Jeremy Scott Kesterson

1980-2022

In loving memory of Jeremy Scott Kesterson of Alma Michigan, aged 42, died of heart failure on the afternoon of October 1, 2022.  Born prematurely at 30 weeks on April 7, 1980, Jeremy survived to become a man whose company and attention was valued by so many, as he was generous with his affections and joys.  He was raised in Colorado with a love of fishing, hiking, climbing and a precocious sense of humor that made up for the weaknesses he often displayed as we all do.  He served his country proudly as both a Marine and a soldier in the US Army, and had lived in North Carolina where he met his first wife, Brandi, mother of Aubrie; Kansas (Goodland, Manhattan), where he met Autumn’s mother; and finally, Michigan—a fisherman’s paradise and where he met Samantha.

Jeremy went fishing on the last morning he was alive and had found some corner of happiness in his life with his love, Samantha. He was a lifelong Denver Broncos fan and loved NASCAR and anything Star Wars.

He is survived by his two daughters, Aubrie Kesterson, 18, of Pensacola, Florida, and Autumn Gerou, 16, of Grand Rapids, Michigan; his fiancé, Samantha Dougherty, of Alma, Michigan; his two brothers, Christopher (wife Carly) and Joshua (wife Fran), and their families of two nephews and one niece, respectively; and his Aunt Donna and Uncle John Kesterson; and mother and father, Maryse and Jeff Osborn of Broomfield, CO.  Of many more he has left an empty place in their hearts. 

He died far too young, just entering the second half of life.  The shorter the life, the greater the tragedy of its loss.

The old card said: “A son is a beacon of hope and pride”

Wait! (someone who called me father has died)

I try to find words to fill the new void

Over hopes and dreams that lay there destroyed.

The hurt is a mirror of my love for my boy

The exchange is equal, trading sorrow for joy.

And yet I feel I did not tell him enough

That I loved him and stilled worried and that kind of stuff.

Parents should die first, this way’s unfair!

Growing old with joy, our kids should be there!

Not cut down before us—in cruel surprise

The scales and our tears fall from our eyes.

The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.

Beverly Jean (Goodwin) Godley

June 30, 1930 - Sept. 29, 2022

Beverly Jean (Goodwin) Godley passed away Thursday, September 29, 2022 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor with many of her children by her side. Beverly was 92.

A funeral service will be held at Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca, Michigan at 11:00am on Friday, October 7, 2022 with Paula Timm-Potrykus officiating. The family will receive visitors Thursday, October 6 from 5:00 to 8:00pm and again on Friday beginning at 10:00am up until the time of service. Interment following the service will be at Ithaca Cemetery. A luncheon to celebrate Beverly’s life will follow at the North Star Township Hall, 2840 E. Buchanan Rd. Ithaca, Michigan.

Beverly was born June 30, 1930 in Saginaw, Michigan to Dorothy and Harold B. Goodwin. She graduated from Ithaca High School in 1949. On December 23,1950, she married Norman Godley, and the two of them shared a life together with their six children until his death in 2005. Beverly’s love of children extended over to her teaching career. Shortly after her marriage she began teaching at the Barnes (Country) School. After her children were born, she received her teaching certificate and degree in education from Central Michigan University. She then began teaching elementary education at Ithaca Public Schools for the remainder of her teaching career. In later years, she loved hearing from former students who expressed how she had impacted their lives and that she had been their favorite teacher. After retirement, she spent much of her time caring for her grandchildren and attending their sporting or school events. Beverly and Norm loved to travel, going on cruises and taking trips throughout the country. They could be seen locally, driving around in her favorite little 1966 red Mustang. One of her joys was entering and receiving awards for her Mustang in the many car shows they attended, Beverly was extremely proud of and dearly loved her family. She kept close track of her twenty grandchildren and twenty three great grandchildren and loved any chance to see them. There were many family gatherings at her home she built in Ithaca where she spent many hours on her front porch with her beloved cats on her lap.

Beverly is survived by her six children, Karen (Greg) Giles of Alma, Jeffrey (Pamela) Godley of Grand Rapids, Deborah (Jim Motz) Morris-Motz of Mt. Pleasant, Eileen Hasman of Traverse City, Brian Godley of Ithaca, and Alan (Laurie) Godley of Alma. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Gerrit (Amanda) Powell, Ryan Powell, Cheyenne (Nick) Sangster, Calob (Megan) Giles, Caden Giles, Justin (Isadora) Godley, Brett Godley, Andrew Morris, Sarah (Brittany Eye) Morris, Matt Motz, Emberly Motz, Chaz Hasman, Lindsay (Ben) Skinner, Cory Godley, Haley (Adam) Hill, Phylicia (Brady) Travis, Breanna Godley, Seth (Nicole) Godley, Elle (Logan) Zamarron, Hunter Godley, as well as her twenty three great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Harold and Dorothy Goodwin, her husband Norman, and brother Jack Goodwin.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Harold B Goodwin Memorial Scholarship Fund through the Gratiot County Community Foundation, with checks made out to Gratiot County Community Foundation. Alternatively, donations can be made to The Care Team Hospice Service. Both will be accepted by Barden Funeral Home.

The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.

Gordon James Lindsey

 A memorial committal service will be held at 11 a.m.on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at New Haven Cemetery located on West Buchanan Road, Sumner, MI (off of South Warner Road.  Military Honors will be presented.  

Gordon James Lindsey, age 75, passed away on June 25, 2022 at Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital with his family by his side. Gordon was born April 18, 1947 on the Lindsey family homestead in New Haven Township – Middleton, MI. He graduated from Ithaca High School in 1966 and was drafted into the Army shortly after on June 1, 1966. After serving one year in Vietnam, Gordon was honorably discharged in March of 1968. He married Mary Anna Macha April 13, 1968 in Ithaca, MI and they had three children. Gordon worked for Oldsmobile (General Motors) for 33 years, retiring in 2000, where he then worked for Vanderploeg Holsteins until 2020.

In his spare time, he enjoyed riding around on his golf cart, woodworking, collecting baseball cards, gardening, and working on cars with his sons. 

He is survived by his wife Mary, sons Bill (Dawn) Lindsey of Charlotte, Gordon (Karla) Lindsey of Ithaca, daughter Holly Lindsey-Meyers (David) of Middleton, grandchildren Raelyn, Michelle (Nick), Morgan, Andrew, Matthew, Jacob, Anna, Vanessa, great-grandchildren Kason and Jase, great nephew Gabriel Raney, sister Sandra (Rodney) Derrick, brother Darwin (Joyce) Lindsey, sister-in-law Sue Lindsey, cousin Edward Lycka, and several other family members. 

Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew and Elizabeth Lindsey, and his brother Bob Lindsey.

An open house style celebration of life will be held July 16, 2022 from 2– 5 PM at the Lindsey family homestead – 7832 W Grant Rd Middleton, MI 48856, all are welcome.

The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.

Reba Mae Howd

Reba was born on March 1, 1921 to Ray and Clara (Smeltzer) Benson in Layfayette Township near Ithaca, Michigan. In 1942 she married Royce I. Howd and made her home with him in Lansing. They celebrated their 50th anniversary before he passed away in 1992.

Reba graduated from Ithaca High School in 1939, later attending Central Michigan College (now Central Michigan University) and Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University) to earn her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. She taught in a one room K-8 school and later taught music and 7th and 8th grades in Lansing Public Schools for over 20 years. She also ran two successful Lansing area businesses with her husband Royce including the first Shell gas station and Logan Center Hardware.

In 2004 she married Dale Hawbaker of Iowa and they enjoyed ten happy years traveling together between Iowa and Lansing and a vacation home in Texas until his death in 2014.

Reba is survived by her brothers Gerald, Lester (Verna), and Stanley (Marja) Benson and by her sisters Berneda (Charles) Denniston and Janice Miller.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers Harold (Margery) and Earl Benson and her sister Arlene (LeRoy) Roslund. She was also preceded in death by her sisters in law Virginia Benson and Frances Coleman and by her brother in law Dick Miller.

The family is being served by Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. A memorial service will be held Saturday, September 10 at North Westminster Presbyterian Church at 743 N. Martin Luther King Blvd. Lansing, MI with Visitation at 10am followed by the memorial service at 11am and a luncheon at 12pm. The service will be live streamed on the church’s website at https://www.nwpclansing.org/ and click "Join Live Zoom Event" link button on the top. Interment will be at Ithaca Cemetery on Saturday, September 24 at 11:30am. The interment will ve live streamed via Zoom at the following link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8344161516?pwd=azJMV0pIeUZ1bzYvNGllcHRWVHJzQT09

Memorials may be made in Reba’s name to North Westminster Presbyterian Church, 743 N Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Lansing, MI 48915 or online at https://www.nwpclansing.org/, or to the Benson Scholarship Fund at Hazel I. Findlay Country Manor (check made to Benson Scholarship Fund, c/o Hazel Findlay, 1101 S Scott Rd, St Johns, MI 48879).

Martha Jane Ward

Martha Jane Ward, age 72 of Alma, passed away Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at MyMichigan Medical Center in Alma.

Martha was born April 12, 1950 in Alma to Vincent and Isabelle Mae (Patterson) Derby. She married Gordon Ray Ward January 30, 1976.

Martha was extremely devoted to her family and loved them immensely. As her children grew up, she was able to stay home and take care of them. She loved her grandchildren and was very involved in all they did. Martha was extremely proud of her home and enjoyed hosting and attending big family gatherings there. 

Martha enjoyed sewing, cooking, baking and taking care of others. In fact, if you visited her home and didn’t eat she was offended. Martha was known for welcoming anyone into her home. Once her children had grown, she continued her work as a caretaker working for the Gratiot Commission on Aging and providing in home care for others. 

Martha will be remembered not only for her love and care of her family and others, but also as a very spunky person who freely shared her opinions. 

Martha is survived by her husband of 45 years, Gordon Ward; daughters Tamra Ward, Jenelle (Adan) Saavedra, Kristie Gruesbeck (Jeff Saunders); son Bryan (Beth) Gruesbeck; grandchildren Anna, Chloe, Vincent, Madison, Jayden, Jackson, Bryce, Isabella; sister Carolyn Otterbine; and twin brother Mark Derby. She is preceded in death by her parents Vincent and Isabelle Derby, brother Phillip Derby, and sister Sally Liberty.

A memorial visitation will be held from noon-2pm on Saturday, August 20, 2022 at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.