JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, SR.
78, of Gagetown, died peacefully following a brief illness Thursday, September 26, 2019 in McLaren Bay Special Care Hospital, Bay City. He was born July 19, 1941 in Cass City to Clifton and Mae (Nicholas) Rockefeller. He married his high school sweetheart Sharyn Kay Fritz August 1, 1959 in St. Paul Lutheran Church of Linkville.
John attended Owen-Gage High School. He worked as a crop farmer on his family farm and was employed by Michigan Sugar in Sebewaing for seventeen years. Together, John and Sharyn owned and operated the Rockefeller AFC Home in Gagetown for over forty years. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Linkville. John loved spending time with his family especially at the family cabin with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed deer hunting and fishing for perch and walleye in Lake Simco, Canada.
John is survived by his wife, Sharyn; daughters: Dedra (Dan) Sherman of Deford; Annette (Larry) Prich of Sebewaing; Charla (Dan) Beuthin of Unionville; grandchildren: Danny (Mandy) Sherman; Josh (Kristin) Sherman; Nashia (David) Ondrajka; Devin Prich; Lacie Prich; Trever (Mary Kaye) Wichert; Brendan Wichert; eight great grandchildren; brother, Gary (Mary Ellen) Rockefeller of Gagetown; brothers-in-law: Lester (Mary) Fritz, Jr.; Van (Suzanne) Fritz; Lonnie Fritz; Gary McKellar; sister-in-law, Marcia Kundinger; many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his son, John D. Rockefeller, Jr.; sister, Dolores Rockefeller; brother-in-law, Steve Bencheck; sister-in-law, Janice McKellar.
Private funeral service held in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City with Rev. Lee Wenskay of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Pigeon officiating. Interment in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City. Pallbearers for Mr. Rockefeller will be his grandsons. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church of Pigeon. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and photos with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan
Debra L. Kranz (989) 872-2195
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78, of Gagetown, died peacefully following a brief illness Thursday, September 26, 2019 in McLaren Bay Special Care Hospital, Bay City. He was born July 19, 1941 in Cass City to Clifton and Mae (Nicholas) Rockefeller. He married his high school sweetheart Sharyn Kay Fritz August 1, 1959 in St. Paul Lutheran Church of Linkville.
John attended Owen-Gage High School. He worked as a crop farmer on his family farm and was employed by Michigan Sugar in Sebewaing for seventeen years. Together, John and Sharyn owned and operated the Rockefeller AFC Home in Gagetown for over forty years. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Linkville. John loved spending time with his family especially at the family cabin with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed deer hunting and fishing for perch and walleye in Lake Simco, Canada.
John is survived by his wife, Sharyn; daughters: Dedra (Dan) Sherman of Deford; Annette (Larry) Prich of Sebewaing; Charla (Dan) Beuthin of Unionville; grandchildren: Danny (Mandy) Sherman; Josh (Kristin) Sherman; Nashia (David) Ondrajka; Devin Prich; Lacie Prich; Trever (Mary Kaye) Wichert; Brendan Wichert; eight great grandchildren; brother, Gary (Mary Ellen) Rockefeller of Gagetown; brothers-in-law: Lester (Mary) Fritz, Jr.; Van (Suzanne) Fritz; Lonnie Fritz; Gary McKellar; sister-in-law, Marcia Kundinger; many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his son, John D. Rockefeller, Jr.; sister, Dolores Rockefeller; brother-in-law, Steve Bencheck; sister-in-law, Janice McKellar.
Private funeral service held in Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City with Rev. Lee Wenskay of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Pigeon officiating. Interment in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City. Pallbearers for Mr. Rockefeller will be his grandsons. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church of Pigeon. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and photos with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements by
Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan
Debra L. Kranz (989) 872-2195
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