Marian Louise Havens of Chelsea, age 97, died Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2019 at Chelsea Retirement Community.
She was born May 26, 1922 in Kalamazoo, Mich. the daughter of Milo and Vera (King) Wiley.
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.
Marian was employed for many years at Auto Club Services in Battle Creek, from which she retired in 1985. She and Howard traveled with her sister Fran and husband Gerry for a number of years, visiting coastal states of the eastern U.S. She was an avid reader, and volunteered at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall.
Private graveside services and burial will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Kalamazoo.
For the full obituary, please click here.
John David Ochs, age 68, passed away on Aug. 6, 2019 at his home near Ann Arbor.
He was born on Dec. 27, 1950 in Olney, Ill. 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.
In 1981, John and Susan moved to Washington D.C., where he worked for John Block, Secretary of Agriculture under President Ronald Reagan. He worked under the administration for 8 years.
During his time with the Federal government, he traveled all over the world with the Department of Agriculture. Stories he told of his experiences in various (and sometimes dangerous) areas of the world were fascinating. He was a gifted story teller and writer.
Following his time in Washington D.C. he joined Ford Motor Company, eventually becoming Director of Public Relations, moving to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and finally to Ann Arbor, Michigan. He retired in 2003.
His funeral will be held at St. Joseph’s Parish in Stringtown, IL on Oct. 26, 2019 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.
