Author: Doug Donnelly

Earl Charles Goetz passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 in the care of his wife Joyce, his girls, close friends and Hospice of Lenawee.

Earl was born on July 19, 1922, which was also his mother’s birthday. He was known to say “he was the only birthday gift his mother couldn’t return”. Earl was born to Charles G. and Elfrieda (Tobian) Goetz at home in Monroe, Michigan, both of whom preceded him in death along with his brother Richard and his only son Todd Earl Goetz.

Surviving him are his loving wife of 68 years, Rena Joyce (Service) Goetz, his two daughters; Jill Kiesow of Riga, Mich., and Paula Aspacher (Jeff) of Franklin, TN.; 5 grandchildren; Kate Dewick (David), Green Bay, WI, Lynn Edmunds (Mark) of Wind Point WI, Charlie Goetz of Vernon, NY, Earlene Mest (Dan) of Strykersville, NY, Valerie Aspacher of Houston, TX, and Garrett Aspacher of Denver, CO. Great grandchildren: Connor and Ashlyn Dewick, Addeline and William Edmunds, and Levi Mest. He is also survived by his two brothers; William and Wendell Goetz and many nieces, nephews and his friends’ children who all loved their Uncle Earl.

Earl graduated from Blissfield High School and then began full time farming in Riga Township. He was a faithful member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Riga. He was also an avid Blissfield Royals fan enjoying many games at the school and listening on his trusty transistor radio. He also loved the Detroit Tigers and college sports! He was a happy man when he was able to have a radio on his tractor so he could listen to sports while he worked.

Earl served on several boards over the years including; Rural Electric Membership Corp., Blissfield Co-op, St. John’s Lutheran and Killarney Lutheran Camp.   As a dedicated Kiwanian, Earl served as President, Secretary and had Perfect Attendance at meetings for 39 years. He was awarded the George F. Hixson Fellowship Award from Kiwanis International in 1996. Earl and his smiling face could be seen all over the area selling tickets for any event Kiwanis was supporting.

The Goetz family would like to thank his caregivers; Diana, Charlene, Dawn, Leslie, Rachel and Sanya for their faithfulness and loving care of Earl during his final months, and to Jon and Leann Mattek and Karson Edgar for ALWAYS being available when the phone rang.

Visitation will be from 2 to 8pm, Thursday, March 10 at Tagsold Chapel of Wagley Funeral Home in Blissfield. Services will be Friday, March 11 at 11:00 am at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Riga with internment immediately after. Pastor James Seelow will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church, Hospice of Lenawee, Riga Fire Department, or the charity of your choice. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.

Jimmy W. Bates, age 76 of Blissfield, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2016, at Provincial House.
He was born August 9, 1939, at home in Hillsdale County to George and Beulah “Eileen” (Blanchard) Bates, and attended Adrian High School.
On June 19, 1965, Jimmy married Madeline DeNudt in Blissfield and they have shared over 50 years together.
Jimmy went into tool-and-die making and completed his training at Snedeker & Son in Adrian.  He worked at BlisSfield Manufacturing, Meyer Boat Factory, and National Aircraft Services in Tecumseh, where he retired.
In his younger years, Jimmy loved roller skating and dancing.  His favorite pastimes were fishing and woodworking, but he would choose being with his family over anything.
In addition to his wife, Madeline, he is survived by their children, Brenda Ostrander and Brian (Christina) Bates; grandchildren, Nicholas Ostrander and Makenna Bates; and his siblings, George “Herb” (Betty) Bates of Fairfield and Nora (Robert) Irish of Adrian.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Charles Bates.
Special thanks to Provincial House staff for the care he received.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 12, 2016 at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield with Cliff Washburn officiating.  Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery.  Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Friday from 5-8 p.m

DEERFIELD – Muriel G. Stevens, age 99 of Deerfield, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2016, at Provincial House.
She was born June 1, 1916, at home in Deerfield, Michigan to Cyrene and Pearl (Simpson) Stevens, and graduated from Summerfield High School in 1934.
On October 1, 1940, Muriel married Archie B. Stevens, Sr., and he preceded her in death.
Muriel was a faithful member of the Deerfield Free Methodist Church.
She was an avid reader and enjoyed crocheting
She is survived by her sons, Thomas (Sue) Stevens of Adrian, Archie Stevens, Jr. of Deerfield, and Perl Stevens of Palmyra; a sister, Twila Shoemaker of Deerfield; four grandchildren and several great grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her children, Muriel, Donald and Edward; and siblings, Jesse Kneal, Milo Stevens, Nello Stevens, and Rena Kidman.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. today (Wednesday), March 9, 2016, at Deerfield Free Methodist Church with Rev. Robert DeLoria. Burial will follow at Deerfield Cemetery.  Visitation took place at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield on Tuesday from 4-6 p.m.
Contributions in memory of Muriel may be made to Great Lakes Hospice or the Deerfield Free Methodist Church.
Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.

John Sell Jr., age 85 of Blissfield, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2016, at Toledo Hospital.
He was born August 26, 1930, in Tecumseh, to John and Nina (Rinehart) Sell Sr., and graduated from Blissfield High School in 1949.
On August 23, 1952, John married Janet Benner and they have been blessed with 63 years together.
During the Korean Conflict John served in the United States Army and was stationed in France.
A life-long farmer, John started in his childhood, was one of the “Sell Brothers” and continued farming throughout his retirement years.  He also worked at General Motors for 30 years.  John was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church as well as the Palmyra Masonic Lodge #184 and Samaria Masonic Lodge #438, the Zenobia Shrine and the American Legion Post #325.
He was a former member of Blissfield Kiwanis and Wauseon Elks.  John and Janet loved traveling and spending winters in Florida where he had fun playing shuffleboard. He also enjoyed fishing.
In addition to his wife, Janet, he is survived by a daughter, Deborah (Tom) O’Reilly of Temperance; two grandchildren, Cindy (Christopher) Stamper and Steven Schwamm; and his siblings, Pauline Solarski of Tecumseh, Myrna Luce of Adrian, and George (Arlene) Sell of Blissfield.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Sherri Lynn, in infancy and a brother, Marvin Sell.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 10, 2016, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Blissfield with Rev. Gary Leking officiating.  Burial will follow at Ogden Township Cemetery with military honors conducted by the American Legion Post #325 and VFW Post #10912. Visitation will be held at Wagley Funeral Home, Tagsold Chapel in Blissfield today (Wednesday) from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. where a Masonic Service will be held at 7 p.m.
Contributions in memory of John may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or Zenobia Shriner’s Children’s Fund.  Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.WagleyFuneralHomes.com.

DEERFIELD — Deloris Jane Furgason, age 90, longtime resident of Deerfield, away on Friday, March 4, 2016, at Blissfield Place in the comforting atmosphere of her loving family, the staff and residents of Blissfield Place and Hospice of Lenawee.
Deloris was born on July 15, 1925, in Tecumseh, to Otto and Louise (Maerzke) Manthey.
On August 4, 1945, she was united in marriage to Glenn Furgason at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Palmyra. He preceded her in death on June 5, 2003.
Deloris spent 28 years of her life working as a Nurse’s Aide for Herrick Hospital in Tecumseh, before retiring. During her retirement, she enjoyed crocheting and spending winters with her husband Glenn in Leesburg, Florida. Upon his death, she continued to winter in Leesburg up until last year.
Deloris was a faithful member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and of the Red Hat Society in Leesburg.
Surviving are four daughters, Dian (Raymond) Gallatin of Howell, Carol (Monty) Love of Deerfield, Marcia (Mike) Gilson of Deerfield and Elaine (Tom) Korican of Tecumseh; nine grandchildren, Chad Gallatin, Rochelle Wiseman, Conrad Cannon, Luke Cannon, Colbi Cousino, Glory
Nighswander, Ben Gilson, Amanda Danysh and Cory Cote; 16 great-grandchildren;  one great-great grandchild; a special friend, Gert Weatland of Mentor, Ohio; many nieces and nephews and all of the residents and staff at Blissfield Place who felt the loss of our mom as much as we did.
In addition to her husband, Glenn, she was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Janet Piotter and a special friend, Martha LaVoy.
Funeral services for Deloris were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Palmyra with the Rev. Gary Leking officiating. Interment followed in Deerfield Cemetery. Visitation took place prior to the funeral service from 11 a.m. – 1:45 p.m.  Tuesday, March 8, 2016, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Palmyra.
You may send condolences to the family at www.andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hospice of Lenawee or to Blissfield Place. Envelopes are available at Anderson Rudd Funeral Home, Blissfield.

Donald “Don” P. Potter, age 69, of Blissfield, died on Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at his home.
He was born April 16, 1946, in Flint, Mich., to Paul and Geneva Dixon Potter.
Don served in the United States Marine Corp. during the Vietnam War. He worked for General Motors for 30 years as a robotics engineer.
He enjoyed building his extensive railroad layout of Lionel trains and frequenting the Blissfield Coney Island Restaurant to meet up with friends and enjoy conversation.
Don is survived by two daughters, Michelle Potter Stables of Davison, and Tonya Potter of Davison; two brothers, Norman (Dorene) Potter of Pensacola, Fla., Foster (Betty) Potter of Norton Shores; three grandchildren, Dylan Horton of Thomaston, Ga., Ashly Taylor of Burton, and Matthew Taylor of Boston, Mass. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services for Don were held on Thursday, March 10, 2016, at 11 a.m. at the Anderson Rudd Funeral Home in Blissfield with Pastor Tom Frantz officiating. Interment with full military honors were in Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly, was scheduled at 1:30 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2016. Visitation was on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, from 2 to 4  p.m. and 6  to 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 the Blissfield Baptist Church. Envelopes are available at Anderson Rudd Funeral Home.