The Dexter Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
OBITUARIES
PUBLISHED: May 29, 2008
Daniel K. Grignon
Of Gregory, MI
Age 63, passed away at the University of Michigan Hospital on Saturday, May 24, 2008. He was born May 4, 1945 in Ann Arbor, MI the son of Kenneth and Betty (Warden) Grignon. Daniel worked as a test driver for Chrysler Proving Grounds for 30 years. He had a special love for cars, especially sports cars and NASCAR, as well as tractors. He is survived by one daughter, Shelley Braden, of Florida, two sisters, Pamela (David) Carver, of Tennessee, and Becky (Pete) Grasshoff of Ann Arbor; three nephews, Jason and Jeremy Grasshoff, and Michael Klapperich, and one niece, Melissa Hill, as well as his special friend, Kat Rogers. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral Services will be held on Friday, May 30, 2008, 2:30 p.m. from the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, with Rev. Kathy Schell officiating. The family will receive friends on Friday from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service. Interment will follow at Vermont Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Scott Thomas "Tom" Spears
Chelsea
Scott Thomas "Tom" Spears of Chelsea died peacefully Thursday, May 22, 2008 at VA Hospital in Ann Arbor with his family at his side. He was 85.
He was born Feb. 4, 1923 in Prestonsburg, Ky., the son of Thomas and Margaret (Crum) Spears.
He was a WWII Veteran serving in the US Army. He worked for Motorstate in Ypsilanti, then Pepsi in Milan until his retirement in 1987. He loved to garden, and shared the food he grew with many people in the community.
On April 24, 1945, he married Margaret Ann Conley in Paintsville, Ky., and she preceded him in death on June 17, 1990. Survivors include a son, Mike (Anita) Spears of Chelsea; four daughters, Linda (Ron) Carlson of Chelsea; Mary (Erik) Hansen of Dexter, Evelyn Spears of Chelsea; Ginger Bergey-Steinaway of Manchester; three sisters, Ruth (Clarence) Miracle, Georgie Campbell, and Carmella McConell. Tom dearly loved his 8 grandchildren, Jayma, Ronda, Tom (Karin), Brent, Caleb, Rodney, Tanya, Amanda, and Michael's wife, Sheri; and 9 great-grandchildren, Hunter, Sean, Melissa, Tammy, Alyssa, Jacob, and Landon. He was preceded in death by a grandson, Michael Spears, 3 sisters, Dorothy Saxan, Hester Wills, Luna Rose, and a brother, Chad Spears.
Funeral services were held Saturday, May 24 at Cole Funeral Chapel, Chelsea, with Pastor Steven L. Kincer officiating. Burial followed at Vermont Cemetery, Chelsea.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Extended Care Center at the Ann Arbor VA Hospital.
Norman E. Curtis
Manchester
Norman E. "Hank" Curtis of Manchester died May 22, 2008 at his home under the loving care of his family after a brief respiratory illness. He was 88.
He was born April 12, 1920 in Manchester the son of Amos and Minnie Belle (O'Neil) Curtis. He married Paula Hefele on June 27, 1953 in Ann Arbor and she survives.
In addition to his loving wife of 54 years, Mr. Curtis is also survived by his twin daughters: Ruth Ann Curtis of Manchester and Monica (Gary) Walter of Grass Lake; two grandchildren: Abby (Jason) Briggs of Deer field and John Walter of Grass Lake; special friend of the family Marianne Zenz; siblings: Margaret Wahl, Mary Lou Hamilton, Robert "Bob" (Patricia) Curtis, William "Bill" (Ethel) Curtis, David (Terry) Curtis and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Curtis was born on the family homestead in Sharon Township one of eight children. He worked for Chrysler as a mechanic until his retirement on July 31, 1985. He was a member of United Auto Workers local 1284, was active in the 4-H Club, Manchester Jaycees, Lamb Club and the American Corriedale and Merino Sheep Associations. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved farming. He was a devoted husband and father who adored his grandchildren.
Mr. Curtis was preceded in death by his brothers Elton "Eke" Curtis and Charles "Chuck" Curtis. His family celebrated his life with a funeral service on May 27 at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Doris Sparks officiating. Interment followed at Sharon Township Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Zion Lutheran Church. Envelopes will be available at the Borek Jennings Funeral Home, Jenter Chapel in Manchester.
Please sign Mr. Curtis' guest book at www.BorekJennings.com or leave a message of comfort for his family by calling 1-877-231-7900.
Mildred E. Knisely
Chelsea, formerly of Dexter
Mildred E. Knisely of Chelsea, formerly of Dexter, passed away on Monday, May 26, 2008 at the Chelsea Retirement Community, Towsley Village.
She was 90.
She was born on the Noah Farm in Dexter Twp. on Aug. 2, 1917, the daughter of Perry and Bertha (Wood) Noah. She lived in the area her entire life. On May 31, 1936 she married Holton H. Knisely and enjoyed almost 72 years together. She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing and needlework. She and her husband loved to travel worldwide, and worked with missionaries in Ecuador several times. She especially loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as family always came first. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved balloons. She was a member of the North Lake United Methodist Church.
Mildred is survived by her four children: Lorna (Harold "James") Eberts, of Tawas City, David (Janet) Knisely, of Chelsea, Eric (Beth Ann) Knisely, of Dexter, and Beth Emilie (Michael) Folts of Grass Lake; eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Saralu (Gordon) Chamberlain, and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one brother, Laurence (Esther) Noah, and one sister, Florence (Floyd) Boyce.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 30, 2008 at 11 a.m. from the North Lake United Methodist Church, with Rev. Alice Sheffield officiating. Burial will follow at the North Lake Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home on Thursday from 6-8 p.m. A Memorial Service will also be held at the Chelsea Retirement Community Towsley Chapel on Thursday, May 29, 2008 at 2 p.m., with Rev. Beth Foster officiating. The family will receive friends there from 1 p.m. until the time of service.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the North Lake United Methodist Church.
Dorothy Alice Houle
Chelsea
On Tuesday, May 27, 2008, Dorothy Alice Houle of Chelsea won her lengthy battle with Alzheimer's disease and is cured and reunited with her husband Donald and infant son Joseph in the Kingdom of Heaven. She was 86.
She was born March 3, 1922 in Cheboygan, the daughter of Eugene and Mary (O'Neal) DeMara.
Dorothy lived in Chelsea since 1949 She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church, and was employed by Xerox (University Microfilm) from 1967-1987. Family really was Dorothy's whole life - she was a loving mother who provided unconditional love. She was enthusiastic about her children's endeavors, taking interest in everything they did. She especially enjoyed spending her summers on Long Lake with her two daughters and their families.
On May 14, 1949, Dorothy married Donald Joseph Houle at St. John Catholic Church in Ypsilanti, and he preceded her in death on Jan. 12, 1994. Survivors include two sons, Craig and John (Tami) both of Chelsea; three daughters, Denise Houle of Chelsea, Annette (Ron) Landwehr of Commerce Township, Renee (John) Allen of Commerce Township; 7 grandchildren, James Williams, Joseph Williams, McKenna O'Brien, John Houle Jr, Taylor Landwehr, Valerie Landwehr, and John Henry Donald Allen; 4 great-grandchildren, Emily Rose Williams, Dillon & Luke Williams, Ava Marie O'Brien; 3 sisters, Marian (Robert) Olson of FL, Joan Kett of Dexter, Barbara Pickett of Cheboygan. She was preceded in death by one son, Joseph in 1955; and one grandson, Alexander Landwehr in 1986; three brothers, Hughie, Cullen, and Thomas DeMara; and one sister, Theresa Charboneau.
A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, May 30 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Chelsea, with Rev. Dr. William Turner and Fr. Fortunato Turati officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Chelsea. The family will receive friends at Cole Funeral Chapel Thursday from 1- 9 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Towsley Village at Chelsea Retirement Community.
Not all stories are guaranteed to appear
online. The Web edition contains a reasonable
sampling of the print edition stories.
For the most complete news coverage, we invite you to
subscribe
to the print edition of the paper.
Expanded
Web
Coverage
TOP JOBS
