Jack Gordon McClow

Jack Gordon McClow, 93, passed away peacefully at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan on Thursday morning, February 18, 2010.

Jack was born on March 20, 1916, in Maple Rapids, Michigan to Edward Joseph and Mary Regina “Genie” (Sutton) McClow. Jack was the direct descendant of Andrew Ellicott (the surveyor of Washington, D.C.) and Joseph McClow, both of whom fought in the Revolutionary War. Andrew Ellicott’s son, also named Andrew, fought in the War of 1812. Jack’s great-grandfather Edward McClow fought in the Civil War.

Jack graduated from Maple Rapids High School in 1934 where he excelled at track and basketball. In 1934, Jack was a starting forward for the Maple Rapids High School basketball team that defeated Ann Arbor St. Thomas 18 to 11 to win the Class D state basketball championship.

After High School, Jack attended business school in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He then worked for Borden’s Dairy in Perrinton and West Branch and Centrifical Fusing in Lansing, Michigan.

In the late 1930's, Jack started a dry cleaning business in Fowler, Michigan. When Jack noticed that a beautiful new teacher, Madalene Mahaffy, had arrived in Maple Rapids in the fall of 1938, he lost no time in persuading his friends John and Chris Brown to arrange a date (a blind date only from Madalene’s perspective). Jack and Madalene were married at the Mahaffy farm in Brown City on August 2, 1941.

After Pearl Harbor, knowing that he would be called to duty, Jack sold the dry cleaning business and went to work for Arctic Dairy in Lansing. Jack enlisted in the Army Air Force on October 7, 1942 and entered active service on January 27, 1943. After basic training in Miami, he was trained as a radio operator/gunner in Nashville, Biloxi, Sioux Falls, Salt Lake City, Harlingen, Texas and Boise. Jack was assigned to a B-24 “Liberator” Bomber crew in the 345th Air Force Bomber Group. He and his crew picked up a new B-24 in Topeka in late May 1944 and flew to southern Italy, by way of South America and North Africa, arriving on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Over the next six months, Jack flew 50 bombing runs over the Balkans, the Rhineland and Southern France. He was awarded the Air Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal. Jack returned to the United States on January 11, 1945, arriving in Lansing just before Madalene gave birth to Maureen, on January 20, 1945. He was honorably discharged on September 5, 1945 shortly after Japan’s surrender ended the War.

In 1946, the McClow family moved to Ithaca after Jack purchased H&H Cleaners. Roger was born on July 23, 1947 and Jack on January 8, 1953. In 1959, the family moved to128 South St. Johns Street.




Jack built an extension to his dry cleaning business in the early 1950's. In the 1960's, Jack expanded his business, opening laundromats in Ithaca and St. Johns and starting a carpet cleaning and uniform rental service. He also ran a laundry service at the National Guard Camp in Grayling for many years during the summer. 

In 1976, Jack was hired as the building and grounds superintendent for the Gratiot County Court House, a position he held until he retired in 1986. After closing H&H Cleaners in 1980, Jack operated a building cleaning service for the State on Michigan for several years.

Jack was always active in civic affairs. In 1954, he was elected to the Ithaca Board of Education where he served until 1975, serving as President from 1970. During the 1950's and 1960's, he served as President of the Parent Teacher Association and the Lion’s Club; Commander of the V.F.W.; and Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts. He was a long-standing member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Gratiot County Country Club and the Gratiot County Bowling Club.

Jack was an avid golfer all his life. The pinnacle of his golfing career was his hole in one on the 165-yard 11th hole of the North Star Golf Course in 1986 when he was 75. He continued playing into his late 80's. After he lost most of his sight to macular degeneration, his great friend Nelson Hull would often act as his spotter.

After he retired, Jack became a voracious reader. He began to read biographies of the United States Presidents backwards, starting with George H. W. Bush. After he lost his eyesight, he started listening to books on tape, eventually reading more than 800 books.

In 1990, Jack and Madalene bought a home in Zephryhills, Florida where they spent their next 18 winters. In 1999, Jack and Madalene moved from their home of 40 years on South St. Johns Street to a condo in Southfield, Michigan near Roger and his wife Suzanne. Jack recently moved to a smaller apartment at 24111 Civic Center Drive in Southfield. Despite a broken hip and hip replacement surgery this past November, Jack traveled to Zephyrhills in January to spend a week with his wonderful friends there.

Madalene passed away on August 3, 2008, a day after their 67th anniversary. Jack is survived by his daughter and son-in-law Maureen F. and Mark Allyn of Hellertown, Pennsylvania, son and daughter-in-law Roger J. and Suzanne (Posler) McClow of Franklin, Michigan, son Jack E. McClow of North Potomac, Maryland, grandchildren Hugh (Erin) Allyn of Brooklyn, New York and Lydia Allyn of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, cousin Joe (Helen) Wyman, sister-in-law Lois Marion, four nephews, Jim (Sharon) Marion, Bob (Marty) Marion, Rick (Julie) Marion and Mike (Melissa) Marion and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. 

Jack was a person to whom people were instinctively drawn. He was easy going but had an unusually quick and sharp sense of humor. He was entirely nonjudgmental and never complained. He made friends easily and for life. He genuinely liked people. Anyone who got to know him even a little liked him a lot in return. His family and friends will miss him beyond words.


Visitation will be at Barden’s Funeral Home in Ithaca on Thursday, February 25, 2010 from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. and on Friday, February 26, 2010 from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M. and 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Funeral services will be at the United Methodist Church in Ithaca on Saturday, February 27, 2010 at 1:00 P.M. Interment will be next to his beloved Madalene at the Sowle Cemetery in Maple Rapids. 

The family requests that contributions in honor of Jack’s memory be made to the Madalene and Jack McClow Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund at Eastern Michigan University.

Jackie L. Plaster

Jackie L. Plaster 50, of Greenville passed away Monday, August 30, 2010 in Grand Rapids.

Jackie was born on October 29, 1959 in Lakeview to Arnold and Patricia (Johnston) Andersen.  She drove school bus for Ionia Public Schools and was considered by many the “cool” bus driver.  She was a Certified Nurse’s Aide and prepared taxes for H&R Block.  Jackie loved to play cards, go for walks, go to Lake Michigan, and have family dinners and outings.  Jackie was an avid sports enthusiast and attended many football, basketball, and track events.   She was ready for almost anything and believed in living her short life to the fullest.  She was outspoken but caring and volunteered for experimental treatments at U of M for new Diabetes medicines.  She was a fun and loving mother and grandmother.

Jackie is survived by her daughters, Erica Leonard of Belding, Crystal Plaster of Ionia, and Candi Plaster of Virginia; her parents Patricia Adams & Arnold & (Linda) Andersen all of Greenville; grandchildren, Jennifer Leonard & Corvette Valentine; siblings, Brenda Plaster of Sidney, David & (Pam) Andersen, and Richard Andersen of Indiana, and special friend Randy Christie of Muskegon.  Jackie was preceded in death by her second father, Douglas Adams.

The family will greet friends at the Barden Funeral Home, Stanton on Friday, September 3rd from 9a.m. – 11a.m. with funeral services at 11:00.

For those desiring to do so, Memorial Contributions may be made to her Family’s Choice.  Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Iva M. Elliott

Iva M. Elliott of Sumner passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2010 in Lansing. Iva was born on February 12, 1940 in Riverdale to Clarence and Nellie McAllister. She married Arthur Elliott on November 28th, 1975 in Ithaca.

She was fun to talk to and liked to watch people and TV shows.

Iva is survived by her husband, Art of Sumner; her children, Lois Spohn of Sumner, Chris & (Juanita) Spohn of Drummond Island, Rita Reed of Lake Odessa, and Penny Spohn & (Jeff Denslow) of Howard City; 9 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; her sister, Betty Beattie; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, a son, Leon; and a granddaughter.

Iva’s family will greet friends at the Barden Funeral Home, Stanton, on Thursday, September 30th from 2- 5 p.m. and on Friday from 9-11 a.m. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home on Friday, October 1st at 11 a.m. with Pastor Ried Martin of the Crystal Congregational Church officiating. For those desiring to do so, memorial contributions may be made to Iva’s family, envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Irma Jean Ringle

Irma Jean Ringle, age 81, of Ithaca, died Thursday, February 18, 2010 at Ashley Health Care Center.

Irma was born on August 17, 1928 in Flint, the daughter of Jim and Goldie (Beal) Duffy. She married Howard Ringle on September 24, 1949 in Evart, Michigan. She worked as a welder at Ashley Corporation and also worked at General Tire in Ionia. She enjoyed doing crafts.

She is survived by her husband, Howard; children: Judy (Rodger) Sherman Ringle of Robertsdale, Alabama, Pat Jo Thomas Ringle of Shingletown, Pennsyvania, Debbie (Mike) Polash Ringle of Ashley, Billy (Rhonda) Ringle of Ithaca, and Kathy Sue Samual Ringle of Beaverton; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild; 2 sisters; 1 brother; and 1 brother-in-law. She was preceded in death by her son David Howard Ringle and her parents.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, February 20, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca, with Rev. Art Salisbury officiating. Burial will be in the North Star Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Friday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the 
Parkinson’s Foundation.

Hubert Lee Hale

Hubert L. Hale age 78, of Ithaca, died Sunday, August 8, 2010 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing with his beloved family at his side.

Hubert was born March 11, 1932 to Walter Lee and Iva Belle (Grandy) Hale in Alma. He married Marlene May Wood December 7, 1951 in Ithaca. Hubert loved farming, and farmed until 1995. He was also employed at Dow Chemical from 1956 - 1984 as a Welder-Boilermaker. 

Hubert enjoyed hunting at his farm, fishing anywhere he could, and tending to his vegetable and flower gardens; but his greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He also enjoyed his church family at the Ithaca Wesleyan Church where he helped organize and found the music jamboree as well as did maintenance and mowing at the church. He was also sexton at Pine Grove and Emerson Cemeteries.

Hubert is survived by his wife, Marlene; children, Cathy (Darren) Musil of Alma, Marci (Mike) Browne of Sumner, Connie (Jeff) Conklin of Georgia, Tom (Terry) Hale of Ithaca, Ken (Mindy) Hale of Ithaca; 11 grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kristal Leigh Hale, grandson Jacob Hyde, great granddaughter Kaylee Marie Allen, brother Harold Hale, and sister Lucille Bronson.

Funeral Services for Hubert, will be 1pm, Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Pastor Doug Strait will officiate and burial will follow at Pine Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-4pm and 6-8pm Tuesday, August 10 at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to either the Ithaca Wesleyan Church or Ithaca Rescue.