Rockford “Rocky” Arthur Browne

 Rocky A. Browne, age 101, died Saturday, October 26, 2019, at Masonic Pathways in Alma, with his family by his side.

Rocky was born in Ashley, Michigan, on February 15, 1918, the son of Ois and Eva  Hoffer Browne.  He married Kathryn Peters on February 14, 1943.  She preceded him in death in 2013, after 70 years together.

Rocky worked for Alma Products over 30 years when he retired.  He also farmed for many years.  He loved his family, camping, going fishing with his son, Jim and his brother, Ois, Jr.  Rocky and Kathryn went to Florida in the winter for several years.  He enjoyed playing the banjo and the keyboard.

Rocky is survived by his son, Kenneth (Carolyn) Browne; his grandchildren, Trevor (Judy) Browne of Sheridan, Troy (Heather) Browne of Hazel Park, Jennifer (DJ) Greening of Sumner, Stephen Smejkal of Sumner, Becky (Jeremy) Graham of St. Louis, Scott Yost of Tennessee, and Jodi Yost of Texas; 11 great-grandchildren; a special niece, Beverly Krieger; his brothers, Garold Browne of Sumner and Ois Browne, Jr. of Ithaca; and several nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathryn; his son, Jimmy Browne; his daughter, Nancy Smejkal; his four sisters, Carmelita McVeigh, Yvonne Foglesong, Ruth Wischmeyer, and Vivian Green.

Funeral services for Rocky will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, October 29, at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca.  Interment will follow in New Haven Cemetery.  Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8p.m. Monday, October 28, at the Barden Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to Gratiot County Commission on Aging.  Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.

Richard (Dick) Olson

Richard (Dick) Olson, age 78 of Ithaca, MI, passed away Friday, October 18, 2019 at Gratiot Community Hospital in Alma, MI.

Funeral Memorial Services will be held at a later date and friends and family will be notified.  Burial services will take place after the family memorial services in Ithaca Michigan and burial will be in Kalkaska, Michigan at the Kalkaska Cemetery.  Following the memorial service which will be scheduled the family is asking that family, friends, and guests attend a lunch at the Ithaca Church of God. Visitation services will not be held at Barden’s Funeral Home due to Dick’s wishes to be cremated.     

Dick was born in Fulton, MI on July 28, 1941 the son of Lavina Nelson and Reuben Olson.  He graduated from Fulton High School in the class of 1960.  Dick Olson married Connie Woodrow on in 1961 at Fulton Presbyterian Church. Dick Olson married Claire Anderson on in 1975 and resided in Kalkaska Michigan for 30 years.  Since Claire’s passing in 2015, Dick has resided in Ithaca, MI for the past four years to be close to brother and sisters and family.

Dick worked for Ore-Ida Foods Incorporated in Greenville, Michigan for twenty five years prior to retiring to Kalkaska.  After retirement Dick worked at the Casino in Traverse City, Michigan for 6 years and additionally worked as a Maintenance Man for an apartment complex for an additional 4 years. Dick firstly enjoyed being a father and husband.  He also enjoyed spending time with friends and family, riding in the Sheriffs Posse, owning his own horses, and spending summers using his wood working skills and building skills to helps neighbors and family.  Dick also enjoyed helping anyone that asked a favor from him.    

Dick is survived by his; daughter Cindy Olson of Fenwick MI; son Charles Olson of  Stanton, Michigan; daughter Carla Lusher and Thomas Lusher of Belding, MI; Stepdaughter Valerie Anderson of Kalkaska, MI, Stepson Brian and Christy Anderson of Greenville, MI; 2 grandchildren: Jessica and Karen Anderson and 2 great grandchildren; sisters Eva Cecil of North Star, MI, Faith and Andy Mikulka of Pompeii, MI; and David Moore of Alma, MI; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.  Dick was preceded in death by his parents Reuben and Nina and Livina and Perry Moore and his brother Virgil Olson, Perry (Junior)  Moore, Arlene Flegel, and Clyde Dale Moore.

Friends and family will miss Dick very much in his passing. 

Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com. The family is being served by Barden’s Funeral Homes, 225 West Center St. Ithaca, MI 48847.  Phone (989) 875-4715

Clarence L. “Chopper” Hinman

Clarence L. Hinman, age 82, passed away at Warwick Living Center Friday, October 18, 2019.

Clarence was born March 22, 1937 to Denton and Leona (Strickland) Hinman in Bay City, Michigan. He married AnnaLee Culler November 19, 1965, and enjoyed 49 years together before she preceded him in death.

Clarence was employed as a welder at American Hoist and Derrick. He enjoyed crocheting, puzzles, fishing, panning for gold, and storytelling - especially to his grandchildren.

Clarence is survived by his daughter Kimberly (Paul) Patrick; son Clarence Hinman II; step children Mike, Linda, Randy, Joe; 15 grandchildren; and 10 great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Marilyn Garlinghouse and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife, AnnaLee; brothers Henry and Burton Hinman; sisters Darlene Hinman and Elsie Plant; and step son Dennis.

Funeral services for Clarence will be private. Visitation for the public will be Monday, October 21, 2019 from noon to 2pm at the Barden Funeral Home. 

Doris Esther Hustin

Doris E. Hustin, age 82, of Crystal, died Thursday, October 3, 2019, at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.

Doris was born August 7, 1937 in Greenville, Michigan, the daughter of Richard Frank and Lena Esther (Sattler) Corl.

Doris loved seeing her grandchildren.  She had a lot of fun going for rides around Crystal Lake on a golf cart.  She enjoyed arts and crafts, and had a talent of making beautiful things out of nothing.  She enjoyed going out to eat, and her favorite dish was ice cream.

Doris is survived by her children, Daniel (Patti) Corder of Long Lake, Joyce (Doug) Gilbert of Crystal, Jean Neitzel (Mike Edwards) of Greenville, Judy Corder (Dennis Krick) of Carson City, Jacqueline (Scott) Moore of Six Lakes, Michael Corder (Brandi Halliwill) of Sumner, and William Westbrook of Sumner; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchild; her sister, Emmajean (Ron) Corder of Sheridan; and her brothers, Gerald Corl, Richard (Margaret) Corl of Sheridan, and Cecil Corl of Sheridan.

Graveside services at Sidney Cemetery will be scheduled for a later date.

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

Janet Eileen Pool

Janet Eileen Pool passed September 4, 2019 at the age of 63 years at Masonic Pathways Nursing Home in Alma, Michigan, after nearly eight years of illnesses.  

Janet was born at Gratiot Community Hospital in Alma on December 7, 1955, to James Robert Whitman and Shirley Jean (Root) Whitman of Ithaca, Michigan.  She married Brien Belanger October 18, 1980. He predeceased her January 2, 2000.  Janet married Willard Pool on July 9, 2005.  He predeceased her November 10, 2011.

Janet was an Alma High School graduate who earned an Associate of Arts in Medical Assisting Degree from Delta College in University Center, Michigan.  She later earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications-Writing Degree at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago.  

Janet worked at various medical billing positions and at the United Methodist Conference Center in Grand Rapids in the Conference Treasurer’s Office as an Accounts Payable Coordinator and later as a receptionist.

Janet was a loving sister, niece, aunt, and friend.  These past eight years were an especially difficult time as she experienced many medical issues and crises.  Janet greatly appreciated her caregivers and was a powerful influence in many of their lives as she shared her sense of humor, her values, and her beliefs.  

Janet is survived by her younger sister, Mary Jo (Ronald) Vibbert of Alma, her nephew Jared(Carolina) Vibbert and their daughter Alexandria of Phoenix, Arizona; her brother-in-law, George Francis of Alma and nephew Sean Francis of Grand Rapids; her Aunt, Mary Alice Whitman of Saginaw; her three stepchildren: Benjamin Pool, Emily Pool and Holly Pool from Grand Rapids, Michigan; and cousins in Michigan, Arizona, and Washington.

Janet’s sister, Kathleen Jean Francis of Alma, predeceased her July 7, 2019.  Janet was also preceded in death by her parents, Jim & Shirley, her grandparents Don & Catherine Root and Glenn & Jessie Whitman, all of Ithaca, Michigan.  

Janet’s memorial Service and visitation will be on Thursday, October 10, at Doig Chapel in Masonic Pathways at 1200 Wright Avenue, Alma, Michigan.  Visitation will be from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Service will immediately follow visitation. 

Donations in lieu flowers may be made to one of the following: 

• Michigan Area United Methodist Camping, Conference Center North, 1161 East Clark Road, DeWitt, MI  48820, Attention Treasury.
• Gratiot County Community Foundation, PO Box 248, Ithaca, MI 48847 (Notation: Kathy Francis Fund for the Fine Arts.  Or online at  gratiotfoundation.org)