Duane Taylor
January 23, 1960 – April 6, 2021
Duane Taylor, born January 23, 1960 in the Newberry area, died April 6, 2021. He was the son of Elizabeth and John Taylor and is survived by one sister: Kathleen. He also had another family – one he loved and who love him dearly: fiancée Jessica Groce and her two sons, John (and family) and James (and family). Duane was a proud member of the U.S. Army for over 20 years, where he became an officer and an engineer. He worked as a surveyor for 15 years and spent most of his life here in Newberry. Duane will be missed.
Donald Johannes Hautala
Donald Johannes Hautala, 83, of Newberry, passed away Sunday morning April 11, 2021 at Gordon Family Home. Born December 21, 1937 in Newberry, son of the late Eero and Jennie (Pohja) Hautala, Don was a 1956 graduate of Newberry High School, a 1958 graduate of Suomi College and a 1960 graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration specializing in accounting. After graduation, Don was offered a mathematics instructor position at Suomi College. He was also the resident director of the men’s dormitory house and faculty assistant basketball coach. A student of his was his future wife, the former Jo Ann Leppanen of Iron River. After deciding the education field was not for him, but government service, Don resigned and enlisted in the United States Army in 1961. Following basic training and graduating with honors from specialist school, he was assigned to the Automatic Data Processing Attachment, Assistant Chief of Staff Intelligence at the Pentagon. As a Private E-2 he was slotted in a Staff Sergeant E-7 position as the Chief, Data Conversion Section and in charge of the data development of the new large-scale computer system. In 1962 the office was transferred to the Defense Intelligence Agency and upon his discharge in March of 1964, Don was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his meritorious service and achievement in the system development. Following his honorable discharge, Don accepted a civilian position as a Supervisory Computer Specialist in the same office. Over the next 14 years he was the Supervisory Data Base Manager in charge in support of all the automated data bases of the United States Military Commands, military agencies and internal agency management data bases. Don was responsible for the receipt of all requests for ADP support, processing delegation to action offices and was a task force member selecting and developing a desk top computer system for the Agency as online file maintenance was established. In 1980, Don was reassigned to the DIA ADP Program and Budget office and quickly progressed to become the Chief Program Budget Manager for all ADP requirements and support. In all of his positions, he had interface meetings or briefings with senior officials up to assistant directors of the agency retiring on his birthday in 1992 after nearly 32 years of service. Don and Jo Ann moved to Newberry in March of 1993 where he was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church serving on the finance committee, writer of the church newsletter for 26 years and a Sunday school leader for 3 years. Don and Jo Ann also provided needed assistance to relatives and friends in the community. Don was active in athletics while in the Washington D.C. area. He was an Army company basketball coach for two years leading the team to a Fort Myer, VA championship in 1963 with an overall record of 35 wins and 5 losses. He also enjoyed attending basketball games as a 2 seat season holder at George Washington University for 30 years. While a civilian, he captained his duck pin bowling team in the agency’s league. He was also a coach for his sons little league baseball teams and when his sons were in college he joined them as the first baseman and pitcher on their Fairfax County, VA church league softball team. In 2017, the Newberry High School girls’ basketball team elected him the fan of the year. In 1965, he was inducted in the book Outstanding Young Men of American and, in the mid 1960’s, he established the E.J. and J.S. Hautala scholarship at Suomi College in his parent’s honor. Don is survived by his loving wife, Jo Ann, of Newberry; sons Donald (Linda) of Taylor, Michigan, Jon (Tamara) of Shakopee, Minnesota and daughter Kay Bondy of Lansing, Michigan; sisters Anna Miller of Newberry; step-grandson Demian Allgeyer of Taylor; nephews James and Richard Miller and nieces Gayle and Patricia Miller all of Newberry. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, a private family gathering will take place at the Beaulieu Funeral Home. A memorial service will take place at a later date at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church with Pastor Melinda VanderSys officiating. Interment will take place at Forest Home Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church or Finlandia University in his loving memory. Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Robert Glenn Metcalf
Robert Glenn Metcalf, 81, of Engadine, passed away unexpectedly Thursday afternoon April 8, 2021 at his residence. Born July 23, 1939 in Curtis, son of the late Robert and Elsie (Smith) Metcalf, Robert stopped going to school in the sixth grade to go to work alongside his father and help his parents provide for their large family consisting of 11 siblings including himself. On September 1, 1967, Robert married the former Linda Downing in Germfask and started a family with their first child in January of 1969 with five more children to follow each year. Robert was always a hard worker and provided for his family working in the logging industry for most of his life. In the early 1980’s, Robert and Linda bought a home in Engadine and moved their family from Curtis and starting a small cattle farm while continuing in the logging industry with his sons. Robert continued farming and logging passing his knowledge onto his sons. Around 2014, Robert slowed down with farming having his son do the majority on the work so he could take care of his wife due to her declining health. In 2015, Robert’s health started to decline and, after a lengthy stay at a medical facility, he came home to be with his wife with the care provided from his children and caregivers. Robert enjoyed playing cribbage with his wife and enjoyed having his kids and grandkids at the homestead for a cook out while watching his family pick up sticks and apples followed by a game of ball. In addition to his parents, Robert is preceded in death by his siblings Johnny, Steve, George and Dale; brother-in-law Harry Burton; granddaughter Keisa Marie Metcalf and daughter-in-law Sandra Lynn Metcalf. Survivors include his loving wife Linda of Engadine; children Debra Metcalf of Newberry, Robert (Tonda Frey) of Germfask, Roger (Debra Holbrook) of Florida, Roy (Tina Simi) of Engadine, Ricky (Christie) of Engadine and Violet (Robert) Auge of McMillan; grandchildren Rodney (Nikki) Calton, Steven (Mikayla) Uhlbeck, Kevin Tucker, Kristi (Andrew) Anderson, Tara (Mike) Littlejohn, Marissa Metcalf, Ian (Mikayla) Metcalf, Krista (Jesse) Metcalf, Kassie Oven, Roy Jr. (Kelsey) Metcalf, Kaleb (Megan) Metcalf, Kaylee (Daniel) Hartwig, Ashley (Timmy) Auge and Robert (Sierra) Auge; great-grandchildren Owen and Emmet Calton, Jacob Anderson, Kennedy Salazar, Gilbert Uhlbeck, Paisley and Everett Oven, Casen and Carson Metcalf, Aaliyah, Gabriella and Noah Hartwig; siblings Daryl Metcalf of Curtis, Connie Ward of Clarkston, Phyllis Fahler of Rudyard, Sherry (Norm) Burton of Curtis, Marilynn (Steve) Zellar of Germfask and Carolyn Burton of Germfask. Per request, cremation services were accorded with a family celebration to be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be directed to Community Action Meals on Wheels program or to the family for Linda’s medical care in care of First National Bank, 1014 South Newberry Ave., Newberry, Michigan 49868 in his memory. Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com. Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
