Obituaries

Ruth Marie Calkins

of Jackson, MI, formerly of Chelsea, MI, age 78, died Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at Legacy Assisted Living in Jackson. She was born January 5, 1941 in Chelsea, MI, the daughter of Wayne Francis & Mary Agnes (Stapish) Rossbach. Ruth attended Cushing Elementary (a one-room school), Dexter High School, and then graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1959. She worked at the University of Michigan School of Public Health as a secretary. Ruth and Bob moved to Chelsea in 1981. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. Ruth sang in the choir from 1982 until 2017. She had a great love for music. Ruth enjoyed drawing and was a great artist. She made paper dolls and clothing for them.

Marian L. Havens

Age 97, passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 13, 2019 at her home in Chelsea Retirement Community, Chelsea, Michigan.

Marian, the daughter of Milo and Vera (King) Wiley was born May 26, 1922 in Kalamazoo.  She was a 1939 graduate of Western State High School, and attended Western Michigan University.  After her future husband, Howard H. Havens, returned from service in WWII, they were married in Kalamazoo in 1946.  They had known each other since kindergarten, and were lifelong friends.  The couple moved to Battle Creek, where they resided for nearly 40 years.  They moved to Lyon Lake in 1985, and lived there until moving to Marshall in 2000.

John David Ochs

Age 68, passed away on August 6, 2019 at his home near Ann Arbor, MI. He was born on December 27, 1950 in Olney, Illinois. John is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Susie Ochs, brother Sylvan, and sister Esther.  He is survived by his wife of nearly 40 years, Susan Leben Ochs, brothers Kenneth and Samuel (Debbie) Ochs, daughter Katharine (Kyle) Bracken, granddaughter Ella, and another granddaughter on the way. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1973 and soon went to work for the Bloomington Daily Pantagraph as a News Reporter, worked as a Farm Editor for Illinois Farm Bureau, and then as Press Secretary for the Illinois Department of Agriculture.

Everett "Wayne" Hofmeister Jr.

of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor, age 86, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, August 5, 2019 at Legacy Assisted Living. He was born March 6, 1933 in Dowagiac, Michigan, the son of Everett Wayne & Rose Cornelia (Talbot) Hofmeister.

A faithful member of Faith Baptist Church, Wayne loved his Lord, his family, and his church family very much and will be sorely missed by so many. Wayne was a construction inspector for the city of Ann Arbor for many years. He served in the US Army in Korea. In recent years, he helped teach chess to many people through the Chelsea Chess Club. Wayne was known for his sense of humor.