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Unknowns
SANCHEZ, Connie Marie & Charles David
CROSS Jr.
Marriage
notice –
Muskegon Chronicle September 17, 2001 page 3B
Information donated by Barbara Hill
Scaalma,
Lori J. (Mrs.) Roach
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan Monday September 17, 2001 page
3B
Egelston
Twp.
Lori
J. (Roach) Schaalma, age 42, I was born on December 30, 1958 in Fremont,
Michigan. I passed away on Saturday
September 15, 2001. I have gone on
to meet my loving Lord and Savior and parents, Thomas and Mary Roach. Also waiting is a host of loving family
and friends. I married the most
sweet and loving husband (Kenny) on July 8, 1983 and became a stay-at-home wife
and mother to three loving, caring and special boys, Joshua, Justin and
Jacob. In 1998 I was blessed by Eileen with the birth of my grandson. (Turtle Baby) Jared. I
graduated from Oakridge High School in 1977. My joys in life were flowers, cooking,
old architecture, antiquing, camping, fishing and spending time in the out of
doors with family and friends. Left
to grieve, but, be happy for I am with my Savior , are my in-laws, Kenneth and
Eileen Schaalma; brothers and sister Patricia (Darrell) Carney, Kathy (Bruce)
Beebe, Shelly (John) Udell, Charles (Linda) Westbrook, Don (Carla) Westbrook,
Neita (Dave) Kreucer, and Gladys (Al) Hodges. And also many nieces, nephews, aunts,
uncles and cousins plus my adopted families, the O’Brien’s, McClees’ and the Ray’s. A special thank you goes to Pastor Bob Woods, where would I have been without you? A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday,
September 18, 2001 at 11:00 am at the Ever Rest Funeral Home & Chapel with
Pastor Bob Woods officiating. Visitation will be held from 9:30 am until 11:00 am at the Funeral
Home. Interment will be in Egelston
Township Cemetery. Memorial
Contributions may be made to Kenneth Schaalma.
Information
donated by Anita
Pugh
Scheid,
Margreeta (Mrs.) Wiggers
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan Wednesday September 19, 2001 page
3B
Holton
- Margreeta Scheid, age 94, passed away Monday morning in Whitehall. She was born on April 22, 1907 in
Holland to John R. and Sena (Slotman) Wiggers and was married to Mike Scheid,
who preceded her in death in 1940. She was a graduate of Holton High School and had studied opera in
Cleveland. She retired from
Howmet. Surviving are 2 nephews, Steve (Virginia) Yoemans and Greg McDonnall, both of Holton; 2 nieces, JoAnn
Greenert and Dawn Bow. Visitation:
Wednesday (today), 7-9pm at Crandell Funeral Home in Fremont. Interment: Oakwood Cemetery in Holton. Crandell-Fremont 7193 W. 48th
St.
Information
donated by Anita
Pugh
SCHOFIELD, Bertha (Mrs.)
Schmidt
Obituary
Muskegon Chronicle Muskegon, Michigan 15 April 1943 Page 2
Resident of City Since 1919, Expire Mrs. Thomas Schofield, 60 years old, 637
Yuba street, died Wednesday at her home following a short illness. She was born April 28, 1882, in Germany
and came to this country as a child, settling in Chicago. She had been a resident of Muskegon
since 1919. Formerly Bertha
Schmidt, she was married to Thomas Schofield on June 12, 1901 in
Manistique. Mrs. Schofield was
a member of the Lutheran church in Chicago. Surviving are her husband; one son, George C. Schofield of Muskegon; three grandchildren; four brothers, Paul, Otto,
Charles and Henry Schmidt; and one sister, Mrs. Clara Bleck all, of
Wisconsin.
Information donated by Matt Burns
SCHOONER
NORTH CAROLINA
Article
Muskegon
Reporter, June 9, 1859 - PROBABLE LOSS OF THR SCHOONER NORTH CAROLINA, WITH ALL ON BOARD - The schooner North Carolina left Black Lake in this
county, on the evening of the 26th ult., which, our readers will remember, was
the evening preceeding the late violent gale on Lake Michigan, bound for
Milwaukee. Aaron Ingraham, Esq., George Wheeler, and two other passengers,
whose names we did not learn, and a crew of seven men were on board. The
principal part of her freight was rail road ties. She has not since been
heard of, and as we understand from Capt. Johnson, of the Kitty Grant , that on Sunday last he saw a large quantity of rail road ties floating in
Lake Michigan, about twenty miles from Black Lake, some of which were picked up
by his men, but they were unable to find any marks or other means of identifying
them. Mr. Ingraham was last year the Supervisor of township of Norton, was
part owner of the steam mill at Black Lake, known as the Ingraham mill, an! d
was a man universally respected.
Information
donated by Bill Moore
Schotley, Harry
Andrew
Birth
Muskegon
News Chronicle, 6 March
1912
BORN
- To Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Schotley, 59 Fifth street, at Mercy hospital, Saturday,
March 2, 1912, a son, Harry Andrew Schotley
Information
donated by Bill Moore
SCHROCK,
Andy & Fannie,
Fremont
Birth
notice - a
girl,at home,Muskegon Chronicle,Sept 17,2001,Page 3B
Information donated
by Joanne Wood
SCHROEDER, Alice E. (Mrs.)
Obituary
Muskegon Chronicle Muskegon, Michigan 7 February 1988 Page 6D
Formerly of 1077 Jefferson Mrs. Alice Schroeder, age 82, died Sat.
morning at a local nursing home. She was born March 8, 1905 in Grant, coming to Muskegon in the early
1940's. She had been employed at
Teledyne Continental Motors, retiring in 1965, and had previously been a
teacher. She was a member of First
Congregational Church. The former Alice Wren, she married Lawrence Schroeder on Jan. 28, 1944. He preceded her in death in 1965 [should
be 1974]. Survivors include 1
daughter, Mrs. Randy (Joyce) DeNio of Muskegon; 2 grandsons, Robert and Richard
DeNio; 1 stepdaughter, Mrs. Lawrence (Audrey) Squires of Grand Rapids;
several step grand and great grandchildren; 3 sisters, Mrs. Nellie Yordy of
Norton Shores, Mrs. Elsie Paulson of Whitehall, Mrs. Leonard (Rosa) Aspinwall of
Wayland; 1 brother-in-law, Chester Bostwick of Hopkins; 4 sisters-in-law, Mrs.
Arthur (Nola) Moore of Muskegon, Myrtle Hoffman of Oxnard, GA, Geraldine
Schrader of Wyoming, MI, Maxine Kempf of Holton; several nieces and
nephews. Funeral Services will be
held at 1:00 P.M. Monday at the Sytsema Chapel, Dr. James W. Bidle officiating. Burial will be in
Hillside Cemetery. Friends may
begin calling at the Sytsema Funeral Home at 2 P.M. today, where they may meet
the family from 2-4 and 7-9 P.M. For a more lasting memorial, you are asked to consider the Memorial Fund
of First Cong. Church, or the American Cancer Soc. –Sytsema 737 Apple Ave.
Information
donated by Matt Burns
SCHUCHARDT-Carl
Sr. & Brenda, Hart
Birth
notice - a boy,at Mercy General Oak Campus, Muskegon Chronicle,Sept.20,2001, Page
4B
Information donated
by Joanne
Wood
SCHURKAMP, David
L.
Obituary
The
Muskegon Chronicle, Monday, December 20, 1943 page 2
David
Lee Schurkamp, one year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Evert W. Schurkamp, Dalton township, died early today at the family
home after a six days illness. He
was born in Muskegon on Nov. 17, 1942. Surviving besides his parents are a brother, Wayne, and grandparents, Mr.
and Mrs. Grover Townsend, Twin Lake and Mr. and Mrs. Dick Schurkamp, Muskegon
R.R.3.
Information
donated by William & Barbara
Hill
SCHWARTZ, John &
Kathy,
Newaygo
Birth
notice - a
girl,at home,Muskegon Chronicle,Sept 17,2001,Page 3B
Information donated
by Joanne Wood
SCHWARZFARBER, Mrs.
Phoebe “FiFi” / KINGSHOTT
Obituary
Obituary of Phoebe (FiFi) Kingshott Travis Crothy Schwarzfarber, Muskegon Chronicle, 10
Jan 1927, page 2 col. 6
MRS. SCHWARZFARBER, HERE 49 YEARS, DIES. Mrs. Hans Schwarzfarber, 61
years old, died at her home 1387 Pine street, Saturday. She had resided in
Muskegon for 49 years. She was born in Chatham, Ontario, and came to Muskegon
when she was 12 years old. She is survived by her husband; four daughters, Mrs. Fred Weidner, Mrs. Leon Nobes, Mrs. Arthur Borgeson, Mrs. Cecil Engle, and one son, LeRoy J. Travis, all of Muskegon; two sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth
Studemecker. Of Muskegon, Mrs. Harriet Rowe, of Orlando, Florida, and two
brothers, George Kingshott, and Alfred Kingshott of Muskegon, and 11
grandchildren.
Information donated by Bob Nordstrand
SCOTT/ Mrs. Allie
NEARANZ
Obituary
Muskegon Chronicle 5 October 1963, page 20
MRS. NEARANZ LEAVES 100 DESCENDANT Mrs. Allie E. Nearanz, 5716 Apple Ave, died at her home late Friday after a long
illness, she was 83.
Born in Allendale November 30 1879, she later moved to Honor and had been a
Muskegon resident for the past 55 years.
The former Allie E. Scott, she married John Gunn April 16, 1898 at Allendale. He
died in 1923 in Muskegon. On December 26, 1931, she married Arthur A Nearanz here. Mr Nearanz died in
Muskegon in 1955. Mrs. Nearanz was a member of the Wolf Lake Baptist Church. Survivors are: three daughters, Mrs. John Knoll and Mrs. Earl DeNio of Muskegon,
and Mrs. Victor Wolbrink of Allendale; three sons, Muskegon Patrolman Arthur Gunn and William and Harold, also of
Muskegon; five brothers, Ray Scott of
Warrensburg, N.Y., Glenn Scott of New Port Richey, Fla., Clifford Scott of
Allendale, James Scott of Buchanan, and Oliver
Scott of Muskegon, and two sisters, Mrs. Earl Wilson of Martinus Calif, and Mrs.
Nellie Smee of Grand Rapids.There are 23 grandchildren, and 64 great-grandchildren.
Information
donated by Bob
Nordstrand
SCOTT, Glenn
Obituary of Glenn Scott, GR Press, 31 May 1968 SCOTT- Glenn E. Scott, aged 85, formerly of Allendale, passed away Thursday at
West Branch. He is survived by two sons, George of West Branch, and Clifford of San Francisco; six grandchildren; eleven
great-grandchildren; four brothers, Clifford of Allendale, James of Buchanan, Oliver of Muskegon, and Ray of
Warrensburg, N. Y.; two sisters, Mrs. Julia Wilson of Martinez, Calif., and Mrs. Nellie Smee of Grand Rapids. Mr. Scott will repose
at the Langeland Funeral Home, inAllendale after 2 p.m., Sunday where funeral services will be held 1:30 Monday, Rev. Timothy Straub officiating. Interment Allendale Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family from 2
to 4 and 7 to 9 Sunday at the funeral home.
Information donated by Bob Nordstrand
SCOTT, Oliver H.
Obituary
Muskegon Chronicle, 16 July 1984, page
5C
199 Courtland St. Hart Mi. Mr., Scott, age 89, died Saturday at Lakeshore
Hospital in Shelby. He was born in Allendale, Mi. on Dec 23, 1894 and married Marie DeYoung in 1916 and she preceded him in death in 1974. He later married Anne Sampson DeJong on Feb. 21, 1981. He was a self-employed celery farmer and
a member of the Muskegon Celery Co-op Board. Mr. Scott was a member of
Covenant Community Reformed Church and served the City of Norton Shores as
Justice of the peace. SURVIVORS Wife, Anne: 1 son, Nelson and Genevieve Scott of Muskegon; 3 daughters, Katherine Marie Mangione of Ft. Myers, Fl., Dorothy
Jean Wood & Mrs. Bill (Betsy Jane) Osburn both of Muskegon; 22 grandchildren;
32 great grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Nellie Smee of Grand
Rapids; 2 step-children, Susan Zack of Roth bury & Glenn Sampson of Baldwin.
Mr. Scott was preceded in death by 2 daughters, LaVern Mae Johnson in 1974 and Beatrice Olive Ankeny in 1973. SERVICE Wednesday 1 p.m. at Clock Chapel with Rev. Mark Bush officiating. Interment Allendale Cemetery. VISITATION This
evening 7-9 and Tuesday 2-4 & 7-9 at the Clock Funeral Home. MEMORIAL;
Educational Fund of Covenant Community Reformed Church
Information donated by Bob Nordstrand
Seasword,
Charles
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan 15 March 1911, page 2
The funeral of the late Charles Seasword of Fruitland township was held this afternoon at 1 o’clock at the family
residence and a 2 o’clock at the mission church there. Burial was in the Fruitland
cemetery.
Information
donated by Bill Moore
SENECAL, Henry
Obituary
Obituary of
Henry Senecal, Muskegon Chronicle, 31 July 1939, page 12
Henry Senecal, Bluffton, Dies Formerly Was Employee of City, Early Saw Mills.
Henry Senecal, 84 years old, former fireman at the Muskegon water works, died
today at his home, 1839 Cherry street. He had been a resident here 65 years,
and spent his youth as an employee of various sawmills at Bluffton and
Lakeside. A native of Montreal, Quebec, he attended school there and came to
Muskegon in 1872, when he was 18 years old. He was employed in the sawmills
until the close of the lumber era and in 1903, went to work at the pumping
station, remaining there 18 years until his retirement in 1929. On Nov. 25,
1883, he married Sarah Carrier of Muskegon, the wedding taking place at St.
Jean’s church, and his wife survives him. He is also survived by two sons, George and Patrick, the latter operating an ice business at Bluffton, and
three daughters, Mrs. Paul Conaway, Mrs. Holgar Brustad and Mrs. Raymong
Rahrig, 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren, all of Muskegon. He was
a member of St. Jean’s church and the Catholic Order of Foresters. Mr.
Senecal had been ill since last Wednesday.
Information donated by Bob Nordstrand
SENECAL, Mrs. Sarah /
CARRIER
Obituary
Obituary of
Sarah Carrier Senecal, Muskegon Chronicle, 19 October 1942, page 14
Mrs. Senecal, 74, Long Resident at Bluffton, Dies Mrs. Sarah Senecal, 74 years
old, resident of Muskegon since she was three years old, of 1839 Cherry
street, Bluffton, died Saturday at Mercy hospital after a long illness. The
widow of Henry Senecal, fireman at the Muskegon water works for 18 years and
an employee in early sawmills, Mrs. Senecal came to this city when it was a
thriving lumbering town. She was born July 17, 1868 at Three Oaks. She
attended the public schools here and was married to Mr. Senecal Nov. 5, 1883.
He died July 31, 1939. Mrs. Senecal was a member of st. Jean’s Catholic church
and of the St. Ann Society of that church. Survivors are three daughters, Mrs.
Paul C. Conaway, Mrs. Holger Brusted and Mrs. Roy Rahrig; two sons, George and Wilfred Senecal; 11 grandchildren, and six great grandchildren, all of
Muskegon.
Information donated by Bob Nordstrand
SHEAFFER, Basil C.
Obituary
The
Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan, Monday, August 8, 1966 page
25
Mr.
Basil C. Sheaffer, age 55, expired late Saturday evening at Mercy Hospital. Funeral services will be conducted
Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the Kammeraad Funeral Home Grand
Haven…..
(this
was a partial but informative obit I found on a copy of one of my relatives and
I thought it might help someone with their research)
Information
donated by William and Barbara Hill
Shepherd, John S.
Marriage
license
Muskegon
Chronicle, 1 April
1916
#10138 - John S.
Shepherd, 25, city, Julia Mosseau, 23, city
Information donated by
Bill Moore
SHEPPARD,
Fanny (Mrs.)
Article
AN
UNBROKEN CIRCLE FOUR GENERATIONS
MEET AT THE HOME OF MRS. FANNY
SHEPHERD Mrs. Julia N. Witherell and Five Children Meet in Pleasant Reunion for the First Time in 23 Years-Their Combined Ages 378 Years-Remin*cences Of the 40's in Muskegon Probably one of the most pleasant family
reunions ever held in Muskegon took place Thursday at the home of Mrs. Fanny
Shepherd 34 E. Muskegon avenue. There were present Mrs. Julia N. Witherell, aged 86; Mrs. Fanny Shepherd,
63; Joel C. Witherell of Six Corners, 61; Capt. John Whitherell, Menominee, 58 Mrs. Anna Kennicott, Wayland, Allegan county, 56; and Mrs. John Hodge, Walton and Cedar streets,
Muskegon, 54 years of age. At the
table spread for the occasion were 12 persons, representing four
generations. Mrs. H. B. Miller, of
Shelbyville, daughter of Mrs. Kennicott, was the only granddaughter
present. Her 11 year old son was
great grandson to Mrs. Witherell. Mrs. Kennicott took advantage of the excursion from Kalamazoo Thursday to
visit her mother and sister, and with her coming the family reunion, the first
unbroken circle for a quarter of a century, was provided for. The oldest of the family, Mrs. Julia N.
Witherell, a great-grandmother seven times. Her husband, Joel C. Witherell, came to
Muskegon from "York State" in 1843 to build a saw mill for a firm, one member of
which was named Stronach. The mill
was erected, but one member of the firm being drowned by the beaching of a
vessel near Racine, the partnership was broken and the plant passed into the
hands of George Ruddiman. Mr.
Witherell's next work as millwright was in the stream sawmill of Martin
Ryerson. When the enterprise was
started Mr. Ryerson had $25 in money and was $7,000 in debt. The mill started early in February and
when navigation opened that year the docks were filled with lumber. With the proceeds Mr. Ryerson paid all
his indebtedness and had money in his pocket. Mrs. Witherell was the keeper of
the old Foss boarding house on Stimson's point, first owned by Henry Lasley and
later by a man named Foss. Later
she kept boarders in a large house on the south side of Western avenue west of
Terrace Street, where she purchased three lots for $800. Her constant labor for many years over
heated stoves and in heated kitchens is the apparent cause of her blindness, an
affliction of 23 years duration. Mrs. Fanny Shephard, Mrs. Witherell's oldest child, although 63 years of
age, has a clear recollection of Muskegon in the 40's. She remembers when the shore of Muskegon
lake was well covered with Indian wigwams, to the number of 300 or more from
Foss' point to a trading post near where the office of Hackley and Hume now
stands. She recalls, among other
things, the first school house built in Muskegon. The lot was on the corner of Clay Avenue
and Terrace street, where the Smith block now stands. It was given on condition that the
school house be erected there. At a
meeting of the people to consider the matter a man named Knickerbocker objected
to the location, saying "We might as well send our children to Black Lake to
school as out there in the woods." "The Fourth of July celebration in Muskegon," said Mrs. Shepherd, "was in
1847. The festivities consisted of
a dance at Dill's boarding house. There were present Martin Ryerson, Thomas Tagney, Mr. Knudson, Edward
Hammond, Mr. Joachim, and their wives, a Mr. Maxim, a Mr. Blanchard, Mrs. George Ruddiman and our family. The dance
constituted the celebration. There
is but one family here now who was in Muskegon when we came. They are known as the Dill family. Mrs. Dill is now Mrs. Susan Bohn, now 84
years of age." Capt. John Witherell
was in the tug business in Muskegon many years. He commenced his career with Capt.
William Mees.
NOTE:
Julia's middle initial was mis-printed as "N". Her middle name was Ann, which would
sound like "N" causing the mis-print.**
SOURCE: Muskegon Weekly Chronicle-Thursday,
Sept. 7, 1893, Page 2, Column 3
....and
this interview with Fanny (Witherell) Shephard Social life of Muskegon in the
1850s was described in a
June 10, 1899
Chronicle
article by Mrs. Fanny Shepherd, who arrived here in 1847 at age
17.
In April, '47, I came here. I wasn't quite 17 at the time. My father was here four years
before. He was a millwright and
that was his business. There were
but four mills here when we came and he had built three of them. One was Green's on Green's Creek,
another on Ruddiman's Creek belonged to Stranner (a Scotchman), and another was Martin Ryerson's. The one he didn't
build was the Baird and Bean Mill on Bear Lake. The last work he did was for S. and E.
W. Merrill on Sand Creek in '51. There was no Muskegon here then. There were six white families and 300 or
400 half-breed families and they comprised the village. In the fall of '50 we came into
town and mother took the Lasley Mill boarding house. There was a time when mother owned from
Terrace Street to the Lumberman's bank. She put up a boarding house on those lots. The she bought this house I am living in
now and came here. There was a time
when I had a speaking Acquaintance with every man, woman and child here, but I
can't say that now. Yes, we used to
have donation parties. What did we
take? Why we used to take all kinds
of provisions, quilts, and such things. Preacher Pratt, the first Methodist minister who had a donation party had
everything from hogs to barrels of flour. Provisions and money weren't of much account and every one was just as
generous as could be. When a case
of destitution was discovered there would come a rap at the door and a basket
would be dropped and they would never know whom it came from. Major Davis was very generous and used
to send loads of wood and such things. Once, I remember, there was a Sunday school picnic dinner in the basement
of the church. A lot of people came
over on a boat ride from Grand Haven. Capt. Rand was marshal of the day. If there was one biscuit sent for the dinner there were six bushels. It seemed as if everybody had sent
biscuits. Mother sent over some and
a cake. I sent the biscuits
back. She didn't know who did it
and was just as provoked as she could be. I attended the first service ever held in St. Mary's old church. There were no windows there then-they
were just shuttered up. People sat
on boards across blocks. It was way
out in the woods. Why, where the Dennis Smith block and Methodist Church are, we used to come to pick
huckleberries. The first
schoolhouse was built where the Denis Smith block now stands. The town had a meeting over it and one
man was so disgusted, he stamped his feet and cried, "Why stick the school house
way out in the woods! You migh as
well send the children to Black Lake." Miss McIntyre was finally moved across the street and sold to Gov.
Holt. Then they built a new school
house on the Hackley school grounds which was in later years sold to L. G. Mason for a residence. Yes, we used to
have dances. Invitations were sent
to each of the gentlemen and he sent it to you when he asked you. Girls didn't
have to stay at home in those days for lack of escorts. We always had beaux to take us when we
went and a great deal of rivalry among the men. We did put on quite a bit of style for
those days. The Ryerson girls, the
Boyd girls and myself were the young ladies at the parties. We would get together and dress
alike. One New Years party, I
remember we wore book-muslin dresses, low neck and short sleeves. black silk
aprons and black silk mitts to the elbow. I remember one winter a party went to Whitehall, where we took our
thin frocks with us. There were two sleigh loads. It was bitter cold. We kept on our thick dresses the cold
was so terrible and the snow drifted right in under the seats in the
ballroom. There was a great big
stove but they had to keep it red hot.
Information
donated by Linda Talbott
Obituary
CAME
TO MUSKEGON WHEN IT WAS A
HAMLET MRS. FANNY SHEPHERD
ARRIVED IN 1847-RESIDENCE
CONTINUOUS.DEATH CAME LAST NIGHT Pioneer Reached Age of 78 Years-Worked at Tailoring for Four
Decades.
Mrs. Fanny Shepherd, who came to Muskegon to live in the
"40's", and who was one of the founders of the Central Methodist Episcopal
church, died at 8:45 last evening at Hackley hospital. She had been ill
all winter and because of her advanced age, her condition was considered
hopeless. Four weeks ago was moved from her residence at 6 Prince street
to Hackley hospital for especial care. Mrs. Shepherd was the daughter of one of the first settlers of
Muskegon. Her maiden name was Fanny Witherell. She was born at
Sparta, Livingston Co., N.Y. June 25, 1830. When nine years old she came
west with her parents to live. They settled in St. Charles in Kane County,
Ill. It was in 1847 that the family
moved to Muskegon, her father selling a fine farm to do so. He built three
early mills. They were what was known as Stanner's mills, and two others
situated on Green's creek and Ruddiman's creek. Built Water Mill Afterwards, he built for himself a
dam and water mill on a creek emptying into the head of what is now known as
Mona Lake. It was not long, however, before the family prosperity was
clouded. A freshet broke through the dam and drove the mill seven feet off
from its foundation. The damage was repaired at a great loss. The result was that at Christmas
time in 1857, the family moved into the villiage, and Mrs. Shepherd's mother
took charge of the Lasley boarding house. Center of Social Life The latter speedily became one of
the centers of pioneer social life. Mrs. Shepherd thus formed many
pleasant memories that in after years she enjoyed repeating to those about her,
for she was one of Muskegon's early belles. The family then owned
extensively of real estate situated in what is now the heart of the city.
From Terrace Street to the Lumberman's bank belonged to them, and they built a
boarding house there. Later,
a house was erected by them at 34 E. Muskegon avenue, where Mrs. Shepherd
resided until she moved to Prince street eleven years ago. In 1863 she married James
Shepherd. Her husband was employed on the t***ing Muskegon boom holding
the office of foreman of the pens. He only lived two years after their
wedding, however, and then her long widowhood began. Became a Tailoress She took up the work
of tailoring and became very skilled in it. All these many years she had
plied her needle and continuously for one establishment. The latter is
what the present clothing firm of T. B. Callan, previously that of Callan &
Dratz, and prior to that the concern of William Herbst & Co. Such a life of unremitting toil in
now way interfered with her naturally sunny disposition, however, and few homes
in Muskegon were there as cheerful to visit as the little cottage on Prince
street, where Mrs. Shepherd sat so constantly with her needle and her
reminiscences. All of her
spare moments were given to her church of which both she and her mother were
charter members and to which she was devoted. Quite a number of relatives are
gathering here to attend the funeral. The include the following: Joel Witherell of Conklin, a brother, with his daughters and son; Mrs. William
McCord of Grand Rapids, Mrs. Edward Burns and John Witherell of Conklin; Mrs.
William Kennicott of Shelbyville, Allegan county, a sister with her daughter Mrs. H. B. Miller of Grand Rapids; Mrs. John Witherell of Grand Rapids, the
widow of Mrs. Shepherd's brother, Captain John Witherell and also a sister of
her husband; Mrs. W. B. Kallmbach of Grand Rapids, and George Witherell of
Dalton, a daughter and son of Mrs. John Witherell; and Mrs. H. B. Bowler of
Grand Rapids, a daughter of Mrs. Jane Hodge, the latter being a sister of mrs.
Shepherd who died three years ago. The funeral will be held at the parlors of the Central Methodist
Episcopal church at 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. **Source: Muskegon Daily Chronicle Feb 25, 1909
Information
donated by Linda Talbott
SHIELDS,
Alfred G.
Obituary
Muskegon Chronicle Muskegon, Michigan 5 July 1985 Page 5C
Hightstown, NJ Mr. Alfred G. Shields, age 63, passed
away suddenly Thurs. afternoon while vacationing in Muskegon. He was born July 7, 1921 in PA. He was married to Velma Sly on April 18,
1981 at Cranbury, NJ. He was a Sr.
Electrical Engineer for On Board in Edison, NJ and served with the U.S. Navy
during World War II and the Korean Conflict. He is survived by his wife, Velma; four
daughters, Dettina, Patricia, Pamela and Barbara; five step-children, Linda
& Jerry Grow of Whitehall, Judie & David Marchido, Audrey & Robert
Sly, Mary & Richard Sly all of Muskegon, Brenda & Randall Sly of Spring
Lake; 22 grandchildren; three sisters, Margaret of CA, Mary of New Jersey and Jane of Miami, FL. Services will be
held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday from the Sytsema Chapel with Rev. Douglas Bartlett officiating. Further funeral
services will be held in Hightstown, NJ on Monday. There will be no visitation at the
funeral home. –Sytsema
Information
donated by Matt Burns
SHRIVER,
Marcia
Marriage
SHRIVER, Marcia , 1272
Sixth St. and Paul David Herman, 1676 Terrace StMuskegon Chronicle, 9 July 1963,
page 11
Information
donated by Bill Moore
Siegel,
Buelah
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan Monday September 17, 2001 page
3B
Ottawa
County
Buelah
Siegel, 74, of Grand Haven died Sunday. She retired from Stanco Metal (formerly Peerless Novelty). Arrangements by VanZantwick, Bartels
& Kammeraad, Grand Haven.
Information
donated by Anita
Pugh
SIEMBIDA,
Andrew
Obituary
Muskegon Chronicle Muskegon, Michigan 29 December 1943 Page 2
Andrew Siembida, 59 years old, 1954
Wilson street, employed by Brunswick-Balke Collender company in its pin
department for several years, died in Hackley hospital Tuesday. Born in Poland, Nov. 30, 1884, Mr.
Siembida came to the United States when 16 years old and lived in New York where
he was married to Miss Katherine Cierlak, 36 years old [sic]. They came to Muskegon in 1919. Mr. Siembida was a communicant of St.
Michael's Catholic church and was active in local Polish groups. Surviving are: his widow; five daughters, Mrs. Frank
Daigle, Mrs. William Bradford, Mrs. Herbert Backman [sic], Mrs. David Valk, all of Muskegon, and Mrs. Alfred Butts [sic], Grand Rapids; one son, Stephen,
Muskegon, and eight grandchildren.
Information donated
by Matt Burns
Obituary 2
Page 18
SIEMBIDA -- Mr. Andrew Siembida, 1954
Wilson Ave., died at Hackley hospital yesterday, age 59. Services will be held Friday morning at
8:30 at St. Michael's Catholic church, Rev. Fr. Andrew Sikorski officiating. Interment St. Mary's
cemetery. Friends may call at the
Spliedt Funeral Home until 6 o'clock Thursday evening, then at the residence
where the rosary will be recited at 8 o'clock.
Information
donated by Matt Burns
SIEVERS, Anton
F.
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle - Muskegon, MI Anton
Sievers, Ravenna, died Monday afternoon at Hackley hospital after a lingering
illness, aged 61 years. Mr. Sievers was born in Germany, coming to the United
States forty years ago and settling in Ravenna, where he has since made his
home. He leaves, besides his wife,
seven children, Mrs. William Reid of Ravenna, Mrs John Brendle of Irondale, MO,
Will Sievers of Underwood, WA, John, Hilda, Elizabeth and Russel at home, three
grandchildren. The funeral service
will be held privately Thursday in the Chapel at the Balbirnie Mortuary, Rev.
George Bohn, pastor of the St. John's Evangelical church on Pine St.
officiating. The body will be taken to Ravenna for burial.
SIEVERS, Elizabeth M. (Mrs.)
Treptow
Obituary
1080
East Street Muskegon Chronicle -
Muskegon, MI July 25, 1973 Mrs.
Elizabeth M. Sievers age 70 yrs, passed away Tuesday evening at Hackley Hospital
after a lingering illness. She was born February 16, 1903 in Chicago, IL, and
moved with her parents to Shelby, MI at the age of 3 years and had lived in
Muskegon the past 51 years. She was the former Elizabeth M. Treptow and was
married to William A. Sievers on December 26, 1929 in Missouri. She had worked
at the former Brunswick Corp. Record Plant. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran
Church. She is survived by her husband, 2 daughters; Mrs. Robert (Delores) Wolf of New Carlisle, Ohio; Mrs. Gary (Helen) Hill of Muskegon; one son, Anton W. of
Shady Cove, Oregon; 8 grandchildren; 1 sister; Mrs. meta Ladegast of Muskegon
Heights. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Pastor Herbert He. Graupner officiating and the interment will be in the Ravenna
Cemetery. Friends may call at the Sytsema Funeral home beginning at 7:00 p.m.
this evening and where they may meet the family 7-9 pm this evening and 2-4 and
7-9 p.m. on Thursday. For a more lasting memorial contributions may be make to
the American Cancer Society. Envelopes are available at the funeral
home.
SIEVERS, John F.
Obituary
Hall
Road Ravenna Muskegon Chronicle - Muskegon, MI John F. Sievers, 69, of Ravenna, died
Saturday at his home following a lingering illness. He was born Nov. 3, 1898 in Ravenna, and
married Minnie Goebel on Dec. 1, 1928. Surviving are his widow; two sons, Dalbert of Coopersville and Carl of
Ravenna; three daughters, Mrs. Harold Osborn of Grant, Mrs. Gordon Wagner of
Ravenna, and Mrs. Bruce Chambers of Grand Rapids; a step-son, Richard Goebel of
Twin Lake; two brothers, William of Muskegon and Russell of Newago; three
sisters, Mrs William Reid of Muskegon, Mrs. Ira Conkright of White Cloud and Mrs. Roy Zimmerman of Twin Lake; and 19 grandchildren. The funeral will be at 2pm Tuesday at
the Throop Chapel. Burial will be in the Ravenna Cemetery.
Silky,
Anna C.
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, Tuesday, 9 July 1963,
page 11
Silky Rites Wednesday Funeral services for Mrs. Anna C. Silky,
mother of Circuit Court Commissioner Charlkes Silky will be held Wednesday at 1
p.m. at the Achterhof chapel. Mrs.
Silky, 78, died Sunday at Hackley Hospital following a long illness. Surviving besides her son are a
daughter, Mrs. Wayne Scribner of Muskegon; a sister, Mrs. Ebba Turner of Tacoma,
Wash.; a brother, Richard of Muskegon; four grand (this article was submitted to us as as)
Muskegon Chronicle, Tuesday, 9
July 1963, page 21
Silky, Mrs.Anna C. 386 W. Muskegon Ave., City The Funeral Rites for Mrs. Anna C. Silky will be Wednesday afternoon at 1
o’clocl in The Achterhoff Mortuary Memorial Chapel with Rev. Mr. Samuel N.
Oliver, D.D. Pastor Emeritus of First Congregational Church officiating. Mrs. Silky will be laid to rest in
Oakwood.
Information
donated by Bill Moore
SIMONELLI
– Santina (Mrs.) Ricco
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan January 16, 1976
Simonelli, Mrs. Santina (widow of Olinto) 1908
Simonelli Rd. Mrs. Santina
Simonelli, age 88, died this morning. Born in Italy, she had been a
resident here since 1910. The former Santina Ricco, she married Olinto
Simonelli on October 4, 1904, he passed away in 1952. SURVIVORS 1 son, Ludeveco of Laketon Twp., 3
daughter Mrs. Angeline Miner of Laketon Twp., Mrs. Vernal (Ida) Frankeberger of
Whitehall, and Mrs. Murray (Florence) Sherman of Muskkegon Hts., 18
grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren. SERVICES The service will be held Monday
afternoon 1:00 o’clock from the Clock Chapel with the Rev. Allan Engstrom officiating. Interment will be made in Mona View Cemetary. VISITATION Friends may call at the funeral home
beginning this evening at 7:00 o'clock.
Information
donated by Bill Zaagman
SIMONSON, Eva (Mrs.)
Faucher
Obituary
The
Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan, Monday, August 8, 1966 page
21
Requim
rites for Mrs. Eva Simonson, 63, who died of a coronary Sunday in Hackley
Hospital will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, in St. Jean’s Church, with burial in St.
Mary’s cemetery. Mrs. Simonson, who
lived at Larch Court, was born here Nov. 23, 1902. The former Eva Faucher, she married Walter Simonson June 10, 1924. He
died in 1965. Mrs. Simonson was a
member of St. Jean’s and it’s……. (this
was a partial but informative obit I found on a copy of one of my relatives and
I thought it might help someone with their research)
Information
donated by William and Barbara Hill
SKOCELAS
- Pamela L. from Frank A.
Divorce
Custody of two
children to mother.- Muskegon Chronicle, 9 July 1963
Information
donated by Bill Moore
Smith,
Christopher B.
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan, Thursday, September 20, 2001 page
4B
Montague
- Mr. Smith, age 33, died Wednesday. He had been employed by North Labs of the Perrigo Co. Memorial Service: Saturday, September 22, at 2:00pm, at
White Lake Congregational UCC. Visiting Hours: Friday,
6-8pm, at the Clock Funeral Home in Whitehall.
Information
donated by: Anita
Pugh
Snow,
Rosa
Marriage
Muskegon
News & Reporter, 18 October 1870 MARRIED - On Wednesday last, October 12, at St. John’s Church, Grand
Haven, by Rev. Jos. P. Pritchard, MR. STEPHEN BEDFORD and MISS ROSA SNOW, both
of Muskegon.
Information
donated by Bill Moore
Spaniola, boy
Birth
Muskegon
Chronicle, 4 April
1916
SPANIOLA -- To Mr. and
Mrs. Peter Spaniola, 227 W. Western avenue, Thursday, March 30, 1916 a
son.
Information donated by
Bill Moore
SPOELMAN,
Baby
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle Muskegon, Michigan 26 December 1964 Page 2
Baby
Spoelman RAVENNA—Baby Spoelman,
1548 S. Ravenna Rd., Ravenna, died early today at Grant Community Hospital
shortly after birth. Survivors include her parents Mr. and Mrs.
John Spoelman, two sisters and five brothers at home, her grandparents Mrs. Jake
Spoelman, Ravenna and Mr. and Mrs. Clayton Rider of Kent City. Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday
at Throop Funeral Home in Ravenna with burial in the Ravenna
Cemetery.
Information
donated by Matt Burns
SPYKE, Siert
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan Monday, December 2, 1963 page 22
Mr.
Spyke Dies at 71 Siert Spyke, 71,
or 878 Wood St., a Muskegon resident most of his life and a lineman for
Consumers Power Co., for 35 years until his retirement in 1957, died Sunday at
Muskegon Osteopathic Hospital after a brief illness. Born November 7, 1892 in Muskegon, Mr.
Spyke attended schools here. He was employed in the Navy shipyard at Charleston,
S. Carolina during World War I. He
was married Aug. 26, 1918 to Miss Winifred Buikema in Charleston. He was a member of First Reformed
Church. He leaves his widow; three
daughters, Mrs. Henry Ringelberg of Norton Township, and Mrs. Robert Peterson and Mrs. Leo Allen, both of Muskegon; two sons, William J. of Muskegon and Louis
F. of North Muskegon; three sisters, Mrs. Homer Rust of Greentown, Indiana, Mrs.
William McCann of Spring Lake and Mrs. Dave Archibald of Philadelphia; and 14
grandchildren.
SPYKE,
Tena (Mrs.) Slager
Obituary
Muskegon Chronicle,
Muskegon, Michigan Saturday, March
25, 1944 Mrs.
Tena Spyke, Long Ill, Expires Mrs.
Tena Spyke, 70 years old, a former resident of Ferrysburg and of Muskegon for
the past 60 years, died Friday at home, 1135 Chestnut street. She was ill seven months. Formerly Tena Slager, she was born in
the Netherlands on September 21, 1873 and came to the United States 62 years
ago. She lived in Ferrysburg two
years and then came to Muskegon. On
November 25, 1893, she married Nicholas Spyke who died January 21, 1930. Mrs. Spyke was a member of Calvary
Baptist Church. Surviving are one
daughter, Mrs. James Kuypers; one brother Peter Slager; two sisters, Mrs. Martin
Kruse and Mrs. Harry Meyers, and two grandchildren all of
Muskegon.
Information
donated by William &
Barbara Hill
STAELENS, DARLENE V.
(Mrs.) Gunn
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, August 23, 1982 475
Mitzi North Muskegon Mrs. Darlene V Staelens, age 49, died
early Thursday morning at a local hospital following a long illness. She was born in Muskegon November 10
1932. She was employed at the
Hillcrest Nursing Home for 13 years. She married Mr. Charles Staelens in
Honolulu, HI January 17, 1978. Mrs. Staelens is survived
by
her husband, Charles; 2 sons; Richard W. Belasco and Michael A. Belasco, both of
Muskegon; 2 daughters, Mrs. Greg (Theresa) Obzut and Miss Partricia M. Belasco,
both of Muskegon; 3 brothers, Donald, Gordon and Lawrence Gunn, all of Muskegon;
I sister, Mrs. Roy (Delores) Nordstrand of Twin Lake and 13 grandchildren. The
Funeral Mass for Mrs. Staelens will be held at Our Lady of
Grace
Catholic Church, Monday, 11:00 A.M., Fr. Robert Hart Officiating. She will be
laid to rest at St. Mary’s Cemetery. A Rosary Service will be held on Sunday at
2:00 P.M. Friends may meet with the family beginning Saturday 2-4 and 7-9 P.M.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider the American
Cancer Society, envelopes available at the Funeral Home.
----Lee
Information
donated by Bob
Nordstrand
ST. AMOUR,
Arthur
Obituary
Muskegon Chronicle Muskegon, Michigan 23 September 1959 Page 9
Rothbury, Dies SHELBY -- Arthur St. Amour, 56, of
Rothbury, died today at Shelby Community Hospital after a short illness. He was a molder employed at the White
Iron Foundry, in Rothbury.
Mr. St. Amour was born May 20, 1903 in
Muskegon County. He married Mrs.
Wanda Pelton in New Era, April 2, 1949. He served in the army medical corps in a Little Rock, Ark., hospital
during World War II. He is survived
by his widow; a son, Eugene and a daughter, Barbara, both at home, two stepsons, Jack Pelton, of Rothbury, and Robert Pelton, of Grand Rapids; a brother Eli, and
a sister, Mrs. Emily Ryan, both of Muskegon. Services will be held at Cooper Funeral
Home, Shelby, at 2 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Rothbury.
Information
donated by Matt Burns
Stanlask, Arnold Victor
Birth
Muskegon
Chronicle, 4 April
1916
STANLASK -- To Mr. and
Mrs. Frederick Stanlask, 119 Marquette avenue, Thursday, March 30, 1916, a son, Arnold Victor
Information donated by
Bill Moore
Stark, Mrs.
Laura
Obituary
Muskegon
News Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan, 6 March 1912
Mrs.
Laura Stark died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Thomas J. Stuck 15 Ada street
yesterday after a short illness. Mrs. Stark was born at Lodi Plains, Washtenaw county, Michigan in 1839
being seventy-three years of age at the time of her death. She was a member of First Baptist
church. Mrs. Stark leaves one
daughter, Mrs. T J Stuck and four grandchildren. She is survived by a brother, George F.
Edwards of Lansing.
Information
donated by Bill Moore
Stauffer, Helen May
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, 4 April
1916
Helen May, the
four-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Stauffer, 415 Ninth street,
Muskegon Heights, died last evening at the family home, after a short illness of
pneumonia. The funeral notice
will be announced later.
Muskegon
Chronicle, Wednesday 5 April 1916 The funeral of Helen May Stauffer will be held
at the family home, 1415 Ninth street, Muskegon Heights, tomorrow afternoon at
2:30 o’clock. The Rev. John
Rottier, pastor of the First Christian Reformed church of Muskegon Heights will
officiate and interment will be in Oakwood cemetery.
Muskegon Chronicle,
Thursday 6 April 1916
The funeral of Helen
May Stauffer was held this afternoon at 2:30 o’clock at the residence, 1415
Ninth street, Muskegon Heights. The
Rev. John Rottier, pastor of the First Christian Reformed church of that city
officiated and interment was in Oakwood cemetery.
Information donated by
Bill Moore
Stedman,
Vernon Jr. (Mr.)
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, Muskegon, Michigan, Thursday, September 20, 2001 page
4B
Muskegon
- Funeral services for veteran Vernon Stedman Jr. age 46, will be held Saturday,
11 am at Bethesda Baptist Church, Rev. Charles Poole officiating. Interment: Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation: Friday, 10am-9pm. He was employed at Adac’s Company. Survivors are: his wife, Carol Stedman;
a son, Vernon Stedman III; 4 daughters, Tiffany McDaniel, Sharlea Stedman,
Dekayia Stedman, Nakey Stedman; a brother, Robert (Karina) Stedman; 2 sisters Romona (Carmen) Gillespie & Joyce Payne; 1 grandchild; special niece,
Cookie; and a host of other relatives & friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon T. & Bobbie Lee Stedman, sister, Remena Edwards, & brother James
Lee Stedman.
Information
donated by: Anita
Pugh
STENHOLM. Anna (Mrs.)
Wiersma
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle Muskegon, Michigan 29 May 1953
MRS.
STENHOLM DIES; LEADER IN LAKESIDE Mrs David Stenholm, 2265 Harrison avenue, a leader in Bunker School
Parent-Teacher work for many years, died at Hackley Hospital today after an
illness of six months. She was 65
years old. A lifelong
resident of the city, Mrs. Stenholm was born here Dec. 2, 1887. The former Anna Wiersma, she married Mr.
Stenholm, a Muskegon contractor, here Oct. 18, 1906, and the couple have been
residents of Lakeside since. Mrs. Stenholm was a memeber of the Lakeside Baptist Church and of the
Ladies Society of that church. Associated with the Bunker PTA for many
years and a representative of Bunker on the County PTA Borad, she was honored by
the association in 1945 for her long service. The mother of seven children, the name
Stenholm was on ther roser of the Bunker School for 31 consecutive years. She leaves her husband and four
sons, Armand, Jerome, Byron, and David, all of Muskegon; three daughters, Mrs.
George Sandberg and Mrs. Donald Staffney of Muskegon and Vivian at home; a
brother, John Wiersma of Muskegon; three sisters, Mrs. R. G. Richmond of
Chicago, Mrs. Ben Rue of Detroit and Mrs. Roy Bovik of St. Joseph, and 12
grandchildren.
Information
donated by Bill Moore
STEKETEE,
Cornelis
News
Cornelis Steketee died suddenly at his home, 141 Peck street, Friday
afternoon a few minutes after four o'clock. He had just
returned from a short drive with his son John when he was taken with
an attack of spasmodic asthma, a disease from which he had suffered
for several months. Dr. John VanderLaan, the family physician,
was summoned by telephone, and, responding promptly, administered
the usual treatment which had afforded relief in a number of
previous attacks of a similar nature. This time, however, it
failed to produce the hoped for result. Mr. Steketee failed
rapidly and passed into a condition of unconsciousness which quickly
terminated in death. Supported in the arms of his son, William
J. Steketee, who had been summoned from his place of business, and
in the presence of Mrs. Steketee, his oldest son, John, the two
oldest daughters, and his granddaughter, Miss Nina VanZanten, he
peacefully passed away.
“The funeral, which will be private, will be held from the
residence at one o’clock Monday afternoon, the services being
conducted by Rev. R. Bloemendal, pastor of the Second Reformed
church. The remains will lie in state at the residence from
9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Monday. Cornelis Steketee was born at Borssele,
province of Zeeland, kingdom of the Netherlands, on June 27, 1831.
He was the oldest in a family of ten children, all of whom were born
in the “old country” except the youngest one. In April, 1847,
the parents, with their nine children, came to America and with
others settled at Zeeland, in Ottawa county. The family was
the first one to locate in that township. In 1848 he was one of the
first three to leave the Holland colony and go to work among the
Americans at Grand Rapids. He started in driving wagons, and
drawing stones out the Grand River. For the following sixteen
years Mr. Steketee made his home at Grand Rapids. There, on
April 27, 1851, he was married to Miss Kryntje Wolters, who was also
born in the Netherlands where she had lived until she came to
America and to Michigan in 1849. The ceremony was performed by
Rev. C. VanderMeulen, pastor of the Second Reformed church of Grand
Rapids, the church which has this week celebrated the fiftieth
anniversary of its organization. On September 27, 1861, Mr. And Mrs.
Steketee came with their children to Muskegon where they have since
lived. Here for a number of years Mr. Steketee was employed by
Marsh & Foss, lumbermen, and later for many years by the well known
lumber firm of Ryerson, Hills & Co. His occupation was chiefly
that of a scaler. His fine penmanship, his accuracy as an
accountant, his energy, fidelity and integrity made him a man of
exceptional value in such work. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Steketee
was appointed one of the directors of the poor. He was
reappointed seven times in succession to the same office, thus
holding it for a period of eight years, the longest anyone has held
it in the history of the city. Under the system followed, the
bulk of the work in this dual office fell to him. How
carefully, conscientiously and successfully he discharged the
difficult duties of this position is still so generally within the
knowledge of the people of this city as to call for little comment
here. While previous to and since his terms the office had
been regarded as a political one, to be disposed of as such, it is a
significant tribute to Mr. Steketee’s official record that he was
repeatedly appointed by officials of a different party from his. To
Mr. and Mrs. Steketee were born seven children all of whom survive.
They are William J. Steketee, one of the proprietors and publishers
of The Chronicle, John, Peter P. and Henry J., and Misses Mary C.
and Cornelia Steketee, all of this city; and Mrs. Alexander
VanZanten of Muskegon Heights. Miss Cornelia Steketee was
visiting relatives at Jennison, near Grand Rapids, at the time of
her father’s death, and arrived home this morning. Henry is a
sophomore at Hope College and came home on the late train last night
after receiving the sad message sent to him. Of the large family of
the brothers and sisters, Mr. Steketee is the third to die.
The first was the oldest sister, Mrs. Michael Dupuit, who died at
Jennison, March 9, 1898. The second was Paul Steketee, the
well known dry goods merchant of Grand Rapids, whose death occurred
at his home in that city March 13, 1899. The brothers and
sisters who survive are John Steketee, George G. Steketee and Peter
Steketee, of Grand Rapids; Mrs. David DeVree, of Jennison; Andrew
Steketee, Mrs. Jacob Hoffman and Bastian Steketee, of Holland. Mr.
Steketee’s decline in health began over seven years ago, following
an attack of the grip. For nearly a year he had had serious
trouble with asthma. During the last two or three months this
had grown worse, taking the form of spasmodic asthma, a peculiarly
distressing disease. Mr. Steketee was a man of a singularly deep and
tender nature. Beneath a plain and rugged exterior there was a
heart whose warm affection and tender sympathy needed only to be
known to be admired. He was one of the most sincere and
conscientious of men. He possessed a nature deeply religious,
and his home has been a model for piety, pure and unpretentious,
after the highest standards of a people who left their native land
and came to America for greater religious liberty. For a great
many years he has been a faithful member of the First Reformed
church of this city. Few if any families have been more
closely bound together than his by the ties of tenderest affection;
and his death, the first to break the happy circle, is felt as only
such a loss can be in such a household. Most touching and pathetic,
as we now view it, though so characteristic that ordinarily it would
have caused no special notice, was the last act of his life.
It was Mrs. Steketee’s birthday, and the occasion was to be observed
in the evening by a family gathering to be attended by all the
children at home and by the four grandchildren. It was a very
happy day for all, and Mr. Steketee had remarked several times how
well he was feeling. He had taken a short drive with his
oldest son and on the way home had visited the green house where he
got a handsome bouquet of asters and other flowers. Returning
home he entered the house and, greeting his wife, presented her with
the flowers in honor of the day, with an affection as true and
tender as that with which over forty-eight years ago he had claimed
her as his bride. Then he stepped out into the yard to gather
the seed of some flowers that he had been tending with special
enjoyment during the autumn. His love for flowers was
remarkable and he was planning for next season. In a very
short time he returned to the house in much distress and asked that
the doctor be called. A few moments more and the end had come;
and the flowers he had presented as a memento of his love are doubly
precious now.
Information
Donated by Deb - Excerpt from Muskegon
Chronicle, Saturday, October 28, 1899
STEKETEE, Cornelis
Obituary
Funeral of Cornelis Steketee From His Home This Afternoon.
All the Surviving Brothers and Sisters Present - Services Conducted
With Marked Simplicity - A Profusion of Floral Offerings Attested
the Affection and Esteem in Which Deceased Was Held.
The funeral of Cornelis Steketee took place at one o’clock this
afternoon from the residence, 141 Peck street. The services
were conducted by Rev. R. Bloemendal, pastor of the Second Reformed
church. In harmony with the quiet simplicity of Mr. Steketee’s
life and in accordance with the wishes of the family the simplest
form of service was used, consisting of prayer, the reading of the
scriptures and remarks. “The funeral was private and was attended
only by relatives and near friends. All the seven surviving
brothers and sisters were present with as many of their children as
could leave their homes, and other relatives and friends from
outside the city. These were: “John Steketee with his son,
Jacob and daughters, Miss Catherine Steketee and Mrs. B. A. Beneker;
Mrs. John M. Steketee, Mrs. Paul Steketee, Mrs. C. Dosker, Mr. and
Mrs. Paul Steketee, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel C. Steketee, John P.
Steketee, Mr. and Mrs. George G. Steketee, Mr. and Mrs. Peter
Steketee and Mr. Ondendyk, all of Grand Rapids; Mr. and Mrs. Andrew
Steketee, Mr. and Mrs. Bastian Steketee, Mrs. Benjamin Van Anroy and
Mrs. Ellen Hoffman, all of Holland; Rikus Steketee, of Shelby; A. G.
Van Hess, of Zeeland; Mrs. David DeVree, Michael DePuit and daughter
Mrs. Hiram VanderVeen, all of Jennison; and Mrs. Mary Wolters, Mrs.
Fisher and daughter Mrs. Fisher, all of Grand Haven; also four
friends, Adrian Johnson and A. J. Welmers, of Grand Rapids, and Mr.
and Mrs. Henry Seymeyn, of Holland. “Mr. Bloenmendal spoke with fine
appreciation of Mr. Steketee as a husband, father, a friend and a
true Christian man. For the closing part of his remarks he
read a number (of) passages from the Psalms that had a touchingly
appropriate significance. These were passages that were found
indicated by turned leaves in Mr. Steketee’s well used Bible the day
after his death. As he had never been accustomed to turn down
leaves it was plain that he designed in that way to mark these
passages as some that had been especially precious to him and which
he had been accustomed to read probably during the wakeful periods
of his nights of suffering. The theme presented was Trust in
the Lord. There was also marked in this way a prayer for the
sick. “The interment took place in the family lot in Oakwood
cemetery. I. P. Newton, William Neil, H. E. Langeland, Garret
Wagner, Peter Mulder and James Mulder were the pall bearers. “The
profusion of beautiful flowers, tributes from many tender friends,
was all the more fitting because of the love which Mr. Steketee had
for flowers and the care he had given to his garden. Most
touching was the bouquet, which as the last act of his life he had
given as a birthday offering to the wife of forty-eight and a half
years. These were the only flowers placed on the casket.
“Nearby stood a large floral offering from the children - a broken
circle and sickle - marked ‘Father.’ Two large wreaths of
roses, chrysanthemums and passion flowers, one marked “At Rest’ and
the other ‘Brother,’ came from the brothers and sisters. “A pillow
of pink and white roses, with the words ‘At Rest,’ was from
employees of The Chronicle office. The Ladies’ Aid Society of
the Second Reformed church sent a spray of pink and white roses; the
Y. P. S. C. E. a spray of pink chrysanthemums and violets; the young
ladies’ club, the ‘Y.E. C.’ a spray of pink roses; and Miss Mary C.
Steketee’s Sunday school class, a spray of pink chrysanthemums.
From Dr. and Mrs. John Vanderlaan came a star of pink and white
roses; from Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Dana, white roses; Mr. and Mrs. H. E.
Langeland, pink and hite roses; Mrs. Louis Kanitz, yellow roses;
Miss Caroline Pew, pink carnations; Mr. and Mrs. N. G. Vanderlinde,
a wreath of roses, and Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Malloch, white roses.
Information donated by Deb
- Excerpt from Muskegon Chronicle, Saturday, October 28, 1899
STEKETEE, Peter P.
Obituary
Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, MI, Tuesday, March 21, 1961, Page
20:3,4
Steketee Rites Slated Thursday
Services for Peter P. Steketee, 96, of 1715 Jefferson street,
founder of Steketee and Son Outdoor Advertising, one of this area’s
last elder statesmen in the field of early journalism and an
advertising pioneer, will be conducted Thursday at 2 p.m. from Clock
Chapel, by the Rev. Walter P. Hurley. Burial will be in
Evergreen.
Mr. Steketee, in retirement about 10 years, and for a long time in
ill health, died Monday at his home.
He was among the few who could vividly recall Muskegon before and
during its heyday in lumbering.
MR. STEKETEE, born at Holland, April 9, 1864, was six months
old when his father, Cornelius Steketee, moved to Muskegon and began
work for Hills and Co. lumber firm.
The son, Peter, was the first newspaper route carrier here, starting
a Chronicle route in May 1879 and before that had sold newspapers on
the street.
Later he bought a horse and wagon and traveled through the area,
posting bills on barns. This venture expanded into
constructing billboards and sign painting.
MR. STEKETEE, for years was active in the Old Newsboys, and at the
annual banquet in 1940 was honored with the title, “Grand Old Newsy”
conferred upon him then.
Mr. Steketee was married in 1888 to Delia Semyn. She died
Sept. 28, 1925.
He was a member of Muskegon Lodge of Elks.
Mr. Steketee is survived by a daughter, Miss Fanny Steketee
of Muskegon.
A son, Nellis, who was associated with his father in business many
years, died in 1955.
Mr. Steketee’s brother, W. J. Steketee, who died in 1933, was in the
publishing and printing business many years. For a time he was
associated with the late E. B. Dana in ownership of The Chronicle.
The Steketee family was well known in West Michigan. Peter
Steketee’s uncle, Paul, founded Steketee and Sons Department store
in Grand Rapids. Another uncle, John was vice consul to the
Netherlands. George was mayor of Grand Rapids, Peter, a
prominent Grand Rapids groceryman and Andrew and Bastian were
merchants in Holland.
Information donated by Deb -
Muskegon Chronicle, Muskegon, MI, Tuesday, March 21, 1961, Page
20:3,4
STERK,
Marcus
Obituary
Muskegon
Chronicle, 23 February 1976, page
21
STERK, MR. MARCUS 1475 Cornell Roosevelt Park Mr. Marcus Sterk passed away Sunday
evening. Age 78. Born July 19, 1897 at Calumet, Mich. and
came to Muskegon from Detroit in 1921. he married the former Hazel H. LaLonde August 4, 1916 at Detroit and was
a 42 year employee of Brunswick Corp. retiring in 1962. Mr. Sterk was a member of the Brunswick
Quarter Century Club. Survivors
include his wife; one son, Joseph (Jerry) Sterk of Roosevelt Park; one daughter, Mrs. Stephen (Margaret) Ricco of Cleveland, Ohio; one brother, Joseph Sterk of
St. Ignace, Mich; 4 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. A funeral service for Mr. Sterk will be
held Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Walburn Funeral
Home.
Information
donated by Bill Moore
STEVENS, Charles
Charles Stevens
death notice, The Morning News, Sunday 16 Feb 1902, page 5
The funeral of
Charles Stevens whose remains arrived in this city from the Marine hospital
Chicago on the 5:50 o clock train Friday afternoon, was held yesterday
afternoon from the home of William Morse, 47 Jiroch street. The services which
were well attended, were conducted by Reverend De Graff, pastor of the
Lakewood Heights churches. Interment was in Oakwood cemetery.
Information
donated by Bob Nordstrand
STEVENS, Mrs. Cora
BOUTELL
Obituary
Muskegon Chronicle Muskegon, Michigan August 26 1965
LONG ILLNESS TAKES LIFE OF MRS. BOUTELL. Mrs. Cora Catherine
Boutell, 73, formerly of 1137 Wood St. and a resident of this community most
of her life, died Wednesday at Knollview Manor Nursing Home after a long
illness. Born Feb. 18, 1887, Mrs. Boutell attended Muskegon schools. She
was a communicant of St. Paul’s Church and a member of St. Paul’s Sixth Guild.
She worked for a number of years as a seamstress. Formerly Miss Cora C.
Stevens, she married Jan. 2, 1926, to Frank Boutell in LaPorte, Ind. Mr.
Boutell died here in 1957. She leaves a sister Mrs. Sadie Hancock of Akron,
Ohio, and several nieces and nephews.
Information donated by Bob Nordstrand
STEVENS, Edward
Obituary
Obituary of Edward
Stevens, Muskegon Chronicle, 1 April 1931, page 2.
Edward Stevens Dies
After Long Illness. Edward Stevens, 39 years old, of 1137 Wood street,
died last evening at Hackley Hospital, after a lingering illness. He was born
in Muskegon May 3 |
Muskegon
County
