Rev. Nancy Mae (Goetz) Gross Wood

Nancy Wood, 83, of Middleton went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sunday, December 17, 2023 at Country Friends Assisted Living of Sumner. 

Nancy was born in Breckenridge, Michigan on July 26, 1940 and was the daughter of Ernest Goetz and Clarice Newhall.

Nancy graduated from Ithaca High School in 1958. She was a stay at home mom and babysat several children until she went to work as a pharmacy technician for Ithaca Drug and Sabo Pharmacy and retired in 1987.  She was ordained a minister on February 2, 2005 at Amazing Grace Church by Dr. Richard Jolliff.  Her heart was to let others know that Jesus Christ loves them and wants to be Lord of their lives.  She was a gospel singer for many years and recorded several albums and received many key awards from the Michigan Gospel Music Association. She ministered in many churches, jails, prisons and went on work missions to Mexico and Honduras with World Gospel Mission as well as several lay witness missions in the US.  

Her passion was to sing gospel music and preach in the men’s prisons in Carson City and St. Louis. She wanted the men to know that no matter what they had done, that they are not alone and that there is hope in Jesus.

She loved spending time with her family. She is survived by her children:  James (Diane Merchant) Gross of Ithaca, Susan (Andy) Grosnickle of Potterville, Bob (Jessica) Gross of Tallmadge Ohio, Angie (Fred) Szelag of Mt Pleasant, step-children Ann (Steve) McNair of Charlotte, Susan (Dr. Paul) Worley of Ithaca, Laurie Thurman of Ft. Wayne Indiana, several grand-children and great-grandchildren as well as several nieces and nephews, her brother John (Phyllis) Goetz of Glenmore Pennsylvania, her sisters Jeanie Soucie of St. Louis, Michigan and Judy Beatty of Madison Alabama, her half sister and brother Carol Buck and Charlie Goetz; and her step-mother, Louise Freeman. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Raymond Gross, her second husband, Norman Wood, granddaughter, Michaelle Rehmann, brother Carl Goetz, and her half sister Jennifer "Jenner" Mansen.

There will be a memorial service on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 11:00 am at Amazing Grace Church in Wheeler, with Dr. Richard Jolliff officiating.   Visitation will be at 10:00 am before the service.  A luncheon will be served.  Burial will be at a later date in Ithaca Cemetery.  

Memorial contributions may be made to Country Friends Assisted Living or Amazing Grace Church for their members working in prison ministries.

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

Cheryl Kay Davis

Cheryl Kay Davis (Litwiller) of Corunna passed away on December 1, 2023 at the age of 72 with family at her side.

She was born in Alma, MI on 5-2-51, the daughter of Willard and Nellie (McRoberts) Litwiller. She attended a one-room country school and graduated from Ithaca High with the class of 1969. On August 10, 1974 she married William (Bill) Davis. She worked many years for Corunna Public Schools until her retirement.

Her greatest joy was her children, grandchildren, family and close friends. She enjoyed receiving and collecting cookbooks. Some of her favorite recipes were found in the Pioneer Woman and Taste of Home collections. 

Cheryl is survived by her husband Bill, children Autumn & Christopher, grandchildren Abel, Samarah, Sterling and sister Robin Joy Litwiller. Preceded in death were her parents, in-laws Chet and Flora Davis, sister-in-law Pamela Eaton, brothers-in-law Tom, Skip, and Mayor Jack (Betty) Davis.

Per her request cremation will take place with no mourners present. Burial will be at North Star Cemetery with a private family service. Those desiring may make memorial donations to the Gratiot County Commission On Aging or to the Corunna Public Library.

The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home of Ithaca, MI.

Charles "Chuck" Stafford Perry

    On the evening of Wednesday, November 8, 2023, with his family by his side, our husband, father, brother, son in law, and friend, Chuck Perry, made a peaceful transition to his new pain free eternity.

     For the majority of his life, Chuck was a hardworking, fun loving, cheerful soul who enjoyed spending time with his family.  He enjoyed boating, swimming, camping, four-wheeling, trail riding, car shows and anything else involving engines, friends and family.  Chronic illness robbed him of too many good days the last few years.

     After his retirement from 28 years with General Motors, he filled his hours with handyman work, working on his Mustang Cobra or his Black Jeep of the Family.  He loved cruising, climbing dunes and trails, racing and tinkering. 

     A skilled handyman, he shared his many talents with Unity of Greater Lansing as well as with friends, family and neighbors in both Michigan and his winter Florida community. 

     Chuck prided himself on escaping Covid, especially due to the time he spent in hospitals during the pandemic years dealing with complications of diabetes, arteritis and Parkinson’s disease.             

     He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Brenda, daughter Jaime, son Charles II and daughter in law Elizabeth DelCamp, sisters Brenda (Doug) Stevens, Carolyn (Dan) Trickey, Brother-in-law, Cyril Schwartz and Father-in-Law, David Sanders, several nieces and nephews.  Chuck was predeceased by his parents Roy and Ardith Perry and sister Sherry Perry Schwartz, and Mother-in-law Dixie Sanders. 

     A celebration of life is planned for January 13th from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Spruce Creek South Community Center in Summerfield, Florida.  

     Michigan friends and relatives will be notified of details of a Michigan celebration of life being planned near the 4th of July, 2024.    

     Chuck would be honored, if those desiring to make contributions would consider one of the following; American Diabetes Association, Vasculitis Foundation or the Parkinson’s Foundation. 

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

Donald Ralph Fry

Donald Ralph Fry age 80, of Ithaca, left this world to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 1, 2023 at Schnepps memory care unit surrounded by family. 

Don was born June 28, 1943 in Muskegon, MI, the son of Ralph and Tura (Burke) Fry. He grew up with his brother Collin(Colleen) Fry and sister Jean(Dick) Mikkelson. He graduated from Muskegon high school, class of 1961 and went on to obtain a Bachelors degree from MSU and a Masters of Divinity from Methodist Theological Seminary of Ohio. He pastored at Methodist   churches all over Michigan including Marne, Marion, Newaygo, Three Rivers, Ovid and Dansville. He loved serving the people of his congregations and communities. He was a Grand Traverse youth coordinator and a dean and counselor at Lake Louise camp for over 20 years. Don was also an EMT and volunteer firefighter for many years in Marne and Marion. 

Don married Bonnie Carter in 1967, had one son Michael (John) Fry-Perrow and one daughter Andrea Fry- Grandson Jack Fender and Grandaughter Margaret Fender. Don married Anna (Hegle) Fry in 1994. He gained a son Neil (Stephanie) Hegle and daughter Gina (Stephen) Barnes. Grandsons Jacob (Maci) Barnes, Aaron (Skylar) Barnes, Benjamin Hegle, Daniel Hegle and granddaughter Hannah Barnes. Great-grandchildren Alice, Aria, Hazel, Elijah and Théoden Barnes.He loved his family, friends, food, a good laugh, summers at the cottage, worshiping Jesus, singing in the choir and Ithaca football. He never missed any of his grandsons games from 6th-12th grade. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister and son Neil. 

 A memorial service will be held at the Ithaca Methodist Church 327 E. Center St, Ithaca MI 48847 on Saturday December 9th at 1pm with a showing preceding the service at 11:30am with Paul Wilson officiating. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to Folds of Honor.

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

Nancy June Flegel

Nancy June Flegel, age 91, of Elsie, died Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at Ashley Care Center in Ashley.

Nancy was born January 30, 1932, in Wood County, Ohio, the daughter of Ralph and Grace (Philips) Perry.  She graduated from Alma High School with the class of 1950, and married Phillip Flegel on February 1, 1952 in Alma, spending 71 years together and raising three sons.  

Nancy was famous for her oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and every kid in the neighborhood knew about them.  Phil would take six of them to work with him.  She was an avid reader, and loved raising flowers.  She loved her petunias, but was never able to successfully grow her favorite flower, the pink rose.  

Nancy is survived by her husband, Phil; her son Steven of Ithaca; two grandchildren and three great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by two sons, Rick and Thomas; her parents; her brother, Carroll; and her sisters Betty, Mary Lou,Shirley,Peggy,Janette, and Kay Ruth.

Funeral services will be 11;45 a.m. on. Friday, November 17, graveside at Mt. Rest Cemetery in St. Johns, with Pastor Dave Perry officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the organization of your choice.  The family is being served by the BardenFuneral Home in Ithaca.  Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.