Joseph Franklin Gates
Joe. He entered, lived, and exited life surprising those he knew.
He was way too premature to easily survive his August 15, 1933 birth in Charleston, West Virginia. Ever immersed in numbers and jokes, he’d have loved to quip he cheated death for 31,215 days — then hung on briefly in hospice, apparently stable, before dying peacefully in five minutes the morning of January 31, 2019.
Joe lived the first quarter of his life in the Mountaineer State. He graduated West Virginia University in 1955 with a BA in business administration. Joe came from a family of World War I and II veterans, and he enlisted in the US Army in February 1956. He was honorably discharged as an SP-3 into the Reserves following service in Germany with the legendary First Artillery during the height of the Cold War.
Joe met his first love Gertrud Scheible during his overseas deployment. They married in Weingarten, West Germany on July 22, 1957, and settled in Plymouth, Michigan. She embedded in him a permanent love of everything German — particularly her cooking, bakery pretzels, and Christmas stollen. He threw himself into his single career with Ford Motor Company. He was at once dedicated, meticulous, detailed, an administrator of purchasing from the supply chain, who arrived at work before anyone else.
of Jackson, Michigan, age 91, died Friday, February 1, 2019 at Faith Haven Senior Care Center, Jackson. He was born March 24, 1927 in Jackson, Michigan, the son of George Henry & Florence May (Lowe) Ackerman.
of Napoleon, MI, age 62, died Thursday, January 31, 2019 at his home. He was born October 3, 1956 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the son of Elmer Rupert & Elsie Edna (Jones) Hartmann. Ed graduated from Chelsea High School in 1974. He worked for Palmer Ford and owned Hartmann's Auto Service in Gregory and Jackson. "Throughout his life he enjoyed a number of hobbies. He was a member of the Jackson, Manchester, and Munith Gun clubs. Additionally he participated in the Grand American Trap Shooting Championships. It was his love of trap shooting that led him to coaching young trap shooters in the scholastic clay target program. He was an avid sprint car driver in his younger years. He took delight in being outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Many of his cherished times were spent at his log cabin in Merritt, MI. It would be remiss if his child-like excitement for antique tractors wasn't mentioned. He regularly attended and participated in parades and shows.
of Chelsea, MI, age 85, died Thursday, January 31, 2019 at her home. She was born February 11, 1933 in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of Russell & Clara (Colvia) Ferry. Elaine lived in Chelsea most of her life. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church since 2008. Elaine worked at the Chelsea Hardware store, and Dayspring Gifts. 
of Pentwater, MI formerly of Chelsea, MI, age 86, passed peacefully following a brief illness at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, FL on Monday, January 28, 2019. She was born February 24, 1932 in Ann Arbor, MI, the daughter of Elmer J. & Faith Hope Charity (LaBounty) Steeb. Pat graduated from Ann Arbor High School in 1949 and married William J. Stierle in Chelsea, MI on February 17th, 1968. She was a partner and secretary/treasurer at Steeb Dodge Sales in Saline, MI for 36 years. Pat was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Chelsea and a member of the Pentwater Yacht Club. After retirement, Pat and her husband spent many memorable years traveling the world and enjoying life. One of her favorite places was being at her home on Lake Michigan listening to the waves. Her joy for life, sense of humor and love for her family and friends were her greatest gifts.