Helen Marie Vaught

( December 13, 1930 - December 29, 2022 )

Helen Marie Vaught, age 92 of Hastings, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Thursday, December 29, 2022.

She was born on December 13, 1930, in Seymour, Indiana, the daughter of Clyde and Mildred (Helt) Montgomery.

Helen was a 1948 graduate of Corydon High School in Corydon, Indiana, followed by two years of business college. She worked for 40 years at Pennock Hospital in the business office and reception desk.

Helen married Kenneth Vaught in Terre Haute, Indiana on August 26, 1955. They were blessed with 62 years of marriage until his passing in 2017.

She was well known for being a terrific cook and homemaker. In her earlier years, Helen directed church choirs. She loved chocolates, peanut butter and ice cream – almost daily!

Helen was preceded in death by her husband Rev. Kenneth R. Vaught, her parents, mother and father-in-law, and brother Luther (Luke) Montgomery.

Helen is survived by her son, Timothy Vaught of Hastings, daughter, Melinda (Mindy) (Thomas) Deckard of Centerville, IN, grandsons, Joel (Alicia) Deckard of Leesburg, VA, Adam (Emily) Deckard of St. Louis, MO, great-grandson Silas Deckard, brother Robert (Joyce) Montgomery of Battle Ground, IN, sister Delores Montgomery of Watseka, IL, sister, Brenda Spencer of Frankfort, KY, several nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews, and numerous friends of all ages.

Memorial contributions can be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Visitation will be on Friday, January 6, 2023, from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and again from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Girrbach Funeral Home, 328 S Broadway, Hastings, MI 49058. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2023, at Noon with a visitation one hour prior at Hope United Methodist Church, 2920 S. M-37, Hastings, MI 49058. Arrangements by the Girrbach Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.

Dic I Craven, age 96 of Hastings, MI went to be with his Lord on December 9, 2022.

Dic was born May 14 th , 1926, the first child of Russel and Irene Kaiser Craven. Dic
attended school in Hastings. On September 4, 1948, Dic was united in marriage to
Alice Hanford at the Free Methodist parsonage in Big Rapids, MI. They celebrated
68 years of marriage before her passing in January 2017.

Dic grew up on the homestead where he lived his entire life, moving only once,
across the driveway to the home Dic and Alice built using timber from the
homestead. He was a very passionate woodsman. He was most at peace in the
woods. He could tell you the kind of tree most every leaf came from, helping many
students with their fall school projects. He cut down trees, making them into boards
with his small sawmill and cutting thousands of cords of wood in his lifetime. His
cords were perfectly stacked, and each piece of wood was perfectly measured and
cut. He was somewhat of a perfectionist like that. Dic was also a longtime crane
operator beginning with the Baldwin brothers in the late 1940’s and then later with
the Barry County Road Commission serving 26 years until his retirement in 1988.

Dic and Alice were longtime members of the Hastings Free Methodist Church. They
served in many capacities, wanting to do their part for the kingdom of God. They
also cared for many foster children and took in many family members over the
years. They were passionate in helping others with food from the garden or
firewood from the woods, serving others however they could. They were also
passionate supporters of the Free Methodist missionaries their entire married lives.
After retirement, Dic and Alice did some traveling, traveled to nearly all of the 50
states including Alaska and Hawaii as well as overseas to Central and South
America.

Dic will be deeply missed by his children, John (Marlene) Craven and Patricia (Rev.
Garry) Cruce of Hastings, Debra Mills of Austin, TX, Robert (Leslie) Craven of Fair
Haven, MI; 13 grandchildren, Martha (Scott) Chipman, Melissa (Chris) MacCreery,
Mary Craven, Sarah Cruce, Rebecca Gorbena, Ivan (Molly) Mills, Joshua (Danita)
Orsborn, Kevin, Brandon, Jacob (Miranda), Trevor, Liliana and Nicholas Craven; 11
great-grandchildren, sibling Lawson (Linda) Craven; and many nieces and nephews.

Dic was preceded in death by his wife, parents; siblings Doris Lumbert, and Rose
(Bud) Hale; and son-in-law Gaylord Mills.

The family would like to give a special thank you to Flower House of Nashville, MI,
for four years of their wonderful care and comfort to Dad and to us. Also, a special
thank you to Hospice of Lansing for their care and comfort this last year.

A celebration of Dic’s life will be celebrated on Friday, December 16th at 11 a.m. at
the Hastings Free Methodist church, 2635 N. M-43 Hwy. Services will be preceded
by a visitation at 10 a.m. Attendees are invited to honor Dic’s life by wearing relaxed
attire of plaid flannel shirts with jeans.

Memorial contributions in memory of Dic Craven may be made to Southwest
Michigan Land Conservancy or a tree planted in his honor.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home-Hastings, conveniently located at 1401 North Broadway, Hastings, MI. For further details please visit our website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net.
 

Mrs. Alma Joann Ranger Christensen, Age 87 of, Hastings, MI passed away on December 09, 2022, at 1872 East Mill Street in Hastings.

Joann was born in Newaygo MI, on August 07, 1935, a daughter of Claude and Emily Ranger. 

She attended local schools graduating from Newaygo High School in 1953.  After completing her education Joann began working at the Rural Electric Association in Newaygo were spent two years before being married to Mr. James Christensen on July 22, 1955. 

Shortly after being married, Jim accepted a position with the State of Michigan developing the interstate highway systems, which led the family to the Hastings area. Jim and Joann established their home in Hastings, where they raised their family together.

Joann was employed with the Hastings Area Schools for over 25 years, serving primarily in the cafeteria.  Her career offered the opportunity to be close to her kids during the day, which meant she was always “in the know”, with her children’s friends and activities. She & Jim loved attending their kids’ sporting events, and later the grandchildren’s events.  It was not uncommon for them to pack up the 5^th wheel camper and travel the country following the grandchildren’s sporting events.

Joann was an avid Detroit Tigers fan, and over the years has collected many players autographs, attended several training camps in Florida, and was recognized in the Detroit Free Press wearing her unique Tigers hat.  

She is survived by her beloved husband James, her sons Joel (Amy) Christensen, Jon (Jean) Christensen, James (Valerie) Christensen, her sisters Gail Grandon, & Charlene Corrigan, brother Allen Ranger, 11 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.   

She was preceded in death by her daughter Jami, son in law Ron.

The family will receive on Friday, December 16, 2022, from 2-4 PM and again from 6-8PM at Daniels Funeral Home Hastings.

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Daniels Funeral Home Hastings with Pastor Tod Clark officiating. Immediately following the funeral service friends and guests are invited to remain at the funeral home for a time of fellowship and luncheon.  

Interment will take place following the funeral luncheon at Riverside Cemetery in Hastings, MI

In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorial contributions be made to the Boy Scouts of America, The Hastings Band & Athletic Boosters, or a children's charity of donor's choice.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home-Hastings, conveniently located at 1401 North Broadway, Hastings, MI.  For further details please visit our website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net.

Patrick A. Cusack, born October 4th, 1951 lost his battle with cancer on December 3, 2022 surrounded by his family. He fought a great fight just as he lived his life being a wonderful husband, caring and devoted father and Grandpa Mustache to his grandchildren whom he adored.

He graduated from Lakewood High School in 1969 and went on and attended LCC and worked at the State Capitol building in Lansing with the State Police. In 1975, he started working at the Michigan Reformatory in Ionia. That same year he went to a bingo game at St. Rose of Lima Church and met the love of his life, Sherry (Tobias) Cusack. They were married October 10th 1975 at St. Rose of Lima Church. At the Michigan Reformatory he held many positions as officer, small engine instructor, and maintenance instructor. He always enjoyed helping the inmates better their lives and finding their purpose. He was a man of his word with a great sense of humor and always had a story to tell. He retired from the Michigan Reformatory after 30 years in 2004, but sitting around was not his thing. He went to work as the maintenance director at Woodlawn Meadows in Hastings for 9 years. He ended his working years at the Barry County YMCA as the No. 1 maintenance man until health forced him to retire in 2019. He enjoyed camping with Sherry, garage sales, fixing lawn mowers and could fix anything he set his mind to. The most important was spending time with family and his grandchildren, which he truly enjoyed.

After finding out he had cancer, he found a love of buying toy tractors and doing minor clean-up or fixing them. He soon realized he had way too many and Grandpa C’s Toys was born. He would attend a few toy shows and enjoyed seeing the smiles on the faces of the kids getting their new toy.

He is survived by Sherry (wife) of 47 years; Children Jenny (Matt) Williams, Randy (Amber) Cusack, Katie (Kyle) Batts. Grandchildren Ava, Liam, Henry, Ella, Adi, Emersyn. Bonus Grandchildren Chloe, Alyssa, Jayme, and foster granddaughter. He is also survived by his siblings: Bill (Ann) Cusack, Ken (Mary Jo) Cusack, Beckie Cusack, Jan Williams, Mary Endres, Colleen Cusack, Jim Cusack, Peg Cusack and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Estelle Cusack, Basil and Fern Tobias, brothers Herb Cusack and Dan Cusack along with sister-in-law Mary Carol Cusack and brother-in-law Lawrence Endres. Funeral Arrangements by Daniels Funeral Home of Hastings, MI.

Donations can be given to St. Ambrose Church (Delton) or Renucci Hospitality House Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI.

The Cusack family has lost a great man but heaven has gained an angel.

The family will receive visitors on Thursday December 8, 2022 from 4-8pm with Rosary service at 7:30pm at the Daniels Funeral Home - Hastings conveniently located at 1401 North Broadway, Hastings, MI.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11am on Friday December 9, 2022 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Delton MI. There will be a time of fellowship and luncheon immediately following the funeral mass at St. Ambrose Catholic Church.

Interment will take place privately at Cedar Creek Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home - Hastings conveniently located at 1401 North Broadway, Hastings, MI. For further details please visit our website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net