McEvers Chapel, in Grayling. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 25, at the funeral home. Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery. SENA GRIBLER, 100, of Traverse City, died Sunday, March 21, 2004, at Grand Traverse Pavilions. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 25, at Summerfield Cemetery in Summerfield, Ill. Arrangements have been made by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Traverse City. LISA MARIE JARMAN, 41, of Manistee, died this past weekend at her home. Cremation will take place at Oak Grove Cemetery in Manistee. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, at The Living Waters Christian Church in Manistee, with visitation from 11:30 a.m. until time of service. The family has entrusted funeral arrangements to Oak Grove Cremation Center. ROBERT CLARENCE SCHIMKE, 85, of Onekama, died Sunday, March 21, 2004, at West Shore Medical Center in Manistee. Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 24, at the Terwilliger Funeral Home in Manistee, with visitation from 11 a.m. until time of the services. Rev. Floyd Soper will officiate. Interment will be in Norwalk Lutheran Cemetery. BRENDA J. TYRON, 45, of Manistee, died Monday, March 22, 2004, at her home in Manistee. Visitation will take place Wednesday, March 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Herbert Funeral Home in Manistee. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 25, at the funeral home. Burial will immediately follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Manistee. TRAVERSE CITY - LaVerne G. "Jiggs" Raymond, 85, of Traverse City, died peacefully at his home, Sunday, March 21, 2004, with his wife and family by his side. Jiggs was born on Aug. 21, 1918, in Auburn, the son of Shirley D. and Harriett I. (Dennings) Raymond. On Nov. 29, 1941, at St. Edward's Church in Detroit, he married the former Geraldine L. Brenner. Jiggs served in the infantry, Company E, ACAD Regt TIS, as a Supply Sergeant at Fort Benning, Ga., with the U.S. Army for three years. After his discharge, Jiggs became an employee of the Coca Cola Bottling Company in Bay City. After two years, he was placed in charge of a warehouse in West Branch, where he worked for Coke until his transfer to Traverse City in 1965. While in West Branch, Jiggs was very active in civic and community affairs. He was a past president of the West Branch Chamber of Commerce, past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, member of the Board of Directors of St. Joseph Parochial School, served on the City Council for several years, and was active in organizing and administering the Little League. He was an active referee at the local level for basketball and baseball games. This love of refereeing was based on his skills as a great high school athlete, and carried over to his playing basketball as a semi-professional in Bay City. While in West Branch, Jiggs found time to become a very skillful hunter and fisherman. He used to take Governor G.M. Williams hunting at various locations around the county in the fall. In 1960, after attending the Harvard Business School and completing the two-year course in one year, Coca Cola promoted him to take over the management of the Traverse City bottling plant and warehouses in Cadillac and Petoskey, and the sales area of northwest Michigan. His love of community service continued for years in Traverse City, where Jiggs served in the Rotary Club in the following capacities: Minstrel Show Chairman, Board of Directors, Easter Seals, Crippled Children Committee, NMC Barbecue, Christmas bell-ringing and tables, and assistant to the secretary and treasurer for 10 years. His community work continued with the Traverse City Chamber of Commerce, United Way, the Osteopathic Hospital Fund Drive and several other various committees. Jiggs was an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, where he was also a member of the Men's Club and the Variety Club. Many honors were earned over the years from his community activities, highlighted by his receiving the Red Rose Award and becoming a Paul Harris Fellow with his involvement with the Rotary Club. Jiggs is survived by his wife of 62 years, Geraldine; his children, Michael (Kathy) Raymond of West Branch, Sara "Sally" Mier of Roscommon, John (Beatrice) Raymond of Perry, Timothy (Ann) Raymond of Honor and Amy Lewis (friend Bob Oldham) of Okemos. Also surviving are 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; a brother, Russell (Harriett) Raymond of Midland; and two sisters, Naomi Schmitt of Saginaw and Alice Schmidt of Gladwin. Jiggs was preceded in death by his parents, and four brothers, Carl, Donald, Howard and Wilbur. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 25, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The Rev. Father James Hayden will serve as celebrant. Visitation will be held Wednesday evening, March 24, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, where a rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery in Gladwin. Memorial contributions may be directed to Hospice, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Restoration Fund or Right to Life. Kathleen H. 'Kitty' Brown Died March 21, 2004 TRAVERSE CITY - Kathleen H. "Kitty" Brown, 79, of Traverse City, died Sunday, March 21, 2004, at her home with her family at her side. Born June 11, 1924, in Morgantown, W.Va., she was the daughter of Joseph Young and Leoma (Plum) Burnett. Kitty married Ellsworth "Curly" Brown on June 26, 1942, at Sunshine Baptist Church in Madison Heights. Kitty was a retired secretary and former Avon sales representative. She loved knitting, tatting and crocheting beautiful keepsakes for the family, and won numerous blue ribbons at the State Fair for items she submitted. She received a great deal of enjoyment from her pet bird and dogs. She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church, and a lifetime member of the Royal Oak Eagles. She had been a resident of Traverse City for 33 years. Kitty will be deeply missed by her devoted husband of 62 years, who was her main caregiver during her long illness. She will also be missed by her loving family, including her daughters, Karen (Walt) Koschke of Rochester Hills, Kathleen (Jim) Curto of Sanford, Fla., and Linda (Jim) Canterbury of Kissimmee, Fla.; her two sisters, Bonna (Harry) Sawyers and Carol Christopher, both of Rochester Hills; and many special nieces and nephews. Kitty had seven grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Juanita; and brothers, Joseph "Bud," James and Donald. The family will receive visitors at Covell-Smith Funeral Home in Kingsley Wednesday evening, March 24, at 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at noon, Thursday, March 24, at the funeral home, with visitation from 11 a.m. until service time. The family wishes to express their gratitude to East Bay Township Fire and Rescue Department, and asks that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to East Bay Township Fire and Rescue Department, 110 High Lake Road, Traverse City, 49686. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Covell-Smith Funeral Home in Kingsley. TRAVERSE CITY - Eugene B. "Gene" Sprenger, 52, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Sunday, March 21, 2004, in Traverse City. Born April 26, 1951, in Fergus Falls, Minn., he was the son of Bernard "Bernie" and Lorraine G. (Bredeson) Sprenger. Gene attended parochial school and served as an altar boy at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church. He was also in the Boy Scouts in Fergus Falls. In 1969, he graduated from Traverse City High School. Gene had been employed as a dispatcher for Peninsula Asphalt and later retired as owner and operator of Precision Concrete Company. He took great pride in the projects he completed, especially the sea wall at Harbor West. Gene was a member of the Lake Ann United Methodist Church, where he served with pride on the board of trustees. He had a servant's heart and could be found washing dishes in the kitchen after Sunday services, and reaching out and talking with people, particularly the senior saints at Lake Ann Church. Gene was a great mechanic and had special moments with his son, Chris, "twisting wrenches." He loved to hunt and treasured the more than 15 years spent at deer camp in Thompsonville with his dog, Jake. Gene also loved rock and roll, and would turn up the volume and sing at the top of his voice, especially in the shower. Gene will be fondly remembered as a man of love, and a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, who will be greatly missed by all who loved him. Survivors include his sons, Josh (Sherry) Sprenger and granddaughter, Alexandra, John Sprenger and Chris Sprenger, all of Traverse City; his mother, Lorraine Sprenger of Traverse City; two sisters, Sharon (Bob) Gaddis and their son, Ben, of St. Charles, Ill. and Susan (Jim) Hanley and their sons, Andrew and Matthew, of Ocala, Fla.; his special friend of eight years, Deb DeBruyn; and many aunts, uncles and cousins; and all of his friends. He was preceded in death by his father in 1995. Friends may call Thursday evening, March 25, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Friday, March 26, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. The service will be officiated by the Rev. Father Michael Janowski. In remembrance, memorials may be directed to the American Diabetes Association. TRAVERSE CITY - Lillian L. Rose, 91, of Traverse City, died Monday, March 22, 2004, at Bortz Heathcare of Traverse City. Born Aug. 12, 1912, in Kalamazoo, she was the daughter of William H. and Saide (Drake) Lytle. Lillian had been employed in laundry service. She was a member of College Terrace Wesleyan Church and enjoyed crocheting. Survivors include her children, Elnor (Joe) LaPear of East Jordan, Donald (Thelma) Rose of Muskegon, Betty Herman of Traverse City and Maxine (James) Youmans of Battle Creek; 16 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and 14 great-great-grandchildren. Lillian was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Rose in 1987; son, Clifford; and siblings, Bernice McDonald, Russell Eberhard, Violet Cameron and Clarence Lytle. Friends may call at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home in Traverse City on Wednesday evening, March 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. Services will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, March 25, at 1 p.m. The Rev. Tim Morris will officiate. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Cherryland Humane Society or the charity of your choice. BALDWIN - Wilma Guger Nichols passed away Saturday, March 20, 2004, at her home in Baldwin with several members of her family at her bedside. She was born April 17, 1917, on a farm near Buckley, to Albert Guger and Martha (Yanska) Guger. In 1938, she married Harold Nichols in Allegan. They were totally devoted to each other and celebrated 60 happy years together. Harold and Wilma met at the Buckley School, where Harold was in his first year of teaching and she was a senior in high school. Wilma, being one of the tallest girls in her class, was extremely proud to have been a member of the girls basketball team (1935-36) and played the jump center position. Wilma lived in the Buckley area for many years, then moved to Lawrence with her family. She and Harold eventually settled in Baldwin in 1961, where Harold retired as superintendent of schools, and Baldwin became "home." Wilma was an avid reader and loved flowers. She greatly enjoyed her cottage at Duck Lake, where her family gathered for many enjoyable vacations, and her home in Indian Rocks Beach, Fla., where she enjoyed walking on the beach. In addition to her family, she had two great loves in her life: swimming (regardless of the temperature) and politics, of which she seemed to always be totally informed and ready for a spirited debate with her sons. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold in 1998; her parents; two brothers, Max Guger of Traverse City and Donald Guger of Buckley; and a grandson, Christopher Nichols of Traverse City. Wilma is survived by five sons, Brent (Alice) Nichols of Traverse City, Dean (Angie) Nichols of Traverse City, Donald (Jean) Nichols of Paw Paw, Greg (Peggy) Nichols of Baldwin and Calvin (friend Maria) of Grand Haven; a sister, Vivian Baase of Traverse City; the loves of her life, her nine grandchildren, Brent II (Amy) of South Haven, Monique (Mike) of Kalamazoo, Kamara of Seal Beach, Calif., Bradley of Traverse City, Kyle (Lynette) of Grand Haven, Erica of Kalamazoo, Harold (Natalie) of Baldwin, Gregory (Dawn) of Baldwin and Brett of Holland; and 11 great-grandchildren, Jazmine, Cayden, Kaili, Hunter, Damon, Olivia, Anna, Harold, Brooklyn, Katlyn and Jordyn. Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. today, March 23, at the Covell-Smith Funeral Home in Kingsley, where a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 24, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hannah, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Lake County Hospice in Baldwin, St. Mary's of Hannah Catholic Church, or St. Ann's Catholic Church in Baldwin.
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