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Karen Ann Burson Fahle

Eldest daughter of Richard and Lenor Burson, most recently of Bloomfield Hills, formerly of Wyandotte, MI, Madison, WI, Grosse Pointe Park, MI, Rochester Hills, MI, and Fort Myers, FL, died Friday, March 15, 2024. 

Karen had an insatiable love for stories. Whenever she encountered a tale that made her laugh, she'd request it from you repeatedly, amplifying her laughter with each retelling. If you were unavailable to oblige, she'd happily steal your story as her own performance piece. If you haven't heard the "madras" story, or the one about the 14-point buck, please don't hesitate to inquire.

Her passions were as big as her spirit. Karen fancied herself the Julia Child of the Midwest, whipping up feasts fit for an army no matter the number gathered around the table. Her affinity for all things extra extended beyond her cooking, from her ubiquitous super-sized iced tea jug to her cherished dogs. Starting with reasonably-sized golden retrievers and labradors, Karen soon graduated to colossal Newfoundlands and eventually to English Mastiffs—the gentle giants of the dog world.

Karen's love for her husband, LeRoy, was her biggest gift to herself and she missed him terribly and struggled after his passing in 2004. Their shared world adventures included years in Heidelberg, Germany, where LeRoy served as an Army Captain before being deployed to Vietnam. Later, Karen and LeRoy co-managed one of the hottest tailgates at the University of Michigan stadium for more than 25 years, set up just outside the player entrance–where her cook-for-an-army instincts came in very handy. Married 40 years, theirs was a shared life filled with good friends and grand fun.

Thomas McGaw, Jr.

of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Punta Gorda, Florida, age 94, passed away Wednesday, March 20, 2024, after a brief illness. He was born May 9, 1929 in Norwood, Ohio, the son of Thomas Joseph McGaw and Dorcas Elizabeth (Ballard) McGaw.

Thomas (Tom) and his six siblings grew up in Norwood. It was there that he met his wife of nearly 76 years, Phyllis. They were married on November 10, 1947 and raised their three children in Chelsea, Michigan and they survive. Son Thomas (Hazel) McGaw III of Grass Lake; daughters Janice (Larry) Gaken of Chelsea, and Patricia (Brad) McGibney of Temperance as well as six grandchildren Erin Knott, Evan (Ann) Chiumino-Knott, Adam (Marina) Knott, Thomas McGaw IV, Catherine (Kelly) Richmond, Michael McGibney; six great-grandchildren Alexis, Alivia, Helen, Lauren, Seamus, and Philip; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Phyllis, six siblings, and grandson Philip.

William Carl Rosentreter

of Indianapolis, Indiana, formerly of Chelsea, Michigan, age 60, died Monday, February 26, 2024, at the Community Hospital East in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was born January 4, 1964, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the son of John and Irla M. (Scripter) Rosentreter.

Will was a maintenance worker at Hillside Terrace in Ann Arbor & Indiana.

William David "Bill" Bell

William David “Bill” Bell, eldest son of Donald and Dorothy Bell passed March 10, 2024 at the age of 93. We are grateful that he passed peacefully with his family at his side and lovingly cared for by the staff at Evangelical Health in Saline MI. Our “Dad” to the end, he was most concerned that his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren are all well and happy; bills are paid, arrangements made. We know Dad was welcomed with open arms into Heaven by Mom (“Billie”), daughter Jane, his parents, and the many friends, family and faithful pets who preceded him in death.

A thoughtful, loyal, honest person who believed in service, Bill was always involved in his community whether as the Mayor, school board member, volunteer police officer, HOA President, club President, or Board Member of a charity.

Bobbie Jeffers Ralph

Formerly of Norman, Oklahoma, died February 21, 2024, in her apartment at Chelsea Retirement Community in Chelsea, Michigan. She was 98.

Bobbie was born in Pineville, Missouri in 1925. She was the only daughter, with two older brothers, Edward (d.) and Joe (d.), and one younger brother in her family. The family lived in several southwest Missouri towns before she first attended Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, for one year. She then took a teaching appointment in a two-room school for a year, to help support her family. She resumed her studies at Drury for a second year before transferring to Oklahoma State University where she completed her bachelor’s degree in music. There she met Damon Ralph (d.) whom she married in 1949. The couple had three children, daughters Alice and Nancy, and son Gary.