Brother Leo Cohoon passed away February 14th at the Masonic Home in Alma. He was 93. He had helped charter Wa-Bu-No Camp #250 and held all offices in the camp, most recently serving as Camp Chaplain.

Brother Dale F. Calder, member of the Russell A. Alger Camp #462, Michigan Camp at Large, passed away February 2, 2007 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Brother Calder joined the Curtenius Guard Camp #17 on September 27, 1994 and served as Camp Chaplain from 1996 – 2000. He transferred to the Major Henry F. Wallace Camp #260 in 2001 and subsequently to the Russell A. Alger Camp #462, Michigan Camp at Large.

Brother Calder was decended from his Great Grandfather, Private (Johann) Martin Lerg, who enlisted into Company E, 6th Michigan Volunteer Cavalry on September 6, 1862 and was honorably discharged November 24, 1865.

Brother Michael Dean Mitchell died in Angola, IN on Monday, January 22, 2007 after a lengthy illness. He was born April 25, 1940, in Howard City, Michigan. Brother Mitchell was a Charter Member of Curtenius Guard Camp #17, joining in 1983 as a Great Grandson of PVT Jason C. Bradeen, Co. D, 2d Maine Vol. Inf. He served as camp Sr. Vice Commander, Chairman on several camp committees, and Senior Vice Commander of the Department of Michigan. Mike received the Department of Michigan Abraham Lincoln Award in 1987. A veteran of the U.S. Army and Navy, he retired from General Motors in 1998. His wife, Carol of 723 S. 650 W., Angola, IN 46703, survives him. Also surviving are three daughters and sons-in-law, two adopted daughters and their husbands, two brothers and sisters-in-law, three sisters and brothers-in-law, and 11 grandchildren.

Brother Mitchell was also a member of the Sons of the Revolution, the North-South Skirmish Association and several other related associations, including being a Charter Member of the 7th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, Inc., a reenactment group from 1983. The funeral was held in Stroh, IN on Friday, January 26 at the Stroh Church of Christ.

The funeral service took place on Saturday at the Okemos, MI Christian Center, with burial at Dimondale Cemetery. Memorials are to Cameron Hospice, Angola, or Fort Wayne Medical Oncology, P.O. Box 15099, Fort Wayne, IN 46885.

Brother James B. Pugsley III, Carpenter-Welch Camp 180, Department of Michigan, died suddenly on January 15, 2007. He was born in Ann Arbor on August 4, 1953. Brother Pugsley is survived by his son, Jimmy, and his ex-wife, Darcy. The funeral took place on January 19 at the Stark Funeral Home in Ypsilanti, followed by burial in Highland Cemetery.

Jim joined the SUVCW in 2002 by virtue of being a grandnephew of SGT Stephen H. Clayton, Co. F, 6th Tennessee Cavalry. He served various offices in the camp, including Chaplain, Jr. Vice Commander and Sr. Vice Commander. He has also been an active member of the Ann Arbor Civil War Round Table.

Brother Merle J. "Sie" Hagerman died Saturday December 2, 2006 at his home at in Kalamazoo. He was the grandson of Charles F. Hagerman, Co. M, 1st Michigan Cavalry and was a member of the Gen. Benjamin Pritchard Camp No. 20 in Kalamazoo. Brother Hagerman was born September 20, 1921 in Kalamazoo. During WW II, he served in the U.S. Army. He was a 32-Degree Mason. He is survived by four of his five children, six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Brother James C. Wood died October 28, 2006 in Grand Rapids, MI. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery, Alma. Brother Wood was born February 15, 1935 in Big Rapids. He was a member of Alexander French Camp No. 28 based on his Great Grandfather, PVT. William Dix Everdon, 3rd PA Heavy Artillery. Brother Wood served his camp as Historian, Jr. Vice Commander, Secretary and a member of the Camp Council. He will be remembered for organizing and implementing the placement of Civil War and Spanish-American War panels at the Veterans’ Memorial, Mecosta County Court House in Big Rapids.

Brother George V. Holland

Life Member George V. Holland, Russell A. Alger Camp No. 462, Michigan Camp-at-Large died Oct. 22, 2006 in Macomb Twp. Brother Holland was born in Detroit, MI, on May 13, 1918. He served in the U.S. Navy attaining the rank of Lieutenant Sr. Grade (LT). A Ford Motor Car retiree, George was active in Boy Scouts, receiving the coveted Silver Beaver Award for his years of dedicated service. He was also an avid stamp collector, co-founding the Great Lakes chapter of Scouts on Stamp Society, International.

Brother Holland is survived by his wife, Marjorie Holland-Wyss (7031 Carriage Creek Drive, Washington, MI 48094), two sons, eight grandchildren, two great grandchildren, a brother and a sister. The family requested donations be sent to either Hospices of Henry Ford or Christ Lutheran Church in Warren. Interment was at Glen Eden Memorial Park, Macomb Twp.

The Department of Michigan regrets to announce the death of its oldest member, both by age AND membership, Past Department of Michigan Commander (1949) DONALD E. HOCH. PDC Hoch joined Austin Blair Camp No. 7 in 1937 and was a Life member of the SUVCW. His membership honored his Grandfather, Samuel E. Bailey, a private in Co. H., 15th Michigan Infantry. During Camp 7’s lean years, he and PDC Thayne LaBanta kept the camp alive and both were able to see it resurrected to a very high degree of membership and activity.

Brother Hoch was born in Jackson, MI, on August 14, 1908 and died there May 21, 2006. He was buried in Hillcrest Memorial Park. He resided at 1080 Pringle Ave., Jackson, MI 49203. He is survived by three daughters, 18 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren, a brother and a sister. His wife of 66 years and a son preceded him in death.

Brother Hoch’s life accomplishments and his dedication to our Order only add to our appreciation of the man whom we now honor at the time of his passing into eternity.

Mr. Douglas Freeman Colley, 68, of Lake Wales, FL, died Thursday, November 3, 2005, at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital in Tampa, FL. He was born December 7, 1936, in Grand Rapids and moved to Lake Wales five years ago from Grand Rapids. A charter member of the Gen. John A. Logan Camp No. 1 of Grand Rapids, Doug will always be remembered each time the Camp’s flags fly as both the United States and Camp flags were purchased by him and presented to the Camp. Doug also supported the restoration of the Kent County Civil War Monument by having $50 of his veterans’ pension transferred to the restoration fund each month for over three years. Doug honored his Civil War ancestor, Great-Great-Great Grandfather, Pvt. Samuel C. Colley, Co. G, 78th New York Infantry.

Brother Colley was a longtime resident of Portland, Oregon, where he managed a printing business, which employed disabled veterans. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from January 1955 until January 1959. He volunteered at Veterans’ Hospitals counseling patients with spinal cord injuries and was a volunteer at the Lake Wales Care Center. Doug belonged to several veterans’ service organizations: the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, and the American Legion. He was active in the Marine Corps League and was named Marine of the year in 2004. He was a member of the Central Avenue Baptist Church in Lake Wales.

Harold Hodges of Blissfield, MI, died October 5, 2005 in Adrian, MI. Born in Hillsdale, MI, on April 9, 1924, he was 81 years old. Brother Hodges had been the Patriotic Instructor for Nash-Hodges Camp since its start in 1993. His Great Grandfather was Sgt. Addison Hodges, Co. B., 47th Ohio Infantry, a recipient of the Medal of Honor.

Harold Hodges was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in France and Germany during World War II with the 343rd Engineers. He participated in church and grange activities.