Michael A. Davis
June 22, 1956 – June 24, 2009
    ARGOS — Michael A. Davis, 53, passed away Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 3:45 p.m. in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, South Bend.
    Michael was born June 22, 1956 in Plymouth to James R. and Beverly Thessin Davis. He graduated from Argos High School with the class of 1975.
    Michael and Sandra A. Nykiel were united in marriage on June 1, 1990.
    Michael was a small engine mechanic at C&S Outdoor Equipment for six. years. He retired from Lobdell Manufacturing in Argos after 15 years. He was a member of the St. Michael Catholic Church.
    He loved the outdoors, and loved to hunt, fish, garden, camp, cut wood, and raising peacocks. Mike also enjoyed riding his Prowler ATV with his family.
    Michael is survived by his wife Sandra and their two boys 17-year-old Adam and 14-year old Gregory, all of Argos; a daughter and son from a previous marriage Dawn and Casey Ickes of Walkerton, and Dustin and Viki Cullen of Rentown, and one granddaughter, Rebekah of Walkerton.  He is also survived by his parents, James and Beverly of North Ft. Myers, Fla.; four brothers: James and Melody of Argos, Steve, and Rick, both of Plymouth, and Terry and Lisa of Cicero; one sister, Deborah and Mel Thomas of Wabash; and several nieces and nephews survive as well.
    He is also survived by Sandy’s parents Bill and Rita Nykiel of Bremen, and Steve and Pam Nykiel of Colleyville, Texas; four brothers-in-law: Dan and Mary Nykiel of Collierville, Tenn., Ron and Charity Nykiel, Andy and Lori Nykiel, both of Bremen, and Jerry and Tammy Nykiel of South Bend; and one sister-in-law, Marlene and Don Dolan of Bremen.
    Friends may pay their respects at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth Friday, June 26 from 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27 in St. Michael Catholic Church, 612 N. Center St., Plymouth with pastor Fr. William Kummer as the celebrant. Burial will follow in New Oakhill Cemetery.
     Memorial contributions may be made to St. Michael Catholic Church or St. Michael School Operation Play Zone.
    Online condolences may be sent to the family through the funeral home’s Web site at www.johnson-danielson.com .

Catherine ‘Cathy’ C. Flora Miller
Dec. 24, 1917 - Nov. 19, 2008
    WEST LAFAYETTE — Catherine ‘Cathy’ C. Flora Miller, 90 of West Lafayette, died Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008 following a short illness in the High Desert Medical Center, in Joshua Tree, Calif., where she and her husband  spent the winter months with her daughters.
    Cathy was born in Plymouth on Dec. 24, 1917 the daughter of Simon and Charlotte Bryan Flora.  She was a graduate of Plymouth High School and she had lived on the west coast for several years before returning to Lafayette in 1955.  On Aug. 26, 1967 she was married to John L. ‘Jack’ Miller in Lafayette, he survives. Together they had traveled and constructed several homes in West Lafayette.  Cathy also took great pride in her flower gardens and enjoyed her grandchildren..  
    Surviving along with her husband are a son, David Russell (wife Nila) of Lake Havasu City, Ariz; two daughters: Sandra K. Russell and Janet D. Swinford, both of Joshua Tree, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.  
    Preceding her in death along with her parents were a daughter Carole A. Rachel; granddaughters: Crissa Swinford and Elizabeth Ann Dillingham; three sisters: Paula J. Stevens of Medaryville, Mildred Price of Lafayette, and Delores Singer of South Bend.
    A memorial service will be held Sunday,  June 28, 2009 at 1 p.m. at  Family & Friends Funeral Home of Wingate with family members officiating.  
    To leave an online condolence visit us at familyandfriendsfh.com

William E.  ‘Bill’  Russell
Aug. 12, 1946  -  June 23, 2009
    It was Tuesday afternoon, June 23, an apparent routine day of disking the fields turned to tragedy and great sadness when Michael, Bill’s grandson, and key farming partner found him down in the field and unresponsive, on one of the family’s farms. William “Bill”  Russell was born in Kewanna to Everett W. and Pauline Ault Russell on Aug. 12, 1946.  He was one of three children growing up with sisters Barbara and Becky.
    As a young man, Bill grew up on his family’s Richland Township farm. A hobby of his youth was hunting rabbit and fishing on the farm.  He was a  graduate of the Argos High School class of 1964. He attended Ft. Wayne Business College and studied accounting. Later our country beckoned him, answering the call Bill was a proud member of the U.S. Army serving during the Vietnam War.  During his tour of duty he was awarded two bronze stars.
    On Sept. 20, 1969 in Leiters Ford,  he married Victoria Bell “Vicky” McGlothlin. Their marriage spanned nearly 40 years. Vicky passed away on April 5, 2008 following a valiant fight with cancer. Their union produced three children Scott, Gretchen and Haidee.  On Jan. 31, 2009, in Logansport, he married Beth Lucile Davis who survives at home.
    Bill was a skilled man and versatile with many interests.   He worked at Sealed Power until its closing. Later he was an employee of the Pat Hiatt Construction Company. Bill served the Aubbee Community for 39 years as a volunteer firefighter and many of those years as Chief, until his health required he step aside.  As an entrepreneur Bill founded the Able Home Care Service back in 1982. He is currently co-owner of the company. Bill continued to drive the school bus for the Culver Community Schools.
    With a desire to serve his community and friends Bill was currently a member of the Fulton County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Aubbeenaubee Improvement Corporation and served as a former member of the Hazardous Waste Committee.
    Bill enjoyed several passions in life: his church, his family, farming and 4-H. An active member of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints he fulfilled many callings as a servant to his church. Farming and 4-H  were paramount to his family. As the patriarch of the Russell clan, Bill instilled  traditional family values, work ethic to his children and grandchildren. Togetherness was a key element of this close-knit family’s success.  Whether it was the special care given to the cattle or goats or sharing trade secrets and techniques on construction — Bill was there to lead the family pack. It was just a few years back and the family erected a barn with Grandpa Bill overseeing the project.  With sheer guts and determination Bill battled cancer’s grasp and prevailed as a survivor. He leaves behind his family who loved and adored him, the church family with whom he worshiped,  along with his buddies at the Marshall County 4-H Beef Barn, students whom he safely took to school and returned home each day, the Aubbee Volunteer Firefighters and the many friends he made along the pathways of life’s journey to cherish his memory of the many good times they shared.
    Survivors include wife Beth at home; one son, Scott Russell and wife Kellie and their children Claire, Madeline, Laura, Jessica, Katelyn and Evelyn, all of Plain City, Utah;  two daughters:  Gretchen Johnson and husband Scott and their children Michael, Renae, Rebekah and Elizabeth,  Haidee and husband Michael Temme and their children Zachary, Russell, and Alexandra, all of Leiters Ford.  Bill’s extended children include: Kristina Risner, Richard Ganshow, Karla and husband Mitch Rutledge, Rob and Kira Bettcher and his foreign exchange daughter Jantje Roder of Germany. Also surviving are two stepsons: Jim Davis and wife Jessica of Monticello, and Mike Davis and wife Kelly of Aults, Okla.; a stepdaughter ,  Sarah Davis and companion Josh Isom of Monticello; seven grandchildren of his extended family; five step-grandchildren; and his faithful and loving canine companion Wilson, a Springer  Spaniel;  numerous cousins, nieces and nephews also survive.  
    He is preceded in death by his parents; first wife; and two sisters: Barbara Wagoner and Becky Nelson.
    A celebration of the life of Mr. William “Bill” Russell will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Good Family Funeral Home 1200 West 18th St., Rochester, with President William Tincher presiding. Friends may visit with his family from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday and an hour prior to services.  He will be laid to rest at the Leiters Ford IOOF Cemetery. Military graveside rites will be conducted by the LeRoy Shelton American Legion Post and the Manitou Post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  
    Preferred memorials may be made to the Russell Grandchildren 4-H Group c/o Haidee Temme.   
    Electronic expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it