Obituaries

Arthur N. “Art” Stoll

of Chelsea, MI, age 87, passed away Sunday, July 16, 2017 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Chelsea. He was born May 23, 1930 in Ann Arbor, the son of Arthur D. & Erma M. (Haarer) Stoll.  Art graduated from Dexter High School in 1948, and in 1949 he married his high school sweetheart, Patricia A. Pingston.  Art retired from Chrysler Proving Grounds in 1989 after 37 years of service.  He was a valued member of the community; his professional affiliations included active roles in the Lions Club, Chelsea Jaycees,  a volunteer at Waterloo Farm Museum, the Masonic Lodge and Royal Arch Masons, UAW local #1252, and a founding leader of Boy Scout Troop 420.   In retirement, his interests were as varied as his collection of quirky sayings. He spent many years boating on Cavanaugh Lake, enjoyed antiquing, and he made sure his yard remained pristine at all times. His greatest enjoyment came from the many relationships he cultivated and maintained throughout the Chelsea and Dexter communities.

Mary J. (Thurow) Eschelbach

formerly of Ann Arbor, Dexter and Chelsea, age 93, died Monday, May 8, 2017 at Saline Evangelical Home. She was born March 27, 1924 in Springport, MI the daughter of George H. and Vera (Gregory).

Mary graduated from Springport High School in 1943. On June 10, 1945, she married Neil Alfred Eschelbach in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition to raising her four children, she was a seamstress, a bookkeeper at Everhardus, and later was the Office Manager for Dr. T.J. Spencer for 12 years. Mary was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, where she taught the children’s choir and Sunday School, and was a member of the adult choir. She was also a member of Ladies Aid and Charity Circle. Mary was an organist, pianist and loved playing music.

James Phillip Brown

age 56, passed away suddenly Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Henry Ford Allegiance Hospital .  He was born October 3, 1960 in Jackson, Michigan, the son of James R. & Beverly (Burmis) Brown. Jim lived in Chelsea most of his life and attended Chelsea High School. He worked at Pilot Industries in Dexter, then Pilot, known as Mantenrae, in Manchester. Jim also worked at William 145  truck stop in Jackson with his dad. Jim enjoyed drag racing and working on cars. He was liked and loved by everyone who he came in contact with.

June Ramsay Burghardt

of Lacey, WA, formerly of Chelsea, MI & Gainesville, FL, age 100, died peacefully Monday, May 15, 2017 in Olympia, Washington. She was born April 8, 1917 in Wyandotte, Michigan, the daughter of Frank & Alma (Jeffers) Ramsay.  Mrs. Burghardt  studied art at Society of Arts & Crafts in Detroit, (now the Center for Creative Studies) and worked as a fashion illustrator for a time. On May 17, 1942, she married Louis Burghardt and he preceded her in death in 1992. She & Lou owned and operated the Burghardt Funeral Home in Chelsea for 26 years prior to their retirement in 1977. They traveled extensively in the U.S and abroad and finally settled in Gainsville, FL in 1986.  June moved back to Chelsea in 2004, living at the Pines until she moved to Washington in 2011 to live with her daughter. She was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Chelsea.