Larry Dean Andrews

Larry Dean Andrews, age 78 of Perrinton, Michigan passed away Tuesday, October 8, 2024 as the result of a motor vehicle accident. 

Larry was born March 5, 1946, to John and Marie (Wermuth) Andrews. He attended Wheeler Country School and then Ithaca High School where he left at the age of 16 to help support himself and his mother. He eventually earned his diploma in 1974, an accomplishment he was very proud of. 

He married Wilma Jean Drake on November 5, 1965. They had four children, James (Denise Krueger) Andrews, Ronda (Dean) Sills, Brent Andrews, and Karla Lindsey. They were married for 52 years before Wilma passed in 2018. 

In 2019, he married Barbara Flegel. Barbara passed away a day after Larry from injuries sustained in the same accident. 

Larry had five grandchildren; Raelyn Jabrocki, Michelle (Nick) Rademacher, Bradly Andrews, Meggan (Mark) Garrity, and Gary Andrews that he treasured more than anything and attended as many of their events as he could. He also had three great grandchildren Kason and Jase Jabrocki and Amelia Garrity. 

Larry worked at Whitman Manufactured Homes for several years until they went out of business. He did construction for a couple of years and then in 1983 he became a custodian for Fulton Schools until his retirement.  Larry enjoyed tractors, especially his John Deere B and was a member of the A-Tractive Tractor Club for over 40 years. He always made sure to attend the antique tractor show in Oakley, MI. He also enjoyed fishing, making several trips to Drummond Island, other UP waters and in the past few years many trips to the Detroit River with his sons, grandson, and bonus son Mark Natale. 

He is survived by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, special niece and nephew, Pam and Darvis LaVoy, and many other nieces and nephews. 

Visitation will take place at Barden’s Funeral Home on Sunday, October 13, 2024, from 3:00-7:00pm. A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 11:00am at Barden’s Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Newhaven Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Make-A-Wish 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.

Kurt Allen Jones

Kurt A. Jones, age 70, of Perrinton, died suddenly at his home on Friday, October 4, 2024.

Kurt was born  in  Ionia, Michigan, on August 10, 1954, the son of Joel B. And Virginia (Liscombe) Jones.  He graduated from Central Montcalm High School, and attended MCC and completed his education at  Grand Valley.  He worked for the State of Michigan Department of Corrections for 29 years, retiring as Warden in 2006 from the prison in Carson City.  

Kurt married Nancy Cowling in St. Louis on April 6, 1991.  He loved the outdoors and was a member of the NRA, Safari Club International, and Michigan Trappers Association.  Kurt was a Pistons fan and enjoyed spending time in his garden.  He also  enjoyed traveling, and had been to Africa and New Zealand.

Kurt is survived by his wife, Nancy; his brothers and sister: Joel (Sharon) Jones, Jr. of Sheridan, MI, Blaine (Lee) Jones of Findley, Minnesota, Margaret Jones of Reston, Va, and John (Sherene) Jones of Mt. Pleasant, MI; his nieces and nephews, Annette Jones, Jason (Kaci) Jones, Courtney (Todd) Fortun, Collin (Joanne) Jones, Ryan (Kelly) Jones, Sean (Christina) Jones, and Bryce (Maricruz) Jones; and his great nephews and nieces: Brett Jones, Lillian Jones, Madison Jones, Isabella Jones, Myla Jones, Dawson Jones, Rowan Fortun, Xander Fortun, and Odin Jones.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister and brother-in-law, Katherine and Kamal Agarwal; and his nephew, Joel Jones III.

There will be no services.  Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.

Jack Ginther

Jack Ginther, lifelong Ithaca, Michigan resident passed away on Monday, September 30, 2024 following a short illness, surrounded by love and family. He was born September 20, 1926 in Ithaca,  the son of Loretta (Borton) and Irvin Ginther.  Jack lived all of his 98 years in the hometown community he loved.

On April 18, 1947 he married Avis Andrews in Pompeii, Michigan.  She survives.  Jack is also survived by two sons, Larry (Susan) and Mike (Cheryl) of Elkhart, IN; four grandchildren, Cara (Ryan) Sample, Erin (Jason) Gibbs, Glenda Ginther, and his namesake, Jack Ginther, as well as six great grands, two great great grands, and special niece Jacqy (Dave) Jackson.  Jack was preceded in death by his sister, Theda LaFontaine.

A gifted three sport athlete, Jack's high school education and athletic hopes were cut short when he was drafted for WW II in February of 1945.

He regretted he was never able to graduate with his class in 1945, but he was invited to walk with Ithaca's class of 2011 and was finally awarded his diploma. 

Jack exemplified the best of the Greatest Generation - a small town boy who came home from WW II, made a good life, raised his family, worked hard and never left his hometown.  A true "people person," he could strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere.  He was a trustworthy and steadfast friend, and quietly earned the respect of those who crossed his path.  In 2016 he was named Ithaca's Citizen of the Year, an unexpected honor he cherished.

Visitation for Jack will be Thursday, October 10th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Barden Funeral Home. His Celebration of Life will take place at the Barden Funeral Home on Friday, October 11th at 1:00 p.m. with an hour of visitation from noon to 1:00.  Burial will follow at the Ithaca City Cemetery with full military honors. Barden's Funeral Home, 225 West Center Street, Ithaca, is in charge of arrangements.  At 3 pm,  there will be a reception at the Ithaca Senior Activities Building, 1011 East North Street, Ithaca.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in honor of Jack may be directed to the Ithaca Senior Activities Building (address above) where Jack and Avis were founding members and involved for many years.

Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.

William (Bill) Valentine Bowen

William (Bill) Valentine Bowen was 92 years old when he passed from this life on September 25, 2024.  He had been residing at The Porches in Gaylord, MI since February of this year.  Prior to that, he and his wife Jackie were long-time residents of Ithaca, MI.  She preceded him in death on January 7,2024.  He is survived by his two sons Craig Bowen (Wilsonville, OR) and Kent and Renata (Chaffee) Bowen (Gaylord, MI).  Bill had four grandchildren:  Kyle and Ashley (Bartee) Bowen (Plymouth,MI), Katie (Bowen) and Tony Bonitatibus (Waltham, MA), Corbin Bowen (Wilsonville, OR), Cailyn (Bowen) and Michael Nichols (Pasadena, MD) and five great-grandchildren:  Jackson, Olivia and Harrison Bowen, Hattie Bonitatibus and Hazel Nichols.

Bill was born in Utica, OH to Alwanda (Cannon) and Frank Bowen on March 11, 1932.  He moved to Ithaca, MI when he was nine years old and graduated from Ithaca High School in 1950.  Bill enlisted in the United States Navy when he was sixteen years old as a minority enlistment.  He entered active duty upon his high school graduation and served his country for five years.  He was stationed at Great Lakes Naval Station in Chicago, IL, then at Gross Ile Naval Station on the Detroit River where he served as an administrator for flight squadron training missions.

Bill loved to share the story with everyone about his reluctant blind date that was arranged by a family member in Butler, IN.  This was where he met Jackie, who was described to him as “the prettiest girl in town”.  They soon fell in love and married in 1954.  Shortly thereafter they moved from IN to Ithaca, MI where their marriage spanned nearly seventy years.  It was also there where they stayed and raised their family.

Bill wore many hats during his working career, most notably helping to operate a family-owned feed mill and large commercial chicken and hog farm.  Later, he was one of the first employees to work for Aircraft Precision in Ithaca before leaving to manage the North Star Elevator.  He finished his career working for B&W Co-Op in Breckenridge, MI.Bill and Jackie were active members at the First Presbyterian Church since 1955.  He also was a member of the local Masonic Lodge.  One of their favorite hobbies to do together was to hunt antiques and collectables they called “Junkin”.  The home they lived in for over five decades, that was built by Bill himself, was filled with these treasures.  Bill picked up the hobby of woodworking in the 1980’s, starting with small, simple projects that eventually turned into making fine furniture pieces.  He has made numerous items for many local residents, but the most special projects were the ones he made with love for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

We invite you to come and share in a memorial service to a life well lived on Saturday October 12, 2024 at the First Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, with Pastor Steve Datema officiating.  A family visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. followed by the service at 11:00 a.m.  Please join us afterwords for a luncheon at the Ithaca Community Center.  The family kindly asks that any gifts be directed to the Ithaca Community Food Pantry in honor of Bill.

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

William Todd “Bill” Rocheleau

William Todd “Bill” Rocheleau, Sr., age 60, passed away suddenly at his home, near Ashley, on Sunday, August 25, 2024.

Bill was born in Alma on December 5, 1963, the son of Arthur and Mary Louise (Bussear) Rocheleau.  He graduated from Ithaca High School and started driving truck for his father’s trucking business, Arctic Freightways.  He drove east coast to west coast, hauling foods, supplies, cars, and trucks.  After his father’s death he would haul for Simon Bros. Trucking.

He loved golf cart rides, picking up debris and rocks, and rides to Reed’s Park to swim with grandson Easton Michael, granddaughter Ella, and his wife, Tammy.  He enjoyed working in his garden, caring for his tomatoes, beans, and broccoli.  He especially looked forward to his trips to the junk yard to scavenge for treasure that he would bring home, fix up, paint, and sell on Market Place.  He would be so excited about the items he would find.  He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather and son.  

Bill is survived by his wife, Tammy; his children, Dustin Dennis of Alma, Willy (Kory) Rocheleau of Ithaca, and Haley Jo Rocheleau of Ashley; his grandchildren, Easton and Ella; his mother, Mary ((Jess) Hollenbeck of Mecosta; his brother Mark Rocheleau of Ithaca; his sister Sue (Cecil) Gutierrez of Big Rapids; his parents in law,Earl and Kenna Dennis of Perrinton; and sisters in law, Tricia (Scott) Andrews and Timberly (Dan) Piper.    He was preceded in death by his father, Art Rocheleau; his daughter in law, Shelby Dennis; and his sister in law, Tonya Reagen.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, August 31, at Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca.  Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the service begins.  Interment will follow in Hamilton Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the family. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.