Obituaries

George A. Merkel

of Chelsea, Michigan, age 93, died Thursday, February 23, 2023, at Chelsea Retirement Community. George was born on June 6, 1929, to Joseph and Florence (Latreille Doll) Merkel in a farmhouse across from the present-day Chrysler Proving Ground. In 1948, he married Nancy Ellen Clark, and their union lasted for the next 62 years, until death separated George from the love of his life. Together, George and Nancy parented seven children.

George began life as a farm boy, but tried his hand at many occupations over the years. To support his large family, George hauled milk from farm to dairy, drove a semi, owned a service station, owned a bar, and eventually returned to farming, an occupation which he enthusiastically continued until a stroke forced him into retirement at the age of 88. Even after his debilitating stroke, George lived to farm again. Years after his stroke, although he was completely bed-bound, he spent his time dreaming of the crops he’d plant “next spring”. He was proud to be named as the Farmer of the Year at the Washtenaw County Agriculture Banquet in 2018. The same year, he received a Recognition Award from St. Louis Center.

Barbara Jeanne Preston

Of Chelsea, age 92, died Friday, February 17, 2023, at her home. She was born December 25, 1930, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the daughter of Gerald and Dorothy (Schade) Hepner.

Barbara lived on Pontiac Street and went to Donovan Elementary School which was on Wall Street. From there she went to Slauson Jr. High. High School was at Ann Arbor High School. She attended Alexander Beauty School and later had a beauty shop on Ann Street near the corner of Glen.

In her younger years, Barbara had great fun ice skating in the winter and swimming all summer long at the beach which was located on Long Shore Dr. on the north side of Ann Arbor. She and her sister, Gerry, had a great group of friends that they played with every day. She really had a great childhood.

Webb Douglas Seegert

 of  Manchester, MI, age 86, died Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at his home. He was born May 24, 1936 in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Theodore Peter and Phyllis Lou (Wadsworth) Seegert.  Webb graduated from Petersburg (Summerfield) High School in 1954. He worked at Chrysler for 34 years in Vehicle Impact and was a member of the UAW Local 1284. Webb was a member of the Manchester United Methodist Church and the President of Manchester Family Service. He enjoyed gospel music.

John William (Jack) Crump

 of Chelsea, Michigan, formerly of Albion, Michigan, died Thursday, February 9, 2023, at the age of 91.

Jack was born on January 18, 1932, in Santa Rosa, California, the son of John Richard and Helen (Skinner) Crump. He attended public school in his hometown of Sebastopol, graduated from Analy High School, and then attended Santa Rosa Junior College and the University of California, Berkeley. An excellent student, he was elected to Sigma Xi, the Scientific Research Honor Society, and to Phi Beta Kappa in recognition of his academic achievement. Following graduation from Berkeley, Jack traveled east to pursue a doctorate degree in chemistry at the University of Illinois. At Illinois, he was active in the campus Wesley Foundation, where he met Beverley J. (Bev) Hill, the love of his life. They were married in Urbana, Illinois, on June 19, 1955.