Lois Marie Lehtinen of Chelsea, formerly of Midland, TX, age 77, died Friday, March 27, 2020.
Her family sang “Blessed Assurance” and prayed her into the presence of Jesus. She was born Jan. 4, 1943 in Antigo, Wisconsin, the daughter of Frank and Lenore (Emerich) Charles.
Lois graduated from Antigo High School in 1961 and she attended teacher’s college after that. Her greatest joy working was as the administrative assistant for St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church in Spring, TX. She also really enjoyed working with special needs students.
After she retired, Lois moved to Midland, TX to be near her daughter Laura, where she attended the First Christian Church, sang in the choir, volunteered with the SHARE program helping families and children with special needs, folding bulletins and visiting members.
In the summers, she attended the Chelsea Free Methodist Church where her son pastored, and she mentored the “Rest & Refresh” program, modeled on SHARE. She enjoyed knitting, loved sports (she played basketball in college), and was always amazed by God’s creation. She enjoyed time with her family, and had a great love for the Lord and for people. Lois will be remembered for her infectious laugh and smile.
Burial will be with her beloved husband Jeff at Forest Hill Cemetery in Aurora, Minnesota.
For the full obituary, please click here.
Gail Margaret Starr of Pinckney
We are saddened to announce the death of Gail Margaret Starr of Pinckney, formally of Chelsea, of the Hoffman Family.
Gail was 72 years young and died too soon on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Chelsea following a long battle of illness.
She was born Aug. 26, 1947 in Ann Arbor. She was one of 11 daughters and one brother of Maurice and Lucille Emma (Barnhardt) Hoffman.
In 1952, an article in the Citizens Patriot titled “GIRLS GALORE” was posted about a family in Chelsea with 11 girls and a single son. The article stated there was “a man in Chelsea, MI with enough daughters for a baseball team”. Gail’s father, Maurice Hoffman, promptly phoned the newspaper and said, “That’s nothing, we’ve got enough girls for a football team, with a son left over to coach”. Gail and all of her siblings attended St. Mary’s grammar school and Chelsea High school.
Gail married in the late 60’s and was a homemaker and loving mother and wife on a horse farm in Gregory. She and her sister Debbie started Clean Sweep, a house cleaning business in the 80’s which she continued to work for almost 40 years until her death.
Due to the COVID-19 virus issues within our communities and across our country, memorial service will be held at a future date when family and friends can travel and gather together to remember this remarkable woman. Please check www.ColeFuneralChapel.com, along with Facebook for updates. Her family will post updates on Gail’s Facebook home page that can be found by searching “Starr Gail”.
For the full obituary, please click here.
