Month: December 2015

Marjorie Rose LaSotta Noll of Hillsdale, Michigan, passed away on Thursday, December 17, 2015. Margie was born June 17, 1936, in Dickinson, ND, to John and Rose (Armbrust) LaSotta.   After graduating from Blissfield High School in 1954, Margie began her career as a secretary at Blissfield Mfg. Company, and went on to enjoy other secretarial positions at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and Old Kent/Fifth Third Bank, from which she retired in 2000. In 1962, she married Thomas (Tom) Noll, and was blessed thereafter to find her true calling in life as a beloved mother to a daughter (Lisa) and son (Chris).   An avid reader, one of Margie’s favorite activities was reading with her cherished cat nestled in her lap. Her love of animals was eclipsed only by her love of family. Margie is survived by her daughter Lisa (Al) Noll Maxwell of Carmel, Ind.; and her son Christopher (Taryn) Noll of La Grange, Ky.; grandsons, John and Peter Maxwell; and grandchildren, Alex, Matthew and Lauren Noll. Also surviving are her sisters Arlene Hull, Angie Rouget and Diane Witt. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, John LaSotta.   The Funeral Liturgy was held Tuesday, December 22 at Light of Christ (St. Peter’s Catholic Church), Blissfield, at 11 a.m. The family met visitors prior to funeral services, from 10 – 11 a.m. Burial was in Pleasantview Cemetery in Blissfield, Michigan.   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Greater Hillsdale Humane Society, 3881 South Tripp Road, Osseo, MI  49266. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHome.com

Richard D. “Dick” Van Loocke passed away peacefully at home on Monday, December 14, 2015. Dick was born August 30, 1944, to George and Arlene (Knapp) Van Loocke in Blissfield, Michigan. He graduated from Blissfield High School in 1963. He had one son, Richard B. “Rik” Van Loocke, and he survives. He married Patty (Knadler) Van Loocke on September 30, 2005, and she also survives. Along with Rik and Patty, Dick leaves behind a daughter-in-law, Sharon; grandsons: Richard Zakary (Emilee Knakiewicz) Van Loocke and Jarik Rigby Walls Van Loocke, all of Ottawa Lake, MI; step-daughters, Stephanie (Ken) Prill of Mt. Hope, Kansas and Krysta (Kurt Snyder) Barron of Blissfield, MI; and step-granddaughters, Jade Williams and Lilly Snyder. Preceding him in death were his parents and his older twin sisters, Susann and Luann. Dick was a lifetime Lenawee County farmer. He also spent many years working alongside his father, George, in the family business, Van Loocke Oil Burner Service. When he was not found in his shop tinkering with any number of “Ford” projects, in his younger years, Dick was playing basketball in several local recreation leagues, spending time with his good friends (most of which had their own endearing nickname), making “donut shop” visits with his grandsons when they were little, or participating in area car shows with his son and eventually his grandson, Jarik (both of whom inherited the same love for Fords). There will be a brief service held at the Ottawa Lake Sportsmen’s Club on January 9, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. with a Celebration of Life immediately after the service until 5:00 p.m. Please join the Van Loocke family in raising glass in Richard’s memory. “Richard the Hermit and his trusty dog, Two” lived his life his own way on his own terms. Those that knew him well know he was a strong-willed man who fought hard until the end. May we not stay “bitter” and remain “still buddies”. May his memory never “wear thin” as we all learn to “get along” without him. May the “Black Label” and “Bluesberry” flow freely in Heaven as Dick now joins his many close friends who left the party too soon before him. Nothing will ever be the same. We will hold you in our hearts forever and always remember that smile and that hearty laugh…til we meet again. Those who would like to make a donation in memory of Dick please consider Hospice of Lenawee. Arrangements have been entrusted to Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield where online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.

                                                                                                                                                                                                          LAMBERTVILLE – Patricia Ann Saunders Lemley, age 85, of Lambertville, passed away Saturday, December 5, 2015 at her home. She was born May 5, 1930, in Adrian, to Howard Eugene and Ashley Ferne (Ziegler) Saunders. On May 10, 1952, she married John L. Lemley in Angola, Ind., and he preceded her in death on November 17, 1992. Patricia worked at the Blissfield Telephone Office from 1948 until 1962, as an operator and she then work for Grogan Chrysler Dealership as a telephone operator from 1985 until her retirement in 2002. Patricia is survived by two sons, Paul Lemley of Lambertville and Michael (Kathy) Spiegel of Severance, CO; two grandchildren, Michelle Groover and Matthew Spiegel; two great grandson, Logan and Jacob Groover; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; one son, John Randall Lemley; grandson, Todd Spiegel and two brothers, William “Bill” Saunders and Paul Saunders. Funeral services for Patricia will be held on Thursday, December 10, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Anderson Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield. Burial will be in Riga Cemetery. Visitation was held on Dec. 9 from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. at Anderson Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield. You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the family of Patricia Lemley. Envelopes are available at Anderson Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield. 

Loretta Josephine Long, age 88, of Deerfield, died on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at her daughter’s home, surrounded by her family. She was born March 1, 1927, to Ralph Aloysius and Rhea Elizabeth (McCarty) DeShetler. She had been married to Robert Albert Long on June 7, 1947, in Deerfield. He preceded her in death on July 2, 2002. Loretta had been a lifelong member of St. Alphonsus (Light of Christ) parish in Deerfield, where she coordinated funeral dinners for several years and was an active member of the Altar Rosary Society, and a charter member of Women of Prayer. In her early years, she worked for Deerfield Telephone Company and took care of the nuns, cooking, cleaning, etc., while the St. Alphonsus School was operating. Loretta is survived by two daughters, Cindy (Steven) Burnett of Tecumseh and Debra (Michael) Dusseau of Blissfield; nine grandchildren, Rhaea (Lee) Miller, Adrea Burnett, Lisbeth Burnett, Stephanie Burnett, Emily Burnett, Grace Burnett, Josh (Jessica) Keinath, Zachary Dusseau, and Noah Dusseau; four great-grandchildren, Avery, Ruby, Rita, and Kasey; and her beloved canine companion, “Digger.” In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Thelma, Mary, Janet, and Patsy; and a brother, Bernard. The Funeral Liturgy was on Monday, December 7, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Light of Christ Parish (St. Alphonsus) in Deerfield with Fr. Dan Wheeler and Fr. Jeff Poll officiating . Burial followed in St. Alphonsus Cemetery. Visitation was held on Sunday from 3-8 p.m. at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield, where a Vigil Prayer Service was at 7:30 p.m. Visitation will also was held on Monday from 10-10:45 a.m. at the Light of Christ Parish (St. Alphonsus) in Deerfield. Memorial contributions may be made to Light of Christ Parish or to Hospice of Lenawee. Envelopes are available at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.