Saturday, August 13, 2022
Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Ron Clark will be missed. Please read below about the celebration of life on June 4 at 2 pm. RSVP requested.
Ron S. Clark
April 23, 2022
Ron S. Clark passed away peacefully in Neenah, WI, surrounded by family on 23 April 2022 after a brief illness. Ron was born in Chelsea, Michigan, on 15 June 1940. He was the son of Steve G. Clark and Beatrice Truckey Clark and grew up in Chelsea, graduating from Chelsea High School in 1958. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Janet Harvey-Clark, and their child, Kit Chelsea Clark Glogovsky, who is married to Sam E. Glogovsky. Ron and Janet moved from Jackson, Michigan, to Neenah, Wisconsin, a year ago to live near Kit and Sam.
Ron is survived by his son Bill Clark Palikainen, who is married to Theresa Palikainen and is father to Ron’s granddaughters Jasmine Palikainen Salem and Alexis Palikainen, both of whom live in Michigan. Bill and Theresa live in Wayne, Michigan. Ron is survived also by son Jared Damien Clark, partner to Melissa Peters-Bishop and father to their child, Kellan Clark, Ron’s grandson. Jared, Melissa and Kellan live in Plymouth, Michigan. Jared is also father to Ron’s grandson Brandon Clark, who lives in California.
Ron’s brother, George Clark and his partner Utpala A. Patel, live in Chelsea, Michigan. Ron’s brother, Bruce Clark and his wife Marilyn O. Clark, live in Merrill, Michigan. Ron is survived also by his sister Bonnie Clark Dempich.
Ron began his higher education at Michigan Technical College before transferring to Northern Michigan University, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Education, with specialties in Art, History and Psychology. He also earned a master’s degree in Math Education from the University of Detroit. Ron taught a variety of subjects from kindergarten through high school for over 40 years, including Art, English, and History. Ron spent over 10 years teaching Mathematics to high school students in Detroit, Michigan; Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina; and Battle Creek, Michigan. When he left teaching, Ron took on his favorite role—full-time dad to Kit while the family lived in Jackson, Michigan.
One of the many reasons Ron loved teaching—in addition to inspiring students to learn, question assumptions and express their creativity—was the opportunity his summers gave him to travel. Ron explored all the continental United States and many parts of Canada, with a special love of discovering America’s national parks, and he loved introducing camping and many of these areas to his kids. He took up flat-water kayaking in the 1980s, and Ron kayaked and camped solo along over 800 miles of Lake Superior’s shoreline. Ron met Janet in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, and the Upper Peninsula became a much-loved destination for their family.
Another favorite place for Ron was Sanibel Island and Captiva Island off the Gulf Coast of Florida. Ron worked several summers at South Seas Plantation on Captiva and loved sharing the wonderful nature of these areas with all three of his children.
After Ron and Janet married in 1989 and moved to North Carolina, they discovered Topsail Island off the Southern coast of the state, and this beautiful beach area became a favorite of Ron, Janet, and Kit. Ron also traveled in the 1990s to Great Britain, exploring Scotland and England. Ron and Janet took a special trip to Sanibel and Captiva over Christmas 2021, and they visited North Carolina in April 2022, spending time with Janet’s brother, Robert, sister-in-law, Lynn, and their young daughters, Karli Rae, 3, and K’La Claire, 5 months. Ron and Janet enjoyed a final beach vacation together on Topsail during this time.
The depth of Ron’s lifetime experiences shared an appreciation and love of nature, which included a passion for fossil/rock hunting and collecting, a fascination with and incredible knowledge of all creatures great and small, and an awareness and understanding of science as the method by which knowledge is acquired. His love of art, music, and literature equaled his enthusiasm for nature and science. He was an avid reader—especially sci-fi and fantasy. He enjoyed going to museums and had eclectic tastes in music, with his favorite group being Pink Floyd, while also enjoying Willie Nelson, Celtic music, Simon & Garfunkel, and a variety of jazz.
Ron’s range of interests and knowledge reflected his attitude that life is to be lived in the moment with attention to learning what lessons await. He respected people as individuals, did not judge others, and was a staunch defender of human and civil rights for people of all ethnicities, races, and nationalities as well as sexual orientation and gender identity. Most of all, he loved his family unconditionally and was with his family the day he left this world to go on his next adventure.
A Life Celebration for Ron will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at the Michigan Friends Center in Chelsea. The service begins at 2 p.m. with a reception to follow. The venue is located at:
Michigan Friends Center
7748 Clark Lake Rd
Chelsea, MI 48118
Directions may be found at:
https://mfcenter.org/diriving-directions/
To have an accurate count, please RSVP by Friday, May 27, 2022, by sending an email to Janet Harvey-Clark at:
janetharveyclark7@gmail.com
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Trevor Project, the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth) at:
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Saturday, September 18, 2021
63 years after we graduated...here we are....
Donna & Violet & guest
Bill & Sherry
Sandy & Donna
Becky & Marti
Ron & Janet
Dave & Jim
Linda & Ed
Note: Peggy, Bob, and Jim H. didn't make it as they had planned...
The photographer is not pictured, but she looked smashing!
Friday, August 27, 2021
Dave, our witty and couregous classmate, died on August, 27, 2021
David Knisely, age 81, of Chelsea, MI passed away on Friday, August 27, 2021 at Silver Maples of Chelsea.
He was born in Chelsea, MI on July 17, 1940, the son of Holton and Mildred (Noah) Knisely. He had lived in the North Lake area his entire life, graduating from Chelsea High School in 1958.
Dave was a polio survivor and thriver. He was a life-long member of the North Lake United Methodist Church, where for many years he was an organist as well as a member of the choir. He was an english and reading teacher at Beach Middle School, retiring after 30 years of service to the Chelsea School District.
On March 29, 1969, he married Janet P. (Austin), and they enjoyed 52 years of marriage. Dave was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He enjoyed nature, birds, butterflies, and flowers. He enjoyed North Lake for many years, and after retirement, he and Janet wintered in Ozello Keys, FL.
Dave is survived by his wife, Janet Knisely, two sons, Kurt (Lisa) Knisely and Jason Knisely, grandchildren: Michael and Chasey Knisely, and Kathleen, Karolyn, and Kayla Scripter; several great-grandchildren , and many nieces and nephews; two sisters, Lorna Eberts and Beth (Mike) Folts, and one brother, Eric (Beth) Knisely. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law, Jim Eberts.
A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, August 31, 2021, 11:00 a.m., at the Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday, August 30, 2021 from 6-8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the North Lake United Methodist Church.
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Upcoming reunion!
Our next gathering will be on Wednesday, September 15, at Stivers in the "back room".
We'll meet at 3 pm! It would be great if you'd let Sandy (475 8862) or Jan (475 5753) to let us know if you're able to come or not.
Hope to see you soon!
Thursday, August 5, 2021
Silas Hopkins died on August 2, 2021
Silas K. Hopkins, age 83, of Chelsea, MI, passed away at the Evangelical Home - Saline on August 2, 2021. He was born in Swampton, KY on May 7, 1938, son of Malcolm B. and Sola (Holiday) Hopkins.
Silas lived in Chelsea since 1941, and he retired from Ford Motor Company as a tool and die maker. He loved to bowl, play cards, and putz around.
He is survived by his children, Kim (Wesley) Treaster and Kenneth Hopkins, both of Grass Lake, MI, and Lynette Mepyans of Manchester, MI; his “brother”, Coyne Holiday of Dexter, MI; and grandchildren, Haleigh, Lindsey, and Maegen. He was preceded in death by Paul Hopkins and Karen Lentz.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, August 6, 2021, 11:00 a.m., at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, with the Rev. Bobby Toler officiating, and eulogy by Coyne Holiday. Burial is immediately following at Oak Grove Cemetery, Chelsea. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, August 5, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home, as well as Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Silas’ name to Faith in Action.
Silas K. Hopkins, age 83, of Chelsea, MI, passed away at the Evangelical Home - Saline on August 2, 2021. He was born in Swampton, KY on May 7, 1938, son of Malcolm B. and Sola (Holiday) Hopkins.
Silas lived in Chelsea since 1941, and he retired from Ford Motor Company as a tool and die maker. He loved to bowl, play cards, and putz around.
He is survived by his children, Kim (Wesley) Treaster and Kenneth Hopkins, both of Grass Lake, MI, and Lynette Mepyans of Manchester, MI; his “brother”, Coyne Holiday of Dexter, MI; and grandchildren, Haleigh, Lindsey, and Maegen. He was preceded in death by Paul Hopkins and Karen Lentz.
Funeral Services will be held on Friday, August 6, 2021, 11:00 a.m., at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, with the Rev. Bobby Toler officiating, and eulogy by Coyne Holiday. Burial is immediately following at Oak Grove Cemetery, Chelsea. Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, August 5, 2021 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home, as well as Friday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Expressions of sympathy may be made in Silas’ name to Faith in Action.
Wednesday, July 28, 2021
Nancy Irwin DeCoster has died.
Nancy died on December 30, 2020. According to the death certificate, she probably died of a stroke.
Saturday, November 14, 2020
Richard Laban died while working in his yard.
Laban, Richard 4/25/1940 - 11/10/2020 Chelsea Age 80, he was born in Chelsea, the son of Joseph Celestine and Anna Katherine (Franzen) Laban. In addition to being a proud Air Force veteran, Richard was a long-time draftsperson for Thetford Corporation. He was a life-long resident of Chelsea and a member of St. Mary Catholic Church with a strong Catholic faith. He had a fantastic sense of humor along with his wittiness. Richard kindly took care of his mother until her last day of life. He is survived by his brother, Francis "Joe" (Jennette) Laban, and nieces and nephews: Karen Synowiec, Alan (Sally) Miller, Janet (Sandy) Miller, Dorothy (David) Kryskowski, Daniel (Sylvia) Miller, Douglas Miller, and David (Laura) Miller. He was predeceased by his parents and sister, Dorothy Laban Miller. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2020, 11:00 a.m., at St. Mary Catholic Church, Chelsea, with the V. Rev. Dr. William J. Canon Turner officiating. Visitation is at the church, 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Expressions of sympathy may be given to St. Mary Catholic Church or the St. Louis Center, both of Chelsea. Arrangements by Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home, Chelsea, mitchellfuneral.com.
