Obituaries
Bertha Engelman
May 10, 2024
Bertha May "Midge" (Mears) Engelman, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Portage, MI, at the age of 91. Born in Fulton, MI, she was the daughter of James and Neta (Smith) Mears.
Midge was united in marriage to her teenage love, Albert "Skip" Engelman, on July 29, 1950. Their love story spanned seventy...
Anne Ritchie
May 7, 2024
With sadness in our hearts, we announce the passing of Anne Barbara (Paral) Ritchie of Kalamazoo, MI, who departed from this world on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. Anne was born on August 24, 1924, in Cicero, Illinois, to loving parents Thomas and Anna (Moravec) Paral. In 1930, her family made the heartfelt journey to Michigan, where Anne would leave an...
Mary Stenstrom
May 6, 2024
Mary Stenstrom was a lifelong resident of the Kalamazoo area who passed away on May 6th at the age of 96.
Growing up on farms in Mendon and Climax-Scotts before finally settling in Kalamazoo City proper and graduating from Kalamazoo Central High School.
After High School she found work at Michigan Bell as a switchboard operator which prepared her for a future...
Daniel Staley
May 5, 2024
Daniel James Staley passed away on Sunday, May 5th, 2024, at the age of 45. Daniel was born on January 25th,1979 in Kalamazoo, MI. Daniel was ambitious in his younger age and prided himself on being a third-generation painter. He established himself as a business owner and carried out a successful career in painting.
In 2009 he met Shauna Gray from...
Kay Armstrong
May 5, 2024
Kay Marie Armstrong, age 71, of Marcellus, passed away Sunday evening, on May 5, 2024.
Kay was born December 1, 1952, in Kalamazoo, Michigan the daughter of James Alfred and Mildred Carrie (Harnden) Valitchka.
On February 26, 1977, she married Jack W. Armstrong, in Jones, Michigan, and together they had one daughter: Carrie (David) Hiemstra of Marcellus, and one granddaughter Talan Hiemstra,...
James Higgs
May 5, 2024
The golden voice of legendary radio broadcaster, local historian and community leader Jim Higgs has gone quiet with his passing on Sunday, May 5, 2024. After several days with family by his side, Jim peacefully left this world to join the Lord in Heaven where we know he was greeted by his parents, grandparents, family and friends who had passed...
Leroy Walter Fink
May 4, 2024
Leroy Walter Fink, a dedicated farmer and beloved family man, passed away on May 4, 2024, at the age of 89. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, love, and ingenuity. Born on July 12, 1934, in Whiteford Township, Monroe County MI, Leroy graduated from Burnham High School in Sylvania, OH with the Class of 1952. His journey through life...
John Tetzlaff
May 1, 2024
John Tetzlaff, beloved husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away on May 1, 2024, in Kalamazoo, MI, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on October 17, 1938, to Robert Tetzlaff and H. Jean VanderMate Tetzlaff in Kalamazoo, MI. John was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Nancy Drobny, and brother-in-law Frank Drobny.
John's memory will forever be...
Penny Eshbaugh
May 1, 2024
Penny Inez (Bailey) Eshbaugh, commonly known as Mom, Mamaw, sister, aunt Penny. Penny passed away on 05/01/2024 at Ascension Borgess Hospital at the age of 56. She was the daughter of William Dale Bailey and Mildred Inez (Yant) Bailey.
She is preceded in death by her parents William Bailey, and Mildred Bailey, and her sister Pamela Bailey.
Penny was born on February...
Billie M. Andres
May 1, 2024
Billie M. Andres, 89, of Schoolcraft passed away on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 at Centrica Rose Arbor Place in Kalamazoo, MI. To all who knew her, she was outgoing and loved to visit with anyone who had the time. She considered everyone to be her friend.
Billie was born on July 15, 1934 to Howard and Lillian (Marion) Terry...
Susan Newton
Apr 30, 2024
Susan Arlene (Prolo) Newton, born on September 5, 1951, in Plainwell, MI, to Howard “Bill” Prolo Jr. and Velma Harmon, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, in Kalamazoo, MI.
Susan shared 57 beautiful years of marriage with her beloved husband, David Newton, whom she married on September 17, 1967, at the Prairieville Township Hall.
She is survived by her devoted...
Daniel Ray Shutes
Apr 28, 2024
Daniel Shutes, 68, passed away on April 28, 2024, in Kalamazoo, MI. He was born on May 31, 1955, in Vicksburg, MI the son of Myron and Eunice (Smith) Shutes.
Daniel graduated in the Class of 1975 as Bulldog from Vicksburg High School. Dan got busy working different odd jobs and also had a career for 22 years at the former...
Carolyn Blasiar Ingersoll
Apr 28, 2024
Carolyn B. Ingersoll, 97, of Marcellus MI, passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at the Silver Maples Meadows facility in Chelsea, MI. She was born August 30, 1926 in Port Jervis, NY to the late Cassius Ray and Irene Inez (Worden) Blasiar. Carolyn graduated salutatorian from Port Jervis High School in 1944, and went on to earn a BA...
Cass "Kit" S. Hough, Jr
Apr 24, 2024
Cass Sheffield Hough, Jr. (Kit), was born on May 16, 1932 in Ann Arbor, MI to Margaret Reid and Cass Sheffield Hough. Kit passed away on April 24th, 2024 in Kalamazoo, MI. He was almost 92 years old. His adored sister, Emily Egan lives in Niles, MI. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 60 years, Joan Prescott Hough...
Gail Marie Moore
Apr 24, 2024
Gail Marie Moore of Paw Paw passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at the age of 71. Gail was born on February 26, 1953, in Kalamazoo, MI, to her parents Burl and Mary (Vleugel) Davidson. She was a shining example of simplistic elegance. Gail was devoted and loving, a soul defined by selflessness and a boundless heart overflowing with...
Gregory Gustafson
Apr 23, 2024
Greg was born February 17, 1947 in Kalamazoo, MI to Neil Walter Gustafson and Frances Jean O’Donoghue. He grew up in the Oakwood area and often spoke fondly of his early years in Oakwood and Woods Lake.
On September 9, 1967 he married Diane Kay Eager in Oakwood Methodist Church. Four months later he left for Vietnam. Greg served in the...
Janet Watson
Apr 23, 2024
Janet Elaine Watson, age 99, passed away peacefully on April 23, 2024, at Thurston Woods Village Villa.
She was born May 08, 1924, in Sturgis, Michigan, and spent her early life growing up on Crotch Lake (Omena Lake). The daughter of the late Homer and Helen Eshelman.
She married Lawrence Benjamin Watson, DVM, in Colon, Michigan, on July 3, 1945.
Janet, together with...
Donna L. Gray
Apr 22, 2024
Donna L. Gray 89, peacefully passed away on April 22nd, 2024. Donna was born August 13, 1934 to Robert and Rose Nichols. She had many wonderful childhood memories of her mom, dad, and sister Joyce Henderson (deceased). Her husband James Graham preceded her death on November 23, 2006. Donna is survived by her children Gary Gray, Cheri Lutz and Steve...
Carl Spencer
Apr 22, 2024
Carl Spencer, age 90, of Plainwell MI, passed away on April 22, 2024, at the VA medical facility. He was born on July 17, 1933, to Clark and Doria (Bradshaw) Spencer.
Carl was preceded in death by his parents and sisters. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 38 years, Penny; his children: Kim (Ken) Wielinga, Jennifer...
Karen Garner
Apr 21, 2024
Karen Denise Garner passed away on April 14, 2024, at the age of 58, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan.She was born to Jimmy and Elizabeth (Nichols) Garner on February 1, 1966, in Washington D.C. She attended Surrattsville High School in Clinton, Maryland. Karen had a natural gift of helping others. She worked as a nurse and a caregiver...
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