Andrew Downey III
November 27, 1944 – December 4, 2021
Longtime Newberry resident, Andrew J. Downey III, 77, died Saturday afternoon December 4, 2021 at his residence in the presence of his loving family and North Woods Home Care and Hospice.
AJ was born November 27, 1944 in Coral Gables, Florida, son of the late Andrew J. Jr. and Eleanor (McGowan) Downey. After his time in the Army, AJ’s father moved the family back to the area where he had been raised: Romeo, Michigan. AJ grew up in Romeo, where his love for all things outdoors became evident at an early age. He learned to read through a Fur Fish and Game magazine subscription that was gifted to him by his father and spent his childhood stalking the streams and marshes of Macomb County, trapping, fishing, and hunting. He was a 1963 graduate of Romeo High School and was drafted into the United States Navy as a Boatswain’s Mate on November 11, 1965. He served aboard the Sumner-class Destroyer, USS Lofberg during the Vietnam War until his honorable discharge on October 25, 1968. He continued service in the Naval Reserves until his discharge on November 10, 1971.
After he was discharged, he returned to Romeo where he was hired as a test driver for Ford. After power-shifting four speeds around the hi-speed track at the Romeo proving grounds got boring, he opted for a job that brought him back to the area he loved: the outdoors. For several years he managed a shooting reserve in Capac, catering prime pheasant land to hunt for people all around the world. He purchased a small hunting camp located in Newberry, Michigan in the late seventies, and opted to make the permanent move to Newberry in 1983 where he could fish, hunt, and trap to his heart’s desire. He also became a member of the former VFW Post #4418 around this time.
AJ was an extremely talented artist and combined his skills with his love for the outdoors through his woodwork, primarily being fish decoys, which he began carving in the winter of 1982. His woodwork quickly became highly sought-after and remains so today. His work has appeared in multiple publications, as well as several exhibitions, the most recent being Hooked on Wood: The Allure of the Fish Decoy, exhibited at The Center for Art in Wood in Philadelphia. AJ was not only highly skilled in woodwork, but also in painting and drawing, and was widely known for his detailed, hand-lettered signs. His mediums were numerous, his talents unmatched.
AJ will be remembered for his winsome smile, good-looks, infectious laugh, humility, and his adept story-telling skills. He was a best friend and mentor to each one of his children, always giving the correct answer, advice, and story for seemingly every life crisis. He is missed fiercely every day.
In addition to his parents, Andrew is preceded in death by his brother Joseph Downey, of Romeo, Michigan, and nephew, Joseph Aleman of Las Vegas. Survivors include his loving wife, the former Rosemary Cole, whom he married June 13, 1977 in Lapeer, Michigan; children A.J. IV (Monica) Downey of Newberry, Jessica Rose Downey of Denver, Colorado and Lucas Alvin Downey of Newberry; grandchildren Roslyn Bufford and Lillian Downey; sister Fran Funderburk of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and several nephews. Per his request, cremation services were accorded. A gathering of family and friends will take place at a later date.
Memorials may be directed to North Woods Home Care and Hospice, Newberry Fire Department or to the Newberry Goodfellows in his loving memory. Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Carol June Wheeler
June 7, 1939 – December 3, 2021
Carol June Wheeler, 82, of Lakefield Township, died Friday December 3, 2021 at Robin’s Nest AFC Home in Newberry.
Born June 7, 1939 in Detroit, daughter of the late Ogden and Martha (Krenz) Maynard, Carol married Robert M. Wheeler April 20, 1957 in Corinth, Mississippi.
Carol and her husband Robert resided in Gibraltar, Michigan where she was a devoted homemaker raising her family. Following her husband’s retirement, they moved to Lakefield Township where she had resided since 1976. Carol enjoyed gardening, painting, sewing, sailing, swimming and family gatherings at the beach.
In addition to her parents, Carol is preceded in death by her husband Robert on March 11, 2004 and her sister Marty Franklin. Survivors include her children Jeff (Amy) Wheeler of Lakefield Township, Sheryl (Alan) Saunders of Lakefield Township and Glen (Lisa) Wheeler of Addison, Michigan; seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; sister Laura Patterson of Grand Prairie, Texas; brother-in-law Jim Franklin of Birmingham, Alabama and sister-in-law Betty (Jack) Rouse of Woodhaven, Michigan; her loving lap dog Minnow.
A gathering of family and friends will take place Wednesday December 8, 2021 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry. Funeral services will follow at 11:00 am at the funeral home with Brenson Kingren presiding. Interment will take place in the spring of 2022 at the West Lakefield Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice in Carol’s loving memory. Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Mary Ann Burton
October 31, 1933 – December 6, 2021
Mary Ann Burton, of Curtis, MI, age 88, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2021. She was born in Gould City, MI on October 31, 1933, the daughter of Joseph Oliver and Orza (Braden) Leveille. She attended schools in Gould City and graduated as Salutatorian from the class of 1951.
Mary Ann married Norman Arthur Burton in Manistique, MI on April 4, 1953, and they enjoyed 52 years of married life together. She had a variety of work experience, including housekeeping at Blaney Park, serving as a nurse’s aide at Lakefield Nursing Home, and working as a clerk at Morrison’s Store in Germfask and Seney IGA. Mary Ann spent the greater part of her life in Germfask, MI and was a member of the Methodist Church. She liked knitting, crocheting, and reading. She liked visiting with her friends on the telephone and loved spending time with grandkids and great grandkids who affectionately called her “Grandma Great.”
Mary Ann is survived by her son Norman (Sherry) Burton of Curtis, MI her daughter Rachel Orza (David) Williams of Germfask, MI; sister Emely LaBrasseur of Coos Bay, OR; four grandchildren, Paul (Josie) Williams, Jennifer Burton, Joselyn (Jeffrey) Mouch, Jarrissa (Brian) Hurst, and nine great-grandchildren, Cheyenne, Faith, Zeke, Levi, Ezra, Serenity, Selah, Zebadiah, and Henry. Mary Ann is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, eight brothers, and five sisters.
Graveside services will be held in the spring of 2022 at Riverside Cemetery in Germfask with times to be announced. Fausett Family Funeral Homes of Manistique, MI is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be posted on their website at www.fausettfh.com.
Patrick R. Hoose
March 20, 1936 – December 2, 2021
Patrick “Pat” Robert Hoose, 85, of Portage Township, Michigan, died peacefully Thursday morning December 2, 2021 at his residence in the presence of his loving family.
Born March 20, 1936 in Flint, Michigan, son of the late Harold and Evelyn (Woods) Hoose, Pat was a graduate of Holy Redeemer Catholic High School. In 1959, Pat enlisted in the United States Air Force and served until his honorable discharge in 1962. In January of 1963, Pat married the absolute love of his life, former Joyce Courney. Together they fulfilled their dream of living in the Upper Peninsula for over thirty years after his retirement. Pat was employed as a Master Electrician at Buick in Flint for 38 years.
Pat enjoyed woodworking, tinkering on anything he could get his hands on, hunting, fishing, antiques, auctions, and taking long rides throughout the UP with Joyce. He cherished their memories at the Hurricane River. Pat was well known for his annual garage sale every fourth of July weekend. Pat will be lovingly remembered as a great husband, loving brother, awesome brother-in-law, and a one-of-a-kind person you could talk to about anything, and he never minced his words.
In addition to his parents, Patrick is preceded in death by his wife on April 7, 2017; siblings William Hoose, Joseph Hoose and Joanne Galgoci, as well as his favorite bulldog, Crumpets.
Survivors include his siblings Deanna Maitland of Burton, Michigan and Paul (Vivian) Hoose of Caro, Michigan, and several nieces and nephews.
Per request, cremation services have been accorded. A gathering of family and friends will take place Saturday December 11, 2021 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry, with reception following at the Helmer House in Helmer, until 2:30 pm. Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org in his loving memory. Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Dr. Francis M. Magyar
May 10, 1948 – December 5, 2021
Francis Michael Magyar, age 73, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 5th, 2021, at his home in Newberry, MI after a brief battle with cancer.
Dr. Magyar was born on May 10, 1948, in Paw Paw, MI, to Frank and Elizabeth (Wagner) Magyar. After attending Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, WI and Michigan State University, he graduated from the Medical College of WI in 1974. He then went on to practice medicine for 47 years – including as an internal medicine and emergency room physician in IN and then in the lower and upper peninsulas of MI for Henry Ford Health System, Emergency Physicians Medical Group, McLaren Health Care, Chippewa War Memorial Hospital, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital and Healthcare Center, and Mackinac Straits Health System. He was a Clinical Instructor at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.
Throughout his career, Dr. Magyar was known for his compassion towards his patients and community. He was calm and generous – always taking the extra time to listen and understand the full complexity of someone’s life and medical history. He loved medicine and continued to practice in the emergency room just days before his illness emerged.
Dr. Magyar is survived by the love of his life and wife of almost 47 years, Rosalie. Together they had twelve children. Elizabeth Magyar, Jennifer Magyar (Justin Marlowe), Anne (Chris) Prill, Frank (Christina) Magyar, Mary (Tim) Fillmore, Michael Magyar, Megan Redmond, Chelsea Redmond, Andruw Magyar, Brandon Magyar, Christopher Magyar, and Emily Magyar. He had nine grandchildren – Kate, Luke, Paige, Jack, Eileen, Welly, Kent, Jacob, and Mindy. He is also survived by his brother, John F. (Annette) Magyar, of Dorr, MI and aunts Barbara Johnson of Paw Paw and Rosalind Wagner of Las Vegas, NV. Our large family also includes several more aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Some of his children’s fondest memories includes all things sports – basketball and football games in the driveway and playing catch, watching us at school sporting events, gardening, Friday evening bowling with the older kids after the younger siblings went to sleep, going to Detroit Tigers and Pistons games, taking us school supply shopping at the Michigan State bookstore, reminding us about fireworks safety, more fireworks safety, and always being available to stitch one of our various sports related injuries. He led by example – teaching us all to be generous, grateful, and thinking about people. We will miss the comfort it meant to have him walk in the front door after being gone working long shifts.
Our family would like to thank the staff at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital (Petoskey), Mackinac Straits Health System (St. Ignace) and North Woods Home Nursing and Hospice for their exceptional care in his final days. We would also like to thank many of his recent and former colleagues, as well as members of the community who reached out to us in the days preceding his death. We appreciate the prayers, support, and thoughts.
A memorial honoring Dr. Magyar’s life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers or donations, please take a moment today to remember his compassion and find a way to share that with others in need.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
