Gary Koch

Gary Koch, age 76, of Chelsea, MI, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at his home on December 16, 2020. He was born on December 13, 1944, the son of Wilbert and Helen (Neyer) Koch.

Gary worked for Dana Corporation for years and was able to retire from there at an early age. He also drove a school bus for Chelsea Community Schools for many years. Gary retired, but could not sit still and just enjoy retirement—he liked being around people and earned another job, driving the WAVE bus in Chelsea, retiring from there in 2019. He loved to travel with his wife, and during his life he was able to travel to all but two of the United States. He loved his family—especially his grandchildren who always brought a smile to his face. Gary was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church.

On June 19, 1965, Gary married his first wife, Karen (Keezer), who preceded him in death. On August 30, 1997, he married Kathleen (Hamel) and she survives. Also surviving are four children, Kevin (Sharon) Koch of Ann Arbor, Jason Koch, Jennifer (Doug) Groves of Manchester, and Julie (Riley) Holtz of Adrian; four grandchildren, Emmalee Koch, Ryan and Alyssa Groves, and William Holtz; his sister, Lynda (Jeff) Gladstone of Chelsea and nephew Braden; a sister-in-law, Linda (Bruce) Pratt, and nieces Jodi (Trevor) Zink and Amy (Brian) Cook. Also surviving are stepchildren, Laurie (Troy) Schiller of Chelsea, Bobby Hamel of Arizona, and Todd Hamel of Chelsea; as well as many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. In addition to his first wife, Karen, he was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Ronald.

Services for Gary are private. Memorial contributions may be made in Gary’s name to the American Cancer Society or Zion Lutheran Church of Chelsea. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.
Here is the link to his service

Edwin R. Haft

Edwin Roy Haft, age 80, of Pleasant Lake, MI, passed away at Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Jackson, MI, on December 9, 2020. He was born on June 4, 1940, in Milan, MI, and was the son of Ralph and Elizabeth (Schrock) Haft.

Edwin proudly served in the Army in the US and Europe after high school. After completion of his military service, Edwin returned to Stockbridge to work on his family farm. He purchased the farm from his parents in 1974, and continued farming the land until he retired in 2009. Edwin loved farming and his “John Deere green” tractors. He was an avid bowler at the Stockbridge Bowling Alley and enjoyed spending time with friends and his bowling teammates. He also loved sports--especially baseball. After retiring from farming, he enjoyed socializing with friends at The Lost Shoe Tavern gathering spot in Pleasant Lake.

He was a loving father to his five children, David (Rita) Haft, Richard (Deirdre) Haft, Janet (Danny) Bright, Karen (Mike) Clark, and Brian Haft. In addition to his children, he is survived by nine grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Edwin was predeceased by his brother, Alvin Haft, and his parents Ralph and Elizabeth.

In accordance with his wishes, Edwin has been cremated, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, no memorial service will be held at this time. As Edwin will be missed greatly by both his friends and family, the family is planning a memorial service at a future date to celebrate his life. Expressions of sympathy may be made to The Wounded Warrior Project with “in memory of Edwin Roy Haft” noted. Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge.

Gary L. Watson

Gary L. Watson, of Lakeland, FL, formerly of Stockbridge and Pleasant Lake, MI, passed away on October 27, 2020 in Lakeland. He was born on September 26, 1943, in Stockbridge, the son of Logan and Jane (Stone) Watson.

Gary served as a prison guard for the State of Michigan for 25 years. He moved from Pleasant Lake to Lakeland in 1996. Golfing was his absolute favorite pastime. He was preceded in death by his 11 siblings: Anna Salyer, Hargis Watson, Harry Watson, Harold Watson, Peggy Crump, John Watson, Ralph Watson, Mary Updike, Pat “Pansy” Mendel, Opal Turner, and Calvin Watson; in addition, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Zola Maxine Wright, and his second wife, Dorothy “Dottie” Riddle Painter. He is survived by a host of nieces and nephews.

Per Gary's wishes, no services were held, and interment is at Oaklawn Cemetery, Stockbridge. Expressions of sympathy may be directed to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge.

Barry Darin Maus

Barry Darin Maus, age 64, died December 12, 2020 at his home in Stockbridge, Michigan.

He was born in Westland, MI, on November 22, 1956, the son of William L. and Kathleen F. (Swope) Maus. He graduated from Pinckney High School in 1976. On June 17, 1978, he married Joanne Marie (Haynes), and she survives him.

Maus was a journeyman plumber. He worked at the University of Michigan Plant Department as a member of the Skilled Trades Plumbers Union for 30 years. He started out as a maintenance mechanic at the E.S. George Reserve and spent 17 years working at the Fresh Air Camp as a caretaker along with his wife.

He enjoyed camping all over Michigan, boating, fishing, gardening, and raising birds. He also enjoyed antiquing and spending time on Marco Island. Maus was kind, humble, and would drop anything to help others. He was community minded, patriotic, had a great sense of humor, and always made people laugh. He was also a member of the Lions Club, a 4-H leader, and a member of the Happy Hustlers of Ingham County, where he taught children in animal husbandry of rabbits.

In addition to his wife, Joanne, and his mother, Kathleen, Barry is survived by his daughter, Becca Renae Maus, and her significant other, James Debusschere of Battle Creek. Also surviving are his brothers, Lon (Sharon) Maus of Pinckney, Bruce (Brenda) Maus of Plainfield, Wesely (Lynn) Maus of Pinckney, Mark Dehetre of Mason, half-brothers and half-sisters, Mike Maus of Roseville, Joe Maus St. Clair Shores, Tara Hutchison of Springville, Utah, and Gina Daley of Provo, Utah. Also surviving are his namesake great-nephews, Samual Darin McPherson, John Thomas McPherson, and many special nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, co-workers, friends and neighbors. He was preceded in death by his father, William LeRoy Maus, half-sister, Billie Rae Maus, brother, Michael Maus, grandmother, Emma Maus, grandfather, Cloyd Swope, grandmother, Ruth Swope, and aunt, Janet Gary.

Per Barry’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and a private burial will take place at a later date. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution in memory of Maus, may do so to the Happy Hustlers of Ingham County or the Cancer Center at St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Hospital.

Rylma Owen

Rylma Owen, of Stockbridge, MI, passed away surrounded by her family, at the age of 104. She was born on May 9, 1916 in Jackson, MI, the daughter of Arthur and Eva Louise Owen. On November 9, 1941, she married Daniel Owen, and so began the Owen family.

Rylma enjoyed reading, making quilts, gardening, and spending time with her family, especially all of her grandchildren. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, golfing, and bird watching. She never had an issue telling people what was on her mind, and if she called you “Robin” or “Dolly” that meant you were special to her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, the love of her life, Daniel Owen, her son, Lynn Owen, and her daughter-in-law, Judy Owen.

She is survived by two sons, Ned Owen, Ridge (Vicki) Owen, and one daughter, Jill Bailey; 12 grandchildren, Devanie (Ken) Nabozny, David Owen, Scott (Jennifer) Owen, Leann (Mike) Jackson, Danielle (Andre) Wojtusik, Jeff (Judy) Shepard, Randy Shepard, Dianne (Gail) Twitchell, Ridge Owen, Stephanie Allen (Ryan Cornish), Shane Collins (Lora Williams), and Travis (Amber) Collins; 20 great-grandchildren: Jacob (Ashley) Nabozny, Logan Nabozny, Bethany Owen, Rachel Owen, Ryan Owen, Drew (Jaelei) Jackson, Madi (Preston) Pelham, Colton Wojtusik, Jeff Shepard (Jennifer Gabres), Josh (Kelli) Shepard, McKenna Owen, Coltyn Owen, Angelia (Scott) Gibbs, Devin Allen, Hana Allen, Alissa Tindel, Kyler Williams, Madilyn Outwater, Brady Collins, McKenzie Dalton, Kegan Collins, Emma Collins, and Brady Collins; fifteen great-great-grandchildren: Lyla Preston, Tyler Shepard, Kaylee Shepard, Karley Flores, Caden Flores, Katee Shepard, Sidney Smith (Nick Wilson), Cameron Smith, and Josette Fernandez, Alora Nabozny, Kandra Nabozny, Kolt Nabozny, Jaydon Nabozny, Zachary Nabozny, and Harmony Nabozny and lastly, one great-great-great-grandchild, Niles Wilson.

Due to MDHHS COVID-19 guidelines, funeral services will be reserved for immediate family only. Burial will take place at the Oaklawn Cemetery in Stockbridge, MI.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to SAESA (Stockbridge Area Emergency Services Association.)

Benjermin A. Humrich

Benjermin A. Humrich, age 17, of Ovid, MI, passed away on December 13, 2020 as a result of an automobile accident. He was born January 9, 2003 in Howell, Michigan the son of Mark and Leah (Farrar) Humrich. He was a senior at Ovid-Elsie High School. He had lived in the area for the past three years, previously living in Kentucky, Paw Paw, and Gregory.

He enjoyed working on the farm and had hopes of becoming a diesel mechanic, studying at the AIS Training Center. When it came to tractors, he was devoted to orange, as his favorite tractors were Allis-Chalmers. Ben enjoyed spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, cutting wood, and running around on his Quad. He loved good food, especially his grammy and grandma’s pies. He loved his family and wanted everyone around him to be happy. When Ben walked into a room, he lit it up. He loved to give hugs and was always polite. He was one of those kids who always said, “yes, sir” and “no, sir.”

He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. Surviving are his parents, of Ovid, MI, his brother, Joseph Humrich, his grandparents, Ron and Lynda Humrich of Stockbridge, George C. Farrar of Monroe, and Gary and Kate Humrich of Gregory, great-grandmother, Kathryn Humrich, several cousins, aunts and uncles; and his girlfriend, Lilly. He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Jack and Isabelle Donohue, Ralph Humrich, and Sam and Stella Timmons.

Private family services will be held at the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge. Memorial contributions will be directed toward FFA. Please make checks to Mark Humrich with Ben’s name in the memo.

Joseph W. Young

Joseph W. Young of Gregory, MI passed away at home on December 13, 2020 at the age of 86. He was born the son of Orin and Edna Young on August 1, 1934. On January 14, 1956, he wed Delores (Randolph) Young, and they were married for more than 62 years before her passing in 2018.

Together with his wife, they ran Young's Marina on Woodburn Lake for nearly 30 years. Joe served in the Army from 1954 - 1957.

He enjoyed simple pleasures like watching college football and basketball, doing crossword puzzles, and eating perch dinners at Cleary’s. His storytelling and sense of humor entertained everyone around him. Joe enjoyed wintering in Palm Springs, CA and appreciated his special friends there.

He is survived by his children: Phil (Renee) Young, Gary (Patty) Young, and Judy (John) Brune. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Sara Dancer, Erica (Evan) Barrett, Mary Lynne (Jake) Ochsner, Michelle Young, Evan Brune, Austin Brune, and great-grandson, Drew Dancer. Joe is also survived by his brothers, Jim Young and Jerry Young and was preceded in death by his wife, Dee, brother, Bud Young, and his sisters, June Rathburn and Bev Darlington.

A private service will take place at Oaklawn Cemetery in Stockbridge. Those wishing to donate in his memory may contribute to Stockbridge Community Outreach.

Esther N. Leatherberry

Of Boiling Springs, SC, formerly of Stockbridge, MI

Esther Naomi (Loudon) Leatherberry, age 90, passed away peacefully at Wesley Court Assisted Living in South Carolina on Friday, December 11, 2020. Born August 4, 1930, she was the wife of the late Robert Earl Leatherberry, and the daughter of the late B.W. (Burdette) and Edith Pelley Loudon.

Mrs. Leatherberry graduated from Minerva High School in 1949 and married Robert (Bob) Earl Leatherberry on June 30, 1950. She worked for many years at the Minerva Dairy, and later owned and operated the Southern Inn in Minerva and The Towne Shoppe in Malvern for several years. She and Bob owned and operated a Ford dealership in Stockbridge, Michigan from 1965 – 1999. They also owned and operated Movie Theatres in Pensacola, Florida from 1983 – 1999. She loved playing 500 Rum and taught all her grandchildren and great grandchildren to play.

She is survived by four children: Lucinda Jacobs (Kevin), Roberta Steward (Bobby), Jody Leatherberry (Amanda), and Darrin Leatherberry (Amanda); 25 grandchildren and their spouses: Lisa, Kim, Rhonda, Josh (Angela), Stacy (Craig), Amanda, Ashley (Ray), Sara (Nick), Eric (Julie), Molly (James), Sheridan, Sydney, Loudon, Abe, Tommy, Gus, twins Nola & Lucy, and Henry; 25 great-grandchildren and their spouses: Andre (Lisa), Jacob (Rita), Clayton (Kristian), Peyton (Dustin), Morgan, Zachary, Jacob, Devon, Ethan, Hendrix, Jemma, Kayden, Kenley, Layla, Remington, Ilah, Brynlee, Emily, Jillian, Madison and Lula; nine great-great-grandchildren: Layla, Brittney, Karma, Carmine, Bonnie, Blaine, Zane, Stella and Lennon; a brother Walter D Loudon; and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a sister, Sara Wolf, and a brother, James Loudon.

A visitation and celebration of her life will be 1:00pm – 3:00pm Saturday, December 19, 2020 at Bobo Funeral Chapel, Spartanburg, SC.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial be made to Wesley Court Assisted Living, 916 Wesley Court, Boiling Springs, SC 29316 or to Halcyon Hospice, 300 E Henry St, Spartanburg, SC 29302.

Edwin Brown

Edwin E. Brown of Chelsea, MI, age 77, passed away from complications of COVID-19 at Henry Ford Allegiance Health in Jackson, MI on December 8, 2020. He was born on May 7, 1943 in Dallas, Texas, the son of Albert and Mabel (Ritchie) Brown.

Ed graduated from Chelsea High School in 1961. In 1965, he earned his BA from Michigan State University, and in 1970, he earned his MA from Eastern Michigan University. Ed loved teaching welding, blueprint reading, history, and government for Jackson Public Schools, and for over 37 years, he positively impacted the lives of thousands of students. During his career, he earned numerous honors, including the Outstanding Educator of the Year Award.

Ed was a member of the Chelsea First United Methodist Church. He enjoyed watching his children, and, later, his grandchildren, participate in sporting events and musical programs and he was always their biggest supporter. Ed was an ardent fan of Michigan State University. He enjoyed golfing and playing cards with good friends, watching movies, traveling, automobiles, current events, and making greeting cards. He was known for his ability to remember historical facts and dates with ease. A great accomplishment was the round house he designed, built, and lived in with his family for 45 years.

On June 27, 1965, he married Barbara (Davis) and she survives. Other survivors include a daughter, Allison (Michael) Vanderspool of Chelsea; a son, Erik (Kelly Jackson) of Glenview, IL; sisters, Sue Cubberly of Milan and Dr. Kimberly Brown (Tony Glinke) of Ann Arbor; and brother-in-law, Dr. S. Amjad Hussain of Maumee, OH. His pride and joy were his four grandchildren, Drew and Kate Vanderspool and Gavin and Tyler Brown. Ed was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Dorothy Hussain.

A virtual celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, January 31, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. To receive an email invitation, please submit your email address here. Memorial contributions may be made to Faith in Action, 603 S. Main Street, Chelsea, MI 48118. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Nancy A. Rushlow Anderson

Nancy (Aileen) Rushlow Anderson passed away peacefully on December 8, 2020 at Chelsea Retirement Community - Towsley Memory Care Facility in Chelsea, MI. She was 76.

Born in 1944, in Massachusetts, to Bruce and Aileen Rushlow of Saginaw, MI, Nancy spent much of her childhood following her father, a career Marine Corps officer, at his many duty stations. These included locations in California, Maryland, and even China for a short time. A favorite was China Lake Naval Air Station in the high desert of southern California, where climbing Mount Whitney with her father was a highlight of her early teens.

A nurturing person, she gravitated toward nursing, and graduated from the Lucy Webb Hayes School of Nursing in Washington, DC. Her exposure to a military environment during her upbringing led to an appreciation of duty and service and she joined the Air Force as a nurse in 1966. She served at Orlando Air Force Base, where she met her future husband, Rodney Anderson, then serving in the Navy at Sanford, FL. Married in March of 1968, Nancy and Rod enjoyed a short honeymoon before separating, Rod aboard USS Forrestal deploying to the Mediterranean, and Nancy transferring to Mather AFB, CA. The year-long separation was difficult, but Nancy was able to travel to Rome to visit Rod during an in-port period. Likewise, Rod was able to visit Nancy in Sacramento, a trip that included the couple’s first visit to Disneyland.

Settling down at Rod’s duty station at Pensacola, FL, the couple were blessed with the birth of their first child, Rebecca, in 1970. Following a six-year stint in Maryland, they relocated to southern California in 1979. Their daughter, Jocelyn, was born the same year, followed by their son, Owen, in 1982. The decade of the 80s was marked by the usual duties of homemaking and child rearing, modified by the characteristics of living in Los Angeles. A lover of the ocean, Nancy could often be found at one of the numerous beaches nearby. Disneyland was another favorite attraction for the family. In spite of all the distractions, Nancy ensured a family meal was served virtually every evening.

Disturbed by the decline in culture and rising crime rates in Los Angeles, the family relocated to Michigan and Chelsea in 1989. Nancy, who always considered herself an honorary Michigander, reveled in the return to her roots. She loved the state, and enjoyed vacations to Bay View and Mackinac Island. She was active in the community in a number of ways, volunteering at Chelsea Retirement Community and Our Savior Lutheran Church, where she was a member for many years.

Her mild and friendly demeanor masked an underlying love of travel and the outdoors. During her bachelorette years, she often embarked on lone adventures, including several cross-country trips, and solo camping in Yosemite National Park. During her married life, she enjoyed backpacking with her family on the Appalachian Trail, especially in Shenandoah National Park, and camping trips to National Parks in the West.

Afflicted by early onset Alzheimer’s, Nancy spent the last eight years of her life at the Towsley Memory Care Facility. It would be very wrong to think that these were lost years, however. Once her condition had stabilized in its later stages, Nancy loved to roam the corridors of Towsley and Glazier with her spouse. She especially liked lounging in the Glazier gazebo prior to lunch, munching grapes in the sunshine. As speaking became rarer for her, staff and residents tried their best to get a return “hello” from Nancy, which she still was able to do quite often.

A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, December 11, 2020, 1:00 p.m., at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, with the V. Rev. Dr. William J. Canon Turner officiating. Visitation is 11 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home. Funeral directors are following current Michigan Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for COVID-19; those attending will be instructed accordingly and masks must be worn.

Click here for her funeral service