✞Sentinel-Standard - Thursday, July 13, 1950 - Funeral Of Victims Of Ionia Fire - Funeral services for an Ionia mother and her three small children burned to death in the flames of their Ionia township home Monday, will be held here Wednesday afternoon. The funeral will be at the Myers funeral home at 2 p.m. Wednesday and the Rev. Howard Johnson, pastor of the Lincoln Avenue Baptist church, will conduct the funeral. Mrs. Wayne Booth, 30, the mother and her 18 month old son, Carl, will be buried together in one casket. Two other children, Linda, 4, and Ted Booth, 6, will be buried in another. The caskets will not be opened. Interment will be at the family lot in the Highland Park cemetery, only a stone's throw from the ruins of the Booth home near Prairie Creek. - Trapped in Home - The mother and her three children were trapped and burned to death as their Ionia township home caught fire and was destroyed early Monday morning. Only two members of the family escaped, they were Wayne Booth, 31, the father who left for his work as a sewing machine mechanic at Fisher Body Company in Lansing, and Joan, 7, who was vacationing with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Booth at Orleans. She at first was believed burned with the others. Late Monday afternoon and Monday evening long lines of automobiles slowly passed the still smoldering ruins of the home on Hillcrest Drive, two miles east of Ionia city, just off M-21. A heavy cloud of dust hung over the Prairie Creek valley from the traffic along the dusty roadway.

✞Marian L. Brimmer age 99 of Muir passed away April 6, 2023. She was born March 23, 1924, in Orleans Twp. the daughter of Robert and Ruth (Piper) Munger. Surviving are her Children; Linda VanOcker of Ionia and Wayne Chambers of Grand Rapids. 5 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 1 great great granddaughter. Sister- in- law Connie Monger. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, son, Keith Chambers, daughter Carol Sisler, grandchildren, Keith Chambers Jr., Katie Schaefer, brothers Glen, Roy, Robert, sisters, Violet Mier and Linda. Graveside services for Marian will be at North Plains Cemetery Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. with Pastor Greg Gladding officiating. Arrangements in care of Lake Funeral Home in Ionia. Online condolences may be made at www.lakefuneralhomes.com

✞Dorothy K. Seiler age 98 of Saranac passed away November 19, 2013 in Ionia. She was born November 8, 1915 in Charlotte, MI the daughter of Sidney and Agnes (Miller) Campbell. Dorothy married Harold Seiler February 21, 1936 in Ionia. He preceded her in death in 1999. She was a member of Galilee Baptist Church. Dorothy is survived by her son, Dwight (June) Seiler of Saranac; daughter in law, Ruth Seiler of Calumet; grandchildren, Kenneth (Karen) Seiler of Saranac, Kathleen (Jeff) Nickel of Indiana, Karen Richter and Tom of Ada and Donna Onan of Ionia; brothers, Archie (Mary) Campbell of Georgia and Gordon (Joan) Campbell of Lowell; sister, Fern McGraw of Dimondale; 10 great grandchildren and 2 step great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Harold, son, Larry Seiler, two sisters and one brother. Funeral services will be held Friday, 11:00 A.M., November 22, 2013 at Galilee Baptist Church with Pastor Andy Mooren and Pastor James Frank officiating. Interment Saranac Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday 10:00 A.M. until time of service at the church. Arrangements by Lake Funeral Home of Saranac. Memorial contributions may be made to Galilee Baptist Church or Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund.

✞Keith DeLoss Evitts, age 92, of Six Lakes, Michigan, passed away Sunday, June 30, 2013, at his home. Keith was born March 3, 1921, in St. John's, Michigan, the son of Rolla George and Mary LuElla (Henery) Evitts. He grew up in St. John's, where he attended the public school. On March 20, 1939, Keith married Virginia Louise Ferris in Angola, Indiana. He worked as a Registered Ford Mechanic for Leo Beard in Mt. Pleasant for over twenty years, for Motor Wheel, DuPlex and Capital Tool and Die all of Lansing. Keith continued to work as a maintenance man until he was ninety-one years old. He wrote three books on repairing new trucks. His hobbies included hunting and fishing, but most of all he enjoyed being a handyman helping others in need. Keith is survived in death by 4 children, Larry (Linda) Evitts of Laingsburg, MI, Marilyn Smith of Remus, Richard Evitts of Sarcoxie, Missouri, and Patricia "Pat" (Carl) Storey of Six Lakes; grandchildren, Lyle Evitts, Brian Smith, Paul Smith, Garey Kent, Penny Evitts, Tammy Cavanaugh, and Mark, Douglass, and Karla Storey; great grandchildren, Dalton, Haley, Wyatt, Kelly Jo, Keith, Nathan, Wayne, Brittany, Brett, Andrea, Josh, Rob, Kaitlin, Thomas, Matthew and Rylee; 10 great great grandchildren and 1 on the way; and 1 sister Joanne Barrett of Pompeii, MI. Keith was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Evitts; his parents, Rolla and Mary Evitts; 1 grandchild, Lisa Evitts; 1 great grandchild, Colton Evitts; and 1 brother-in-law, Milton Barrett. A Memorial Service for Keith will be held Saturday, August 10, 2013 at 1 p.m. at Brigham Funeral Chapel in Six Lakes, MI with Pastor Dale Murray officiating. Condolences to the family may be made using the guestbook at www.brighamfuneralchapel.com/obituaries

✞Verl, 84, of Webberville, MI. died. He was born to Roy & Irene Ferris. He served in the US Army and worked for General Motors, retiring in 1983. He was a member of Place of Refuge Church. Verl married Joyce (Sharp) in DeWitt in 1967, she survives. He is also survived by 3 step-children: James Breslin of Gregory, Carolyn Murray of Arkansas and Debby Johnson of Fowlerville, 7 stepgrandchildren and 11 step great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by 2 sisters. Services were held at Niblack Funeral Home, Dillingham Liverance Chapel with Pastor Robert Storey of Place of Refuge officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Place of Refuge Church.

✞The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Tuesday, January 29, 2008. Norman E. Ketner, age 85, of Ionia, Mich. passed away on Saturday, January 26, 2008. He was born the son of Merritt and Maude (Benn) Ketner on April 12, 1922 in Springport, Mich. Mr. Ketner graduated from Belding High School in 1940. He then married Elaine Ferris on June 13, 1941 in Ionia. He was a Veteran of World War II serving in the United States Army. He worked for over 42 years at General Tire retiring on May 1, 1984. Mr. Ketner was very active in both the Girls and Boys Scouts, the Ionia County Commission on Aging, the Ionia Area Hospice and served two terms on the Ionia City Council. He was a member of the First Christian Church of Ionia, the Restless Ones Trailer Club, the T.T.C.M. Trailer Club and the Golden Agers Trailer Club, the Gideons, the Ionia C. Substance Abuse Advisory Council and Domestic Violence. He was a Past Master of the Ionia Masonic Lodge #36 F&AM. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Governmental Employees Credit Union. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine in 2005; son Lin E. Ketner in 2000; and his three brothers Lyle, Clayton and Lawrence. Surviving are his son, Lonny (Sue) Ketner of Belding; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sister, Ida of Lansing and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted by the Rev. Armand Aronson, Pastor at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2008 at the First Christian Church of Ionia, 130 Washington St., Ionia with interment following at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Ionia. The family will receive friends at the Schrauben-Lehman Funeral Home, 220 Rich Street, Ionia from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church of Ionia Memorial Fund or to the charity of one's choice in memory of Norman E. Ketner.

✞Bernard, 86, of Portland, Michigan and Lakeland, Florida, passed away surrounded by his family on Wednesday. Bernie was the son of Otto and Mabel (Phelps) Greenhoe. He was the head of security at Joker Marchant Stadium "Detroit Tigers" in Lakeland, Florida for the past 24 years. He served in General Patton's Third Army at the Battle of the Bulge during WWII. He was a lifetime member of the Sheridan V.F.W. Post #5065. Bernie always was an organizer and leader he started the Little League Baseball Program and purchased the local newspaper in Sheridan after the war. He enjoyed golf, bowling, traveling, and watching his grandchildren in their sporting activities. He was preceded in death by his parents; wives, Marilyn Greenhoe and Martha Greenhoe. Surviving are his children, Greg (Kathy) Greenhoe of Portland, Kurt (Sue) Greenhoe of Quincy, Tamra (Joe) Summers of Portland, Debra (Scott) Morgan of Dimondale; step-daughers, Priscilla (Greg) Anderson of The Villages, FL., and Julie Gee of Holt; 9 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; sister, June Fancett of Sheridan and many nieces and nephews. A Graveside Service was conducted by Rev. Dr. Marilyn V. Danielson Monday, October 25, 2010.

✞Harry Dow Bissell aged 85 of Pewamo, passed away July 4, 2012. He was born March 13, 1927 in Ionia, the son of Joseph and Iva (Townsend) Bissell. He married Anita Sherman February 5, 1949. Harry was a member of the American Legion in Hubbardston. He farmed all of his life in Pewamo. Harry is survived by his loving wife of 63 years Anita Bissell of Pewamo: children Gary (Nancy-Jo) Bissell of Grand Ledge, Penny (Joe) Peiffer of Hubbardston, Kim (David) Bower of Portland and Lisa (Ray) Palmer of Ionia; 10 grandchildren and 12 great great grandchildren, and daughter in law Betty Bissell of Pewamo. He was preceded in death by 1 son Denny, 1 brother Clell and 1 sister Vada. Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday at Lake Funeral Home in Ionia with Rev. Marilyn Danielson officiating. Interment East Plains Cemetery. The family will receive friends and relatives Friday 2:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M and 6:00 P.M - 8:00 P.M at the funeral home. Anyone wishing may make memorial contributions to Ionia or Lansing Hospice Alzheimer's Associations. The family would like to send special thanks to the staff and residence at Grand Haven Living Center for the wonderful care of their dad Harry. A memorial service for the staff and residence will be announced at a later date. Online condolences may be at www.lakefuneralhomes.com

✞Donna Lowery age 94 of Muir, MI passed away Thursday, February 1, 2024. Donna enjoyed sewing, crocheting and embroidering. She also enjoyed gardening, canning, fishing in Canada and traveling to New Mexico for the winters. Surviving Donna is her children, Roger (Terry) Witzel of Stanton, Gary Witzel of Port Richey, FL, Steve Witzel of Muir, Joan (David) Snyder of Ionia, Joe (Darlene) Lowery of Muir and stepdaughter Linda Green of Ionia. Several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Siblings, Martha Witzel of Stanton, Shirley (Lyle) Henry of Stanton, Walt (Diane) Klingensmith of California and Duffy (Brenda) Klingensmith of Fenwick. She was preceded in death by her parents Markey and Emily (Luttrell) Klingensmith, husband Louis Lowery, sons Mike and Alan Lowery, stepson Lloyd Lowery, grandson Tommy Witzel and son-in-law Ron Green. Graveside services will be announced in the spring. Arrangements in care of Lake Funeral Home in Ionia. Online condolences may be made at www.lakefuneralhomes.com

✞Clifford Charles Chapman, age 84 of Ionia, died Monday, June 20, 2016 at Sparrow Hospital Ionia. He was born October 10, 1931. He owned and operated a blacktop asphalt and cement company in the Ionia area for many years. He loved eating at Big Boy and enjoyed gambling and visiting casinos. He is survived by his children, Clayton Chapman, Calvin Chapman, Clifford Chapman, Jr., Carol Houghton, Craig Chapman, Colin Chapman, Carla Teitelman, and Clint Chapman; 15 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; and son, Chris Chapman. A gathering to celebrate his life will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 pm Sunday, July 10 at his residence, 215 S. Jefforson St., Ionia. Those wishing to make a memorial contribution are asked to consider the needs of the family. Hurst Funeral Home, Greenville, is serving the Chapman family.

✞The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Wednesday, June 27, 2007. Alfred George Wandell, aged 77, of Muir, passed away June 22, 2007. He was born February 23, 1930 in Ionia County, the son of Elba and Mary (Lee) Wandell. He married Frances Lowery in Ionia County on February 4, 1950. Alfred was an avid bingo and card player. He is survived by his loving wife of 57 years Frances Wandell of Muir; children Ann and Timothy Randall of Lyons, William and Brenda Wandell of Pewamo, and Michael Wandell of Ionia; brothers Ted and Lavone Wandell of Ionia, Robert and Judy Wandell of Ionia, and Dale and Linda Wandell of Ionia; sisters Dorothy and Thomas Eckley of Ionia, Eudora Ludwick of Ionia and Betty and Wayne Keffer of Arkansas; 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Memorial services will be held Monday 11 a.m. at Lake Funeral Home in Ionia with Rev Kenneth Harger officiating. The family will receive friends and relatives Sunday 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Ionia Area Hospice or Pewamo First Responders.

✞Thelma Jean Badder, age 91, of Ionia, passed away on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. She was born on July 3, 1932, the daughter of Louis and Alice (Holcomb) Lowery in Pewamo, MI. On July 22, 1950, she married the love of her life, Mason Badder. Thelma enjoyed gardening, reading, cooking for get togethers, and spending time with her grandchildren. She was a waitress for 25 years. She is survived by her children, Mary Badder of Ionia, Barbara (Rick) Tressler of Grosse Ile, MI, Brenda (Ken) McCallum of Saranac, Robert (Marie) Badder of Portland, Lawrence Badder of Portland, Jeff (Gloria) Badder of Ionia, Connie (John) Wellman of Pewamo and Andrew (Kendra) Badder of Ionia; daughter in law, Valorie Badder of Ionia; brother, Tom (Cheryl) Lowery of Muir; sister, Edith (Gary) Bennett of Muir; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Thelma is preceded in death by her husband, Mason; son, Joel Badder, died Nov 24, 2019. Grandchildren, Joey Badder, Abigail McCrumb, Riley Whitney, Rebecca Badder and Maverick Miller; and siblings, Louis, Helen, Frances, John, Ruth, Beatrice, and Kenny. A Funeral Service will be held at 11 AM Friday, July 14, 2023, at the Lake Funeral Home in Ionia. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the funeral, 10-11 AM. Interment at Balcom Cemetery. Memorial Contributions may be made to the family. Online Condolences can be made at www.lakefuneralhomes.com.

✞Ionia Sentinel Standard - Sat. June 17, 1995 - Kenneth D. Lowery, 57, of Ionia, died June 15, 1995, in Grand Rapids. He was born April 21, 1938, in Pewamo, the son of Louis J. Lowery, Sr. and Alice Holcomb. He attended Lyons High School and married Grace Peterson in Carson City, Dec. 6, 1958. He was a machine repairman at the Lyons Chrysler Trim Plant and farmed from 1971 to 1985. He was also a welder at Mitchell-Bentley Co. in Ionia and helped his father as a logger. He is survived by his mother, Alice Lowery, of Muir; his wife, Grace Lowery, of Ionia; one son, Steven K. Lowery, of Ionia; one daughter, Kimberly Young, of Ionia. One daughter-in-law, Cathy Lowery of Ionia; two brothers; Louis Lowery, of Muir; Thomas Lowery, of Muir; six sisters: Helen Chapman, of Ionia; Francis Wandell, of Muir; Jean Badder, of Ionia; Beatrice Kimball, of Ariz.; Edith Bennett, of Muir; Ruth Weber, of Muir and five grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, one daughter, one son and one brother. Funeral services will be held Monday, at 3 p.m. at the Muir Christian Church. The Rev. Brad Center will officiate. Burial will be in the Muir Cemetery.

✞Ionia Daily Sentinel Standard Thursday August 5, 2004 - Ruth Ann Weber, 54, of Muir, passed away at her residence Wed., Aug. 4, 2004. She was born in Ionia Aug. 16, 1945, to Louis and Alice Holcomb Lowrey, Sr. She married David Weber at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Ionia on Feb. 8, 1969. She is survived by her husband , three sons, William Weber of Muir Robert Weber and Michael Weber both of Ionia; two brothers Louis (Donna) Lowrey of Muir and Thomas and (Cheryl) Lowrey of Muir; five sisters, Francis (Alfred) Wandel of Muir, Mason (Jean) Badder of Ionia, Helen (Cliff) Chapman of Ionia, Beatrice (Donald) Kimball of Arizona and Edith (Gary) Bennett of Muir and one granddaughter, Kennedy. She was preceded in death by two brothers. Funeral services are 11:30 a. m. Saturday at Lake Funeral Home in Muir. Family will receive friends and relatives Friday from 2 p. m. to 4 p.m.and 7 p. m. and 8:30 p. m. Anyone wishing may make contributions to the First Responders of the Lyons-Muir.

✞Ionia Sentinel Standard, Saturday September 6, 1969. A Muir, youth, John Paul Lowery, 18, died Friday afternoon of injuries received from a tractor accident. The boy, accompanied by his father, was hauling logs from a woodlot north of Fenwick when the logs became caught between two trees. The tractor tipped backward and he was pinned beneath the machine. He was taken to Sheridan Community hospital where the Montcalm medical examiner pronounced him dead on arrival of a broken neck. Born in Muir, January 5, 1951 he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lowery, Sr. of Hayden road. He attended Lyons-Muir schools and was a 1968 graduate of Ionia high school. He worked for his father as a logger. Besides his parents he leaves three brothers, Louis Lowery, Jr., Kenneth and Thomas of Muir; six sisters, Mrs. Helen Chapman and Mrs. Jean Badder of Ionia, Mrs. Francis Wandel, Mrs. Beatrice Kimball, Mrs. Edith Bennett and Mrs. Ruth Ann Weber of Muir. Funeral services will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Estep funeral home north of Muir. Interment will be at Muir cemetery.