Margaret Elaine Lobbestael

Margaret Elaine Lobbestael died at the Chelsea Hospital on December 16, 2025 in Chelsea, Michigan. She was born the daughter of Eugene E. and Marion (Piesik) Stewart on January 13,1946 in Bay City, MI. John and Margaret Shared 59 years of marriage together.

Margaret was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who always put others first before herself. In addition to her husband, John, she is survived by her son, Scott John Lobbestael;  grandchildren, Jenna Tamara and Maximos James Lobbestael. She is also survived by her sister, Nancy Anderson. Margaret was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter, Tamara Lynn Bowman in 1988.

The family will receive friends at the Old Apostolic Lutheran Church of Farmington Hills on Friday, December 19, 2025 from 5-8 p.m. and again Saturday, December 20, 2025 from 10-11 a.m. A funeral service will take place at the church on Saturday, December 20, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.

Carolyn R. "Carol" Graustein

Carolyn Rose Graustein, age 79, of Manchester, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital.

Carol was born on November 16, 1946, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the daughter of Sam Allocco. On February 25, 1988, she married Richard J. Graustein in Plymouth, Michigan. Shortly thereafter, they made their home in Manchester, where they shared 37 wonderful years together building a life rooted in love, loyalty, and family.

Carol worked for many years as the Office Manager of the family business, Stein Electric Company. Her strength, organization, and determination were evident in everything she did. A force to be reckoned with, Carol was fiercely protective of those she loved and never hesitated to offer firm guidance, wisdom, and support. Family always came first.

Carol lived a life. She loved traveling, riding her Harley, and snowmobiling. She was even convinced to try new experiences such as horseback riding, snow skiing, white-water rafting, and riding roller coasters. She also found great joy in decorating for Christmas and creating special memories during the holidays. Whether on the road or gathered at home, she cherished time spent with her family above all else.

Raised in the Catholic faith, Carol’s faith and her family were the foundation of her life. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, and proud Nonni, roles she carried with unwavering dedication and deep love.

Carol is survived by her husband, Richard Graustein; her daughters, Deanna Morris (Paul) of Whitmore Lake and Samantha Ruhlig (Kyle) of Manchester; and her beloved grandchildren, Brandon, Zack, Matthew, Cassandra, Madison, Allyson, and Ember. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother.

Carol will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

The family has chosen cremation, with a celebration of Carol's life to be held on June 6th at their family home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or the St. Louis Center.

Arrangements are entrusted to Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Ted R. Carpenter

Ted Randall Carpenter, age 73, of Stockbridge, Michigan, passed away on December 12, 2025, at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital.

Ted was born on the Patterson farm in Stockbridge, Michigan, the son of Willie and Virginia (Barker) Carpenter. He lived in Stockbridge his entire life and graduated from Stockbridge High School in 1970. He was also a life member of Jeruel Baptist Church.

On December 14, 1974, he married Dianna R. (Patrick), and together they made their home and raised their family in Stockbridge. Ted worked for Chrysler Proving Grounds in Chelsea, retiring in 2007 after 30 years of service.

Ted enjoyed spending time on his computer, where he combined his love of gospel music and playing the guitar by creating song printouts for church that included both lyrics and guitar chords. He also enjoyed golfing and bowling. He was a Spartan Fan through and through, an avid fan of baseball, and enjoyed watching the Detroit Tigers.

Surviving are his wife, Dianna; two daughters, Jennifer (Robert) Duncan of Gregory and Andrea (Chris) Barrett of Dexter; four grandchildren: Jacob, Liam, Avery, and Caleb; two great-grandchildren, Mason and Callan; his siblings, Vickey (Wally) Brown of Holt, and Jeff (Kim) Carpenter of Stockbridge; and a sister-in-law, Diane Carpenter of Stockbridge. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Nick Carpenter and David Carpenter.

Visitation will be held at Jeruel Baptist Church on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., and again on Wednesday 10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Funeral Services will be held at Jeruel Baptist Church on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Josh Swieringa officiating. Burial will follow at Fitchburg Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Jeruel Baptist Church. Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge.

Wilmer David Hutting Sr.

The Inimitable Man

Wilmer David Hutting Sr. passed away from cancer with family by his side on December 8th, 2025 at his home.

He was born on April 11th, 1940, in Ypsilanti, to Lerene and Bernard Hutting. After serving in the Air Force for four years, he worked at Ford Motor Company for 40 years with his brothers.

He lived his best years at his lake house in Chelsea, with the love of his life, Mary. In those years, he enjoyed his daily naps with any outdoor adventures he could get into: whether it was walking, soaring on the sidecar, taking the catamaran out, or simply picking raspberries with his grandchildren—he fully enjoyed his 85 years of life. His mechanical mind was something of a marvel. He was always equipped with a life lesson, whether you were ready for it or not. His life was full of love, laughter, and long nights in the shop. He might have passed on, but his legacy lives on through the nose kisses, memorable talks, winks, and enjoying the simple things. This inimitable man will be missed by many as we come to understand that his presence was one of life’s greatest presents.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Mary (DeBruyne) Hutting. Additionally he is survived by one brother, two sisters, four children, 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild on the way. He is preceded in death by his parents and eldest brother.

A private celebration of Dave’s life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations made to the Chelsea Hospital Cancer Center.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Betty L. Cowan

Betty L. Cowan, of Stockbridge, Michigan, passed away at the OakBrook Williamston Senior Living facility on December 7, 2025. She was born the daughter of Vere and Rhea (Bloom) Worden on June 13, 1928 at home in Gregory, MI. On August 14, 1948 she married Daniel Cowan in Munith, MI, and he preceded her in death in 2016.

Betty was a life-long resident of the Stockbridge area and was a 1947 graduate of Stockbridge High School. Betty was a worker at the Stockbridge Community Schools for many years. She was a long-time member of Crossroads Community Church where she taught Sunday School for many years, organized funeral luncheons and church dinners for many years, and was very involved with mission work. She also enjoyed traveling. Faith, family, and friends were very important to her.

Betty is survived by her children, David (Karon) Cowan, Kathy (Gary) Bailey, Allan (Elizabeth) Cowan, and Sally (Donald) Walker. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild, along with her brother, Richard Worden. In addition to her husband, Daniel, and parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, RV, Wilber, Raymond, and Jim.

The family will receive friends at the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 from 6-8 p.m. A funeral service will take place at the Crossroads Community Church in Stockbridge on Thursday, December 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Brian Johnson officiating. She will be laid to rest at Fitchburg Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Stockbridge Area Emergency Services Authority.

Jimmy D. Risner

Jimmy Darl Risner, age 82, passed away on December 3, 2025, at his residence in Stockbridge, Michigan. He was born on July 3, 1943, the son of Claud and Birtie (Sparks) Risner.

Jimmy loved being outdoors and was always a hard worker, constantly busy and working on something. He owned his own trucking company and loved driving semi-trucks. He had a natural talent for working on trucks and trailers. He also enjoyed collecting scrap metal and making regular trips to the scrap yard. He was a kind and loving person who never spoke badly of anyone, the type of man who would give you the shirt off his back.

One thing everyone knew about Jimmy was his love for collecting emblems of all kinds. He was a familiar sight around Stockbridge and could be spotted from a distance just by the unique, emblem-covered truck he drove with pride.

Jimmy was a devoted family man who deeply loved his children and grandchildren. He is survived by his four children: Jamie (Cindy) Risner of Parma, Kimberly (Tony) Medina of Stockbridge, Jason Risner of Webberville, and Tabitha (Charlie) Crockett of Munith; 15 grandchildren; his siblings: Annabell Howard of Stockbridge; Carolyn Owen of Indiana; Richard (Nadine) Risner of Pleasant Lake; Ellen Craft of Stockbridge; Paul (Connie) Risner of Stockbridge; Vivian Risner of Stockbridge; and a sister-in-law, Cheryl Risner of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty Lou (Allen); his siblings: Delores Carroll, Barb Risner, and Jerry Risner; and his grandson, Toby Medina.

Visitation will be held at the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home on Monday, December 8, 2025, from 1-3 and 5-7 p.m., and on Tuesday from 10-11 a.m.

A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Jeff Howard officiating.

Burial will follow at Munith Cemetery in Waterloo Township, Michigan.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Marylynn R. Doletzky

Marylynn Ruth Doletzky, age 89, of Dexter, Michigan passed away unexpectedly on November 30, 2025, in Clare Michigan. Marylynn was born in Dewitt, Michigan on August 22, 1936, to Leo and Helen Spayde.

She graduated high school in 1954 from Grand Rapids Catholic Central in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her education and career brought her to Dexter where she met her husband. On October 27, 1962, she married Richard Doletzky in Dexter, Michigan where they raised their family.

Marylynn earned her degrees from Michigan State University and a Master of Education from Eastern Michigan University. She taught in the Dexter Community School District for 37 plus years, retiring in 1997. While working, she spent a lot of her career teaching Special Education and was involved with the Special Olympics.

Retiring allowed her to spend more time with her family and her many hobbies. Marylynn stayed active going on many adventures and travelling with friends throughout the world. She loved hosting family gatherings, golfing, hunting, the beach, the water, theater, and happy hours. Marylynn would spend some of the winter months in Southwest Florida, welcoming family and friends for visits. She was an avid Michigan State fan and would watch every game she could. During the watch parties she would often be seen dancing on her Spartan Rug, shaking her Sparty gnome, and yelling, “Get ‘em, fumble or interception.”

Marylynn was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Helen; brother, Richard, and granddaughter, Ashley Taylor.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Richard “Dick” Doletzky; her four children: Michael, Ryan (Melissa), Teckla, and Maryann (Beth Gieske); her grandchildren: Ashlee (Matt) Schmidt, Stephen Doletzky, Arthur Adam (Shelby Herron) Doletzky, Gunnar (Brittni) Doletzky, and Garrett (Shannan Roth) Gieske; her great-grandchildren: Peyton Taylor, Bradley, Bentley and Brigley Schmidt, Allyria Doletzky, Masen Roth and Bristol Gieske; her brothers: Riley (Gla) Spayde and Judd (Pat) Spayde; and countless nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea on Friday, December 5, 2025 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., with a Vigil and Rosary Service at 7:00 p.m. The family will also receive friends at the church on Saturday from 9-10 a.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will be prayed on Saturday, December 6, 2025, 10:00 a.m., at St. Joseph Village Church, 3430 Dover St., Dexter with Fr. Brendan J. Walsh presiding.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Violet M. Morrison

Violet Marie (Van Buskirk) Morrison, born May 27, 1938, in Newcastle, NE, to Earl and Mary (Carson) Van Buskirk, quietly and peacefully left this world on Sunday, November 30th, 2025 in the comfort of her home after spending a weekend giving thanks, surrounded by the family she loved so dearly.

Violet is survived by her devoted husband, Thomas Morrison, whom she married on February 17, 1957. She is also survived by her children, Suzanne Morrison of Chelsea; Don (Katy) Morrison of Waterford; and Jeanette (Mark) Jedele of Minneapolis, MN; and dear family friend, Jackie Schiller of Chelsea. Violet was the proud grandmother of five granddaughters who brought her immeasurable joy: Kelsey (Patrick) Morrison of Waterford; Chelsea (Christopher) Jedele Black of Denver, CO; Kayla (Taylor) Jedele Marean of White Salmon, WA; Amanda (Joseph) Morrison Shecter of Nashville, TN; and Casey (Bradley) Jedele Carlson of Chicago, IL. She also cherished her great-grandson, Brantley Harmon, son of Kelsey, and was eagerly awaiting the arrival of two additional great-grandsons in December. Violet is further survived by her sister, Pearl (David) McGill of Orting, WA, along with many beloved nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings: Mary (Valley) Koskovich, Emily (Alvene) Leinweber, Francis (Lorrie) Van Buskirk, Lyle (Elsa) Van Buskirk, Bruce (Jan) Van Buskirk, Wendell Van Buskirk, and Elsie (Ron) Burman.

Violet’s greatest joy in life was her family, especially her granddaughters, with whom she shared countless memories, laughter, and love. She also delighted in the color purple, classical and country music, sewing, reading, card and board games, and traveling—particularly to Gulf Shores, AL, where she and Tom spent more than 20 cherished winters combing the beach for shells together.

She attended Eastern Washington University in Cheney, WA, where she met Tom, her husband of 68 years, and later continued her studies at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI, specializing in home economics. Violet was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Chelsea, MI, and spent many meaningful years volunteering with the Chelsea Hospital Auxiliary, where she formed friendships that brought her comfort and companionship throughout her life.

Violet will be remembered for her kindness, her gentle spirit, and the deep love she held for her family. The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the caregivers and close friends who tended to Violet during her illness. A celebration of life will be held in the future.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Charles E. Jarvi

Charles Edward Jarvi, age 84, of Reno, NV, passed away on November 18, 2025 in Reno, NV. Charles was born on March 8, 1941 in Highland Park, MI to Wesley S. and Esther L. (Paana) Jarvi.

He served in the US Army from 1964-1966. He married Patricia (Angell) on November 11, 1978 in Ann Arbor, MI. In his younger years, he enjoyed playing baseball and fishing. He was an animal lover and fostered many animals over the years.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Patricia Jarvi; a sister, Mary (Larry) Bruce of Chelsea; nephew, Robert Bruce; and niece, Christine (Mark) Weston; a great-nephew, Matthew Weston; as well as two great-great-nieces and -nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A private burial was held at Munith Cemetery.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Savanah R. Zimmerman

Savanah Rose Zimmerman, age 17, of Stockbridge, MI, died unexpectedly on November 25, 2025.

She left this world far too soon, leaving behind a glow that will never fade. She had the most beautiful smile—one that could light up any room—and a silly, joyful personality that made life brighter for everyone around her. Savanah adored her older sisters, Brooke and Summer, and her older brother, Braylon. She cherished every moment spent with them.

Her love for animals was as big as her heart, and she found joy in baking, cleaning, and keeping things tidy. She also loved to cook, go shopping, and hang out with her friends. Whether she was whipping up something sweet or settling in for a scary movie, Savanah brought warmth, laughter, and love into every space she touched. Her memory will forever be a reminder of the gentle, vibrant spirit she shared with the world.

She was born in Garden City, MI on September 23rd, 2008 to Heather Martin and Kyle Zimmerman. She attended Stockbridge High School, recently obtained her driver’s license, and had the great opportunity working at Rob’s Pizza in town. Savanah had been living with her Aunt Karlee, Uncle Brad, cousin Xavier, Tessa, and Hunter in Stockbridge.

Savanah is beloved by her mother, Heather Martin; Grandfather Donald Martin, Grandmother Kathy Martin, Uncle Donald Martin, Uncle Bruce Martin; father, Kyle Zimmerman; siblings: Brooke, Summer, and Braylon Zimmerman; Papa William Zimmerman, Mimi Sandra Samuels; Great-Grandparents William and Norma Zimmerman; Uncle Brad and Aunt Karlee Zimmerman, Uncle Keenan Zimmerman, Uncle Robert and Rhonda Zimmerman, and so many loving cousins.

Visitation will be held at the Crossroads Community Church, 950 S. Clinton St., Stockbridge, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, from 5-7 p.m., as well as on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 10-11 a.m.

Funeral services will be held at the Crossroads Community Church on Wednesday, December 3, 2025 at 11:00 a.m.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge.