Michael E. Newman

February 19, 1951 –

Michael E. Newman, age 60 of Ruskin Fla., formerly of Big Rapids, passed away unexpectedly with his wife Karen while enjoying a morning motorcycle ride July 25, 2011.
Michael was born February 19, 1951 in Lansing Mich., to Ernest Jr. and Helen (Darling) Newman. As a child Mike’s family built a cottage at Chippewa Lake and that drew him to this area as an adult. Mike was employed at MichCon for over 34 years, retiring to Ruskin Florida in 2006. Mike was a member of Eagles Aerie #2535 and AmVets Post #1941 both of Big Rapids, as well as Eagles Aerie #4351, Eagle Riders, the Moose Lodge #813 and Moose Riders all of Ruskin, Fla, and the American Legion Post #309 in Palmetto, Fla.
Michael will be forever missed by his loving family and friends. Although his passing was too soon, they do take comfort in knowing he passed while doing what he loved and with the one he loved.
He is survived by two sons; Sean (Kimberly) Newman and Joel Newman all of Big Rapids; a grandson, Ryder Newman; granddaughter, Gracie Mehlhorn; step-daughters, Katherine (Noel) Creel of Antioch, TN; Rebecca (Michael) Bowyer of Battle Creek; step-son, Darrell Pollaski of Big Rapids; his parents, Ernest “Ike” and Delores Newman of Chippewa Lake; two sisters, Pamela Rock of Ruskin, FL, and Cindy Mikula of Mt. Pleasant along with several nieces and nephews.
Mike was preceded in death by wife, Victoria (DeCraene) Newman; wife, Jana (Wineger) Newman; grandson, Seth Michael Newman; granddaughter, Autumn Leigh Newman; brother-in-law, Robert Rock.
A memorial service for Mike took place at the Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home in Big Rapids. Memorial contributions in Mikes name may be made to The Eagles Club # 2535 of Big Rapids or to the Mecosta County Animal Shelter.
Share a memory or leave a condolence for the family at <a href="http://www.daggettgilbertfuneralhome.com" target="_blank">www.daggettgilbertfuneralhome.com</a>.
Karen E. (Wilbert) Neal Karen E. (Wilbert) Neal, age 59, of Ruskin, Fla., formerly of Big Rapids, Mich., passed away July 25 unexpectedly with her husband Michael while out enjoying a morning motorcycle ride.
Karen was born January 28, 1952 in Cleveland, OH daughter of Robert and Helen (Wiemels) Wilbert. Karen and her large family of brothers and sisters grew up in Cleveland Ohio and relocated to Central Michigan in the 1960’s. Karen was employed by the Big Rapids School System for many years and was also very involved with many community organizations. Karen was a member of the Eagles Aerie #2535 and the AmVets Post #1941, both of Big Rapids. Karen retired with husband Mike to Ruskin Fla., in 2006, where they joined the Moose Lodge #813 and the Eagles Aerie #4351. They were both active members of the Eagle Riders and the Moose Riders motorcycle clubs.
Karen’s family and friends will remember her most for her fun-loving carefree attitude towards love and life. She was a free spirit who lived her life to the fullest and passed doing what she loved with the man she loved. She is survived by her two daughters Katherine (Noel) Creel and Rebecca (Michael) Bowyer, stepsons Sean (Kimberly) Newman and Joel Newman, all of Big Rapids; a grandson, Ryder Newman and a granddaughter, Gracie Mehlhorn; five brothers Donald (June) Wilbert, James (Nancy) Wilbert, Kenneth Wilbert, Edward (Shannon) Wilbert, and Raymond Wilbert; her sister, Joan Neal; along with many nieces, nephews and cousins. Karen was preceded in death by her father Robert Wilbert and mother Helen Wilbert. Karen’s chose her final resting place as Mount Mckinley, Alaska, which is home to her twin brother Ken, may she be close to him always.
A memorial service was held at the Daggett-Gilbert Funeral Home in Big Rapids.
Memorial contributions may be made in Karen’s name to the Mecosta County Animal Shelter or the Eagles Club #2535 of Big Rapids, MI.
Share a memory or leave a condolence for the family at <a href="http://Karen%20E.%20(Wilbert)%20Neal%20%20Karen%20E.%20(Wilbert)%20Neal,%20age%2059,%20of%20Ruskin,%20Fla.,%20formerly%20of%20Big%20Rapids,%20Mich.,%20passed%20away%20July%2025%20unexpectedly%20with%20her%20husband%20Michael%20while%20out%20enjoying%20a%20morning%20motorcycle%20ride.%20%20Karen%20was%20born%20January%2028,%201952%20in%20Cleveland,%20OH%20daughter%20of%20Robert%20and%20Helen%20(Wiemels)%20Wilbert.%20Karen%20and%20her%20large%20family%20of%20brothers%20and%20sisters%20grew%20up%20in%20Cleveland%20Ohio%20and%20relocated%20to%20Central%20Michigan%20in%20the%201960’s.%20Karen%20was%20employed%20by%20the%20Big%20Rapids%20School%20System%20for%20many%20years%20and%20was%20also%20very%20involved%20with%20many%20community%20organizations.%20Karen%20was%20a%20member%20of%20the%20Eagles%20Aerie%20#2535%20and%20the%20AmVets%20Post%20#1941,%20both%20of%20Big%20Rapids.%20Karen%20retired%20with%20husband%20Mike%20to%20Ruskin%20Fla.,%20in%202006,%20where%20they%20joined%20the%20Moose%20Lodge%20#813%20and%20the%20Eagles%20Aerie%20#4351.%20They%20were%20both%20active%20members%20of%20the%20Eagle%20Riders%20and%20the%20Moose%20Riders%20motorcycle%20clubs.%20%20Karen’s%20family%20and%20friends%20will%20remember%20her%20most%20for%20her%20fun-loving%20carefree%20attitude%20towards%20love%20and%20life.%20She%20was%20a%20free%20spirit%20who%20lived%20her%20life%20to%20the%20fullest%20and%20passed%20doing%20what%20she%20loved%20with%20the%20man%20she%20loved.%20She%20is%20survived%20by%20her%20two%20daughters%20Katherine%20(Noel)%20Creel%20and%20Rebecca%20(Michael)%20Bowyer,%20stepsons%20Sean%20(Kimberly)%20Newman%20and%20Joel%20Newman,%20all%20of%20Big%20Rapids;%20a%20grandson,%20Ryder%20Newman%20and%20a%20granddaughter,%20Gracie%20Mehlhorn;%20five%20brothers%20Donald%20(June)%20Wilbert,%20James%20(Nancy)%20Wilbert,%20Kenneth%20Wilbert,%20Edward%20(Shannon)%20Wilbert,%20and%20Raymond%20Wilbert;%20her%20sister,%20Joan%20Neal;%20along%20with%20many%20nieces,%20nephews%20and%20cousins.%20Karen%20was%20preceded%20in%20death%20by%20her%20father%20Robert%20Wilbert%20and%20mother%20Helen%20Wilbert.%20Karen’s%20chose%20her%20final%20resting%20place%20as%20Mount%20Mckinley,%20Alaska,%20which%20is%20home%20to%20her%20twin%20brother%20Ken,%20may%20she%20be%20close%20to%20him%20always.%20A%20memorial%20service%20was%20held%20at%20the%20Daggett-Gilbert%20Funeral%20Home%20in%20Big%20Rapids.%20Memorial%20contributions%20may%20be%20made%20in%20Karen’s%20name%20to%20the%20Mecosta%20County%20Animal%20Shelter%20or%20the%20Eagles%20Club%20#2535%20of%20Big%20Rapids,%20MI.%20%20Share%20a%20memory%20or%20leave%20a%20condolence%20for%20the%20family%20at%20www.daggettgilbertfuneralhome.com." target="_blank">www.daggettgilbertfuneralhome.com</a>.