Vada Lee Keyes

Vada Lee Keyes (Carpenter) of Alma sadly passed away peacefully on November 14, 2023. Vada was born on April 24, 1947, in Alma, MI to Raymond and Zora (Sailer) Carpenter.  She was married to Victor Keyes of Stanton and lived in Edmore and Whitehall. She has 33 grandchildren and several great grandchildren.  

Vada is survived by her son Brian (Donna) Shaw of Rothbury, MI; Shane Shaw of St. Louis and Stephanie Linares of Alma, Mi., and several stepchildren. Her sister Janice (Joe) Marcelio of McGregor, Ontario, Douglas (Morris) Carpenter of Sarasota Florida and David (Linda) Carpenter of Palmer, Alaksa.; along with many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Raymond and Zora Carpenter; Stepfather Gerald Lake of Ithaca; brother Greg Carpenter; stepdaughter Nancy Hubbard; stepson Wayne Keyes along with grandsons Hunter Shaw and Keagan Keyes.

Vada was vibrant and spunky, but always with a side of humor. She held several positions but loved working at the Montcalm College bookstore. She enjoyed her co-workers but adored helping the new students. She enjoyed camping and country music, but her favorite activity was watching her children and grandchildren play sports, even in the pouring rain. Vada will be missed and be forever in our hearts.

In lieu of flowers please consider contributing to the National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPSA).  There will be visitation on Saturday, November 18th, 2023, from 1-3pm at Barden’s Funeral Home.  The memorial service will be held directly afterwards. 

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

Stanley Jesse Myers

Stanley Jesse Myers, 83 of Midland Michigan, passed away on October 29, 2023.

Stan was the baby of 14 brothers and sisters born in St. Johns, Michigan to his parents Ralph Corwin Meyers and Stella Coe. He is survived by three siblings, brother Gaylord of California, sister Connie of Texas, and sister Kay of Indiana. He is also survived by all their children and grandchildren.

Stanley married Mary Jan Myers and had two children, Tom (Jennifer) and two grandchildren, Madison and Tyler. Stanley resided with his daughter Shelly in Midland Michigan.

In 1961 Stanley enlisted into the Navy buddy plan with his brother Gaylord. He loved the ships, loved going with Marice and his wife up to Sault Ste. Marie to watch the Locks where ships would come and go. He loved toys. His toy as a child was a harmonica., and boy did he know and learn to play it well. Amazing Grace and many other classics. He taught himself well. His favorite singer and song was Johnny Cash Folsom Prison Blues.

Stanley worked for many years at the Oldsmobile plant in Lansing Michigan. From there he worked at Hoogerland, the to Gratiot Community Hospital. He really liked going to his barber Jerry for haircuts in Alma, Michigan. After being in the country from town he grew to love the peace there is in country living.

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

Dennis Vincent Sierakowski

Dennis Vincent Sierakowski, 83, of Ithaca, left this world to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on October 15, 2023.  Dennis passed away at MediLodge of Montrose in Montrose, MI with his family by his side. He was born in Lansing, MI on October 21, 1939, the son of Vincent and Ilene (VanHorn) Sierakowski.  On August 24, 1968, he married Ruth E. Fritz in Saginaw.  He held various jobs throughout his working years as a welder before becoming disabled. 

Throughout his life, Dennis had a multitude of friends and family who have cared for him and his family very deeply. He was a member of the Ithaca Wesleyan Church for many years.  Those who knew Dennis can attest that he loved to talk. Dennis would sit and tell stories for hours on end.  Some of the stories were tall tales, but he always enjoyed sharing anyway.  

He is survived by his two daughters, Denise Blohm of Merrill and Dana (Randy) Taylor of Ithaca; two sons, Douglas (Misty) Sierakowski of Ithaca and Dan (Heidi) Sierakowski of Owosso; fourteen grandchildren, Kyle, Cody, Kaitlyn, and Cassidy Blohm; Zak (Sarah), Todd, and Michele Spencer; Ryan, Remington, and Lea Taylor; Rachael and Lillian Sierakowski; Derek and Jordan Sierakowski; two great-grandchildren, Sidney and Jaxson Spencer; three sisters-in-law, Dixie Sierkowski of Owosso, Judy (Jim) Perry of St. Charles, Bert (Joel) Shelden of Freeland; two brothers-in-law, Dick Fritz of Saginaw and John Fritz of West Branch; and numerous nieces and nephews.   He was preceded in death eight years ago by his loving wife Ruth; his parents Vincent and Ilene Sierakowski; his parents-in-law Rolly and Mary Fritz;  his brother Larry Sierkowski; his brother-in-law Rolly (Nancy) Fritz Jr.; his sister-in-law Pennie Fritz; one grandchild, Casey Blohm; and one great-grandchild, Dakota Spencer. 

A memorial service will be held at the Ithaca Wesleyan Church 712 N. Pine River St. in Ithaca, Michigan on October 23, 2023 at 4:00 PM. His beloved Pastor Douglas A. Strait will be officiating the memorial service.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions in Dennis’ memory be made to the family to assist with funeral expenses.  

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

Rodney Karston Moore

Rodney Karston Moore, 79, of Saint Johns, MI, passed away peacefully on the evening of October 3rd surrounded by his wife and seven children.

Rod was born in Detroit, MI on April 16th, 1944, to Rolland Elmer Moore and Margaret Louise (nee Johnson) Moore. At nine years old Rod started learning the carpentry trade from his father while helping him build garages during the summers and went on to master other carpentry skills he used throughout his life. 

He attended Southfield High School and graduated in 1962. During that time, he excelled at swimming and became the team captain of his high school swim team.  He set many school records and finished 8th in the state swim meet his final year.  After high school graduation, Rod attended Michigan State University where he majored in Industrial Management at the School of Business.  Rod also served a two-year service mission in Ireland for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In 1968 he joined the United States Army where he served in the Army’s Military Intelligence program during the Vietnam War. After returning from the war Rod met his wife Carla Jean Harmon and they were married on February 14, 1974.  He had a fulfilling career in business and facilities management.

Much of Rod’s time was dedicated to his family, community and church.  He volunteered in the community through coaching his children’s youth sports teams as well as supporting his sons inachieving the rank of Eagle Scout from the Boy Scouts of America. Throughout his life Rod remained a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in many different positions within the church.

Rodney Karston Moore was preceded in death by his parents Rolland Elmer and Margaret Louise Moore, his sister Jeryl Harford and his two infant children Dion and Teffany Moore; and is survived by his two sisters Marcia Moore and Janice Fangboner, wife Carla Jean Moore, and children Andrea Melzer, Amanda Elsner, Brian Moore, Atrena Holm, Trent Moore, Adam Moore, Ambera Bedard, as well as his 21 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren (with two on the way).

In memory of Rod, a celebration of life service will be held on Saturday October 7th.There will be a viewing at 9:00am for friends and family followed by a service at 10:00 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 300 E Townsend Road, St. Johns, MI 48879. Immediately following the service, will be the burial held at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens at 4444 W Grand River Ave. Lansing, MI 48906.

Flowers are welcome and can be ordered from Woodbury’s Flower Shop at 321 N Clinton Ave, St, Johns, MI 48879 phone: (989) 224-3216 or of a shop of your choosing to the LDS Church at 300 E Townsend Rd. St. Johns, MI 48879 with delivery between 8am - 9am on Sat, October 7th.

Other contributions can be sent through Venmo: @Carla_Moore

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

Kipp Allen Braman

Kipp Allen Braman, 68, of Ithaca, Michigan, passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at MyMichigan Medical Center in Alma, Michigan, with family at his side.

He was born in 1955 in Alma, the son of Glenda (Monk) Braman and the late Richard “Dick” Braman. He graduated from Fulton High School. As fate would have it he met Patricia Zamarron at a basketball game at Fulton and decided that was someone he better hold on to. They were married on September 1, 1973, and they shared 39 years together before Patti passed away in 2012.

Kipp worked in the steel room at Motor Wheel in Lansing and on the oil derricks with McLachlan Drilling in Evart before becoming a partner in Braman Oil Company of Ashley. Along with his parents and wife, they grew the company into a thriving business that employed several people and more importantly proudly served the community they loved. After they decided to sell the family business he worked for Janson Equipment in Breckenridge, Comprehensive Logistics in Lansing, and MLT Transport in Mount Pleasant.

He was a member of the Pompeii United Methodist Church and served as a member of the Gratiot County Sheriff’s Posse for a number of years. While serving on the Posse he especially appreciated it when people at the Gratiot County Fair for Youth would compliment him on his ass (otherwise known as his mule Ruth that he was so very proud of). Kipp enjoyed all things aircraft related and traveled to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, multiple times to attend the Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in convention. He also enjoyed teaching his children and grandchildren (and anyone else that was interested in learning) how to respect and properly handle a handgun. Kipp was a life member of the National Rifle Association and helped teach Carry Concealed Weapons (CCW) courses for years and he was known to carry a handgun or two (or three or four) on his person from time to time.

But there was nothing he loved more than spending time with his four granddaughters. He would be at every event and activity they participated in. If he thought there was a chance to watch them at a sport they played in or see them working livestock at a show - he was there. He loved taking his girls to Tom’s Western Store in Ovid to buy them gifts and spend the afternoon making them happy. He loved them all “a hundred million” and ended every phone call with promises of hugs. His playful spirit and memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved him.

He is survived by his mother Glenda Braman of Ashley, his children Josh Braman of Lansing, Jenifer (Steven) Taylor of Ashley, and Jacob (Lacie) Braman of Ithaca; four granddaughters, Samantha Taylor, Kylea, Karley, and Khloe Braman; and brother David Johnson of Florida and brother in-laws Skip Bongard of Ashley and Jim Falor of Ithaca. He was preceded in death by his father Richard Braman, and sisters Linda Bongard and Kerry Falor.

The funeral service will be held on Monday, October 2nd at 2pm at Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca with Pastor Ried Martin officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-8pm on Sunday, October 1st at the 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.