All Obituaries

Ralph Towne of Boyne Falls passed away on November 23rd.  Born on August 2, 1938.  The oldest of five children to the late Jim and Sophie (Krchak) Towne. He is survived by his wife Geneva of 60 years. Together they had three children, Debbie (Neal) Wilson of East Jordan, Tom (Sarah) Towne of Boyne Falls, and Sandy (Scott) Beal of East Jordan, eleven grandchildren Denzil (Cheltzi) Wilson, Chad (Amy) Wilson, Coleman Wilson, Aron (Heather) Stackus, Tracy Towne, Haley Towne, Grace...

Raymond George Knaffle, 91, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2020 at McLaren Hospital in Petoskey. Ray was born, at home, on July 25, 1929 to John and Minnie (Carlson) Knaffle of Cheboygan, the second oldest of six children. Ray grew up on his family farm where his daily chore was milking the cows. After graduating from Cheboygan High School in 1946, he went to work at Inverness Dairy. Between 1951 and 1953, he served in the U.S. Army. When he returned home, he went back to work at...

Dennis Hayes, 72 of Indian River, MI passed away on November 22, 2020 at Petoskey, MI. Dennis was born October 25, 1948 in Detroit, MI to William F. and Princess Margaret (Walter) Hayes. He grew up in St. Clair Shores and attended school at Central Michigan University for a Masters in Education.  On August 13, 1971, Dennis married Karin Lafata in St. Clair Shores.  He served in the United States Navy from 1969 to 1971.  Dennis taught school for almost 48 years, 28 to...

Bonnie Jean Johnson, 73 passed away in the evening on Sunday November 22, 2020 after her long battle against Parkinson’s, which is over at last. Bonnie was born on January 19, 1947 in Waverly, Pennsylvania and grew up in Elmira, New York. She is survived by two loving children: Patricia Johnson of Payson, Arizona, and Charles Johnson Jr. of Charlevoix, Michigan; and her six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Bonnie will be greatly missed by her family and friends, but draw...

June M. Vargo, 91 of Petoskey, Michigan went home to her Lord and Savior on November 21, 2020. She died peacefully surrounded by the family she loved. June was born July 27, 1929, the daughter of Ann and Joseph Schneider. She attended St. Francis Xavier in Petoskey, and then graduated from Petoskey High School in 1947. June married George Vargo on June 30, 1951. Together they had four children and shared 69 years happily married. She devoted her life to her family. June was a life-long...

Jane (Thompson) Koper of Petoskey passed away peacefully at MediLodge of Cheboygan on November 21, 2020.   She was born on September 4, 1920 the daughter of Charles and Ruby Thompson.  Jane spent her childhood in Bliss Township, and later in Bay View, where she enjoyed many happy memories with her grandparents, Alfred and Lucinda Kingman.  Jane married Frank F. Koper, Jr.  They built a family and raised four beautiful daughters in Petoskey.   Over her lifetime,...

Georgia Joan Colwell, 79, of Burt Township passed away peacefully on November 21, 2020 at her home surrounded by loved ones. Joan was born on June 9, 1941 to the late John and Martha Vowell in Ann Arbor, Mi.  Joan was the oldest of seven children including two brothers: Denny and Johnny and four sisters: Kathy, Claudia, Jose’e and Julie. In 1969 Joan married Bud in Alexandria, VA.  The couple made their home at Whitmore Lake, Mi. Upon Bud’s retirement they spent their...

Arlon "Lonnie" Woodcock of Petoskey died Saturday, November 21, 2020 at McLaren Northern Michigan; only days following the death of her husband Larry.  She will be laid to rest with her husband this Wednesday during a private family graveside service at Sunset Hill Cemetery in East Jordan.  A full obituary will follow.  

George Vernon Hayes, 84, passed away on Friday, November 20, 2020 at Medilodge of Cheboygan. He was born on April 21, 1936, the son of Morgan and Verona Hayes in Carp Lake, Michigan. George spent most of his life working as a well driller with his father and Uncle Richard (Dick) Hayes. In his later years he worked for several Mackinaw City restaurants, moving there from Carp Lake. George’s hobbies include collecting books and Corvettes (he owned several in his early years), and he...

Ruth L. Scott, 95 of Levering, Michigan passed away on November 20, 2020 at Medilodge of Cheboygan in Cheboygan, Michigan. Daughter of WM E. and Ava (Hoig) Sydow, Ruth was born on May 4, 1925 in Brutus, Michigan. She grew up at Chickagami Dairy on Burt Lake and attended school at Pellston public schools and graduated from Pellston High School in 1942. On October 3, 1942, she married Chauncey Scott in Lansing, Michigan. The couple made their home in the Brutus area until 1967 when they...