Obituaries

Anthony A. Asher
Anthony “Tony” Asher of Bloomfield Hills died peacefully on August 24. He was 85 years old. Born in Detroit on February 1, 1936, to Syrian immigrants Anna (nee Jacob) and Anthony A. Asher, he lost his parents early in life and was raised by his older siblings, Albert Asher, Antoinette Bedell, George Asher, and Bernadette Nouhan.

Asher attended Visitation High School, where he was awarded 12 varsity letters. Prior to entering college at the University of Detroit, he proudly served in the United States military during the Korean conflict. During his college years, he was a standout All-American football player and in 1960 was awarded the prestigious Tablet as Catholic player of the year. He went on to graduate from the University of Detroit School of Law and had a very successful law career that spanned five decades.  He went on to become a CEO and president of Sullivan, Ward, Asher, and Patton PC.

In honor of his mentor and beloved brother George, he supported the renovations of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law clinic, which is now known as the George J. Asher Law Clinic.

Asher is survived by his loving children, Dr. Anthony (Gillian) Asher, Tricia (Allan) Takata, Michael Asher, Jacqui (Pete) Kelly, Teresa (Ron) Pilibosian, Crissy (Patrick) Murphy, and George Asher and his 15 cherished grandchildren.
He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

A funeral mass was celebrated at St. Hugo of the Hills Stone Chapel August 27.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Detroit Mercy Law in his honor, which may be sent to 651 E. Jefferson Ave, Detroit, 48226, or online at lawschool.udmercy.edu by clicking “Give.”

Ronald Charles Kohls
Ronald Charles Kohls, resident of Jackson, MI, passed away peacefully while in hospice at Brightside Manor on the afternoon of August 25, 2021. He was 87 years old.

Ron’s wife, Jan Kohls, preceded him in passing on July 24, 2019.

Ron was born May 8, 1934 in Lansing, MI. He attended public schools in East Lansing and Okemos and attained a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism degree from Michigan State University in 1956.

Ron and Jan were married in 1955 and raised four children mostly in the Jackson area.

During the 1960’s, Ron was a reporter with the Jackson Citizen Patriot and as the managing editor of the Herald Leader in Menominee, MI. He later worked as Head of Public Relations for Jackson Community College and as personnel director at Hoffman Industries in Spring Arbor.

In 1975, Ron and Jan purchased the Jackson County Legal News. The couple published the paper for the next 30 years. During this time they also launched a number of other publications as well as an informational services destination, “FaxPlus,” located at Jackson Crossing. Ron and Jan retired in 2005.

Ron is survived by his loving children, David, Brian, Rhonda and Greg and their significant others, and by his four beloved grandchildren, Sidney, Brian, Greta and Matthew.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at Brightside Manor for their wonderful care of Ron over the past three years. For all that you provided him, we are ever grateful.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday Sept. 12, 2021 at the First Congregational Church in downtown Jackson. Visitation, also at the church, precedes the service beginning at 12:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Michigan Opera Theater at michiganopera.org