Kathy Spaulding

Kathy Spaulding, age 68, of Jackson, MI, passed away on April 18, 2022 at her home. Kathy was born on December 29, 1953 in Toledo, Ohio to Melvin and Barbara (Wilson) Leach.

Kathy loved life! She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved spending time with her grandkids. She enjoyed going to Florida in the winters and walking on the beach. She dearly loved her Yorkie, Ruby.

Kathy is survived by her loving husband, Daniel Spaulding, her children, Nikki (Jason) Adams, Justin Degregorio, and Anthony Degregorio; her grandchildren, Alexis Adams, Kayla Adams, Braylon Adams, and Ava Adams; great-grandchildren, Henry Lewis Jr. and Gabriella Nicole; her father, Mel Leach, her siblings, Cynthia (Wes) Mikesell and Susan (Ron Wolfe) Leach; as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Leach, a sister, Karen Carlino, and great-granddaughter, Amara Ann.

A gathering of family and friends will be held Friday, April 29, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. till 12:00 noon at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home in Chelsea, Michigan. Burial will take place at Vermont Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to Cascades Humane Society in Jackson, Michigan.

Gladys Buck Kennedy

Gladys Buck Kennedy, age 87, of Chelsea, MI, passed away on April 18, 2022 at her home at Silver Maples of Chelsea. She was born on September 20, 1934 in Maybee, MI to Journey and Kathleen (Caddy) Brabant.

Gladys graduated from Milan High School in 1953. She married Carroll H. Buck, on October 12, 1954. After several moves they made Chelsea their permanent home in 1969. Carroll preceded her in death in 1992. In 2009, she married her long-time family friend, John L. Kennedy, and they enjoyed eight years together until he passed in 2017.

Gladys was one that was always busy and full of life. Spending time with her family, traveling, sewing, shopping, and planning events were her favorite pastimes. She was a passionate caretaker, giver, worker, and leader. She began her career as a nurse at the old St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor in 1954 and ended her nursing career as a Hospice Nurse. Yet, the center of her life was always her faith and her family. In the early 1970's members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints did not have a building in Chelsea to hold meetings. Gladys and Carroll graciously opened their home for holding church meetings. She served the Lord in many ways and remained active in the church throughout her life.

She was blessed with a giving heart and a passion for serving others, always seeing their needs and lifting them up. She was an excellent seamstress and quilter, from bridesmaids dresses to baby quilts, she blessed many with her gifts.

Gladys was immersed in the Chelsea community from early on. If her daughters or grandchildren were involved, Gladys was sewing dance costumes or cheering from the sidelines. She was instrumental in starting the Special Olympics in Chelsea Schools. She was active in the Chelsea Community Fair and was instrumental in starting the notorious Elephant Ear Wagon, as well as volunteering for over 20 years. She served on the Faith in Action Board for 25 years, serving as President for two of those years. After she retired from her nursing career, she worked full time for the Mitchell family at Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home in Stockbridge from 1995-2003. Gladys was active in the Chelsea Senior Center for many years, where she made many friends and enjoyed many trips with the Travel Trip Club. She served as President of the Chelsea Senior Center and was voted Senior Citizen of the Year.

In her later years, she moved to Silver Maples of Chelsea, where she seamlessly adopted her role on the Welcoming Committee, making those around her feel loved and welcomed. Gladys will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Gladys is survived by her daughter, Kris (Steve) Bergman of Chelsea, and son-in-law, Michael Borden; seven grandchildren: Rob (Jodi) Bergman of Texas, Eric Bergman of Dundee, Amy (Matt) Davis of Grass Lake, Shawn (Sarah) Bergman of Jackson, Laura (Brian) Stouffer of Pinckney, Sarah Borden of Chelsea, and Brian (Kim Roberts) Borden of Troy; 14 great-grandchildren, Halee, Nathan and Nolan Bergman, Drew Bergman, Lincoln and Olivia Davis, Bristol Bergman, Conor Fitzimmons, Audrey Borden, Connor, Madeline and Mya Stouffer and Paxton and Chance Borden; two brothers, Samuel (Barb) Brabant of Ypsilanti, and Milton (Patti) Brabant of Arizona and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husbands, Carroll Buck and John Kennedy, she was preceded in death by a great-granddaughter, Alyssa Stouffer in 2008, and her daughter, Kathy Borden in 2019.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 21, 2022, 11:00 a.m., at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1330 N. Freer Rd., Chelsea. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home; also at church on Thursday from 10-11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Chelsea Senior Center.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Loretta Marzec

Loretta Marzec, age 93, passed away on April 18, 2022 at the Arbor Hospice Residence in Saline, MI. Loretta was born September 11, 1928 in Jackson, MI the daughter of Francis and Margaret (Falahee) Miller. She was the last surviving member of the F.P. Miller family from Jackson.

Loretta had worked as a registered nurse for 43 years and was one of the original nurses at Chelsea Community Hospital in the 1970’s. She was an avid reader and also enjoyed quilting. She was a member of the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She loved her family, especially her grandchildren, and she enjoyed spending time at her log cabin on Strawberry Lake.

Loretta married Joseph P. Marzec, and he preceded her in death. Loretta is survived by six children, Tim (Mary S.) Marzec, Jon Marzec, Matthew Marzec, Madonna (Dennis) Perkins, Damian (Mary) Marzec, and Patrick (Darlene) Marzec; several grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a son, Christopher Marzec, and grandson, Jeremy Marzec.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church with V. Rev. Dr. William J. Canon Turner officiating. Burial will follow at St. John Catholic Cemetery in Jackson, Michigan. The family will receive friends at the church on Friday from 10-11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Arbor Hospice Foundation.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Elmer T. Sanders

Elmer T. Sanders, age 100, passed away on April 16, 2022 at the Chelsea Retirement Community.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022, 11:00 a.m., at the Chelsea Retirement Community Chapel, where the family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m.

A private burial will take place at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, MI.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Chelsea Retirement Community Heritage Foundation.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Geraldine B. Swackhamer

Geraldine B. Swackhamer, age 87, passed away on April 13, 2022 at the Chelsea Retirement Community. Geraldine was born on December 25, 1934 in Highland Park, MI to Gerald and Madge (Brown) Bailey.

Geraldine had lived at the Chelsea Retirement Community for the past two years, moving from Tennessee. Geraldine loved to shop and play cards. She also loved to play golf and was a member of the Arbor Hills Country Club in Jackson, MI. She was a wonderful cook and loved spending time with her family. Family meant everything to her.

Geraldine married Donald W. Swackhamer on April 14, 1951, residing the majority of their years in Jackson, MI and operating Swackhamer Newspaper Agency as well as Da-Swa Tree Farm there. He preceded her in death on July 10, 2006.

She is survived by a daughter, Karen (Darrell) Hanson of Kearney, Missouri, six grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and one brother, James (Mary Lee Dunlavy) Bailey of Gregory. She was preceded in death by a sister, Laura Hannifin, daughter, Carrie Lynn Adams, and three grandchildren, Katherine L. Adams, Eliza Hanson, and Brent Hanson.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 1, 2022, 2:00 p.m. at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, with visitation from 1-2 p.m. Private burial will be held at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy, MI.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Beverly J. Coleman

Beverly J. Coleman, age 88, of Jackson, MI, passed away on April 9, 2022 at Trellis Gardens Assisted Living in Jackson, MI. Beverly was born on April 30, 1933 in Ann Arbor, MI, the daughter of Clarence and Esther (Gardner) Bissell. She had lived in the area for the past six years and had previously lived in Ann Arbor and Gregory.

Beverly loved gardening, going out to eat, spending time at the beach, and swimming in the pool. She was married to Kenneth Coleman, Jr., and he preceded her in death in 1980. She then married Marvin Warren, and he preceded her in death in 2014.

Surviving are her children, Lynn Herndon of Gregory, Bunny (Kurt Jaeckle) Leach of Florida; Marvin’s children, Randy Warren, Wendy Miller, and Dale Warren, all of Arizona; a sister, Carolyne (John Cooch) Wheeler of Ann Arbor; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In addition, she was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth “Bub” Coleman, and a granddaughter, Nicki Leach.

A Gathering of Friends and Family will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2022, from 1:00-2:00 p.m. at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea. Burial will take place at Bethlehem Cemetery in Ann Arbor.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Nicki Leach Foundation.

Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home.

Marilyn E. Wanty

Marilyn Emma (O’Kane) Wanty passed away on April 8, 2022, at her home at Silver Maples of Chelsea. Before her death, she was visited by her two sons, James (Diane) and Douglas (Suzanne) Wanty, and her five grandchildren: Kit Wanty-Lambert (Adam), Erin (J.P.) Dahdah, Jamie Wanty, Cooper (Amanda), and Isabel (Lindy); and her five great-grandchildren: Ava and Forest (Jim) Morgeson, Lillianna and J.P. II Dahdah, Jessica Brooks, and Hugh Wanty.

She was born to James J. and Hazel (Seagert) O’Kane in Ann Arbor, MI, on November 21, 1924. She grew up living with her parents, and grandparents, William and Emma Seagert, at the corner of Huron and Glen streets in Ann Arbor, and she attended Angel Elementary School. Marilyn would walk across the field behind the dorms and write her name in the snow. She could hear the co-eds yell out their dorm windows, “Hi Marilyn,” as she walked home.

Marilyn met her future husband of 71 years, Hugh M. Wanty, at Ann Arbor High School. He preceded her in death in 2016. They married after Hugh graduated from the University of Michigan in 1945. Marilyn graduated from the University of Michigan a year later with a Business Administration degree.

Marilyn and Hugh joined her father’s business in 1948. The beer distribution business became O & W, Inc. and continues with her grandchildren. Marilyn and Hugh had three sons: James and Douglas of Ann Arbor, MI, and Brian of Eugene, Oregon. Marilyn was in her wheelhouse raising the boys. She would play catch, help capture turtles and frogs, and take the boys to swimming, little league, camps, and tennis, while attending the games and concerts they were part of.

Marilyn enjoyed participating in many clubs and community events. She maintained many friendships from her high school days. She loved playing bridge with anybody. Her secret pleasure was ironing. She would hum to herself as she flattened our shirts, pants, and underwear. Her family and the family business came first. She took a keen interest in the stock market, and, at the age of 96, declared it was time to move out of growth stocks and into income stocks, a task most investment advisors recommend for a person in their 60s.

As her children became adults, Marilyn spent more time in the business, retiring with Hugh in 1989. After enjoying many summers in Chelsea and winters in Arizona, they moved into Silver Maples. Marilyn was most appreciative of the love and assistance she received in her final years from her daughter-in-law, Suzanne, as well as Jane Kelly and April Hurst, and many others.

A private service will be held, and she will be buried next to her husband, parents, and grandparents at Forest Hill Cemetery in Ann Arbor. The Rev. Kathy Schell will officiate. Memorial contributions can be made to Silver Maples of Chelsea or the Arbor Hospice Foundation. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Minna L. Cunningham

Minna Lee Cunningham, age 78, passed away on April 6, 2022 at her home in Stockbridge, Michigan. Minna was born on October 28, 1943 in Lansing, Michigan to Alvin and Alvina (Swick) Hackert.

Minna had lived in the Stockbridge/Jackson area for the past 27 years, moving from Evart, Michigan. She had many hats over the course of her professional career. She was a nurse for nearly 50 years. She most loved working in OB, caring for mothers and babies.

She was the matriarch of her family, the eldest of nine children who looked up to her as a second mother. Her world was her family. She was an amazing cook and baker who curated a family cookbook which we will treasure forever. She was a hard worker and excelled at everything she tried. She loved to travel with her husband, Bob, and enjoyed simple things in life like quilting and cards.

Minna is survived by her loving husband, Bob Cunningham, her children: (JoAnn) Adair, Colleen (Tim) Sonnenberg, Marsha Fowler, (Margie) Adair, Lani (Terry) Patrick, Mark (Kristina) Case, Chris (Brian) Burt, Michelle (Sean Bush) Gibler, Dawn (Krey) Gordon; Bob’s children: Anne Swartz, and Bethany (Brian) Maxwell; her siblings: Mary-Lou (Jim, deceased) Hudson, Allan (Jackie) Hackert, Jack (Karen) Hackert, Art (Rose) Hackert, Dan (Connie) Hackert, Don (Susan) Hackert, Robin (Richard) French, and Rose (Jeff) Rudd; 34 grandchildren and many, many great-grandchildren; also her pups, Benny and Bella. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alvin and Alvina Hackert, previous husband, William M. Adair, and children, Thomas Adair, William D. Adair, and Lonnie Adair.

Cremation has taken place, and a private celebration of life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Arrangements by Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home.

John W. Ransom

John W. Ransom, age 84, of Stockbridge, Michigan, passed away at his home on Tuesday, April 5, 2022. John was born on July 16, 1937 in Charlotte, MI to Kenneth and Clara (Willis) Ransom.

John had lived in the Stockbridge area since the early 1970's, where he and Leona owned and operated Ransom's Food Center in Stockbridge. He enjoyed hunting, and MSU and Stockbridge School sports. He liked telling jokes. He loved traveling, watching his horses race, and going to the casinos. He also enjoyed taking his flying lessons.

He married Leona M. (Johnson) on July 27, 1957, and she survives. Also surviving are his children, Peggie Ransom of Munith, and Pattie (Lee) Salyer of Stockbridge, Kenneth (Marcia) Ransom of Pinckney, Pennie (Don) Ward of Gregory, and Kyle (Ruth) Ransom of Pinckney; 18 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren with one on the way; his siblings, Janet (Jeff) Rowe of Tennessee, and Mick (Nancy) Ransom of Holt. He was preceded in death by his sisters, Darlene Ransom and Joyce Steele.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 11, 2022, 11:00 a.m. at Caskey-Mitchell Funeral Home, Stockbridge, with Pastor Jeff Howard officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Henrietta Township.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, April 10, 2022, from 2-6 p.m. and on Monday from 10-11 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Donald F. Pierce

Donald F. Pierce, age 85, of Chelsea, Michigan, died Friday, April 1, 2022 at his Chelsea home after a brief, courageous battle with cancer.

Don was born December 29, 1936, in Chelsea, Michigan to Elmer W. and Hilda (Wenk) Pierce. He and his sister, Joan E. Kipfmiller, enjoyed growing up in Chelsea, where they have both been lifelong residents.

Don married the love of his life, Donna M. Steeb, on July 7, 1956. They were blessed with three adoring daughters, Kathryn D. Pierce, Cynthia K. Dunlevy, and Karyn S. Zaitonia, who are certain they had the best dad ever!

Don worked as a letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office in Ann Arbor, Michigan for 31 years. He enjoyed being outside while walking his route, and many of his customers became good friends.

Don enjoyed traveling with his wife and daughters. They had several cross country adventures, visiting National Parks, hiking the Grand Canyon, and swimming in the ocean. They also enjoyed their cottage at Houghton Lake, riding snowmobiles in the winter and boating in the summer.

After retiring, Don and his wife spent many winters in Florida. They loved going to the ocean and beachcombing for sand dollars and shells. They also enjoyed spending time with family.

Don is survived by his wife, Donna; children, Kathy, Cindy, and Karyn, grandchildren, Jeff and Jenny, Ali and Pierce, and Kailey; great-granddaughter, Willow; sister, Joan, sister-in-law, Nancy; nieces, Sheryl, Jill, and Kelley; nephews, Dennis, Mark, Kevin, and Chris; and lifelong friend, Ed GreenLeaf. Don was preceded in death by his parents.

Don took excellent care of his family, could fix anything, and never hesitated to reach out and help someone. He will be remembered as a kind, caring, good man and will be greatly missed.

Per Don’s wishes, a small family gathering celebrating his life will be held at a later date.