Jean Klapfish

Phyllis "Jean" Klapfish, age 82, of Munith, MI, passed away on March 20, 2026 at Chelsea Hospital in Chelsea, MI.

Jean was born on July 7, 1943 in Ashland, Kentucky, the daughter of Clarence and Myrtle (Damron) Ray.

She had lived in the Munith area for the past 20 years, moving from Toledo. Always full of life, Jean was a fun and loving person. She enjoyed spending time outdoors, camping and horseback riding. She also enjoyed cooking and knitting. On August 12, 1987, she married Michael L. Klapfish, and they enjoyed over 37 years of marriage.

Surviving are her husband, Michael Klapfish of Munith; son, Denny (Connie) Kanfield of Ohio; step-son, Jason Klapfish of Munith; seven grandchildren; and a sister, Bea Earhart. She was preceded in death by two daughters, Dawn and Kimberly Kanfield; and a brother, Clarence "Adam" Ray.

A graveside service will take place at Fitchburg Cemetery in Bunkerhill Twp., MI, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge.

Jerry Hammerschmidt Sr.

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the peaceful passing of Gerard “Jerry” Lee Hammerschmid Sr. , a cherished husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, on March 20, 2026, in Venice, Florida.

Born on July 31, 1934, in Detroit, MI, and spending the majority of his years in the close-knit community of Chelsea, MI, Jerry was known for his warm smile, kind spirit, and the joy he brought to those around him. He was deeply involved in both his church and community, generously sharing his charitable spirit through his work with St. Louis Center and the Knights of Columbus, where he served as Grand Knight and contributed as an active board member for many years.

Jerry was the pillar of his family, a devoted husband to his loving wife, Cindy, with whom he shared an enduring love story spanning 60 remarkable years since their marriage on June 12, 1965.

He was a guiding light to his children, Jerry Jr. (Lesli), Anton (Sarah), Peggy (Tim), and Alex (Christine), whose accomplishments and adventures were his greatest pride.

He leaves behind an infield of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Chelsea (Konstantine), Claudia (Jack), Lee, Conner (Dani), Ander, Ansley, Reese, Ruhn, Cadence, Casey, Sammy, and Laken.

Jerry leaves behind a legacy of love and warmth, also held dear by his siblings and family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, his son, Todd, and his daughter-in-law who paved the way for him to join them in eternal rest.

Jerry’s zest for life was evident in his numerous interests and hobbies. The echoes of laughter from family gatherings where he played Euchre, Bocci, and Horseshoes will resonate with his loved ones forever. He thoroughly enjoyed the “Lake Life” captaining the Pontoon around with a drink in one hand and close friends and family nearby. He was a fierce competitor, loving all Detroit Sports Teams, and even in games, he taught the values of both sportsmanship and unity. Jerry’s grandchildren were the apple of his eye, and he never missed an opportunity to be present in their lives, cheering them on at every game, recital, and milestone.

As we bid farewell to Jerry Hammerschmidt Sr., we celebrate a life rich in love, laughter, and memories. He will forever be etched in the hearts of those he leaves behind, not just as a man who loved life, but as one who made life lovely for all who had the privilege of knowing him. Jerry’s legacy is a blueprint for a well-lived life, and he will be remembered with every ”loner” hand and with every family gathering that sparkles just a little less brightly in his absence.

Visitation will be held at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, on Thursday, March 26, 2026, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m., with Vigil Services at 7:00 p.m. The family will also receive friends at St. Mary Catholic Church on Friday, March 27, 2026 from 10:00-11:00 a.m.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Friday, March 27, 2026, 11:00 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church, Chelsea. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family would request any donations be made in Jerry’s name to the St. Louis Center, Chelsea.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

To view the service please follow this LINK.

Charlene R. Chrisman

Charlene Ruth Chrisman, age 81, of Munith, MI, passed away on March 18, 2026, at Henry Ford Allegiance Hospice Home in Jackson, MI. She was born on March 14, 1945, in Jackson, MI, the daughter of Archie and Mary (Dickinson) Shew.

Charlene graduated from Stockbridge High School and attended Eastern Michigan University. Right out of college she began her career with Michigan Seat Co., where she worked for many years, starting as a laborer and retiring as a supervisor.

She was an active member of the Munith Lions Club and dedicated her time to raising dogs for Leader Dogs for the Blind, traveling extensively in support of the organization. She also enjoyed camping and was an avid reader.

On June 15, 1974, she married Robert J. Chrisman at St. Cornelius and Cyprian Catholic Church, and they shared 52 years of marriage.

She is survived by her husband, Robert J. Chrisman Sr. of Munith; and their son, Robert J. Chrisman II of Parma. She was loved by  many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Joyce (Shew) Shelton; and her brother, Howard Shew.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, March 26, 2026, 11:00 a.m., at Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home in Stockbridge, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. A private burial will take place at Munith Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the  Lions Club of Stockbridge or Jackson.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Lester H. Wahl

Lester Howard Wahl, age 89, of Stockbridge, MI, passed away on March 19, 2026.

Lester was born on May 20, 1936 in Waterloo Twp., MI, the son of Howard and Ruth (Greene) Wahl. He married Glenda Lee (Hardt) in Waterloo Twp. on April 22, 1956, and they enjoyed 68 years of marriage before her passing in 2024.

Lester worked as a machinist for Boos Manufacturing in Gregory for many years. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and golfing. He also enjoyed square dancing, shuffle board, and was an avid Detroit Tigers and U of M fan. He and Glenda enjoyed spending time at their cottage up north near Eagle Lake in Mancelona, and spending their winters in Avon Park, Florida.

Lester is survived by three children: Deborah Winnie of Stockbridge, MI, Sherri (Ronald) Hammon of Brooklyn, MI, and Michael (Sara) Wahl of Worthville, KY; four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren; and a sister, Linda. He was preceded in death by his wife, Glenda; son-in-law, Larry Winnie; two brothers, Jason and Hasen, and step-siblings, Donnie and Hope.

A private service will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Stockbridge Area Emergency Services Authority. Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Duane G. Hopkins

Duane G. Hopkins, age 52, of New Hudson, MI, passed away unexpectedly on March 16, 2026.

Duane was born on August 19, 1973, in Ann Arbor, MI, the son of Hurschel and Linda (Tobias) Hopkins. He had lived in the South Lyon area for the past 25 years, but grew up in Manchester, MI. He graduated from Manchester High School in 1991. He earned his master's degree from Eastern Michigan University in Information Assurance.

Duane worked as a cyber security professional and educator and served as an adjunct professor at Lawrence Technological University and Eastern Michigan University. Most recently he worked as the head of cyber security at Carhartt. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting and fishing. He also coached baseball for 15 years in the Wixom/Novi area. He was a beloved University of Michigan football fan and loved to golf.

Duane was best known for his leadership and seeing the potential in others. As a leader and coach in the business world and sports, he worked with many others to help them see their full potential in themselves, projects, forward thinking, and was always good for guidance and advice. He had a big heart, calm nature, a great sense of humor, and could talk to anybody. His family meant the world to him, and he meant everything to them.

On July 8, 2000, he married his high school sweetheart, Marci J. (Sloat) in Ann Arbor, MI. They enjoyed over 25 years of marriage and raised their three children, Owen, Lauren, and Brayden in South Lyon. Also surviving are his father and step-mother, Hurschel (Linda) Hopkins of Manchester; mother, Linda Hopkins of Manchester; sister, Carmen (Steve) Halliwill of Tecumseh; step-sister, Amy (John) Kempher, step-brother, Chris Maitland (Michelle); mother-in-law, Diana Sloat; sisters-in-law, Lisa (Pat) Ridenour, and Shannon (Matt) Romanoski; and brother-in-law, Jamie Sloat; as well as several nieces and nephews. He loved his English Bulldogs, Lexie, Mac and Coco. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, James Sloat; and his beloved Labs, Riley, and Murphy.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., at the Manchester United Methodist Church with Chaplain Tina Zimmerman officiating. The family will receive friends at the church on Tuesday from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.

Manchester United Methodist Church 501 Ann Arbor St. Manchester, MI 48158

Memorial contributions may be made to Marci Hopkins and will be used towards an education fund for their children.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Roland G. Kibler

Roland Kibler passed away this month with his wife at his side after a valiant battle with cancer.

He was born in Toledo, OH, in 1949. Roland was born to Melvin and Mae Kibler and spent his youth on the farm in Sand Creek, MI. He graduated from GMI in 1972, and earned graduate degrees from both Michigan State University in 1975, with an MS in Electrical Engineering, and from University of Michigan in 1993, with his MBA.

After GMI, he worked for GM, including five years in Tokyo when his division became Delphi. He retired from Delphi in 2005 and worked for NEXT ENERGY from 2006-2016, where he evaluated alternative energy proposals that would reduce carbon emissions and was passionate about learning all he could to effectively evaluate the proposals. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Centrepolis Accelerator at Lawrence Technological University in 2022, and he acted on what he learned, buying an electric car, installing the charger, putting solar panels on the roof of the house, making sure it was energy efficient and currently selling power back to DTE many days.

Roland is survived by his wife, Jeanette, married in 1990, with 35 wonderful years together; his children: Nathan (Jill) Kibler, Rebekah (Eric) Kibler-Marshall, and David (Nicole) Kibler; three grandchildren Rebekah’s daughter, Lizzie age 9; two step-grandchildren, Kyla age 18, and Ethan age 16; and David’s daughter, Olivia age 15, and son, Everett age 8. He is also survived by his sister, Janyce Kibler of Tallahassee, FL, and brother, Gerald Kibler of Richfield, OH.

Rol loved sailing, running, and brewing beer, passions shared with Nathan. Rol and Nathan sailed across Lake Michigan to Wisconsin in our 25 ft sailboat. Rol qualified for Boston when he ran his second marathon when he was 52, and ran his 10th marathon on 10/10/2010 in Chicago, and many more races. He had amazing fine-motor skills and enjoyed working on models, including a huge sailing ship, a gift from David, which he built plank by plank during late night conference calls when we were living in Japan.

A Memorial Service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor, 1432 Washtenaw Ave, Ann Arbor, on Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.

Parking is available in the Forest Street parking structure, a short walk from the church, it is free on Sundays.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Cass Community Social Services or First Presbyterian Church of Ann Arbor.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Peter J. "Pete" Mulliner

October 12, 1954 – March 5, 2026

Peter “Pete” Mulliner, 71, passed away on March 5, 2026, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was born on October 12, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri.

Pete lived a life defined by curiosity, craftsmanship, mentorship, and a deep love for aviation and family. A graduate of the Class of 1972 from Huron High School, Pete went on to attend Northwestern Michigan University’s Aviation program, graduating in 1975. Flying quickly became both his profession and his passion. Over the course of more than 30 years as a flight instructor, Pete trained and mentored countless pilots, teaching and flying across Texas, Washington, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, South Carolina, and even Mexico. His career also included several years in corporate aviation, but it was teaching that truly captured his heart. He took great pride in seeing his students succeed and carried their achievements with him long after they left the cockpit. Pete was an active member of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan Flyers, communities where he shared his love of flight and camaraderie with fellow aviators.

Outside the cockpit, Pete was a quiet and thoughtful man who loved working through the details of the many projects that filled his workshop and home. Whether tinkering, fixing, or building, he approached each task with patience and curiosity. Yet among friends and family, that quiet thoughtfulness often gave way to his booming laugh and wide smile—especially when surrounded by the people he loved most. In recent years, Pete became a dedicated volunteer and mentor within the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) community. Living with the disease himself, he worked to raise awareness and walk alongside others facing the same diagnosis, offering encouragement, perspective, and understanding. Pete shared 42 years of marriage with his beloved wife, Bonnie Augustine Mulliner. Together they built a life centered on family, resilience, and shared adventure.

He is survived by his daughter, Lindsay Mulliner Lebrun and her husband, Caliph Lebrun; his stepdaughters, Rachel Gordenier Kulesa and her husband, James Kulesa, and Andrea Gordenier. Pete was a proud and devoted grandad to Madison Kierst Gary and her husband, Drew Gary; Timothy Clark and Tori Houston (fiancé); Rosemary Clark Vaught and her husband, Jonathan Vaught; Odin and Marley; Foster Kulesa; Lizzy Beth Kulesa; Kelycera Lebrun; Linkon Lebrun; Leia Lebrun; and Malcolm Lebrun, all of whom he absolutely adored. He is also survived by his siblings, Mully Todd and Deb Harrington, Gayle Mulliner Adler and Gary Adler, and his “adopted” brother, Jerry Banks and Kelly Banks.

Pete answered to “Pete” for most of his life unless, of course, he was in trouble. Those who knew him will remember a man who loved to fly, loved to teach, loved to build and tinker, and above all loved his wife, daughter, and grandchildren deeply. His legacy lives on in the many pilots he trained, the lives he encouraged, and the family who carry his memory forward.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Karen K. Walker

Karen Kay Walker, age 82, of Webberville, MI, passed away on March 14, 2026 at Safe Haven Assisted Living of Mason, surrounded by her family.

Karen was born on December 1, 1943 in Mason, MI, the daughter of Gary and Margorie (Thompson) Briggs. She married Dale C. Walker on July 2, 1965 in Dansville, MI, and he survives. Also surviving are one daughter, Krystal R. Roe of Webberville; three grandchildren: Johnny Craft Jr., Hunter Roe, and Brandi (Jon) Kolasa; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Christopher Walker, and son-in-law, Bradley Roe.

Karen had lived in Ingham County her entire life and graduated from Dansville High School in 1962. She went on to college, graduating from Michigan State University, and was a proud MSU alumna.

Karen was a home economics teacher for over thirty two years, working in Haslett for two years, and thirty years for the Dansville Schools. She also served as an FHA Advisor. She loved her family and spending time with her grandkids and great-grandkids. She also enjoyed spending time in Arizona and collecting Hopi Kachina figurines. She had a special love for dogs, especially Doberman Pinschers.

Visitation will be held at the Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Burial will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made to Dansville FFA.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge.

Donald W. Messner

Donald William Messner, age 69, of Dexter, MI, passed away on March 12, 2026 at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital in Ypsilanti, MI.

Don was born on January 29, 1957 in Jackson, MI, the son of Donald and Mary (Taylor) Messner. He grew up in Chelsea and graduated from Chelsea High School in 1975. He started working for Chelsea Milling Company (Jiffy Mixes) right out of high school and worked there until retirement in 2012. He enjoyed reading, the Beatles, watching sports, and was an avid U of M and Green Bay Packers fan. He also enjoyed bowling and playing softball in the Jiffy Mix softball league. Most of all he loved his family. He enjoyed spending time with his family.  He was a very loving papa.

On July 26, 1975, he married the love of his life, Cynthia Minix, at the Chelsea Church of Christ. She survives him. 

Also surviving are his mother, Mary Theisen of Jackson; three children: Melissa (Matthew) McCutcheon of Plymouth, Jessi (Steve) Dosh of Chelsea, and Kathy (Mike) Burns of Dexter; grandchildren: Devon and Logan McCutcheon, Devon Messner; Grace Morson, and Stevie Dosh; and Evie and Brooklyn Burns; and a soon-to-be first great-grandchild, Emery Hughes; brothers-in-law, AJ Minix and Pete Pitzen; his aunt, Joyce (Roger) Smyth of Chelsea; and a niece, Suelyn Baker; and many cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Donald W. Messner; a sister, Suzi Pitzen; and a nephew, Billy Brown; as well as his father-in-law, Armel Minix; mother-in-law,  Katherine Minix; and brother-in-law, Gary Lee Minix. 

Cremation has taken place and a private service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Norma Jean Beemer

Norma Jean Beemer, age 79, of Stockbridge, MI, formerly of Northville, MI, passed away on March 11, 2026 at her home, surrounded by family.

Norma was born on September 12, 1946 in Big Rapids, MI, the daughter of Floyd and Minnie (Radloff) Anderson. She married John F. Beemer on June 10, 1967, and they shared over 58 years of marriage.

Norma’s family was central to her life. She cared deeply for those around her and was the caretaker of her family. Norma loved children and worked as a second grade teacher in South Lyon Public Schools for many years, a career she truly loved. She also enjoyed cooking, tending to her flower garden, and camping with her family and grandchildren.

Norma is survived by her husband, John of Stockbridge; three children: Patrick (Sherri) Beemer of South Lyon, Matthew (Denise) Beemer of Port Huron, and Timothy (Alissa) Beemer of Okemos; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents.

Visitation will be held at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, on Monday, March 16, 2026 from 5–7 p.m., and on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 from 12–1 p.m.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, with Pastor Trish Farrell officiating.

Burial will take place at Altona Cemetery in Morley, MI on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Stockbridge Community Outreach or Arbor Hospice.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.