TED ELLIS ORMSBY
Saline
Ted Ellis Ormsby, 82, a lifetime Saline resident, died March 13, 2007, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Saline after a short hospital stay. He was born April 9, 1924, and graduated from Saline High School in 1942.
Mr. Ormsby, a lifetime member of Saline American Legion Post 322, was a Bronze Star decorated U.S. Army veteran of World War II (1943-45) and was stationed in the Asiatic-Pacific. After returning to Saline, he married Edith Joy (Way) of Pittsford Aug. 20, 1947, in Newberry, and she survives. They built their home in Saline and raised four sons together in the house where Mr. Ormsby lived until his final hospital stay.
Mr. Ormsby worked as an auto mechanic at Hoeft's and then Bennett's Service in Saline, and finished his career with the city of Saline Department of Public Works, retiring in 1986. He frequently shared his mechanical expertise by fixing vehicles for family and friends, and passed on some of his knowledge to his sons and grandchildren in repairing scooters, mini-bikes, cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc., brought to his garage for an overhaul. A stroke in 1999 limited his mobility, but Mr. Ormsby could still determine the problem and advise the repair of just about anything, his family said.
In 1972, he and his wife purchased a cabin in Harrison, which was a favorite vacation spot for the entire family and many friends over the years.
Before his health declined, he enjoyed bowling, boating, fishing, golf, snowmobiling, hunting (he was the last founding member of the Bois Blanc Island Hunt Club) and was always ready to play a game of cribbage, euchre or pinochle. He loved animals and could be seen riding his motorized scooter around town, treating the dogs he met with a biscuit or two.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Ormsby is survived by his sons, Stephen (Mary Jane) of Saline Township, Phillip of Harrison, Kevin (Sandra) of Saline and David (Tamara) of Clinton; grandchildren, Michael (Ana Catalina), Jeffrey (Shaun), Amanda, Carrie, Christopher, Daniel and Elizabeth; great-granddaughters, Madalynn and Ava; sisters, Dorothy Hiser and Betty Ormsby; one cousin, Russell (Joann) Ellis; sisters-in-law, Anna Alber, Jane Bowen, Alice Kuhn, Bernadette Ormsby, Ruth Pocock and Dorothy Wiebusch; one brother-in-law, Peter Pocock; several nieces and nephews, notably Lynn Babcock, who brought him many home-cooked meals.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Florine (Ellis) Ormsby; one brother, Robert Ormsby; one cousin, Mac Lossing; and brothers-in-law, Glen Kuhn, Ed Hiser, Ralph Bowen, Clarence Wiebusch and Nathan "Al" Alber.
He donated his body to the University of Michigan Medical School.
A private graveside service is planned at a future date. Friends and family are invited to join together 6 p.m. Friday at Saline American Legion Post 322 for a military recognition service followed by coffee hour and open house until 8 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Humane Society of Huron Valley, Lenawee Humane Society, or a charity of one's choice.
Condolences to the family may be made online at www.pursefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements were by J. Gilbert Purse Funeral Home in Tecumseh.
STELLA S. OLDS
Marquette
Formerly of Milan
Stella S. Olds, 89, of Marquette, formerly of Milan, died Jan. 31, 2007, at the Norlite Nursing Center. She was born Oct. 21, 1917, in Detroit, the daughter of Frank and Frances (Ruthkowska) Sobiegraj, and was raised on the family farm in Milan.
Mrs. Olds graduated from Milan High School and later attended Eastern Michigan University for a brief time. On Feb. 1, 1941, she married Jesse Olds, and together the couple established their farm and raised their family in Milan.
Mrs. Olds enjoyed her role as homemaker and was a naturalist at heart. She often took her children on fieldtrips into the woods to gather moss, flowers, rocks, snakes and turtles, all of which ended up being displayed throughout their farm house. She encouraged a respect for nature, all that it could teach, and all it provided.
Additionally, as a child on her parents' farm, she learned to speak Russian from a Russian farmhand. She could speak Polish, and understood Hungarian. The same Russian farmhand taught her to play the harmonica, which she mastered and played in "lumberjack style."
Mr. Olds died in 1986 and in 1992 the farm was sold. Mrs. Olds moved to Marquette in 1995, lived for a time with her daughter, Mary, and then resided in a home on East Arch Street.
Mrs. Olds opened her home to her grandson, Jacob, who resided with her while attending Northern Michigan University. They functioned as a team. She was the better cook and housekeeper, and he provided companionship and an extra measure of security, her family said.
Following a fall, Mrs. Olds moved to Norlite Nursing Center, where she made many friends and continued to give harmonica concerts from time to time. Her interests were varied and, being a farm girl, she enjoyed peonies, pick-up trucks, Volkswagens, trilliums and other wildflowers, and sitting in her favorite Lazy Boy chair.
Survivors include her daughters, Joanne Schettenhelm and Jean A. (Charles) Shearer, both of Milan, and Mary O. (Wes) Short of Skandia; several grandchildren great-grandchildren, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. Olds was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Olds: an infant son, Jesse Edward Olds; a sister, Helen Walther; brothers, Matt and Edward Sobiegraj; and a half-brother, Stanley Sobiegraj.
No memorial services will be scheduled.
Arrangements were handled by Swanson-Lundquist Funeral Home in Marquette.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.swanson-lundquist.com.
JODIE LYNN MANSFIELD
Boulder, Colo.
Jodie Lynn Mansfield, 44, of Boulder, Colo., died March 6, 2007, after a short battle with cancer. She was born Sept. 16, 1962.
Mrs. Mansfield graduated from Saline High School in 1980. She was an avid bicyclist and runner. She was training for a triathlon when the cancer was discovered.
Mrs. Mansfield leaves behind her loving husband, Bill; stepdaughter, Hilary; mother, Sue (Wayne) Templar of Texas; father, Mark (Barbara) Gietzel of Lansing; brother, Brian (Viki) of Potterville; sister, Beth Cruz of Avon Lake, Ohio; nephews, Kyle and Nicholas; several aunts, uncles, cousins and many close friends in both Colorado and Michigan.
Memorial contributions may be made to Voices for Children (vfccasa.org), 2305 Canyon Blvd., #101, Boulder, CO 80302.
A memorial service will be held in Michigan this summer. For more info, call her sister, Beth, at 1-440-476-2600, or e-mail cruzbeth2002@yahoo.com.
LENA METZELAAR
Milan
Lena Metzelaar, 88, of Milan died March 16, 2007, at the Gilbert Residence in Ypsilanti. She was born May 16, 1918, in Kampen, the Netherlands, the second of three daughters to Lena (Baanders) and Samuel Koperberg, a scholar in Greek and Latin.
Mrs. Metzelaar and her family survived five long years of German wartime occupation. After the war, she set up a professional weaving studio in Amsterdam, where she met and married Henry Metzelaar. In 1949 the newlyweds came to the United States, where their daughter, Helen, was born. In 1953, son John was born and Mrs. Metzelaar's widowed mother remarried Frits Zernike, a physicist and 1953 Nobel Prize winner.
In 1955, they settled in Milan and in 1962 Mrs. Metzelaar joined the University of Michigan Institute of Gerontology research staff. The staff implemented various treatment programs to test the effects of environment intervention on geriatric mental health. Successful projects at the Ypsilanti State Hospital resulted in various teaching programs and publications, including her own contributions both as author and editor.
After retiring, Mrs. Metzelaar enrolled at Eastern Michigan University and returned to her old love of painting. For many years, she was active in the Milan Music Study Club and attended the Unitarian Fellowship in Ann Arbor with her husband. He preceded her in death July 31, 2006.
Survivors include a daughter, Helen Metzelaar, and a sister, Carolien Koperberg-Willems, both of the Netherlands, and a son, John Metzelaar of Milan.
Private services were held at Forest Hill Cemetery in Ann Arbor. Funeral arrangements were by Ochalek-Stark Funeral Service in Milan.
ANNA C. SCHLICKE
Saline
Anna C. Schlicke, 97, of Saline died March 16, 2007, at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. She was born in Enterprise, W.Va., the daughter of Dominick and Minnie (Trupo) Tropea. She married Rudolf H. Schlicke Oct. 26, 1929, in Steubenville, Ohio, and he preceded her in death Sept. 26, 1990.
Mrs. Schlicke worked as a pharmacy clerk. She was a member of St. Andrew Catholic Church, the Saline American Legion and the Senior Citizens of Saline.
She resided in the care of her great-niece, Dawn (Dean) Welt, and her great-niece's son, Wesley.
Mrs. Schlicke is survived by one brother, Leonard (Grace) Tropea of Eastpointe, and two sisters, Virginia Jessup of Caseville and Marguerite (Horace) Carter of Gaylord.
She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.
Mrs. Schlicke was preceded in death by her parents, five sisters and three brothers.
Visitation and a rosary were held Monday at the Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline. Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday at St. Andrew Catholic Church in Saline. The Rev. William Stevenson officiated. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery in Saline.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew Catholic Church and to the Saline Senior Center.
JEWELL AND JILLIAN EISEMANN
Saline
Jewell and Jillian Eisemann of Saline died at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor. They were the precious newborn daughters of Jeffrey and Jeanne (Jacoby) Eisemann; dear sisters of Michael, Ryan and Audrey Neet, and Brian and Stephanie Eisemann; and loving grand-daughters of Gerald and Susan Eisemann and Gerald and Betty Jacoby. Private services have been held. Arrangements were entrusted to the Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home.
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