Shirley Ann Jackson of Blissfield passed away December 20, 2014, in Adrian, MI. Shirley was born April 5, 1936, in Novi, MI to Phyllis G. Smith Brooks and Raymond Brooks. She married Kenneth Jackson on May 7, 1955. He passed away on October 7, 1993.
Shirley was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who cherished her time with her family. Her family will miss her famous Christmas cookies that no one could duplicate and her infectious giggle that made us all smile.
She is survived by her son, Kenneth (Judy) Jackson of Tecumseh, MI; grandson, Heathe Fowler and his wife, Briana; great-granddaughters Rylee Fowler and Sydney Fowler of Zeeland, MI; brother, Roland (Joan) Brooks; sisters, Peggy (Wayne) Wright, Susan (Phil) Popham; sister-in-law, Cynthia Brooks and many nieces and nephews. Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Kenneth; son, Mark; brothers, Raymond Brooks and Stanley Brooks; and a sister, Nancy Jacques.
Funeral services were at 3 p.m., Monday, December 22, 2014 at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield with Rev. Kristen Parks officiating. Burial followed at Pleasant View Cemetery.
The family received visitors from 2 p.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Shirley’s honor to Hospice of Lenawee. Online condolences and memories are welcomed at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.
Month: December 2014
Kathleen “Kathy” Goetz
Kathleen “Kathy” Ann Goetz, age 67 of Blissfield passed away peacefully in the presence of her family on Saturday, December 27, 2014, at her home.
She was born to Charley and Adeline (Van Hove) Vergote on October 15, 1947, in Adrian, Michigan. On June 14, 1968, Kathy was united in marriage to James “Jim” Goetz in Maybe, Michigan. He survives.
Kathy worked for Hospice of Lenawee for over 25 years. She was a member of The Bridge Community Church in Blissfield, served on the Victim Services Unit of Lenawee County and on the Board for Associated Charities. Kathy enjoyed gardening, reading, traveling and especially spending time with her family. Kathy’s passionate love for Jesus guided her life. She faithfully led Bible Studies, prayer groups and small groups where she transformed the lives of countless people.
In addition to her husband, Jim of Blissfield she is also survived by two children, Kelley (Joe) Hammis of Saginaw and Jody (Joe) DiMarco of Blissfield; two brothers, George Vergote of Ottawa Lake, MI and Charley (Melanie) Vergote of Kalkaska, MI; one sister, Diane (John) Post of Chandler, AZ; five grandchildren, Laurel, Aubrey, Max, Cameron and Olivia. She was a special aunt to many nieces and nephews. Kathy was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Sharlene and her niece, Margo.
Funeral services to celebrate the life of Kathy Goetz will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, at St. Dominic Chapel on the campus of Siena Heights University in Adrian. Burial will be private in Riga Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 12:00 Noon – 8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2014, at the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian and on Wednesday, December 31, 2014, from 10-10:45 a.m. at St. Dominic’s Chapel on the campus of Siena Heights University.
Condolences to the family may be left online at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions for Kathy may be made to Associated Charities or to Outreach Ministries at The Bridge Community Church. Envelopes are available at the Anderson Funeral Home, Adrian.
BD sweeps Whiteford in basketball prior to holiday break
Britton Deerfield men’s and women’s basketball teams swept Tri-County Conference foe Whiteford Friday, Dec. 19 in Bobcat territory. The Patriot men picked up their first win by a sdore of 83-73, and the Lady Pats won 63-39, and go into the holiday break with a 4-0 record on the season.
For the complete story, please pick up The Advance Dec. 24 edition, which will also feature Christmas greetings from area businesses.
Old Riga fertilizer plant burns
Blissgield Police Chief Dale Greenleaf reported to The Advance that the fire was contained at 8:34 p.m. Unofficial fire department reports say no injuries occurred.
As of 10 p.m., smoke continued to billow from the facility. Six fire departments responded to the scene. Riga Fire Chief Mike Norman said Riga was assisted by Blissfield, Palmyra, Deerfield, Richfield and the county air truck from Madison. Raisin Township was on standby for Palmyra. Consumers Energy gas and electric officials were also called in.
Norman said the building was fully involved upon arrival with several small propane and welding gas tanks inside. Neighbors saw flare ups they described as explosions.
A truck and a high-low were in the barn, according to Norman.
For the complete story, please see the Dec. 24 Advance.
Blissfield men’s basketball team opens with a win over Whiteford
The Blissfield men’s basketball team, for the first time under the direction of Coach Ron Estes, long-time Blissfield football coach, beat the Whiteford Bobcats 61-48 in season-opening action Tuesday, Dec. 9 on home floor.
A slow pace in the fourth quarter and pressure from the visiting Bobcats helped lessen the margin of difference.
For Brad Heineman’s story and photos, please pick up the Dec. 17, 2014, edition of The Advance. And pick up a Dec. 10, 2014, edition now for the game-opening performances of the women of Blissfield, Whiteford and Britton Deerfield basketball, as well as Blissfield competitive cheer and bowling. You’ll find the bonus of the Winter Sports Preview and a 2015 Community Calendar.
Koppelman finalist for million-dollar world teaching honor
First, the Shell Science Teacher of the Year and then an Induction into the National Teacher Hall of Fame, now, Gary Koppelman’s success in the Blissfield Elementary classroom could be going global.
The veteran elementary school teacher is one of 50 finalists from an original pool of 5,000 teachers worldwide for the $1 million Varkey GEMS Foundation Global Teacher Prize.
According to a press release from the foundation, the award is widely referred to as the Nobel prize for teaching, it is the largest prize of its kind and is open to teachers in every school i every country of the world. Applicants are judged on how they open up their pupil’s minds, how much they contribute to the community, and how much they encourage others to become teachers. The Varkey GEMS foundation founded by Sunny Varkey.
Koppelman will be competing with 15 other US teachers along with applicants from the United Kingdom, Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, China, Estonia,India, Kenya, Jordan and other countries. A committee will selected the top 10 finalists that will be announced in February 2015. The GEMS Global Teacher Prize Academy including award-winning actor Kevin Spacey, Baroness Martha Lane Fox, and several world-renowned professors, business people make up the selection committee that will select and announce the winner in Dubai on March 16, 2015.
The award is not the only one for which Koppelman is currently being considered. He is one of two finalists for a Presidential Math and Science Award to be given next spring.
The $1 million prize would be paid out in equal installments over the next 10 years. The winner will also be asked to serve as a global ambassador for the Varkey GEMS Foundation and as a condition of winning they must remain a classroom teacher for at least five years after receiving the award.
Koppelman said he has no plans to go anywhere for a long while either way.
“My pinnacle is teaching at Blissfield Elementary School he said.
For the complete story by Melissa Burnor, please see the Dec. 10, 2014, edition of The Advance, which also includes the Winter Sports Preview for Blissfield, Whiteford and Britton Deerfield schools as well as the 2015 Community Wall Calendar.
Wa-hoo! Wassail Fest, Hot-Cha-Cha 5K and Parade of Lights in Blissfield
Several festive community traditions are packed into this coming weekend offering a variety of close-to-home options to help make the season brighter. Events and activities are scheduled throughout the weekend with the main events on Friday and Saturday evenings downtown Blissfield.
The Blissfield DDA/Main Street Program brings its fourth annual Wassail Fest to Lane Street Friday evening sponsored by Blissfield Rotary. The third annual Hot Cha Cha 5K Mug Run, benefiting the Miss River Raisin Scholarship Program, coincides with the Wassail Fest. Saturday evening the DDA/Main Street annual Parade of Lights presented by Anderson Rudd Funeral Home will make its merry way through the downtown.
Friday evening: Wassail Fest presented by Blissfield Rotary and the Hot-Cha-Cha 5k Mug Run sponsored by Miss River Raisin Festival Scholarship Program and Borchardt Brothers Market.
• Wassail Fest ° Event chairperson Dr. Ashley Bailey said a little friendly competition between merchants to win the title of Wassailmeister only helps to make the Friday evening event better for the participants. The fourth annual Wassail Fest takes place from 6-8:30 p.m. giving participants ample time to sample 13 separate wassail recipes at 11 stops along Lane Street. Drinking wassail, a mulled wine, usually served warm with spices added, is part of an old English tradition intended to ensure a good apple harvest in the coming year. Bailey Family Chiropractic is the reigning champion “wassailmeister” from last year.
They can register early at either the Blissfield Village Office or the DDA/Main Street office at The Depot. Registration at the event takes place at Transcend Physical Therapy just south of Jefferson St. on Lane St. Participants will have to show identification for proof of legal drinking age as there is alcohol is most of the wassail served.
Other activities will be going on downtown during the event. The Boy Scouts will man warming fires on Lane Street. There will be snacks and hot chocolate provided at Squishy Tushy. The DDA/Main Street Christmas ornaments will be on sale at Squishy Tushy. The Bliss Liewert Senior Center will host a bake sale during the event. Several businesses will keep extended hours during the event.
After all the wassail is tasted votes can be turned and the winner will be announced at B-Town Bar & Grill at approximately 9 p.m. The Blissfield Rotary will also have their raffle drawing then at the same location. Both the Blissfield Model Railroad Club and the River Raisin Model Railroad both on E. Adrian Street will have open houses
Cost to participate is $12 and includes the one-of-a-kind American-made ceramic mug designed for the occasion. Pre-registration is encouraged.
For more information go to www.blissfieldmainsteet.com.
Wassail Stops
Bliss-Liewert Senior Center – nonalcoholic wassail
Blissfield Living
Michigan Extreme Outdoors
Bliss Yoga & Fitness also hosting Blissfield State Bank
B-Town Bar & Grill
Vin Haus
Tattered Gypsy
Blissfield General Store
Pack Rat
Bailey Family Chiropractic, also hosting TLC
Cakes ‘n Shakes
Coinciding with the Wassail Fest is the Third Annual Hot-Cha-Cha- 5K Mug Run. The run has grown to become one of the largest runs in Blissfield, and is punctuated by some runners in costume ranging from elves to the award-winning running Christmas tree in 2013. The run will take off from the decorated downtown and wind through the village neighborhoods south of US223, then wind up back downtown Where runners can enjoy wassail or hot chocolate. The race is sponsored by the Miss River Raisin Festival Scholarship Program and co-sponsored by Borchardt Brothers Market.
The first 150 runners are guaranteed to receive a mug that will allow them to enter the Wassail Fest tour of sites i downtown businesses. For n on-drinkers or runners under 21, an insulated cocoa mug will be provided for a mugful of hot chocolate or coffee. With the limited number of mugs available late registrations may receive an alternate mug if the Wassail mugs are sold out.
Runners are asked to wear reflective clothing for safety’s sake. Costumes of the season are welcome.
Same day registration begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Blissfield Township Office, 120 S. Lane St. Pre-registration is encouraged. Entries are available at The Advance, 121 Newspaper Street or can be downloaded at www.blissfield.net. Online registration is available at active.com. To be emailed a form, please e-mail advance@cass.net
Run price is $25 for those 16 and odder; $12 for kids 6-18; with a family rate of $60 (limit of two adults er family which must live in the same household: additional adults $25). Children 6-12 must run with an adult due to darkness.
The race steps off at 6:30 p.m. Awards will be given in seven separate age groups for both men and women. Awards for costumes will also be given after the run.
Saturday: Blissfield Parade of Lights presented by Anderson Rudd Funeral Home at 7 p.m.
Blissfield has waited two years for the annual Parade of Lights to bring its warm glow back to Lane Street. Last year’s event was canceled due to near blizzard-like conditions. But, this year looks very promising, event chairperson Randy Kelley said. The weather forecast is for 42 degrees and no snow in sight.
Kelley said parade-goers should expect an extremely festive event with more parade entries than were entered last year.
“The parade will be bigger than 2013,” he said.
The Blissfield High School Marching Band Muddy the Mud Toledo Mud Hens’ mascot and Paws, the Detroit Tigers Mascot, Miss River Raisin Festival, Jocelyn Near, will participate, along with several local businesses, farmers and other area folks. The list is so long in fact that Kelley said, “I’m not sure where to put them all” as they line up behind Blissfield High School.
The parade will start at the school and make its way up Lane Street and turn left on Lane Street to US 223 or a block and head down Giles Ave. back to the school.
The best seats in town will be in the 100 block of S. Lane Street where an announcer describe the parade entries as they march or drive by. Kelley said there might be a few surprises it he lineup and of course Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will add some Christmas cheer to the event. Local businesses will also be open downtown until 8 p.m.
For more information visit www.blissfieldmainstreet.com
Other holiday activities Dec. 10-17
Thursday
6 p.m. Deerfield Elementary Holiday Performance
7 p.m. Blissfield High School Band and Choir Concert
Friday 6-8:30 p.m. Wassail Fest
6:30 p.m. Hot-Cha-Cha 5K Run
Saturday
10-4 p.m. River Raisin Valley Model Rail Road Open House and How To Clinics 115 E. Adrian St.
11-4 p.m. Blissfield Model Railroad Club Open House, 109 E Adrian St.
12-2 p.m. Santa Claus Visit at Deerfield Village Office sponsored by Deerfield Township Firefighters
7 p.m. Blissfield Parade of Lights – Downtown Blissfield
Sunday
9 a.m.-noon Deerfield American Legion Pancake Breakfast
3 p.m. Whiteford High School Christmas Concert
For more details, please pick up the Dec. 10, 2014, edition of The Advance which also includes the Winter Sports Preview section and a Community Calendar for your wall.Copyright 2014, River Raisin Publications, Inc.
James Silberhorn
ADRIAN – James Martin Silberhorn, age 86, passed away on Friday, November 14, 2014 at Provincial House. He was born in Riga, Michigan on September 2, 1928. He graduated from Blissfield High School in 1946 and then entered the United States Navy, serving for four years. Upon his discharge, he returned home and entered Adrian College graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1958. He also attended Eastern Michigan University, receiving his Master’s Degree in Special Education in 1963.
On June 4, 1955, he married Lois Ann Hahn. To this union were born two children, Eric and Michele. Lois Ann passed away on December 28, 1996.
James began his teaching career at Madison School in Adrian in September, 1960. In 1961 he accepted a teaching position at Adrian Training School, retiring as principal in 1993 after 33 years in education.
On September 18, 1998, James married Margarete Saxton. He is survived by his wife Margarete; two children, Michele Silberhorn of Royal Oak, Michigan Eric (Carole) Silberhorn of Columbia, Maryland; two brothers, Jack Silberhorn of Britton, Michigan and Gene (Sue) Silberhorn of Bena, Virginia; four stepchildren, Jeanette (Pat) Loveless of Midland, Michigan, Greg Saxton of Midland, Michigan, Jeff (Kari) Saxton of Dimondale, Michigan, Jennifer (Mark) Tomas of West Bloomfield, Michigan; and special step grandchildren, Hannah Loveless, Jack Tomas and Katelyn Tomas.
James enjoyed many hobbies over the years including sailing, sports cars, collecting and selling antiques and gardening after retirement.
James was preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Rosa (Hauf) Silberhorn, sister, Magda Ann Williams and brother, Lee Silberhorn.
A memorial service will be held at Wagley Funeral Home, Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Chris Brundage officiating. A reception will follow the service at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Adrian Public Library or Hospice of Lenawee. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com.
Gladys Kurtz
ADRIAN — Gladys Frances Kurtz, age 93 of Adrian, formerly of Blissfield, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 5, 2014, at Lynwood Manor in Adrian.
She was born November 5, 1921, in Ogden Township, Michigan, to Edward Christian and Dora Annis (Caswell) Knierim.
On December 2, 1950, she married Keith K. Kurtz in Blissfield. He preceded her in death on December 20, 1999.
Gladys enjoyed crocheting, knitting, embroidering and reading.
Surviving are two sisters, Betty Knierim and Ileta Prisby, both of Blissfield and several nieces and nephews, including Marilyn (Dennis) Bangerter of Blissfield. In addition to her husband, Keith, she was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers and three sisters.
Private graveside services for Gladys will be in Pleasant View Cemetery in Blissfield. Memorial contributions in memory of Gladys may be made to the Adrian Fire Department. Envelopes are available at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.
LaJeanne Creque
RIGA — LaJeanne Creque, age 86, of Riga, MI passed away peacefully with her family at her bedside on Wednesday, November 26, 2014 ( on her parents wedding anniversary) at Hospice of Northwest Ohio, Perrysburg after a 7 year fight with Mantle Cell Lymphoma.
She was a member of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.
LaJeanne was born May, 23, 1928 to Carlton and Leona (Connolly) Schmidt, who preceded her in death.
She graduated from Blissfield High School in 1946 and the Mercy College of Nursing in 1949.
On July 28, 1951 she married Jesse Creque. They were married almost 37 years until his death in 1988. They had four daughters and one son.
LaJeanne worked at the Toledo Hospital for 25 years, in the admissions nursery which she truly liked.
She lived for her children and grandchildren. We always felt her love. It was a pleasure for her to baby-sit, which she did many times.
Mom was a long time Detroit Tigers fan and she liked to talk about baseball.
Left to cherish her memory are her loving children, Vicky (John) Martinelli, Pat (Bud) Morgan and Jodi Cox of Linwood, KS, loving sister Mary Ellen and brother-in-law Merlin Wapshall, sister-in-laws Betty Meder, Pauline Smith and son-in-law Alan Knoblauch. Grandchildren, Lori (Joe) Perry, Jessica (Gabriel) Reding, Jenna Hall, Kyle (Liz) Knoblauch, Kevin Knoblauch, Aaron Martinelli, Kelsey (Nate) Hall, Mary Jacob and Alex Cox., Step-grandchildren, Jennifer, Greg (Nikki) Morgan, Jessie (Scott) Workman and Erik (Michele) Martinelli. Six great grandchildren and five step great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death daughter, Kimberly Knoblauch, infant son, Joel, brother Henry, son-in-law David Cox, step-granddaughter Leslie Martinell and special niece Beth A. Wapshall.
Respecting her request, there will be no visitation and graveside services will be private. The Family request memorial contributions to Hospice of Northwest Ohio 30000 E. River Rd., Perrysburg, Ohio 43551or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be offered to the family at www.reebfuneralhome.com