Obituaries

Masako Arntzen

From Escanaba, Michigan, age 94, died Thursday, November 3, 2022, at Chelsea Retirement Community. She was born March 1, 1928, in Nagoya, Japan, she was the daughter of Hitoshi and Jyo Sasa.

 

Masako was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Escanaba. She spent the majority of her career working as a nurse's aide at Whispering Pines. She enjoyed reading, lottery scratch offs, and mint chocolate chip ice cream. She will be remembered as being tough, fun-loving, opinionated and hilarious. Her greatest joy and biggest accomplishment was raising two independent, fierce daughters and their families.

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Jerre Morton

Jerre Lee Morton grew up on a farm near Ault, Colorado with his parents Bob and Anita Morton, as well as his older brother, Jim. Jerre enjoyed music throughout his life and played the alto saxophone and guitar. He loved God and had a strong Christian faith.

Ann and Jerre were married in 1965 and had two children, Kimberly (Mike) Dowsett and Kurt Morton. They also have three grandchildren, Cody Morton, Kaitlyn (Nathan) Cagna, and Everleigh Dowsett. As a couple, they shared a love of the outdoors, an appreciation for art and antiquities, and a devotion to each other and family.

Jerre had a varied and successful career focused in electrical engineering and construction management. He worked for several companies including Western Filter Co., NHPQ, U.S. Engineering, and Atkinson Electronics, Inc. He was a founding partner/owner in Architectural Engineering Associates. Jerre was with Sverdrup and then Jacobs (various divisions) for 27 years before his retirement in December 2013. He worked in all but four of the fifty United States, in addition to the countries of Mexico, Japan, France, and South Korea.

Bernice Lula Steeb

of Gregory, Michigan, formerly of Ann Arbor, age 86, died Thursday, November 3, 2022, at her home. She was born August 1, 1936, in Saline, Michigan, the daughter of Conrad and Maude (Schroen) Jager.

Bernice graduated from Saline High School in 1955. She enjoyed being a homemaker and raised two children. Bernice bowled on a bowling league. She enjoyed waterskiing, playing euchre; and loved old movies.

Ray Frederick Kemner

of Chelsea, Michigan, age 81, died Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at Chelsea Hospital. He was born September 24, 1941, in Jackson, Michigan, the son of Ernest & Helene (Mergenthaler) Kemner.

Ray graduated from Manchester High School in 1959. He served in the US Air Force from 1962 until he retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in 1982. Ray began a second career at Chrysler Pentastar Aviation, working there for 15 years. In his retirement, Ray drove a school bus for the Chelsea School District, and taught at the Aeronautical Institute at the Yankee Air Museum. He was a member of Emanuel United Church of Christ in Manchester his entire life. Ray lived in Chelsea since 1982. He had been a member of the Kiwanis Club of Chelsea, where he was Secretary for over 30 years. Ray was recognized for his work at St. Louis Center for Boys, with the Boy Scouts, and for his help at Mott Children’s Hospital. He was a very patriotic American.