Lyola Dawn Dunkel died Sunday, March 10, 2013 at the age of 86. She was born February 8, 1927 in Shiawassee County, MI the daughter of John Oliver and Laura Etta (Haines) Yerrick. She was a graduate of Ovid High School, Class of 1944 and attended Central Michigan College. She worked at Bendix Aviation after high school and after her children were older worked at J.C. Penney in St. Johns for a few years and then as a secretary at the Clinton County Prosecutor’s Office for about 10 years before her retirement. She was a former member of First Baptist Church in St. Johns and currently is a member of Elk Rapids Baptist Church in Elk Rapids, MI. Lyola was a very caring person, from sending cards to cheer someone up, to making pies at Thanksgiving for the Lansing City Rescue Mission and most recently knitting hats for the newborns at Munson Medical Center. On October 19, 1946 she married her high school sweetheart, John Dunkel and he survives her. Also surviving are her children, Dennis (Mary Ann) of Albuquerque, N.M., David (Gloria) of St. Johns, Diane (Thomas) Woodhams of Brighton and Darlene (Greg) Kirby of St. Johns; ten grandchildren and their spouses and eleven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Alberta Serr and Helen Applebee. Funeral services will be held 11:00 A.M. Thursday, March 14, 2013 at First Baptist Church 512 S. US 27 St. Johns with Pastor Gary Gladfelter of Elk Rapids Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow at Maple Grove Cemetery, Ovid, MI. The family will receive relatives and friends 2-4 and 6-8 P.M. Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at Keck-Coleman Funeral Home, St. Johns. Memorials may be made to ABWE Missions Donor Services P.O. Box 8585 Harrisburg, PA 17105 or City Rescue Mission 2216 S. Cedar Lansing, MI 48910.

Provide comfort for the family by planting a tree in memory of Lyola D. Dunkel, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.