TONI RAE SAARANEN
, of St. Ignace is remembered by the community as a person who "alwaya had a smile" for everyone and loved people. She was an award-winning Special Olympics competiter in St. Ignace and Alpena. Ms.Saaranen was 49 when she died Thursday evening, April 13,2006, at Mackinac Straits Hospital and Long Term Care Facility in St. Ignace. She was born October 6, 1956, to Wayne and Margaret "Peggy" (nee Mortensen) Saaranen. Born with Down Syndrome, she was regarded as a "special person" by friends and the St. Ignace Area Schools and Special Olympics communities. She attended Gros Cap School in Moran, and in 1983 she received a graduation recognition certificate from LaSalle High School. Ms. Saaranen loved dancing, shopping, and going out to eat. She is survived by one sister and her family, Sharon and Ron Kloosterman of Kalamazoo; one brother and his family Gary and Joanne Saaranen of Spruce; several aunts and uncles; nephews; cousins, and a host of friends. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebration Monday, April 17, at St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Church in St. Ignace, where she had been a lifetime member. Father Jim Williams officiated. Burial was in St. Ignatius Cemetery in St. Ignace, beside her her mother and father. Dodson Funeral Home of St. Ignace assisted the family with arrangements. Pallbearers were Matt Mortensen, Matt LaJoice, Kevin Kloosterman, Dale Saaranen, Michael Saaranen, and Scott Saaranen. A luncheon was served by St. Ann's Altar Society following the graveside services.

BETTY (BEUTLER) SIMMONS
, 80, of the Pine River area near St. Ignace, worked as a waitress at the Flame and other St. Ignace restaurants for more than 25 years. She passed away Tuesday, May 2,2006 at Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey. She was born May 25,1925, in Mount Carmel, Illinois, to Howard Lee and Bonnie (nee Painter) Beutler. She married Bertrand W. Simmons August 16,1954, in St. Ignace. Mrs. Simmons enjoyed ceramics, Crocheting, reading, and shopping. During the last four months, while living at Mackinac Straits Hospital Long Term Care, she enjoyed playing bingo and visiting with her new friends. Mrs. Simmons is survived by one son and his family, John and Nancy Ellison of St. Ignace; one daughter and her family, Patricia and Donald Scott of Canton; four grandchildren and their families, John and Donna Ellison, Jeff and Phyllis Ellison, Joe and Jenny Ellison, and Krystal and John Taylor; and nine great-grandchildren, A.J., Sean, Brandon, Aaron, Kaylee, Wendy, Tiffany, Deven, Destiny. Also surviving are her half brother, Ray Harkrader, her half sisters, Gladith "Dudie" Quillan and Alice DeVries, and her sisters-in-law, Peggy Ronzzo and Helen Simmons. She was preceded in death by her husban, Bertrand, on November 1,2004, and her brother Donald Beutler. Services were held Friday, May 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Reamer Galer Funeral Home in Pickford, with the Reverend Gene Harrison officiating. Friends called at the funeral home from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will be at Rockview Cemetery in Marquette Township.
St. Ignace News May 11, 2006

ROBERT VICTOR SHOBERG
, of Port Arthur, Texas, spent most of his adult life on the sea as a Merchant Marine sailor and petty officer. He visited many ports in North America, South America, and Europe. His ship helped carry troops to the Arabian Sea during the Gulf War. Family members recalled that Mr. Shoberg remained in close contact with weekly phone calls to family members, though he had not returned to Cedarville for many years. Mr. Shoberg was 61 when he passed away January 4,2006, at his home. He was born Febuary 3,1944, in Grand Rapids, to Conrad and Helen Demmink Shoberg. Mr. Shoberg was a graduate of Cedarville High School and attended Hope College in Holland and Ferris State University in Big Rapids. He is survived by his parents, Conrad and Helen Shoberg of Cedarville; a brother and his family, Richard Varaporn Shoberg of West Nyack, New York; two sisters and their families, Mary and Bill Oberman of Sault Ste. Marie and Joanna and Kenneth Izzard of Cedarville; nieces and nephews David and Tiffany Hollingsworth, Mark, Jessica, and Samuel Oberman, Zachary and Maxwell Shoberg, and Joshua and Lauren Izzard. He was preceded in death by his sister Elizabeth Hollingsworth, and his brother-in-law, Jerome Hollingsworth. A private memorial service will be held in the spring. Interment will be at Cedar Cemetery in Cedarville. Reamer Galer Funeral Home in Pickford assisted the family with arrangements
Source: St. Ignace News 12 January 2006