Sharon Marie Fish

Sharon Marie Fish, age 78, passed away on March 29, 2021 at home surrounded by loved ones after a courageous battle with cancer.

She was born on October 13, 1942 in Lansing, Michigan the daughter of Edison and Choral Chapman.  She met and married her first high school sweetheart and the love of her life 57 years ago and is survived by her husband Raymond Fish; her children: Ed (Deb) Fish, Ron (Julie) Fish, Michelle (Fish) Herrst, and Matt Fish; her grandchildren: Scott (Cori) Fish, Ray Fish, Kaitlyn Fish, Emilee Fish, Claire Herrst, Logan Fish, Jared Fish, Chloe Fish and Owen Fish; and great grandchild Adrian Fish.

Sharon spent the majority of her life living, loving, and laughing in Ithaca, Michigan.  She went back to school to become a nurse, an RN, and worked with patients in both the ER setting and nursing home setting before retiring.

Well known for her sewing skills from clothing to beautiful quilts, she never met a pattern she didn’t like.  Many family members were blessed to receive quilts, hats, mittens, socks, dishcloths, scrubbies, and other items handmade by her.  Crafting of any kind was a love along with reading.  If she didn’t have a craft in her hands, then she was lost in a good story.  There are never enough books to read!

Graveside services will be at 11:00 am Thursday, April 1st, at Fritz Cemetery with Pastor Steve Swem officiating.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks for you to consider a donation to one of the following:  The Masonic Temple of Alma; The Church of God in Ithaca; or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

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

Marlene A. Kinney

On March 22, 2021, Marlene A. Kinney received her crown of glory and now rests from her earthly labors in her heavenly home.  Marlene Doll was born June 21, 1935 to Theodore and Anna Doll.  On September 2, 1956 she married the handsomest man she knew, Lloyd W Kinney and they spent 62 years together raising four children in the process.  Marlene was the proud proprietor of Marlene’s Beauty Shop.  She cut and styled hair for over forty years in her unique shop in the middle of the country.  Marlene loved the work and the conversation that went with it.  She would have likely done the work for free just for the opportunity to spin a yarn.   

Marlene and Lloyd enjoyed many years of square dancing and were members of the Kountry Kousins.  She enjoyed camping and traveling. Marlene served as a 4-H leader in leathercraft and sewing for over 20 years.  She spent several enjoyable years as a 4-H judge during county fair time.  Marlene spent many years working with a local Michigan State Police Operation Care organization providing coffee and treats for drivers on summer travel holidays.  Marlene was also member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. 

Marlene will be fondly remembered for her incredible gift of gab.  She never met a stranger she couldn’t find something in common to chat about.  She was also known for her ability to turn any road into the Indianapolis Speedway, as her children and wide-eyed grandchildren can attest.  It was an ability she passed down to her daughters as well as their children also enjoy white knuckle rides. 

Marlene’s life will be carried on by those that loved her including her four children: Alan Kinney (Liz Jakubczak), Valorie (Randy) Compton, Teresa (Rollie) Alfaro, and Christina (Chadwick) Roe. In addition, her influence spread to other generations including nine grandchildren: Patrick (Amanda) Gruesbeck, Amanda (Micah) Shaw, Hannah Compton, Catalina Alfaro, Adrian Alfaro, Alexander Alfaro, Isabel Roe, Eliot Roe, and Ian Roe; also 6 great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Marlene will be 11am, Thursday March 25, 2021 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alma. Rev. John Eich and Rev. Michael C. Bater will officiate and burial will follow at Fritz Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church prior to the service from 9-11am.

The family asks that to honor her, please donate to the Commission on Aging for their kindness and assistance to the local community.

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

Dana Carl Schnepp

On Monday, March 22, 2021, Dana Carl Schnepp peacefully passed from this world into the arms of his forever love. Dana was 70 years old. After 20+ years of debilitating health issues, we rejoice that in his death his pain and suffering has ended. 

        Dana was born on August 21, 1950 to Margaret and Dane Schnepp of Riverdale Michigan. He attended Alma Public Schools and graduated in 1968. In 1971, Dana married his high school sweetheart, Linda Ouendag, and together they had three daughters Dana Lynn, Carla, and Amanda; their marriage ended in 1981. In 1982, Dana married his forever love, Barbara Burgess in a small quaint wedding at their home in Elm Hall Michigan.  Together they raised Barb’s two sons Kevin and Kenny Ackley. 

        In Dana’s younger years he loved traveling on his elegant motorcycle all over the USA. Between the motorcycle club he was a part of, and good friends, Dana and Barb saw more than 24 different states. He retired from Hitachi Magnetics and then spent his remaining free time working for Skinner Cable Connections, LLC.  

        In 2015, Dana became a lifelong resident at the Spectrum Health Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Greenville Michigan, where he charmed the girls with his beautiful blue eyes and made good friends with many of the nurses. 

        Dana is survived by his daughters, Dana Lynn (Schnepp) Brom of Grand Rapids, MIchigan, Amanda (Dan) Quigley of Greenville Michigan, two step-sons Kevin and Kenny Ackley, 16 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, a sister Doreen (Jim) Gould of Lake Havasu Arizona, sister-in-law Pam (Marty) Smith of Dearborn Heights Michigan, and a brother-in-law Tim Burgess. Special family friends Dick and Linda Skinner, and Barbara Mullan. 

        He was preceded in death by his daughter Carla Jo in 1978, his parents, the love of his life, Barbara, in 2011, and many brothers, sisters along the way. 

        A visitation will take place at 11a.m. on Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Barden’s Funeral Home in Stanton Michigan. Immediately following will be the burial at the Riverdale Cemetery at 1p.m.

Margaret Marie (Jones) Hinton

Margaret Marie (Jones) Hinton passed away Monday, March 1, 2021 at Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah.  Visitation will be Monday, March 8, 2021 from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm at Barden Funeral home in Ithaca, MI.  A graveside service will follow at New Haven Township Cemetery.  

Margaret was born January 10, 1936 in Crystal Township, MI, the daughter of Arthur Elmer and Nellie Marie (Bloss) Jones.  She married Merle Hinton on July 5, 1953 in Middleton, MI.  They were married 54 years.  Margaret's greatest joy was in being a wife and mother.  She often reminded her daughters with young children that these were the best days of their lives.  Her home was so cozy and welcoming that a delivery person once told her she would like to just sit down and stay.  Her yard was always beautifully landscaped with flowers.  She said she liked helping Heavenly Father make her corner of the world more beautiful.  After family get-togethers, she could be found in the kitchen.  She insisted she loved cleaning up and putting things back in order after a party.  

Margaret was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and she served in many leadership positions.  She loved teaching the children.  Her favorite Sunday of the year was when the children put on a program for the congregation.

When Merle battled health issues the last years of his life, she took on his daily care without complaint.  After Merle's death, she enjoyed several years of marriage to Bernard (Bernie) Kellicut.  After he passed away in December, 2014, she lived alone for two years and missed being a wife.  In December, 2016 she married Russell Feighner, and they were married until he passed away in June, 2019.

Margaret then went to spend the remainder of her life with family in Utah, getting to know many great-grandchildren she hadn't been able to spend much time with before.  By this time her memory had failed her, but she still helped her granddaughters by holding babies for hours and playing with their small children.

Margaret is survived by her 5 daughters:  Gail (James) Zigray of Alma, MI, Jennifer (Scott) Vibber of Alma, MI, Karla Griffith of Alma, MI, Linda (Martin) Wardell of Cedar Hills, Utah, and Lisa (Charles) Wiggins of American Fork, Utah.  She is also survived by 28 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren, her sisters Dorothy Eggleston of Crystal, MI and Linda Conner of St Louis, MI, her brothers Col. Robert Jones of Fort Washington, Maryland and Paul Jones of Frisco, Colorado.  She was preceded in death by her husbands, her sons, David and Bob (Bobby) Hinton, her brother, Wayne Jones, and her parents.

Because Margaret could never bear the thought of a child suffering--in lieu of flowers--memorials may be given to Operation Underground Railroad, an orgnanization which rescues trafficked children and helps them transition back to a normal life. Memorial contributions may be made online at: https://my.ourrescue.org/fundraisers/in-memory-of-margaret-hinton or by mail to: Operation Underground Railroad 138 E. 12300 S. Suite C-149, Draper, UT 84020

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

Regina Colleen Diehl Mast

Regina Colleen Diehl Mast, age 61, of Ithaca, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, February 27, 2021, at her home.

Regina was born on December 26, 1959, in Cumberland, MD, the daughter of Jim and Jean (Hardin) Diehl.  She graduated from Ithaca High School with the Class of 1977.

She worked for a variety of employers over the years; Target in Plano, TX and Mt. Pleasant, MI; being a sales representative for Avon; bartending at the Back Edge Saloon; taking care of her parents and watching her nieces and nephews.  Her favorite job was being a mom to her son, Colton James, and she took great pride in being a grandma to the love of her life, Dallas James.  Her family was everything to her.  She had a great sense of humor, funny, had quite the smart mouth and did not hold much back.  She was a very loving, sensitive, and caring person.

Left to cherish her memory are her dad, Jim Diehl; her son, Colton; her grandson, Dallas; her sisters, Teresa (Ike) Wheeler, Debra Crable, Gale (Kurt) Hutfilz; her nieces, Buffy (Sheila) Barnaby, Jenny Koons, Crystal Sikon. her nephews, Justin (Heidi) Barnaby, Chris Crable, Tyler (Amber) Hutfilz, Trevor Hutfilz, and Jordan (Courtney) Wheeler; 20 great nephews and nieces; one great-great niece; and her special friends, Julie Smith and Vicki Osborn Parks.  She was preceded in death by her mom, Elsie Jean Diehl.

She was a member of the Ithaca Church of God.  A memorial service will be held at a later date.  Interment will be in Chapel Gardens Cemetery, in Elwell. 

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