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Obituaries

These obituaries are listed in order from newest to oldest.  If you want to look for a specific obituary, just type the last name in the search bar (at the top of this article).  You can click here to sign up to receive obituaries by e-mail.

Joan Marie Bingel

of Chelsea, Michigan, age 94, died Thursday, February 29, 2024, at the Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born April 19, 1929, in Grass Lake, Michigan, the daughter of Aura C. and Edna (Eschelbach) Munro.  From an early age, Joan and her sister were raised by Walt and Edna Schaible.

Joan grew up on her grandparents’ farm in Grass Lake, graduating from Grass Lake High School in 1947. She was involved in several school activities and sports and loved growing up on the farm and riding horses. Joan had a Morgan named Big Red and rode in the local parades.  Joan graduated from Detroit Mercy Nursing School in 1950 and worked as a Registered Nurse at Livonia St. Mary’s.  Joan married Dwight in May of 1951 and they were together for 54 years until his death.  Joan and Dwight lived in Waterford, Livonia, Wayne and ultimately Ann Arbor where they raised their four sons.  After starting a family, Joan became a loving stay-at-home mother and was heavily involved in the children’s activities and sports.    Raising four boys, she learned to love sports and even later in life you would often find her at her son’s and grandchildren’s sports activities.  In her spare time, Joan was a caregiver for several sick and elderly people in need. 

John Jemeil Porter

of Ann Arbor, Michigan, age 76, passed away Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at his home. He was born May 24, 1948, in Pennsville, Ohio, the son of Gerald Harrison and Marjorie Joan (Newton) Porter.

John graduated from Chelsea High School in 1968, and then enlisted in the Marines, serving in Vietnam. He worked at the mill on Dexter-Chelsea Road, Detroit Abrasives Company, Thetford Engineering in Ann Arbor, and Lucille Products in Ann Arbor. He retired from Quality Filters in Ann Arbor in 2010. John was a former member of the American Legion in Chelsea. John was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed these activities with his son.

Roslyn (Reule) Drummond Freed

of Williamsburg, Michigan, Roslyn Ann Freed (Grandma Rose), age 92, passed away July 25, 2024, surrounded with love at her daughter’s home, where she resided.  Roslyn was a caring wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who loved her family and had a great sense of humor.

Born January 25, 1932, to William and Armilla (Wolff) Reule, she grew up in the Chelsea area, attended Michigan State University and completed beauty school in Ann Arbor before moving to Plymouth where she raised her three children and lived for over 50 years, then moving to Northern Michigan to be closer to family.  

Ruth Ann Koch

of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Dexter, age 84, died Friday, August 2, 2024 at The Willows at Howell, where she received excellent care for the last 3 months. She was born April 16, 1940 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the daughter of Harold & Lucille (Thorpe) Sjostrom.

Ruth graduated Ann Arbor High School in 1958. She retired as a bookkeeper for Ann Arbor Carpets. Ruth grew up attending St. Paul Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, and helped start Peace Lutheran Church. She and Bill were part of a “Hi-Lo” Camping Group. She enjoyed meeting up for coffee in Dexter Saturday mornings with a group of friends. Ruth enjoyed living in the country, in the house she and Bill built, where she liked to grow vegetables and flowers and watch birds. Ruth was devoted to her friends and family, and especially her grandchildren.

Jenny St. John

On May 19, 1976, God blessed our family with an incredible gift. Jennifer Ann St. John was born to Homer and Barbara St. John in Ann Arbor, Michigan. We had no idea the amazing journey we would be on for the next 48 years.

Jenny grew up in Chelsea Michigan. She attended school at Washtenaw Intermediate School District and graduated from their young adult program in 2002. She had several jobs after graduation and worked at Huron River Area Credit Union for many years. In 2013 Jenny and her mom moved to Kalispell, Montana to be close to her Montana family.