Laura Marie Nelson
February 12, 1951 – December 7, 2021
Lifelong Newberry resident, Laura Marie Nelson, 70, died Tuesday December 7, 2021 at her residence. Born February 12, 1951 in Newberry, daughter of the late Calvin and Sylvia (Stratton) Ruperd, Laura married Dennis Nelson on February 25, 1967 in Newberry. During her lifetime, Laura held several employments including at the former Somers Market and Rahilly IGA for several years until her retirement in 1998. Laura enjoyed the outdoors, yardwork, camping and spending time with her family. In addition to her parents, Laura is preceded in death by her siblings Lorna Ruperd and Harvey Ruperd. Survivors include her loving husband, Dennis, of Newberry; sons Dennis (Bethany) Nelson of Lincoln, Nebraska and Eric (Rachel) Nelson of Engadine; seven grandchildren; siblings Melvin (Shirley) Ruperd of Perry and Patricia (Melvin) Bowler of Germfask; several nieces and nephews. A gathering of family and friends will take place Tuesday December 14, 2021 from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry. Funeral services celebrating the life of Laura will follow at 2:00 pm at the funeral home with Pastor Michael Webb officiating. Interment will take place in the spring of 2022 at Forest Home Cemetery in Newberry. Memorials may be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org in her loving memory. Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Patsy McPherson
February 4, 1943 – December 8, 2021
Longtime area resident, Patsy McPherson, 78, of Engadine, died Wednesday morning December 8, 2021 at her residence in the presence of her loving family and the care of North Woods Home Care and Hospice. Born February 4, 1943 in Newton Township, daughter of the late Robert and Marion (Baker) Hewitt, Patsy married Samuel L. McPherson on March 25, 1961 in Pentland Township.In addition to being a homemaker raising her family, Patsy was employed as an office clerk alongside her husband in the waste management industry until her retirement.Patsy was a member of Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in Manistee and Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Newberry. Her hobbies and interests included knitting, crocheting, fishing, hunting and spending time with her loved ones. She especially enjoyed playing cribbage with her dear husband Sam and jokingly stopping to maintain their loving relationship. Her greatest love was her family, and all her children were proud to call her Mom. She loved all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren unconditionally. Her heart was so big, and her love extended to so many people. She was the congregation grandma and knit mittens and scarves for all of the kids. She had a heart of gold and so generous, patient, kind and hospitable to all she met. If you had the opportunity to meet her, you would never forget her! It would be wrong to say that Patsy lost her battle, because she never stopped fighting. No matter how sick she was, she was always determined. When anyone else would have broken, Patsy stayed strong. Through her, we know what resilience and perseverance truly look like. There was no quit in Patsy. Just because she is no longer here, it doesn’t mean she lost her fight. We know that Jehovah God will remember her in His Book of Life.
In addition to her parents, Patsy is preceded in death by her granddaughter Jasmine McPherson; great-granddaughter Destiny Baynton; siblings Robert Jr. “Junior” Hewitt, Floyd Hewitt, Wes (Mary) Hewitt, Don Hewitt, Dale Hewitt and Sally Haley.Survivors include her loving husband, Sam, of Engadine; children Lewis (Ginny) McPherson of Tennessee, Marian (Tyson) Baynton of Houghton Lake, Sam (Elspeth) McPherson of Newberry, Edward McPherson of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Patti (Bill) Rowe of Appleton, Wisconsin and Duane (Monica) McPherson of Weyauwega, Wisconsin; 15 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; six sisters-in-law and two brothers-in-law; several nieces and nephews. Due to COVID-19, a gathering of immediate family through ZOOM will take place Saturday December 18, 2021 at the McPherson residence in Engadine starting with a slide show at 1:30 pm. Funeral services will follow at 2:00 pm with David Fair presiding with a slideshow concluding the ceremony. Patsy’s service will be live streamed on Zoom with family reaching out to friends and extended family with the zoom credentials prior to the services. Memorial donations may be directed to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in care of P.O. Box 315, Newberry, MI 49868, in her loving memory. Floral arrangements may be sent to Beaulieu Funeral Home. Interment will take place in the spring of 2022 at the Newton Township Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com.Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Joyce Ann Benson
April 12, 1936 – December 10, 2021
Joyce Ann Benson, born April 12, 1936 to Joshua and Viva (Harriger) Ison, departed to her heavenly home to spend eternity with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in the early morning of Friday, December 10, 2021. Joyce grew up in Newberry and spent most of her adult life working diligently alongside Billy, her husband of 49 years. Together they raised four children and were blessed with five grandchildren. As a homemaker, Joyce was considered a beloved “Mom” by children of both relatives and in the neighborhood. She was multitalented, and often managed all the activities of a rural home in the Upper Peninsula while her husband worked away from home. Through the years, she gardened, canned, raised animals, maintained the house inside and out, and faithfully supported her husband in his many endeavors. After becoming a widow in 2004, she lived with, and was lovingly cared for by her daughter, Amanda. In the past month, she was cared for by the kind staff of Ball Hospice House in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. Joyce was predeceased by her husband, parents, her brothers Ruben and John, and her sister, Crilda. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Guy (Tyra), Eric, Amanda Showalter, and Lee (Betsy) along with one brother, William “Bill” Ison (Linda), and sister-in law, Judy Bridges. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank the staff of Ball Hospice House. In lieu of a funeral service, an intimate family gathering will take place next year to celebrate Joyce’s life. If you desire to remember Joyce through a donation, please make it to EUP Home Health & Hospice, 508 Ashmun St., Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan 49783. Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Georgianna Kuebler
July 25, 1941 – December 11, 2021
Georgianna Kay (Kieffer) Kuebler, 80, of Engadine, Michigan passed away peacefully on December 11, 2021 at home, surrounded by her loving family. Georgianna was born July 25, 1941 in Madison, Wisconsin, the daughter of George and Marianne (Stauffacher) Kieffer. She attended grade school at St. Bernard’s in Middleton, Wisconsin; Pontiac Central High School in Pontiac, Michigan; and graduated from Mercy College of Detroit in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Medical Records. On June 4, 1966 she married Wayne E. Kuebler in Grayling, Michigan. Georgianna worked in Medical Records Departments at Mercy Hospitals in Grayling, Michigan and Muskegon, Michigan and did consulting for Grant Hospital in Grant, Michigan and for LMAS District Health Department in Newberry, Michigan. In 1985 she became Director of Medical Records at Newberry Regional Mental Health Center in Newberry, Michigan and after their closure in 1991 was again employed by LMAS District Health Department. Georgianna was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother. She enjoyed her family, camping, nature, gardening, bowling, refunding, and genealogy. She served as President of the Luce Mackinac Genealogical Society and was a founding member. She was a member of the Homemakers Club for many years. She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Engadine and now St. Stephen Catholic Church in Naubinway. She is survived by her husband Wayne; her three daughters: Sonya Podolan and husband Thom of Fenton, Michigan, Sandy Richmond and husband Scott of South Elgin, Illinois, and Kathy Kuebler Fox and husband John of Howell, Michigan; her four grandchildren: Ariana and Alex Richmond of South Elgin, Illinois, and Emily and Eric Fox of Howell, Michigan; her brother Kenneth Kieffer of Gig Harbor, Washington; sisters-in-law Betsy Kieffer of Frisco, Texas, Doris Budnik of Brutus, Michigan, and Wilma Kuebler of Alanson, Michigan; and several nieces and nephews. Georgianna is preceded in death by her father George Kieffer, on August 22, 1994, her mother Marianne (Stauffacher) Kieffer, on October 17, 2011, and her brother Henry Kieffer, on June 27, 2012. A Catholic funeral mass for Georgianna will be officiated by Rev. Jacek Wtyklo on Tuesday, Dec. 21st at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Naubinway, Michigan at 1 pm. A visitation will begin at 12 pm, immediately preceding the mass, and burial will be at Littlefield Township Cemetery in Alanson, Michigan in Spring of 2022. Stone Funeral Home (www.stonefuneralhomeinc.com) of Petoskey, Michigan is assisting the family with arrangements. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or Mackinac Straits Oncology.
