Minnie E. Maier

Minnie Evelyn Maier, age 87, of Chelsea, MI, formerly of Gregory, MI, passed away on May 9, 2024 at her home in Chelsea, MI.

Minnie was born on November 6, 1936 in Arkansas, the daughter of Alfred and Claris (Koser) Moss. She married William A. Maier on July 26, 1967, and they lived in Gregory for many years. They enjoyed nearly 46 years of marriage before he passed away in 2013. She moved to the Pines in Chelsea in 2021.

Minnie's life was a testament to her boundless energy and generous spirit. She worked for the Secretary of State for over 25 years. She also volunteered her time working the elections. She also enjoyed volunteering and spending time at the Chelsea Senior Center where she had many friends. She enjoyed the many trips she took with the Chelsea Seniors. She also enjoyed walking, immersing herself in the pages of a good book, and trying her luck at the casino. Most of all she loved spending time with her family, especially her grandbabies.

Minnie is survived by five children, Ross (Heather) Maier of Jackson, Robert (Cheri) Maier of Virginia, Richard (Delores) Maier of North Carolina, Randall (Jodee) Maier of Westland, and Ronald (Kay) Maier of N. Carolina; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; her siblings: Steve (Sue) Moss of Milan, Lewis (Shirley) Moss of Gregory, and Ina Chabot of Elk Rapids, and many nieces and nephews.

A luncheon and celebration of life will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at the Gregory Community Church, 126 Church St., Gregory, MI.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Chelsea Senior Center.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Armand F. Beduhn

Armand Forrest Beduhn, age 87, of Gregory, MI, passed away peacefully on May 9, 2024.

Armand was born on October 25, 1936 in Fowlerville, MI to Forrest and Gladys (Aldrich) Beduhn. He had lived in Livingston Co. most of his life where he remained active in farming. He raised draft horses and was a member of the Michigan Draft Horse Breeders Association. He enjoyed tractor pulls and traveled all over going to tractor pulls. He mostly liked International and Allis Chalmers tractors. In the 1980's he started working for R.W. Humrich and Sons Farm as a farm mechanic where he worked for many years.

Armand married Patricia Ann (Kunzelman) on February 20, 1959 at the Plainfield United Methodist Church. They enjoyed 44 years of marriage. They were both immersed in the Gregory Community, the farming community, as well as the Plainfield United Methodist Church. Armand is survived by one son, Jared (Christine) Beduhn of Gregory; his siblings, Gerald (Irene) Beduhn of Howell, Janet Boseson of Fowlerville, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat, in 2003, and three siblings, Harland Beduhn, Janice Rasgen, and Gloria Knickerbocker.

Visitation will be held at the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 from 5-7 p.m., and on Wednesday from 10-11 a.m.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home with Pastor Missy Noll officiating. Burial will follow at Plainfield Cemetery in Unadilla Twp. Memorial contributions may be made to the Plainfield United Methodist Church.

Ruth L. Chadwell

Ruth L. Chadwell, age 96, of Chelsea, MI, passed away on May 9, 2024 at Chelsea Retirement Community. Ruth was born on March 28, 1928 in Roaring Spring, PA, the daughter of Roy and Irene (Thomas) Delozier.

She married Harry P. Buberniak on May 19, 1949 in Philadelphia, PA. They lived in Southgate, MI for 30 years, where they built several homes and raised their family. Harry passed away on December 31, 1984.

She also lived in Ypsilanti, MI where she belonged to Ypsilanti Twp. Seniors and St. Matthew's United Methodist Church in Ypsilanti. She married Floyd Chadwell Jr. on October 16, 1996, and they enjoyed 12 years of marriage until his passing on January 13, 2009. She then moved to Portland, MI to be near family, and attended both the Portland United Methodist Church and the First Congregational Church of Portland. In 2019, she moved to the Silver Maples Retirement Community in Chelsea.

Ruth's life was marked by love, creativity, and a deep-rooted connection to family and faith. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and had many close friends. She was an artist and loved nature. She found joy in painting nature and scenery, both oil and water color canvas, and writing poetry.

Ruth is survived by her three children, Harry (Michele) Buberniak Jr. of Ottawa Lake, MI, Susan (Paul) Caines of Chelsea, MI, and Jo Anne (Kurt) Hinds of Portland, MI; ten grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Darlene Scott and Beverly Karns, both of Pennsylvania. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Harry, second husband, Floyd; four brothers, Roy Delozier Jr., Wilford "Willy" Delozier, Clair Delozier, infant Donald Lee Delozier; and two sisters, Betty Amick and Freda Manspeaker.

Funeral services will be held at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at 10:00 a.m., with Pastor Joy Barrett officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Private burial will take place at Michigan Memorial Park in Flat Rock, MI.

Memorial contributions may be made to the UMRC Heritage Fund or the Arbor Hospice Foundation.

Donna M. Pierce

Donna M. Pierce, age 87, of Chelsea, MI, passed away peacefully on May 6, 2024, at home surrounded by her family. Donna was born on February 7, 1937, in Battle Creek, MI, the daughter of Paul and Nellie (McKinney) Steeb.

On July 7, 1956, she married the love of her life, Donald F. Pierce, in Ann Arbor, MI. They made their home, and raised their family, in Chelsea. Together, they embarked on a journey of nearly 66 years of joyful companionship. Donna and Don shared a passion for life, family, travel, and creating beautiful memories together.

Donna's creative spirit found expression in various forms, from her skillful photography to her intricate knitting, crocheting, quilting, and sewing projects. She and Don enjoyed traveling the country and spending time with their family at their cottage in Houghton Lake. In retirement, they wintered in Florida and enjoyed many hours walking the beach, looking for sand dollars and shells.

Donna is survived by her three daughters, Kathryn Pierce of Chelsea, Cynthia Dunlevy of California, and Karyn Zaitonia of Chelsea; her five beloved grandchildren, Jeff, Jenny, Ali, Pierce, and Kailey; her two cherished great-grandchildren, Willow and Wren; her brother, Richard Steeb; her sister, Nancy Stoddard; nieces, Sheryl, Jill and Kelley; nephews, Dennis, Mark, Kevin and Chris. Donna was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Don, in April 2022.

Donna was a loving mother and grandmother who taught her family to be creative and see the beauty in all things. She will be greatly missed.

Per Donna's wishes a small family gathering celebrating her life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

James Edward Stephens

James Edward "Eddie" Stephens, age 92, of Jackson, MI, formerly of Munith, MI, passed away on May 3, 2024. Eddie was born on April 14, 1932 in Allen, KY, the son of Thomas and Anne (Watkins) Stephens. He moved to Munith, Michigan when he was 15 years old, where he lived for most of his life. He proudly served his country in the US Army during the Korean War, and continued to serve in the US Army Reserves for several years.

Eddie's legacy is one of service and dedication. He worked for the Oldsmobile plant in Lansing for many years. Praised as an expert driver, his skillful maneuvers allowed him to load the cars at the Oldsmobile plant with precision or back up a semi into tight spaces. His family lovingly referred to him as a human GPS. He knew the lay of the country and could take you anywhere. Eddie also enjoyed farming and raising pigs. He was also an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing.

Above all, Eddie was a devoted family man, finding his greatest joy in the company of his loved ones. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Eddie married Callie (Anderson) on December 29, 1954 in Angola, IN, and they enjoyed nearly 48 years of marriage. She preceded him in death on April 14, 2002.

Eddie is survived by his son, Jim (Donna), daughter, Pati (Jim), and son-in-law, Steve; grandchildren, Steven, Becky (Tom), David, Kellye (Evan), Beth, and Jessie (Justin); great-grandchildren, Nathan, Bristol, Virginia, Callie, and Remington; and his in-laws, Harry, Mary Ellen, and Jerry. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Debbie, great-grandson, Wyatt, and siblings, Tom, Velton, Willie, Oneeda, and Maggie.

Private services were held at the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home in Stockbridge and he was laid to rest with his wife, Callie, at Fitchburg Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Mikey & Me animal shelter.

When times were tough, Eddie always said, "It's just one of those things..."

Danny Blair

Danny Blair, age 53, died at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit on May 2, 2024. He was born the son of  Curtis and Minnie Pearl Blair on March 30, 1971 in Jackson, Michigan.

Danny loved karaoke, fishing, and playing cards and being a grandpa. He is survived by his son, Stephen Blair Powell, 10 grandchildren, his significant other, Teresa Hobart; siblings, Ruby (Mitchell) Salyers, Jim (Rhonda) Blair, Lanney (Sarah) Blair, Randy Blair, Tonja Kilbourn and Nick Blair, along with many nieces and nephews. Danny was preceded in death by his parents, and brother-in-law, Scott Kilbourn.

A Graveside Service will be held on Friday, May 10, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at North Waterloo Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to a Go Fund Me account in Danny's name.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge.

Ralph "Gary" Lewis

Ralph “Gary” Lewis, age 70, of Stockbridge, MI, passed away on May 1, 2024 at his home. He was born May 23, 1953 in Stockbridge, MI, the son of Leslie and Ada (Heselschwerdt) Lewis.

Gary had lived in the Stockbridge area all of his life. He graduated from Stockbridge High School and worked as a foreman for OmniSource in Jackson for 41 years. He married Carol Sue Schubert on June 16, 1972 in Plainfield, MI, and they enjoyed nearly 52 years of marriage.

Gary's faith was central to his life. He was a life-member of Crossroads Community Church, where he was very involved, from Vacation Bible School to serving as a church elder. Gary found solace in spending time outdoors, whether he was hunting, fishing, foraging for mushrooms, or riding his motorcycle. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather, and a friend to many. His kind and compassionate sense will be missed by all who knew him.

Gary is survived by his wife, Carol, three daughters, Tracy (Chris) Caroen of Pleasant Lake, Christy (Chad) Minix of Stockbridge, and Kelly Risner of Munith; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Donnie (Linda) Lewis of Stockbridge, and Ronnie (Virginia) Lewis of Unadilla; and a sister-in-law, Sally Lewis; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Kenneth Lewis, and a sister, Mary Jane Anderson.

A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, 11:00 a.m., at Crossroads Community Church, Stockbridge, where the family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge.

Mary Ann Seigel

Mary Ann Seigel, age 89, of Gregory, MI, passed away on April 30, 2024 at WellBridge of Pinckney. Mary Ann was born on November 15, 1934 in Lansing, MI, the daughter of William and Clara (Becker) McGee.

She married Arnold R. Seigel on January 23, 1971, and lived in Gregory the remainder of her life.

Mary Ann's life was a testament to faith, joy, and commitment. She was a member of the Plainfield United Methodist Church, where she was a member of the church choir. She loved to sing, and she also was a member of the Sweet Adeline’s Women Barbershop Music Group. She worked as a clerk for the Department of Agriculture for 10 years. She enjoyed many years with the Gregory and Stockbridge Senior Groups, and she was the Treasurer for the National Farmers Organization up until the last five months of her life.

Mary Ann was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother and enjoyed spending time with her family. She enjoyed crocheting and had made many afghans for family and friends, as well as donating hundreds of them to nursing homes and hospice organizations. She also loved traveling with her husband, creating many fond memories.

Mary Ann is survived by her five children, Mike (Carlie) Seigel of Stockbridge, Melinda Pfeiffer of Georgia, Marge (Fred) Noll of Gregory, Mark (Tina) Seigel of Webberville, MI and Marcia (Dan) Hengesbach of Westphalia, MI; as well as 20 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, Arnold, preceded her in death on January 5, 2015. She was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, William Pfeiffer, and two brothers, Louis McGee and Bob McGee.

Visitation will be held at the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home on Sunday, May 5, 2024 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.

Funeral Services will be held at the Plainfield United Methodist Church on Monday, May 6, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Missy Noll officiating.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Plainfield United Methodist Church.

Lonnie Banks

Lonnie Banks, age 74, of Homer, MI, passed away on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at his home. Lonnie was born on February 4, 1950 in Battle Creek, MI to Earl and Evelyn (Sommer) Banks.

He was a lifelong resident of Homer. During high school he worked for Fred's Soda Bar in Homer. He graduated from Homer High School in 1968, and shortly thereafter, he joined the US Airforce. He served during the Vietnam War as an airplane mechanic. When he returned, he worked as an Equipment Operator at Conrail Railroad for 20 years. During that time he also owned a business, the Village Stove Shop, in Homer with his brother, Gary.

After retiring from the railroad, Lonnie worked various part-time jobs. Lonnie was always dedicated to his work. He worked as bartender for Cascarelli's Pizza in Homer for over 10 years, a place where he became very close with the Cascarelli family. They always treated him like family. He also worked for Hammond Hardware in Jackson, True Value Hardware in Homer, and SCM Lumber in Homer. He attended Anchor Baptist Church in Homer. In the most recent years, he would be seen with his most important and trustworthy companion, his black lab, Bo. He also enjoyed watching TV, especially the evening news and anything Sci-Fi.

Lonnie is survived by three brothers, Larry Banks of Albion, Gary Banks of Munith, and Randy Banks of Mason; and special family friends, the Cascarelli Family of Homer.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024, 12:00 p.m., at the Anchor Baptist Church, 6020 23 Mile Road, Homer, MI 49245, with Pastor Brian D. Walker officiating. A luncheon will follow the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Anchor Baptist Church.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge.

Norma J. Spadafore

Norma J. Spadafore, of Stockbridge, MI, age 72, passed away on April 27, 2024 at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Norma (affectionately known as Normi) was born on June 2, 1951, in Jackson, MI, the daughter of Norman and Marjorie (McIntee) Mitchell. She grew up in Leslie, MI, graduating from Leslie High School in 1969. She married the love of her life, Frank R. Spadafore, on July 24, 1971 in Bunker Hill Twp., and they enjoyed 52 years of marriage. They lived in Pinckney, MI for many years, where they raised their family and owned and operated the local grocery store before eventually settling in Stockbridge, MI.

Normi was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Family came first, and she was always happy to host Sunday dinners and organize family vacations, nurturing the close relationships she knew to be so important. She adored her grandchildren and supported their passions by cheering enthusiastically at sporting events, dance recitals, and plays.

Normi truly loved life and embraced it with open arms, never missing an opportunity to make memories. She rarely turned down a road trip, a concert, a round of golf or a game of cards. She loved music and took to the dance floor whenever the opportunity presented itself, even if the dance floor was on the golf course. Her outgoing and fun loving personality allowed her to make friends wherever she went, but she truly cherished her lifelong friendships, many spanning decades. She was always grateful for time spent with her treasured best friends and sisters, and had countless stories of their adventures. She was an avid reader, a great cook, a talented gardener, and she didn’t shy away from a healthy debate. Most recently, Normi was a fighter and faced each new challenge with patience, determination, love and humor, inspiring those around her to treasure each day.

Normi is survived by her four children, Michael Spadafore of Ann Arbor, Tony (Kelly) Spadafore of Chelsea, Joe (Melissa) Spadafore of East Lansing, and Nick (Melissa) Spadafore of East Lansing; nine adoring grandchildren: Ryan, Mya, Hunter, Phoebe, Aidan, Loela, Stella, Georgia, and Sienna; her siblings, Mary Ellen (Dale) Tithof of Chesaning, JoAnne (Rae) Edmondson of San Diego, CA, James (Nancy) Mitchell of Leslie, Janet (James) Muir of Farmington, Patrick Mitchell of Leslie, and Michael Mitchell of Leslie; her sisters-in-law, Shirley Mitchell of Lake Orion, and Connie Spadafore of Stockbridge. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank, in February 2024, her parents, and a brother, Thomas Mitchell.

Visitation will be held at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea on Thursday, May 16, 2024 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m.

A Celebration Life will be held at the Brookshire Inn and Golf Club, 205 W. Church Street in Williamston, MI on Friday, May 17, 2024 beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to SAESA (Stockbridge Area Emergency Services Authority), or the Glioblastoma Foundation.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.