Obituary
Scott Allen Jantz
Scott Allen Jantz, age 63, passed away unexpectedly on January 1, 2026, in Traverse City, Michigan. Scott was born on July 14, 1962, in Elyria, Ohio, to Carl and Loretta Jantz. He spent his life rooted in Michigan, calling both Clarkston and Elk Rapids home.
Scott was devoted to his family above all else. He was the loving husband of Jennifer Bantien Jantz, with whom he shared his life for over 40 years. Together they built a life centered on love, support, and unwavering commitment to one another and their family. He was a proud father to Scott Jantz Jr. (Amanda), Kristin Aniszczyk (Joe), and Brian Jantz (Chelsea), and an incredibly proud grandfather to Camden, Ella, Carter, Corbin, and Tyler. Scott took great pride in each of his children and grandchildren and never missed an opportunity to support, encourage, and care for them. Known for his generosity and selflessness, Scott was always willing to help in any way he could. His greatest joy came from being there for his family, and his legacy will live on through the love, strength, and pride he instilled in them. Scott is survived by his wife, three kids, five grandchildren, mother Loretta, brother Mike (Lisa), sister Debbie (Tim) Bantien, along with in-laws, brother and sister in-laws and numerous nieces and nephews. Scott is preceded in death by his father, Carl Jantz. In honoring Scott’s wishes, no services will be held. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered. Janet Leona Worthington Bassett
Janet Leona Worthington Bassett, age 86, left this earth on December 15, 2025. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 15, 1939, to Hector and Marie (Campbell) Meerschaert and was one of 12 children. Janet married the first love of her life, Edward James (Jim) Worthington on August 2, 1962, and had three children with him, Edward, Gregory (Desiree), and Vincent (Laura). Janet and Jim were married for 32 years before Jim died in 1994. She married the second love of her life, Robert William Bassett on July 14, 2003. Robert was widowed twice before and had Steven (Sophia), Nancy, deceased (Jim Bair), and Carol O’Dell (Jeff) with Jean Boehme Bassett and with his second wife, Carole Brummel Shugart Bassett, had two children, Eric (Becky) and Bob (Lena). With all of the clan combinations, Janet had 27 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great grandchildren. Janet had a long career in nursing and was a tireless leader and lifelong advocate for others. Janet had a lifelong dedication to community service.
All are welcome to join Janet’s family and friends on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Top-of-the-Park at the Park Place Hotel (300 East State Street, Traverse City, Michigan 49684). Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, January 17, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church (12675 Center Road, Traverse City, Michigan 49686). Please refer to beaconfh.com for additional details. Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell-Traverse City Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Kathleen Lenora Weitschat
Kathleen Lenora Weitschat passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family in her cozy, lovely home on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 – she was 84 years young. Kathleen was born on June 13, 1941, to John and Kathleen Donley in Pontiac, Michigan. She graduated from St. Michaels Catholic High School in Pontiac, and after graduation, she worked as a punch card operator at General Motors. Later, she was a partner and co-owner of a small business (party store) in Wilmot, Michigan. Kathleen truly enjoyed being a mother to her four children, Mike, Lisa, Chuck and Sarah.
Kathleen moved to our beautiful town of Elk Rapids in 1991 and worked a few interesting jobs locally until becoming employed by the Town Meeting newspaper. During her tenure, she became the leading advertising executive until she took a true leap of faith and started a community newspaper in 2005, determined to succeed. She loved being an integral part of our community. Her passion to provide the surrounding area with a positive publication weekly, allowed her to live her happiest life. The Elk Rapids News would become one of her proudest achievements. She was fiercely independent and a wonderful role model and inspiration to all who knew and loved her. She was always active in quietly contributing to the community’s needs. In addition to providing positive news, she saw the importance in supporting small businesses. The amount of “in kind” support for organizations like the Elk Rapids Public Schools, various nonprofits, individuals and helping businesses develop advertising campaigns was an immense joy for her. Kathleen had an amazingly witty sense of humor, loved car rides, Neil Diamond, Willie Nelson, Cali’s Cottons in Traverse City, all things Irish and potatoes in every form. She capped these things off with some Grand Traverse Late Harvest Reisling and assorted Sees Candies. Mostly, she relished in spending time with her loving family and friends. She also gave really honest advice and was a wonderful listener. She had a lot of love and “sass” to spread around and never had a fear of offering it to people. She would frequently say, “I am so glad I moved here.” Kathleen is preceded in death by literally almost everyone! She was the last living member of the Donley family. She leaves behind her children, Mike (Chris) Weitschat, Lisa (Scott) Otto, Chuck Weitschat and Sarah (Matt) Davis. She also leaves behind her wonderful grandchildren, Riley (Caroline) Weitschat, Taryn (Luke) Phillips, Jack Otto, Ellie (Gunnar) Ward, Charlie Ward, Ava Otto and Max Ward. Additionally, she is survived by her special nieces and nephews for whom she made an incredible impact; special friends; and “her girls,” the dedicated and loyal and steadfast staff of the ER News for over 20 years. Her absence will be noticeable, but her legacy will endure. Stop by her bench at the Elk Rapids Harbor and sit for a bit. As the sun is shining, just like she was, note the message she had placed on her plaque that reads: “Everything Will Be Fine.” There will be a celebration of life/party during the summer (her favorite time of year), and in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Kathleen Weitschat Memorial Scholarship Fund: Checks made out to Alden State Bank (with Memorial Fund Kathleen Weitschat) in the subject line and can be mailed to: Alden State Bank, PO Box 717, Elk Rapids, MI 49629, or please honor Kathleen’s legacy by supporting Elk Rapids News with your future advertising needs. Kathleen’s seven grandchildren were asked to select one word defining the special qualities of their beloved “Kazzy/Cassie,” and these are their heartfelt words, which are also found throughout her obituary: Ellie – Shining Max – Determined Charlie – Lovely Taryn – Independent Riley – Steadfast |
Mark William Simpson
Mark William Simpson, age 72, of Rapid City, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
Mark was born October 31, 1953, in Flint, Michigan, and later moved to northern Michigan in 2004. He worked as a Certified Optician for many years before becoming a familiar and friendly face at Gilroy’s in Elk Rapids, where he worked weekends for 20 years and made countless friends. Mark truly enjoyed being part of the Elk Rapids community and cherished the relationships he built there. He married the love of his life, Terry M. Stanton, on October 20, 1984. Mark adored his wife and shared a close bond with his daughter, Jenna. Mark loved hockey, fishing, skiing, and spending time at Torch Lake with family and friends. He was known for his warm laugh and kind, humble spirit. He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Terry Simpson; daughter, Jenna M. Simpson Evans (Brenton); and his cherished cousin, who was like a sister, Susanne Ness. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. Friday, January 16, 2026, at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, Swartz Creek, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. The service will be live streamed and can be viewed via Mark’s obituary page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com Thomas “Tom” Wells Lohmann
Thomas “Tom” Wells Lohmann, age 92, of Rapid City (Torch River), Michigan and West Bloomfield, Michigan passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at his cottage surrounded by his loving family. Tom and family were long-time residents of Dearborn before moving to a condo in West Bloomfield.
Tom was born on December 6, 1933, to the late Valentine Rudolph “Rudy” Lohmann, and his wife Christine Wells Lohmann. Tom later went on to attend U of D Mercy where he furthered his education before beginning a long and successful career at Ford Motor Company (35 years) and service to his country. Tom proudly served in the United States Navy, enlisting at the young age of 17. He served as a medic aboard the USS Dashiell during the Korean War and traveled around the world. His commitment to service continued long after his military years, as he remained very active in numerous veterans organizations. A man deeply devoted to youth and community, Tom was involved in Scouting for more than 50 years, ultimately serving as a Scout Commissioner. Tom was a recipient of the Silver Beaver Award, the council level distinguished service award of Scouting America. His leadership, mentorship, and generosity left a lasting impact on countless young people. On June 14, 1975, in Elk Rapids, Michigan, Tom married Susan Catherine Phelps of Petoskey. Together they shared 50 wonderful years of marriage, building a life centered on family, service, and love. Tom is survived by his devoted wife Sue, his son Thomas “Tommy” Michael, his daughter Jayne Marriott (Craig) and many loving nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Elaine Koerber (Robert). More than 60 years ago, Tom built his beloved cottage with his own hands on Torch River, a place that brought him immense joy. He loved being on the water, spending time on his boat, and caring for his 80 acres of wooded land. A natural builder and tinkerer, Tom took great pride in maintaining his home and projects. He especially loved working with the dirt and could happily spend the entire day outdoors. Tom was an avid antiques collector and dealer who specialized in military memorabilia and vintage toys. He had booths in several antique malls and loved doing shows often with Jayne or Tommy. A service celebrating Tom’s life will be announced in the spring and held at Howe Peterson Funeral Home in Dearborn. Tom will be laid to rest at Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly with his beloved military brothers. Memorial contributions in his honor may be directed to Hospice of Michigan. Checks can be mailed to Hospice of Michigan, 989 Spaulding SE, Ada, MI 49301. Or they can be made online at https://www.hom.org/donations. Please indicate that the gift is being made in memory of Thomas Lohmann by writing on the check or checking the online box. Tom’s family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Kindly share thoughts and memories with his family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com (http://www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com/). Douglas Bruce Pemberton
Douglas Bruce Pemberton, age 90, of Elk Rapids, Michigan, passed on December 24, 2025, following complications of a stroke. Born on April 12, 1935, to Muriel (Potts) and Orson Pemberton in Howard City, Michigan, Doug graduated in 1953 from Howard City High School where he played the trumpet in the high school band and his mother was a teacher. His grandmother Olive Pemberton was one of only a handful of female mail carriers in the US in the early 1900s, delivering the mail by horse and buggy before switching to a Model T Ford in the 1920s.
Doug joined the Navy after high school and was stationed in Pensacola, Florida. He met his wife Barbara “Jean” Campbell at a USO dance in Mobile, Alabama. They were married in April 1958. He had a small band while in the Navy and could play a mean version of “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White,” mostly playing at the Officer’s club and NCO clubs. He regularly played Reveille and Taps during his enlistment. One of his treasured memories was meeting “Satchmo,” a.k.a. Louis Armstrong, backstage at the Fruitport Pavilion before it burned down, and being allowed to hold his trumpet. In 1959, he was invited by the Navy’s premier flight demonstration team, the Blue Angels, to join their elite maintenance crew as an electronic technician. It was not uncommon for the Navy to send a jet to fly him to location for maintenance during an airshow. After leaving the Navy, he joined the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and with now five-year-old daughter Carolyn and newborn son Douglas was stationed in Alaska for four years in Skwentna, Cold Bay and Middleton Island. Upon returning to the states in 1970, they drove through the quaint Village of Elk Rapids, Michigan. The convergence of the blue waters of the Bay and the Elk River with white swans was too beautiful to pass up and the family settled there. He quickly made friends with a group of local men who enjoyed sailing and together they sailed the Bangalore in the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. Doug had a beautiful tenor singing voice and sang for several years in barbershop quartets and the local Rotary Minstrel Shows. Doug loved Christmas and playing Santa. Whether in Alaska, Michigan, Molokai or at Grumman’s Chinese Theatre or the Children’s Ward of the Los Angeles Hospital, he brought joy and delight to children in his special, custom-made Santa suit and beard. Divorced in 1976, Doug moved to Molokai, Hawaii, again working for the FAA. Shortly after retiring in 1990, he moved to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to help take care of his mother and do “some serious fishing.” Doug moved back to Elk Rapids in 2018, and in July 2023, after 47 years, he and Jean were re-married. Due to advanced dementia, his last few months were spent in the Meadow Brook Medical Care facility in Bellaire, Michigan, where he was affectionately referred to as the “mayor of Meadow Brook” due to his outgoing personality. Doug is survived by his wife, Jean; his daughter, Carolyn (Mike) Hoover of Alden; his son, Douglas (Annie) Pemberton; brother, John (Jean) Pemberton of Dollar Bay; grandchildren, Jessica Hoover, Nicole (Jesse) Way, Rachel Pemberton (Justin), Robin (Rana) Bruce; great grandchildren, Brianna, Lucas, Rob Jr., and Isabella; nephews, John (Jill) Pemberton of Boyne City, Jim (Brigitte) Pemberton of Petoskey, Joey (Mary) Pemberton of Beach Park, IL, Jerry (Amy) Pemberton of Cary, NC; and niece, Debbie (Gary) Grooman of East Jordan; along with numerous grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins in the Potts and Pemberton families. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Nancy Kaars and his great grandson Theoden Micah Way. The family wishes to thank the staff at Meadow Brook Medical Care facility, Grass Creek Wing, for their excellent care and also the nurses and doctors at the Munson ICU in Traverse City for their compassion and kindness towards Doug in his final days. A memorial visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, until the time of the memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at New Hope Community Church, 5100 Bethesda Court, Williamsburg, MI. Luncheon immediately following. Arrangements are being handled by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Traverse City with interment at Reynolds Township Cemetery in Howard City at a date TBD. Please share your thoughts and memories with Doug’s family at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com |