AUGUST 22 • 2024 | 57

KARL R. SCHAEFER, 
94, of West Bloomfield, 
died Aug. 11, 2024. 
He is survived by his 
wife of 69 years, Rhea 
Schaefer; sons and 
daughter-in-law, Neil Schaefer, Lyle 
Schaefer, Paul and Jodi Schaefer, 
and Todd Schaefer; grandchildren, 
Dana and Zach Heaton, Randi 
Schaefer and Eric Schultz, Dylan 
Schaefer and Tiffany Keane 
Schaefer, Bebe Schaefer, Matt 
and Caiti Hughes, Evan Hughes, 
Samantha and Greg Finn, Natalie 
Schaefer and Scott Schaefer; 
great-grandchildren, Maxwell 
Heaton and Zoe Hughes; sister-
in-law, Annette Schaefer. He is 
also survived by Jan Schaefer, Julie 
Schaefer, Kathy Schaefer, Devin 
Schaefer; and other loving relatives 
and friends. 
Mr. Schaefer was the loving 
brother of the late Donald Schaefer. 
Interment was at Adat Shalom 
Memorial Park. Contributions 
may be made to Accent Hospice, 
17855 Dallas Pkwy, Dallas, 
TX 75287, accentcare.com/
community-outreach-foundations; 
or to a charity of one’s choice. 
Arrangements by Ira Kaufman 
Chapel.

HARRIET SEMP, 77, 
of Oak Park, died 
Aug.14, 2024. 
She is survived by 
her daughter, Peninah 
Miriam Semp; son, Ari 
Moshe Semp; sister and brother-in-
law, Lee and Jeron Frank; brother 
and sister-in-law, Dr. Daniel and 
Janice Bernstein. 
Mrs. Semp was the beloved 
wife of the late Samuel Semp; 
the cherished mother of the late 
Devorah Michelle Semp; the loving 
sister of the late David Bernstein. 
Interment was at Machpelah 
Cemetery in Flint. Contributions 
may be made to Breakthrough T1D 
(formerly JDRF), P.O. Box 5021, 
Hagerstown, MD 21741-5021, 

breakthrought1d.org; or to a charity 
of one’s choice. Arrangements by 
Ira Kaufman Chapel.

MICHAEL RONALD 
SMALL, 79, of Franklin, 
died Aug. 9, 2024. 
Michael, beloved 
husband, father, 
grandfather, brother, 
uncle, passed away with his wife by 
his side. He will be deeply missed. 
Michael was born in Detroit on 
Nov. 14, 1944. He graduated from 
Oak Park High School. He met his 
best friend and the love of his life, 
Tandy, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; they 
were married six months later and 
have been passionately in love for 
56 years.
Mike spent his entire working 
career in the steel industry. 
He helped found Pioneer Steel 
Corporation, where he continued 
to work until his passing. 
Mike loved people and all sorts 
of activities. Throughout his life, 
he enjoyed golfing, club making, 
fly tying, glass blowing, getting 
his pilot’s license, skeet shooting, 
shooting pool, jewelry making and 
fixing things around the house and 
yard.
In addition to Tandy, he is 
survived by his two children, 
Tiffany (Erik) Elie and Bradley 
(Rebecca) Small; his grandchildren, 
Sloan, Sabrina, Jade and Taylor; 
his brother, Mark (Jan) Small; and 
sister, Debbie (Mark) Flansberg. 
Interment took place at 
Franklin Cemetery in Franklin. 
Contributions may be made to the 
Eagles for Children, the Jewish 
Federation of Detroit or the Evans 
Scholars Foundation. Arrangements 
by Dorfman Chapel.

SUSAN SOVEL, 82, of 
West Bloomfield, died 
Aug. 12, 2024. 
Susan, who loved 
to use her talents 
for the good of 
many, volunteered for 50 years 

at the Detroit Institute of Arts 
and received the Distinguished 
Service Award in 2006. She also 
volunteered and was on the 
board of the Friends of the West 
Bloomfield Library. Susan was 
a shining light in the lives of 
so many, and her memory will 
continue to brighten and inform 
the lives of those who knew and 
loved her.
Along with her adored parents, 
Kopel and Estelle Kahn, Susan grew 
up with her sister and best friend, 
Alyssa, surrounded by a close-knit 
extended family: Ethel and Phil 
Levant, Jerry and Rita Keywell, 
Joyce and Paul Pensler, who were 
another three sets of devoted 
“parents;” and cousins, Synde 
Keywell, Denise and Fred Kalt, 
Karen and Bob Hellman, Gail and 
Chuck Lichtman, Julian and Debbie 
Levant, Jay and Lori Pensler, Sandy 
and Anita Pensler, Sheri and Ric 
Gerlinger.
Susan was also a beloved aunt to 
Julee Mertz and Paul Webster, and 
Jeff and Jennifer Mertz; and great-
aunt to Elliott and Carter Webster, 
and Charlotte and Amelia Mertz.
Married to Robert Sovel more 
than 35 years, Susan was a devoted 
mother, grandmother and great-
grandmother to her adored Sovel 
family: children, Rick Sovel and 
Laura Powers, Jeff and Joann 
Sovel, Karen Sovel and Chris 
Dellavecchia; grandchildren, 
Jasmine and Eric Sovel-Charnesky, 
Janelle Polasek, Adam Dellavecchia, 
Amy Dellavecchia and the late 
Allison Dellavecchia; great-
grandchildren, Joy, Jebriel, Vivi, 
Journey, Jubilee, Jack, Jasper, Jade 
and Skyler.
Interment was at Clover Hill 
Park Cemetery. Contributions 
may be made to Jewish Federation 
of Detroit, 6735 Telegraph Road, 
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301, 
jewishdetroit.org/send-a-tribute; 
or Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200 
Woodward Ave., Detroit, MI 
48202, dia.org/support/donate. 

Arrangements by Ira Kaufman 
Chapel.

NANCY WALDMAN, 
77, of Commerce 
Township, died Aug. 15, 
2024. 
She is survived by 
her beloved husband, 
Jay Waldman; daughters and sons-
in-law, Melissa and Todd Rowe, 
and Stacey and Dave Stoddard; 
grandchildren, Jaren Sharrard, 
Ryan Sharrard, Breanna (Ben) 
Hartman, Makenna Rowe, Grace 
Rowe, Nicholas Rowe and Zane 
Rowe; great-grandchildren, Oliver, 
Amelia and Charlotte; sister and 
brother-in-law, Barbara and Nick 
Altwerger; many other loving 
family members and friends.
Interment took place at Adat 
Shalom Memorial Park Cemetery 
in Livonia. Contributions may 
be made to Gesher Human 
Services, Hadassah or Heart to 
Heart Hospice Home of Michigan. 
Arrangements by Dorfman Chapel.

FRANCINE WIGOD, 
78, of Royal Oak, died 
Aug. 10, 2024. 
She is survived by 
her beloved husband, 
Gerald Wigod; 
daughter, Rachel Wigod Schwartz; 
sons and daughters-in-law, Tare 
and Keri (Middleditch) Wigod, 
and Aaron and Ashley (Berman) 
Wigod; grandchildren, Benjamin 
Schwartz, Sophie Schwartz, Sela 
Wigod, Scarlet Wigod, Sammy 
Wigod and Sawyer Wigod; sisters 
and brothers-in-law, Sheryl 
and Ronald Greenberg, Nora 
Hutchinson Hall and Ann (Barry 
Burns) Hutchinson Burns; many 
loving nieces, nephews, other 
family members and friends. 
Contributions may be made to 
the American Cancer Society or 
Bubbie Zaydie Family Camp at 
Camp Tamarack. Arrangements by 
Dorfman Chapel.

