Obituaries

Mark B. Craig

Of Ypsilanti, MI, formerly of Ann Arbor, age 68, died Thursday, December 30, 2021 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor. He was born March 5, 1953 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the son of Gerald & Esther (Gillespie) Craig.

Mark graduated from Pioneer High School in 1971. He worked as a cook at Rod’s Diner, and other restaurants. Mark had a beautiful voice and enjoyed singing. In high school he sang with an organizational choir and went to South America on tour. Mark had a remarkable faith and also sang with the choir in his home church, Zion Lutheran Church in Ann Arbor, occasionally singing solo.

Rodger D. Sager

Of Chelsea, Michigan, age 77, died Saturday, December 25, 2021 at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Chelsea. He was born February 6, 1944 in Allegan, Michigan, the son of Harold J. & Florence Erma (Friend) Sager.

Rodger was a 1962 graduate of Grand Haven High School. He then went on to Muskegon Community College, the University of Michigan, and finally Eastern Michigan University, where he received his Masters degree. Rodger taught in the Ypsilanti School District, and in the autistic program in Garden City Schools, retiring in 2004. He was a hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed going to their condo in Oscoda, MI. Rodger came to know the Lord in 1983, and his faith was very important to him. He sang in the choir and taught Sunday School in several different churches. Rodger enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his kids and grandkids.

Kyra A. Hillard-Muma

Of Taylor, MI, formerly of Jackson, age 70, died Monday, December 27, 2021 at Tender Care Lodge of Taylor. She was born August 23, 1951 in Orange, Virginia, the daughter of Earl Elmer & Alma Gertrude (Chewning) Watson.

Kyra was a firecracker. She was loud, fun, and feisty, and could spark conversation with a stranger, or light up a room with her laughter. She was strong and direct and a force to be reckoned with, she was also beautiful and flirty and occasionally a little over the top! (Understatement of the year.) She was born in the south, and grew up in Detroit where she attended high school. She later earned her GED, and additional accreditation to become a realtor and broker for Century 21 Welty-Farrell Realty in Jackson, Michigan. She was a co-owner of a 7-11 on West Avenue in the 1970s, and later did some modeling.

George A. Kilbreath

of Ann Arbor, MI, formerly of Dexter, age 89, died Wednesday, December 22, 2021 at his home in Ann Arbor. He was born July 20, 1932 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the son of Manley Ward and Ida B. (Helwich) Kilbreath.

As a child, his family were members at Zion Lutheran. In later life he was not a regular church goer, but maintained a generous spirit of Christian faith as a source of optimism in his life. George was a fireman for the City of Ann Arbor, later becoming a truck driver and excavator for many years. A born mechanic, he removed the door to his mother’s ice box with a screwdriver at age 3 or 4. She was so impressed with his doing this on the day she was hosting a church luncheon that it likely earned him a good spanking. He was a talented and capable individual, whose sense of time kept many of us waiting for extended periods. His humorous and generous nature earned forgiveness from most.