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Alta Isabelle Colson
1921-2004
Alta Isabelle Colson, a former Cottage Grove resident, died Jan. 21 at the age of 83.
She was residing at Mycroft Supportive Care Home in Eureka, Calif.
She was born Jan. 9, 1921, in Portland.
She and her husband, Chet, moved to the Arcata-McKinleyville, Calif., area in 1956 from Cottage Grove.
She worked for the U.S. Forest Service Nursery until her retirement in 1981.
She and her husband traveled throughout the country in their motor home.
She enjoyed rock hunting, gardening, flowers, animals and her family.
Survivors include sons: Gordon Colson and his wife, Sharon, of McKinleyville, Calif., and Wallace Colson and his wife, Sharon, of Vancouver, Wash.; daughter: Beverly Kenady and her husband, Ronald, of Cottage Grove; grandchildren: Mike and Joni Kenady, March and Doris Bailey, Susan Dodson and Gregory Kenady of Cottage Grove, Mark and Janelle Colson of Oakville, Wash.; Tom Colson of Bonny Lake, Wash.; Jack and Nichole Olson of Puyallup, Wash.; Kelly and Steve Rodden of Sherwood; Peter and Laurie Phillips of Fairfield, Calif.; Todd Colson of Sacramento, Calif.; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A graveside service was held Jan. 27 at Greenwood Cemetery in Arcata, Calif.
In lieu of flowers, make contributions to a favorite charity in the name of Alta Colson.
Kermit Grim
1921-2004
Kermit Grim, a 2-1/2 year resident of Cottage Grove, died Feb. 24 at the age of 83 from age-related causes.
He was born May 30, 1921, in Aleppo, Pa., to William and Fern Grim.
He lived in Shingle Town, Calif., and Cottage Grove.
He served two years in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was involved in the Normandy invasion.
He worked as an inspector for the aerospace industry.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time with his family.
He was also a leader of the Boy Scouts.
He was a member of the National Rifle Association; Order of the Arrow, Boy Scout of America; and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He received a Purple Heart and Silver Star.
Survivors include his son: Lee Grim of Cottage Grove; grandson: Shane Grim of Tennessee; and sisters: Christine Phillips of Florida and Charlotte Cram of Idaho.
No service was planned.
A family gathering will be at a later date.
A private cremation was held under the care of Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel.
Bonnie Sumpter Schmit
1944-2004
Bonnie Sumpter Schmit of Aberdeen, Wash., formerly of Cottage Grove, died March 8 at the age of 59 from cancer-related causes.
She was born Oct. 7, 1944, in Kansas City, Mo., to Claude and Eurple Sumpter.
She grew up and attended school in Dos Palos, Calif.
She moved from California to Cottage Grove in the 1960s.
She married Dick Schmit in Reno, Nev., on Oct. 14, 1971.
She grew up working in the fields.
She worked at Pam's Sunnyside Nursery and was a manager of Senior Living Center in Cottage Grove.
She was a published writer and enjoyed reading and writing short stories.
Her life revolved around her grandchildren.
She was a member of the United Pentecostal in Cottage Grove and Old Time Religion Tabernacle in Lebanon.
She is survived by her husband; sons: John Dahl of Springfield, Rowdey Schmit of Cottage Grove and Tristan Schmit and his wife, Susan, of Creswell; daughter: Connie Dahl of Eugene; brothers: Chuck Sumpter of Bakersfield, Calif., and Leon Sumpter of Lake Isabella, Calif.; sisters: Claudette Bremer of Gentry, Mo., Donna Gibson and Sue Bucklin of Emmett, Idaho, Barbara Guthrie and Arlene Rothacher of Parker, Ariz.; numerous nieces and nephews and seven grandchildren.
A graveside service was held Friday at Walker Cemetery in Saginaw.
Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Julius "Jute" Gerstner
1921-2004
Julius "Jute" Gerstner of Creswell died at the age of 83 from age-related causes.
He was born Jan. 5, 1921, in Garden City, Kan., to Peter and Genevieve Gerstner.
He had been a resident of Creswell since 1939.
He married Ethel Louderback in Eugene in 1941.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II as a corporal.
Later he worked at Cone Lumber Co. in Goshen as a lumber car loader.
He retired in 1962.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, gardening and spending time with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife; son and daughter-in-law: Larry and Lois Gerstner of Reedsport; son: Norman Gerstner of Reedsport; daughter: Nanette Dutton of Marcola; brothers and sisters-in-law: Isadore and Joy Gerstner of Mission, Texas, Martin and Peggy Gerstner of Reedsport, Lorene and Frank Williams of Eugene and Irene and Lawrence Hird of Dorena; brother: Pete Gerstner of Cottage Grove; sister and brother-in-law: Gertrude and John Pritchard of Yoncalla; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
A brother, John Gerstner, died in 1983.
No service is planned.
Smith-Lund-Mills Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
