baptized by Rev. J. D. Engeman.

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Kinney 'El' Custodian Honored

Veteran Kinney elementary school custodian, Ernie Voisin, became "King For A Day" Friday when teachers and staff members at the Mt. Pleasant school honored him with a surprise birthday party.

Voisin was presented with a large number of gifts, a big birthday cake, and was crowned with a special head-dress designating him "King For A Day."

In addition to his many gifts, Voisin, who gave his age as a "Jack Benny 39." received a sincere vote of thanks from teachers at Kinney for his long and devoted service to the school. A spokesman for the teachers said; "Ernie has a wonderful sense of humor, without sarcasm. He can see things to do, and does them without being asked. His manual dexterity transforms useless objects and waste materials into needed book shelves, racks, easels, cages, cases for charts, standards for globes, unique bird feeders, window shelves, and many other useful teaching aids which help every teacher and child do better work. Teachers have remarked, If Mr. Voisin can't repair it, then it needs to be thrown away.' A most efficient mileage of tax money is found here at Kinney because of Mr. Voisin's dedicated service.

"Living constructively, and being alert to doing helpful things appears to have become a habit. He has become a landmark, and if not around, is missed most, because of his quiet modest way of being so competent and helpful. Mr. Voisin's unusual ingenuity and personal philosophy ranks him among the best and most loved custodians."

[Picture with caption:] "KING FOR A DAY" at Kinney elementary school was custodian Ernie Voisin, when teachers and staff at the local school honored him at a surprise birthday party Friday. Presenting him with a chocolate birthday cake is Mrs. Fern Sagamall, a cook at Kinney's hot lunch kitchen.

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Ernest J. Voisin

Ernest J. Voisin, 87, of Mt. Pleasant, died Thursday, Sept. 3, 1987, at Ingham Medical Center in Lansing.

Services are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in East Lansing with the Rev. Michael D. Murphy officiating. Graveside services are scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Calvary Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant.

Friends may call at the Gorsline-Runciman East Chapel in East Lansing from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. today. A rosary is scheduled to be recited at 7 p.m. today.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sacramentine Monastary. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.

Mr. Voisin was born April 29, 1900, in Beal City to Joseph and Mary (Yunker) Voisin.

He was a lifelong resident of Mt. Pleasant. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mt. Pleasant. He retired from Kinney School after many years.

He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Gilbert (Mary L.) Elias of Okemos, Mrs. Michael (Karen) Golden of Holt and Mrs. David (Sue) Grades of Lansing; four sons, Jack Voisin of Mt. Pleasant, Glenn Voisin of Saginaw, Paul Voisin of St. Johns and John Downing of Ohio; 22 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma, and a daughter, Nora.

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VOISIN, ERNEST J.
Holt

Age 87, died September 3, 1987. Mr. Voisin was born April 29, 1900 in Beal City, MI. He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma, and daughter, Nora. Surviving are 2 daughters, Mrs. Gilbert (Mary) L. Elias of Okemos and Mrs. Michael (Karen) Golden of Holt; 3 sons, Jack and wife, Ruth, of Mt. Pleasant, Glenn and wife, Norma, of Saginaw, Paul and wife, Charlotte, of St. Johns; John Downing and wife, Mary, of Ohio and Mrs. David (Sue) Grades of Lansing; 22 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, 10 a.m. in St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 955 Alton Rd., East Lansing by the Rev. Michael D. Murphy, Pastor. Graveside services will be held Saturday 1 p.m. in Calvary Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant. The family will receive friends at the Gorsline-Runciman East Chapel, East Lansing, Friday 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. The Rosary will be recited Friday 7 p.m. Friends desiring may make contributions to Sacramentine Monastery, US-31, Conway, MI 49722.

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FUNERAL HOMILY FOR ERNEST VOISIN SEPTEMBER 5, 1987

1. I wish to offer condolences to you Ernest's family and friends, but especially to Jack, Glenn, Mary Lou, Paul, Karen, Sue and John.
-Our prayers are with you and for you today as you bring your father and grand­father to be buried.

2. Sometimes I think we need a special insight in how to read obituaries. We need to be able to filter the information that is provided in order to get to the pertinent information about a person's life.

a. What struck me about Ernest's obituary was the list of names that was given. -Obviously relationships meant a great deal to this man.
-He spent a great deal of his life's energy building his relationships with the people whose names are recorded in the paper.

b. In light of that how appropriate the 2nd reading from Revelations was for us
-We heard the words "write this down" or to put it another way let this truth be clearly etched in your heart and mind.
-"Happy now are the dead who die in the Lord" Yes they shall find rest from their labors, for their good works accompany them."

c. Jesus told us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
-Generally when a person finds the time for this many people in his life
then he is striving to implement the Lord's commandment in his life.
-As Ernest goes to the Lord the only things he takes with himself are the
good works he has done and the relationships he has forged over a lifetime.

3. Another thing that stood out was the Tiger's baseball cap in his casket.

a. This man as you so well know loved tie Detroit Tigers. He was a loyal fan.
-But he also knew that you don't have baseball 12 months a year--'there is a season for baseball as "there is an appointed time for everything and a time for every affair under the heavens."

b. Our lives must have the rhythms of life that were so eloquently spoken about in that reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes.
-We need to develop a balance in our lives --a sense of when things are appropriate.

c. Another item that we saw in his casket was his rosary laced through his fingers. Daily his rosary could be found in his fingers as he worked on that most fundamental relationship we all must foster in our lives and that is our relationship with our God.
-The rosary in Ernest's fingers was not a meaningless and empty gesture.
-Rather it spoken of an important facet of this man's-life. He believed enough to offer this prayer daily.

d. Both the baseball cap and the rosary were realities that found a time and place in Ernest's life.

4. In the Gospel we again heard Jesus' reassuring words to Martha his friend that He is "the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me even though he should die will come to life."

a. Then Jesus asked Martha as he questions us "do you believe this?" -Well of course we do
-We too believe with Martha that Jesus is the "Messiah--He 'who was to come into the world."

b. You knew and experienced Ernest as a creative and innovative man who could look at something that was broken or not working and find a way to fix it.

c. If Ernest was so clever how much more innovative must our God be -- He who fashioned this man and gave him life and breath.

d. Our God sees us broken by sin and evil and he does not want us to die in
in our sins. So he raises us to life if we but live our lives by his commandments. As Jesus said "if you love me you will keep my commandments."

d. We firmly believe that the Lord will raise Ernest to glory in heaven and that is the focus of our prayer today as we come to bury this man you loved, and who loved you for a lifetime.

e. We gather in this church today to proclaim our belief in this central truth of our faith and our lives.
-We believe that Ernest has not lived and died in vain.
-We believe he will be with the Lord he came to know and love in the course of his life.
-We profess with Martha, the friend of Jesus, the truth of Jesus as our Messiah.

f. In this Eucharist we thank God for the gift of Ernest and we come to the table of the Lord to be nourished and comforted by our God until we all meet in Christ in the eternal kingdom of heaven.
-Now the words of Jesus have been fulfilled in Ernest's life when He said: "Father, all those you gave me I would have in my company where I am, to see this glory of mine which is your gift to me."

g. On this sad day let us not forget these eternal truths that give us a hope rooted in the very person of our God.
-We have a hope and it is the Lord, Jesus Christ, and this will never be taken from us.

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Voisin, Helen G., 82, retired St. Lawrence Hospital employee, died Thursday. Services 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Casimir Catholic Church. Arrangements by Palmer-Bush Delta Chapel.