Obituaries

Lew Gossage

Age 73, passed away Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at Birchwood Retreat in Chelsea, after a long illness. He was born April 18, 1950, in Benton, Illinois, the son of Loyce and Joann (Doty) Gossage.

Lew served in the US Army ROTC in the early 1970's. He attended the University of California, in Santa Barbara, where he earned his bachelor's degree in economics; and later, earned his Master of Business Administration. Lew spent his career in publishing, first as a salesman for Southwestern Publishing, and worked his way up to Vice President for McGraw-Hill, in Chicago, IL. Lew developed and led Xanedu at ProQuest. He was an avid reader of history, and loved old movies, watching documentaries, and classic cars. Lew owned a '67 Beetle that he toured Europe in with his parents and brother. He was a quiet and studious person.

Thomas Edward Mattingly

A loving, passionate, and courageous man, passed away peacefully on October 5, 2023, in Chelsea, Michigan. Born on August 12, 1937, in Appleton, Wisconsin, to the late Edgar and Gertrude (Birkenmeyer) Mattingly, Thomas was a beacon of joy and strength to all who knew him.

Stanley Platsis

Age 81, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, October 5, 2023, with his wife and daughter by his side.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Carol (Spooner) Platsis; son, Zacharias Platsis of Wilmington, Delaware; daughter, Artemis Fuchs of Charleston, South Carolina; sister, Mary Platsis of Battle Creek; brother, George Platsis of Okemos; and grandchildren, Henry, Albert, Sophia, Miriam.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Christine Manos.

Philip Potocki

Philip Mathew Potocki, of Mesick and formerly of the Chelsea area, passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at his home. He was 51.

Phil was born on November 1, 1971 to Bill and Sandra (Burns) Potocki in Garden City, Michigan. On September 19, 1998, he entered into marriage with the former Dana Lipka in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Phil began his career working as a Park Ranger for the Michigan DNR at the Waterloo Recreation Area, then at Mitchell State Park, and finally at the Interlochen State Park. During his 25 plus years in the Michigan DNR, Phil mentored many people and left a far greater mark on them then he could have ever imagined. Phil also took great pride in his various roles at the MSEA union and felt a deep sense of loyalty and responsibility to the union community that he represented. Phil was always up for an adventure and had an incredible ability to see opportunities to grow and expand the DNR connection in the communities he served.