Obituaries

Sidney Ward Smith

Sid was born on June 6, 1939, in Fort Worth, Texas. He passed away on August 20, 2026, in Chelsea, Michigan, after a long illness. He was the first child born to Frank and Mary Smith. A few years later, the Smith family moved to California. Sid grew up in the Bay Area and graduated from Hillsdale High School in 1957. He began his college career at General Motors Institute. After a year, he decided to enlist in the U. S. Army in 1962. His three-year enlistment included a tour on duty in Sinop, Turkey. After his discharge, he returned to college and graduated from San Jose State University with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering. After graduating, he found work at General Electric Nuclear in San Jose, California. He enjoyed his thirteen years at GE Nuclear, but decided to move to S. Levy, Inc., a nuclear consulting firm in Cupertino, California.

Joyce Lorine Vogel

Joyce Lorine Vogel, 97, of North Port, Florida, formerly of Punta Gorda, Florida, and Chelsea, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, May 5, 2026. She was born July 22, 1928, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the only child of Milton Bernard Hoffman and Lorine Mildred Haist Hoffman.

Joyce grew up on her family’s farm near Chelsea, began school in a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from Chelsea High School at 16. There, Lewis “Phil” Vogel watched her play basketball and told a friend she was the girl he was going to marry. He was right. They wed July 3, 1948, and were married for 54 years. While Phil studied engineering at the University of Michigan, Joyce worked at an Ann Arbor bank and was proud to become its first woman teller. She later devoted herself to raising their daughters, Martha, Linda and Gretchen.

Barbara Brown Zikmund

Barbara Brown Zikmund
1939 - 2026

Barbara Brown Zikmund was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on October 16, 1939. She was the daughter of Henry D. And Helen (Langworthy) Brown, formerly of Albion, Michigan. She attended Mumford High School and was active in Mayflower Congregational Church, both in Detroit.

She graduated from Beloit College in 1961, intending to pursue a career in Christian ministry. She earned a Bachelor of Divinity in 1964 and a Ph.D. in American Church History in 1969 from Duke University. She was ordained in the United Church of Christ upon completing her B.D. degree.

After leaving Duke she taught at Albright College, Temple University, Ursinus College, and Albion College.

Christine “Chris” Marie Gabel

Christine “Chris” Marie Gabel of Dearborn, Michigan, age 76, went to be with the Lord Monday, August 10, 2026, at her home. She was born June 29, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Leo Mark and Frances Angeline (Yura) Roddy.

Chris graduated from Lowrey High School in Dearborn, class of 1968. She worked for AM General as an Executive Secretary for many years. When Chris was younger, she enjoyed riding motorcycles and rode all the way to Florida. She was a caring and passionate person.