September 26, 2005

Obituaries

      GERALD R. LUMA, 67, of Karlin, died Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005.
      Visitation will take place Tuesday, Sept. 27, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.
      Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at the funeral home.
      A complete obituary will appear in the Tuesday edition of the Traverse City Record-Eagle.
      The family has entrusted arrangements to the Traverse City Chapel of Covell Funeral Homes.

      JOSEPH BENJAMIN O'CONNELL JR., 62, of Kalkaska, died Sunday, Sept. 20, 2005, at his home.
      A memorial service will be held Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005, at 2 p.m., at the Lighthouse Pentecostal Tabernacle in Central Lake. A full obituary will be in Tuesday's edition of the Record-Eagle.
      The Wolfe Funeral Home of Kalkaska is in charge of arrangements.
     
Elaine Mae Cluff
Died September 22, 2005
      TRAVERSE CITY - Elaine Mae Cluff, 47, of Traverse City, died of cancer Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005, at Munson Hospice House. She was born in Traverse City on Nov. 6, 1957, the daughter of Maurice and Helen Cluff.
      Elaine was a 1975 graduate of Traverse City High School. She graduated from Northwestern Michigan Community College in 1977, and from the University of Michigan with a Bachelors of Business Administration degree in 1979 .
      She worked at Gerber Products Company in Fremont in various accounting positions from 1979 to 1999. While she worked at Gerber, she earned her Masters of Business Administration through Grand Valley State University. In 2000, Elaine moved back to Traverse City and began working for MCN Oil and Gas, subsequently DTE Gas and Oil.
      Elaine loved to travel, read and watch Tiger Baseball.
      She is survived by her mother, Helen Cluff of Traverse City; and a sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Steven Pedlow of Orland Park, Ill.
      She was preceded in death by her father, Maurice Cluff; and her aunts and uncles, Velma and Richard Caldwell of Traverse City, and Alice and Ray Albee of Midland.
      Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the First Christian Church, with Pastor Evan Williams officiating. A luncheon will be held following services at the church.
      Cremation has taken place and burial will be in Ogdensburg Cemetery on Old Mission Peninsula.
      In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Munson Hospice House or the First Christian Church.
      Arrangements are being handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

Leone K. Denstorff
Died September 23, 2005
      TRAVERSE CITY - Leone K. Denstorff, 87, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2005, at the Grand Traverse Pavilions. She had previously resided in Holland; she lived in Traverse City since 1982.
      Leone was born in Danville, Ill., on Nov. 28, 1917, to Ferris and Una (White) West. She married Theodore Denstorff on Feb. 26, 1938, in Danville.
      Leone had worked as a telephone operator for Illinois Bell. She was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church.
      Leone is survived by her sister, Mary (William) Borman of Corbin, Ky.; son-in-law, Herman Putman of Acme; two grandchildren, Cynthia Marie Putman and Christopher Joseph Putman; two great-grandchildren, Sophia Judith Putman and Vienna Autumn Putman; and several nieces and nephews.
      She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Theodore, in 1992; daughter, Judith Ann Putman, in 1998; and her brother, Lt. Col. Leo West.
      Visitation will take place this evening, Monday, Sept. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., with a rosary at 7:30 p.m., at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.
      The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, with visitation one hour prior, at Christ the King Catholic Church. Fr. Jerry Micketti will officiate. Burial will be in Oakwood Catholic Cemetery.
      Memorial donations may be directed to the American Cancer Society or the Father Fred Foundation.

Edward G. Lather Jr.
Died Sept. 23, 2005
      MT. PLEASANT - Edward G. Lather Jr., 74, of Mt. Pleasant, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2005, at Central Michigan Community Hospital.
      Edward was born June 2, 1931, in Muskegon, the son of Edward G. and Blanche M. (Curtis) Lather. He married Janice Hoyer on Aug. 11, 2000.
      He worked as a mechanical engineer for Textron. He had lived in Traverse City most of his life, and also lived in North Carolina and Branson City, Mo., where he enjoyed work in retirement as a wood carver, his life's passion, for Silver Dollar City. His work in wood carving was beautiful He especially loved to carve carousel horses, one of which is on a working carousel in the Saginaw Children's Zoo.
      As an avid racing fan, he liked going to Mt. Pleasant Speedway to watch friends and relatives. He loved the outdoors. Ed was one of the founders of the Buckley Old Engine Show, an event that he and his wife visited this year on the 38th anniversary of the show.
      Ed is survived by his wife, Janice of Mt. Pleasant; six children, Linda (Ron) Faino of Muskegon, Julie (Nathan) Nitz of Baroda, Andrea Lather of Traverse City, Natalie (Dan) McGuire of Mt. Pleasant, Jay (Carrie) Hinton of Grand Rapids and Charlotte (Joe Galgoci of Mt. Pleasant; 10 grandchildren, Brenda Chvala, Dan and Josh McGuire, Nathan, Gabrielle, Brandi and Courtney Hinton, and Staci, Andrew and Maggie Galgoci; two great-grandchildren, Zachary and Jacob Chvala; brother, Curt (Leroyce) Lather of Bay City; sister, Blanche (Robert) Breithaupt of Traverse City; and his beloved pal, Duke.
      He was preceded in death by his parents.
      Friends may call at the Lux Funeral Home today, Sept. 26, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., with a vigil service beginning at 7 p.m. His funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, where visitation will take place one hour prior to the Mass. Father Robert Byrne will preside. Cremation will follow.
      Memorial contributions may be made to the New Life New Hope Campaign at Central Michigan Community Hospital. Envelopes are available at the Lux Funeral Home.
      To view his obituary on-line or leave a message for the family, please visit www.luxfuneralhome.com.

Charlene R. Rogers
Died September 23, 2005
      NORTHPORT - Charlene Rosalie Rogers, 80, of Northport, died Friday, Sept. 23, 2005 at Leelanau Memorial Health Center.
      Charlene was born April 13, 1925, in Northport, the daughter of Fred and Virginia (LaLonde) Fredrickson. On Jan. 14, 1943, in Northport, she married Henry "Junie" Rogers Jr., who preceded her in death on Jan. 13, 1998.
      Charlene graduated from Northport High School in 1943, and for many years was a nurse's aide at Leelanau Memorial Health Center. A feisty lady with a strong spirit, Charlene was a woman who would tell you exactly what she thought.
      Charlene loved collecting Beanie Babies and watching old black and white classic movies. Charlene was a card shark, always ready for a game of solitaire or euchre. She had a sweet tooth, especially for chocolate.
      Most importantly, Charlene's family will always remember the permanent smile on this feisty lady's face - she was never without one. This smiling lady showed her affection with Tootsie Roll Suckers. If you were on her good side, you were rewarded with one. But don't touch her chocolate Tootsie Rolls!
      She is survived by six children, Allen (Sue) Rogers of Pinckney, Cheri (Dale) Parsons of Florida, Thomas Rogers, Brenda (John) Scott, Mary Bell, and Byron Rogers all of Northport; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
      Charlene was preceded in death by her loving husband; a son, Mark Kim Rogers; two brothers, Cedric and Alvin Fredrickson.
      Visitation will be held today, Sept. 26, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.
      A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, at Trinity Church of the United Church of Christ in Northport.
      In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Tendercare, c/o Leelanau Memorial Health Center of Northport.
      Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home of Suttons Bay.