Author: Doug Donnelly

Wilbur Steih

RIGA – Wilbur Charles Steih, age 72 of Riga, died unexpectedly on Monday, April 03, 2017, at the Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio. He was born May 9, 1944 in Adrian, Michigan to Ernest and Luella (Pieh) Steih. Wilbur was a 1963 graduate of Blissfield High School. On April 15, 1966 he married Carol Marks at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palmyra, Michigan. He was a cabinet maker and finisher for Weinlander Kitchen and Bath in Blissfield for 43 years. After his retirement he worked part time at Gilson’s Hardware in Blissfield. Wilbur was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and a life member of the River Raisin Sportsman’s Club in Blissfield. He enjoyed archery, hunting, fishing, was an avid Detroit Tigers fan and spending time with his grandchildren.
Surviving Wilbur, besides his wife Carol of nearly 51 years are three children, Richard (Yvette) Steih of Jackson, MI, Cynthia (Kyle) Gonyer of Petersburg, MI and Jason (Caroline) Steih of Deerfield, MI and four grandchildren, Ethan, Mara, Madeline and Claire. He is preceded in death by his parents, and Uncle Charles Pieh and an Aunt Nadine Pieh.
Funeral services for Wilbur were held on Thursday, April 6, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Palmyra with the Rev. Gary Leking officiating. Burial will follow in Riga Cemetery. Visitation was held on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, from 2-8 p.m. at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.
You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church or TACA (Talk about curing Autism, MI Chapter). Envelopes are available at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.

Tornado siren tests to sound April 20

Residents of Lenawee County should be aware that the county will be testing its tornado sirens at 5:55 p.m. Thursday, April 20. The annual tests are conducted to ensure that proper notification will be provided to residents in case of any emergency weather crisis.
For the state of Michigan, its official tornado season usually spans from mid-June to mid-July, however, tornadoes could appear in the state during April and May.

River Raisin floods over April 8 weekend

An inch of rain on already saturated ground Friday drained into the already swollen River Raisin adding to the water that overflowed the banks that was evident in both the Bachmayer Park and Ellis Playground on Saturday in Blissfield. Areas of the park were still submerged Monday afternoon.
By Saturday afternoon, Blissfield Chief of Police Dale Greenleaf was on patrol in the village limits, at times parking at the entrance of Ellis Park off

The Bachmayer Park side of the River Raisin was underwater. In the background, the Ricker Pavilion sits in deep water.
The Bachmayer Park side of the River Raisin was underwater. In the background, the Ricker Pavilion sits in deep water.

U.S. 223, blocking off any possible entrance to the park, which was also roped off with caution tape due the high waters creeping up the park’s entrance. Traffic cones and orange pylons on the park’s driving lane were nearly submerged in water down near the Ellis Park softball fields that same afternoon. This was the second straight week that heavy and persistent rainfall caused the river to spill over its banks and flood the Blissfield parks.
According to the National Weather Service the river crested at 2:15 a.m. Monday at 681.39 feet. At 681 feet the weather service classifies the water stage at an action level.  The water would have to rise to 683 feet to be considered a minor flood.
Blissfield Village Administrator James Wonacott said the water level did rise close to flood level but is on the way back down.

For the complete story and more photos by Brad Heineman and Melissa Burnor, please see the April 12, 2017, edition of The Advance.

Virginia Burnor Filter

Virginia J. Burnor Filter, 91, Blissfield, passed away Friday, April 7, 2017 at Cambrian Senior Living, Tecumseh. Ginny was born at the family home on Holloway Rd. in Ridgeway Township, September 17, 1925 to Frank and Ina (Hutchison) Tiede. Virginia graduated from Blissfield High School in June of 1944 and that same month married Max Burnor, a farmer from Deerfield. They had four children together and were married 35 years when Max passed away in 1980.
In 1984 Ginny married Warren Filter, Tecumseh and became active with him in the V.F.W. there. Warren passed away unexpectedly in 1993. Virginia moved to Blissfield in 1995 and lived in Coach Light Estates until 2016.
In her younger years, Ginny bowled, belonged to the Deerfield Mothers Club and was a Cub Scout Den mother. After her son Lee’s death in 1969 during the Vietnam War, Ginny became a Gold-Star Mother and participated in many parades and special ceremonies. In 2010 she spoke at the rededication of the Lenawee County Vietnam Memorial in Adrian. She was a lifelong member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church on N. Blissfield Hwy. and at one time active in the church’s Friendship Circle. She worked briefly at Woods Clothing Store, Blissfield.
Virginia always tried to put her best foot forward, she was a social person who liked to laugh and have fun. The highlight of her summers was spending time at her cottage on Marr Lake and socializing with her neighbors there. She always seemed to have a project on her “to do list”, loved polka music and dancing, reading and doing crossword puzzles. She loved her family, kept newspaper clippings of their achievements and was proud of any accomplishment. Family members eagerly anticipated her holiday and birthday boxes filled with homemade cookies. She was also well-known for her delicious cooking especially her potato salad.
Virginia is survived by her children, Judith (Larry) Ivan, Britton, David (Patti DeCloux) Burnor, Iron River, Christopher (Melissa) Burnor, Deerfield; stepchildren, Michael (Bonnie) Filter, Fort Wayne, Ind., Debbie (Robert) Donick, Traverse City; sisters, Alice (Robert) Mueller, Deerfield, Wilma Peters, Owosso; sisters-in-law, Donna Tiede, Lela Tiede, Blissfield, Jean Tiede, Ann Arbor;  grandchildren, Laura (Michael) Lopez, Tecumseh, Rita Trujillo, Jerome, Danielle Edwards, Adrian, Jon Ivan, Britton, Deanna (Chad) Crots,  Deerfield, Melissa (Mario) McClinton, Jackson, Brooke (Timothy II) Gorton, Horton, Anna Burnor (Joseph Hodges II), Adrian, Eric, Garrett and Brent Burnor, Deerfield; 18 great-grandchildren, four step grandchildren and Jean Burnor, Deerfield.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Ina Tiede; husbands, Max Burnor and Warren Filter; son Lee Burnor;  brothers, Daniel, Ervin, Ralph and Max Tiede; grandchildren, Stephanie and Joseph Ivan, stepdaughter, Jacqueline Beach; and special friends Ginny Gittus and Irene Feldman whom she dearly missed.
Funeral services for Virginia were at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Palmyra . Rev. Gary Leking officiated. Visitation was from 2:00-8:00  p.m. Monday, April 10, 2017  at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.  Burial followed in the Deerfield Township Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com.         Memorial contributions may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church. Envelopes are available at the Anderson-Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.

June Somes

June Valeria (Zibbell) Somes, 92, of Blissfield, Michigan, passed away peacefully in her home on Friday, April 7, 2017, surrounded by family. . She was born in Petersburg, Michigan, on June 2, 1924, the last of 12 children, to Elmore C. and Vera B. (Coultis) Zibbell.
June married Andrew Somes on December 24, 1942. They were blessed with 67 years of marriage before his passing in 2010. She was a former member of the Presbyterian Church, in Blissfield for 24 years, before becoming an active member of the First Congregational Church in Thompsonville, MI. June was active in the Food Bank of Marilla, MI and spent numerous years in the Snowbirds Snowmobile Club. She enjoyed weekly card games with other club members. In keeping with her belief that community service was a blessing to many, as a Vice President of the Ladies Aid Society, she pitched in every month, to help prepare a meal for the community in Sand Creek, MI. As a result of her hard work June was interviewed by Don Wolfe in an article that ran in the Blade November 24, 1978.
June is survived by her children; Michael (April), Thomas (Linda), and Robert Somes and Valeria Ostrander, grandchildren; Paula, Melissa, Amy, Sherry, Joshua, Jacob and Katie, and eleven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Andrew, parents, brothers; Louis, Bob, Billy, Sam, Elmore, Allen, Windy, and Warren and sisters; Grace, Eileen and Nancy, Son-in-law Gary Ostrander and granddaughter Andrea.
Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to Reeb Funeral Home, Sylvania, OH.
Those wishing to leave a memorial in June’s honor, may wish to consider Blissfield Fire Department.

Featherless Bingo April 1 in Deerfield

DEERFIELD — A “Featherless Bingo” event will be hosted by Council #7832, Knights of Columbus,  April 1 at Light Of Christ Deerfield Salt Center
Many prizes including hams are offered. Door open at 6 p.m. and snacks are available.  For details, please call 734-269-2279.

SMCC gets past Madison men in regional final

The Madison men’s basketball team battled to the regional final buzzer, but it was a three-point buzzer-beating basket by SMCC that finished their season, 57-54, despite the fact that the Trojans had been down by 16 points in the third quarter. They tied the game with six seconds left in the regional contest before the Falcons sank the big basket.

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