Obituaries

Vonda Yvonna Petri

At age 91, Vonda passed away at home in Chelsea on August 23, 2023, after complications from a stroke on March 31. Her legacy is a life devoted to Christ and a heart full of love for everyone she met.
On February 23, 1952, she married her life-long mate, Nicholas Petri, Jr., known to all as ‘Pete’. Together they lived and worked in Michigan until Pete’s retirement when they became Floridians for more than 25 years.

Some of mom’s favorite memories were about saving to buy her first automobile, a blue Hudson, selling Amway, Tupperware, Beeline Fashions, and Queen’s Way to Fashion, becoming a lifeguard and then a hairdresser before working in the Van Buren school system where she started in the lunchroom and finished as the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools. Her crowning achievement was fulfilling a life-long desire to become a nurse and completing her LPN education and licensure at age 54.

David Jorgensen

David Jorgensen died at home on August 16, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He had battled cancers for the last several years: the legacy of his beloved pipe. David is survived by his wife Judy; his daughters Kathryn (Jonathan) Iwamasa, Holly (Jeff) Vetor, and Sylvia Havnen; his grandchildren Sofie, Jabari, Josef, Austin, Colin, Magdalen, Natalia, and Jakob; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and corresponding greats. 

Jean Ann Ziebell

of Chelsea, MI, passed away on August 21, 2023 after a short, but strong, battle with cancer.  Her battle was defined by many as "stoic", which is a great description of her.  She was born on April 28, 1944 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to Elborn John (aka "Dino") Ziebell and Irene Ida Mae Ziebell.  At age 3 the family moved to northern Michigan, settling in Leland.  While in Leland she worked part-time at her dad's business, the Leelanau Enterprise,  as did all of her siblings.  After graduating from Leland Public School, Jean went on to study as a dental assistant.  After a short stint in that field, she decided to move on and began working for Wellman Press in Lansing as an editor in the publishing world.  The company eventually was sold to the John Henry company,  from which she retired.

Jerald Lee Coyne Schwiebert

Jerry Schwiebert, 72, of Chelsea, MI, passed away peacefully on Monday, August 14, 2023. He died at home, surrounded by family, after a decade-long battle with cancer. Jerry was a man of many passions, including fly fishing, sailing, cycling, soccer, painting, teaching, and most importantly his family. He loved to fly fish, especially on the Au Sable River, and even illustrated Rusty Gates’ flyfishing book, “Seasons on the Au Sable.”

Jerry grew up in Napoleon, Ohio and graduated from Napoleon High School in 1969. Afterwards he attended the University of Toledo, where he earned a specialized degree in Theatrical Arts and Production. Following graduation, Jerry worked as an assistant film editor in NYC, assisting with many network commercials. As a young man he became Director of the Toledo Public Arts Center and oversaw the design and construction of a theater.