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Recent Obituaries

Antonius "Tom" Vandervoort

of Chelsea, Michigan, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2025. He was 92 years young, born on April 13, 1933, in Sassenheim, Netherlands.

Known to all as Tom, he lived life to the fullest, living by the motto "work hard, play hard." Tom's passion for hockey was a lifelong affair, and he continued to play himself well into his 70s. He was the life of the party, a natural entertainer who loved to dance and had an uncanny ability to make people laugh. Tom's warm and engaging personality meant he was cherished by many, and there wasn't a person who didn't enjoy his company.

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Jean Schmidt

Our mom calmly passed away on Tuesday, May 13, with an independent personality that continued until her final day.

She was born January 8, 1929, to Lynn William and Viola Marie (Nellis) Eisenbeiser in Jackson, Michigan, and was raised in the country near North Lake. She attended a one room country school - ‘Pumpkin College’ and graduated from Chelsea High School with the class of 1946. She was a 1950 grad of Michigan State Normal College with a degree in special education and taught hearing-impaired children at the Upjohn School in Kalamazoo. After raising her children, she returned to teaching fourth grade in the Chelsea Public Schools, retiring in 1985.

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John “Jack” Edward Simpson

of Jackson, Michigan, formerly of Chelsea, age 87, passed quickly Wednesday, April 30, 2025, at Henry Ford Hospital in Jackson, Michigan. He was born June 15, 1937, in Yreka, California, the son of Franklin Arnold and Grace Elizabeth (Paul) Simpson.
 
Jack moved to Whitmore Lake, from Oakland, California, when he was 9 years old. He attended high school in Ann Arbor, before joining the workforce. Jack worked many jobs, including Heydlauff Appliances and maintenance and repair work at Central Fiber in Chelsea, before moving east where he worked in Lake Placid. He then moved on to become Head Facilities Operator at Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont. Jack was a 32nd Degree Mason and Past Master. He belonged to the Rescue Lodge #772 in Crown Point, New York, and Mount Defiance Lodge #794 in Ticonderoga, NY. Jack loved to play cribbage and could often be seen playing at Seitz’s Tavern.
 
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Craig "Tim" Ortbring

 

“If you are a chef, no matter how good a chef you are, it's not good cooking for yourself; the joy is in cooking for others”… Will-i-am
 
That was how Tim Ortbring lived his life – for others. Craig Timothy “Chef” Ortbring passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 30th at his home. Cancer claimed Tim’s life but not his legacy.
 
Tim was one of “Those St. Mary’s school kids” in Chelsea up until middle school where he was able to take advantage of his stocky build. Tim was a battering ram style of fullback and had a strong kicking leg that was received by then new CHS Football Coach, Phil Baries. Tim was a rare 4-year varsity letter winner and old #32 made many a game-winning kick during his career at CHS.
 
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Sue Ellen Perry

of Columbus, Ohio, age 76, passed away peacefully after a long hard battle on Friday, March 14, 2025, at Regency at Bluffs Park in Ann Arbor, surrounded by her family. She was born August 27, 1948, in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Robert Gerald & Patricia Jean (Navarre) Cassidy.

Sue graduated from Bishop Hartley High School in Columbus, OH, and served with the Air Force Reserves for two years. She worked for Big Bear Corporation, and retired from Giant Eagle after 32 years. Sue was a devout Catholic her whole life. She was an avid bowler and bowled in leagues for over 30 years. Sue loved watching British mystery shows and Korean dramas, having a good tea, and enjoyed gardening, crocheting, and creating fairy gardens.

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Michael Louis Roskowski

His was a story about a man, a motorcycle, a dog, and a kingdom created from old tires, refrigerators, rusty scrap metal and love. As a father, he taught his two children (three if you count the dog) to see the beauty in all things. With his bare hands he built a house for his family, brought cars back from the dead and cooked one heck of a flying saucer sandwich.

As a friend he would give you the shirt off his back, had he been wearing one. Whether waterskiing or fishing at the lake, hunting to put food on the table, or chopping down trees to feed the furnace in the winter, Mike was a true outdoorsman…with his dog by his side wherever he went.

Above all Mike loved riding his Harley with his wife’s arms around his waist, the wind in his hair and sunglasses on…adventure awaited around every corner.

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Karen Elizabeth Erb Fitzpatrick

of Hudson, New Hampshire, age 73, died peacefully Monday, April 21, 2025, with her family by her side. She was born October 15, 1951, in Exeter, New Hampshire, the daughter of Ruth Berry (Erb) and Stuart Kemp Whipple.

Ruth raised Karen to be independent and adventurous during her childhood in Providence, Rhode Island, where she attended Beneficent Church and graduated from the Lincoln School. She also spent a year as an exchange student in France. She earned her undergraduate degree from Cornell University, and two master's degrees in Education from the University of New Hampshire and Duke University. Karen taught special education and first grade in North Carolina and Southern New Hampshire. As a teacher, Girl Scout troop leader, and mother she loved working with and helping children. Karen found the outdoors inspiring and fulfilling, with that joy first kindled by teen summers at Camp Kehonka. She loved hiking, canoeing, and sailing, and shared that passion with her family and friends. Karen enjoyed creative writing, including writing songs with her sister-in-law, Jane. She was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Nashua. Karen had dogs throughout her life, often more than one, and loved to both tell and hear stories about each dog’s unique personality. Karen was an incredibly kind person and lived her life with enthusiasm, joy, and empathy.

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