Obituaries

Members of the MIRLCA may submit obituaries of fellow members to the State Secretary via email or mail.  The MIRLCA is only  able to post obituaries that have been submitted by a member or their families.  Out of respect for our fellow members that have passed and their families, the MIRLCA will only post the published obituaries.  

The obituaries will be posted for 30 days.

Elaine Violet Casner

Casner, Elaine Violet of Fenton, formerly of Flushing, age 92, died Friday, October 17, 2025, at LaVigne Hospice House. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Flushing Presbyterian Church, 5010 N. McKinley Road, Flushing. A gathering of family and friends will be 10 a.m. until the time of the serivce at 11 a.m. at the church. If desired, memorial contributions may be made to LaVigne Hospice House or to the family.

Elaine was born in Flint, Michigan on June 17, 1933, the daughter of Truman and Adeline (Ahearn) Hildreth. She graduated from Flint Northern High School, Class of 1951. Elaine worked at the United States Postal Service as a Mail Carrier, retiring after 35 years of service. After her retirement, she enjoyed her morning coffee on the porch at her cottage on Gunn Lake. She enjoyed watching the hummingbirds, riding around the lake on their pontoon boat and fishing. Elaine loved watching older mystery shows and westerns or cowboy shows as she called them. Elaine was a devout Christian even though she enjoyed her scratch off lottery tickets. She was a faithful member of Dayton Heights Community Church, where until Covid, she attended every Sunday and loved her community of friends there.

Elaine is survived by her son, Kyle Casner; longtime companion, Joe Szabo; grandson, Devon Casner; brother, Truman and Marsha Hildreth; and many nieces and nephews. She will be remembered by many nieces and nephews and Kyle, Kent, and Kirk’s friends as a second mother to them. She was preceded in death by her sons, Kent and Kirk Casner; brothers, Victor Hildreth and Larry and Bonnie Hildreth; and her parents.

A memorial gathering to celebrate the lives of both Elaine and her son, Kirk, will be 2-6 p.m. Sunday, November 23, 2025, at the Flushing Moose Lodge.  

Rudy Francetic 

 Rudy Francetic, age 91, of Merrill, passed away peacefully with family by his side on Monday, November 10, 2025, in Saginaw. Rudy was born April 24, 1934, in Lakefield Township, Saginaw County, the son of Anthony and Julia (Marohnic) Francetic. Rudy married Florence Guthrie on October 11, 1952, at the Emerson Presbyterian Church. Rudy was a lifelong farmer, purchasing the family farm after marriage. He also started as a substitute rural letter carrier, eventually taking a full-time position and retiring from the US Postal Service in 1994. Rudy enjoyed spending time with friends and family, playing cards, especially cribbage and pinochle, and camping. After retirement, he and Florence enjoyed traveling to Europe, Alaska and on multiple bus trips to various polka festivals. Winters in Gulf Shores with daily walks on the beach were also a highlight of his retirement.

He is survived by his children Douglas (Brenda) Francetic, Marcia Stanley, Jerri Francetic, grandchildren Anthony (Kira) Francetic, Christopher (Kristina) Francetic, Laura Miller, Sara (Matt) DiGregorio, great grandchildren Bianca, Domenic, Joseph, Alex, Easton, Beau, Finnick, sisters-in-law Marion and Nancy Francetic, brother-in-law Duane Guthrie and many nieces and nephews.

Rudy was preceded in death by his parents, wife Florence in 2018, infant son Darrell, daughter and son-in-law Kathleen and Michael Davis, sisters Alice Gorney and Anna Demeulemester, and brothers Charles, James, Joseph, Thomas, John, George, and William.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 11 am at the Lux and Whiting Funeral Chapel, Breckenridge. Interment will follow in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Breckenridge. Visitation will be held Thursday from 3 to 8 pm at the funeral chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shriners Children's Hospital or St. Jude Children’s Hospital. To view Rudy’s obituary or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.luxfuneralhomes.com.

* In 2024, Rudy earned his 50 year MIRLCA Member Award.