Rev. Arthur John Bode
March 12, 1953 – January 24, 2022
Reverend Arthur John Bode, 68, of Gould City, died suddenly Monday, January 24, 2022 at his residence.
Born March 12, 1953 in New Ulm, Minnesota, son of the late Wilmer and Marie (Gurgel) Bode, Pastor Bode was a 1971 graduate of Weseca High School in Weseca, Minnesota, graduate of the University of Minnesota-Crookston with an associate degree in Agriculture and later from the University of New Hampshire at Durham with a Bachelor’s Degree in animal husbandry.
From 1983 to 1984 he trained and performed with the Lipizzaner Stallion Show for a year throughout the United States and Canada. He met and married his wife, the former Jody Pettengill, on July 6, 1984 at East Waterboro, Maine and shortly thereafter entered ministry training and graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary of Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1988.
Pastor Bode served at St. James Lutheran Church and School, Howard Lake, Minnesota until 1991; St. Stephen Lutheran Church of Shelby, Michigan until 2003, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Engadine and Grace Lutheran Church in Germfask until his retirement in April 2021. Pastor Bode also served mission churches at Lighthouse Lutheran in Pentwater, Trout Lake Lutheran in Trout Lake, Hope Lutheran in St. Ignace and Victory Lutheran in Manistique. In 2018, he was a recipient of the Michigan District LCMS’s Paul Award for his tireless work for the expansion of the Kingdom in the Upper Peninsula. Since retirement, he has led some services at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Preschool in Munising while they are in vacancy.
Pastor Bode enjoyed spending time with his family, golfing, hunting, fishing and competition archery as a member of the ECUPAA in Curtis.
In addition to his parents, Pastor Bode is preceded in death by his sister Flora Cole, brother Mark Bode, sister-in-law Linda Bode, brothers-in-law Rick Harkins and Dana Pettengill.
Survivors include his loving wife, Jody, of Gould City; children Kiel Bode of Ludington, Michigan, Bree Bode of Hudsonville, Michigan, Adrienne (Daniel) Goldstein of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Jeffrey (Erica) Bode of Grand Rapids, Michigan; grandchildren Brooke, Kaden, Kolby, Kameron, Kora, Jack, Samuel and William; siblings Gerald Bode of Mapleton, Minnesota, Nathan (Cheryl) Bode of Courtland, Minnesota, Paul (Sue) Bode of Henning, Minnesota, Carol Harkins of Hamilton, Indiana, Edward (Vicky) Bode of New Ulm, Minnesota, Martin (Deb) Bode of St. Cloud, Minnesota; sister-in-Law Heidi Raynes of Waterville, Maine, Wendy Ramsay of Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Patti (Yvan) Landry of Arundel, Maine; several nieces and nephews; former wife Annette Leroux of York, Maine.
A gathering of family and friends will take place Friday, January 28, 2022 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Engadine. Funeral services celebrating the life of Reverend Bode will follow at 12:00 noon at the church with Reverend’s Charles Burhop and Kyle Kuehl concelebrating.
Memorials may be directed to Concordia Theological Seminary, Attn: Student Aid Fund, 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825 or donor’s choice in his loving memory.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com.
Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Donald L. Wright
August 26, 1954 – January 17, 2022
Donald Leroy Wright, age 67, of Newberry, passed away on Monday, January 17, 2022, at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey. Don was born on August 26, 1954, the son of Donald Harley and Arlene Bernice Wright. He was born in Escanaba and raised in Michigan. Donald was a builder/contractor most of his life, enjoying residential projects. Don served his country honorably in the Army. Don married Rachael Kay Olson on June 18, 2005, in Trufant, Michigan. He had many hobbies and enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting, camping. He also enjoyed woodworking and loved spending time with his family. He was a member of the VA, American Legion Post 149 in Newberry. Donald and Rachael attended both the Living Waters Church and the Good News Church. Donald was a preacher. He enjoyed spreading God’s Word wherever he went.
Donald is survived in death by his wife Rachael Wright of Newberry; children, Christina (Michael) Mazie of Sparta, Melissa (Trevor) Jones of Howard City, Amber (Brett) Bockman of Nebraska. Adopted children; Teawna Rose, Arial Kay, and David Leroy Wright, stepchildren, George (Klurenda) wood, Carl (Leaha) Wood, Joy Deursha, Amber (Fred) Galehouse. siblings Dave Briscoe, Terry Wright, Patricia Curnutt, and Mike Wright; 25 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews, and friends. As well as all of Newberry.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents Donald and Arlene “Bernice” Wright; siblings, John Wright, Donna Davis, and Alan Briscoe.
Funeral Services for Donald were held on Monday, January 24, 2022, at 1:00 P.M. at Brigham Funeral Chapel in Edmore, with Pastor Jim Duflo officiating. Family accepted friends for visitation on Monday from 11:00 – 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Condolences to the family may be made utilizing the guestbook at www.brighamfuneralchapel.
Randy Allen Wheeler
August 27, 1959 – January 16, 2022
Lifelong area resident, Randy Allen Wheeler, 62, of Newberry, died Sunday evening January 16, 2022 at Helen Newberry Joy Hospital.
Born August 27, 1959 in McMillan, son of the late Freeman and Patsy (Kirby) Wheeler, Randy was a 1977 graduate of Newberry High School.
Following high school, Randy worked at the Seney National Wildlife Refuge, employed in the custodian department at Helen Newberry Joy Hospital for 20 years, a truck driver for Pike Distributing and was presently employed as a truck driver for AM Express in Escanaba. He attended the Newberry United Methodist Church, former volunteer and Chief of the Luce County Ambulance Corp, former volunteer firefighter and secretary of the Columbus Township Fire Department, former Scoutmaster of B.S.A. Troop 124 and enjoyed woodworking, hunting, fishing, and was a follower of his children’s activities.
Survivors include his loving wife, the former Jackie Ryan, whom he married September 22, 1992 in Newberry; children Rebecca Wheeler of Newberry, Heather (Jon) Flatt of Newberry, Andrew Wheeler of Newberry, Allen Wheeler of Newberry and Ryan Wheeler of Newberry; grandchildren Maddy Flatt, Nicholas Flatt, Kezia Cleary, Desmond Crandall and Aspyn Smithson; siblings Jeff (Marjorie) Wheeler of McMillan, Sara Doyle of Morgantown, Pennsylvania and Michael Wheeler of McMillan; numerous extended family members.
Per request, cremation services were accorded. A gathering of family and friends will be held Friday, January 28, 2022 at 5:30 pm at the American Legion Post #74 in Newberry.
Memorials may be directed to the Luce County Ambulance Corp or the Columbus Township Fire Department in his loving memory.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com.
Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Carol June Jerrick
Carol June Jerrick, 70, of Newberry, died Monday January 24, 2022 at her residence. Carol was born January 25, 1951 in Newberry, daughter of the late Charles and June (Hyde) Jerrick. Survivors include her sister Barbara (Joe) Schneider of Newberry.
Per request, cremation services were accorded. Carol will be laid to rest in the spring of 2022 in the Jerrick family plot at Caffey Cemetery.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com.
Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
