Obituaries
Cindy Joann Pena
Apr 12, 2023
Cindy Joann Pena 67 of Portage passed away Wednesday April 12, 2023, surrounded by family, in Kalamazoo. Cindy was born August 25, 1955 in Huntington, IN; the daughter of Larry and Nancy (Darland) Smith. She was a graduate of Ft. Wayne Community Schools Nursing Program and served the senior community as a home health nurse. Cindy was a member...
Larry W. Wetherall
Apr 11, 2023
Larry W. Wetherall 80 of Vicksburg passed away April 11, 2023. Larry was born in Kalamazoo on July 1, 1942, the son of William and Eva (Johnson) Wetherall. He was a member of Ironworkers Local 340 which became Local 25 and the Meat Cutters Local 539. He was very active in Paw Paw Conservation Club as an instructor in Hunter Safety...
Paul William Jordan
Apr 9, 2023
Paul William Jordan of Kalamazoo passed away Sunday April 9, 2023 at home. Paul was born August 25, 1957 in Kalamazoo the son of Harold and Jeanette (Doyle) Jordan. He was a 1975 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and Davenport University. Paul was previously employed at Whirlpool and Kellogg’s and retired from Ascension Borgess Hospital. Paul loved camping with...
Sam Hornak
Mar 22, 2023
Passed away peacefully on March 22, 2023 at home. Sam was born in Muskegon Heights, MI. on November 22, 1918, the son of Paul and Elizabeth (Marko) Hornak Sr. After graduating from Muskegon Heights High School Class of 1936, he proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII, and later in the Army Reserve retiring as a Major...
Gary Paul Richter
Mar 19, 2023
Gary P. Richter 71 of Portage passed away Sunday March 19, 2023 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Gary was born October 11, 1951 in Kalamazoo the son of Russ and June (Psalmonds) Hayward. He retired from the security department at Heritage Assisted Living. Gary enjoyed reading, bowling, fishing and spending time with his family. On October 14, 1972 in Kalamazoo Gary...
Julia Pauline Ellis
Mar 17, 2023
Julia P. Ellis 86 of Parchment finished her journey on this earth and went to join the Lord Friday March 17, 2023 at home surrounded by her family. Julia was born May 1, 1936 in Ft. Gay, WV the daughter of Everett and Nolda (Wilson) Cyrus. She retired from Richard Allen Medical Supply and she enjoyed fishing and spending time...
Janet Lynn Shirah
Mar 15, 2023
Janet L. Shirah 69 of Kalamazoo passed away Wednesday March 15, 2023 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Janet was born June 12, 1953 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Richard and Dorothy (Carrier) Bushouse. She was a respiratory therapist, worked at a dairy farm, was a horse breeder, and worked for Fisher Body. Janet enjoyed puzzles and antiques. Surviving are a son,...
Randy Karl Draper
Mar 3, 2023
Randy Karl Draper, 71 of Battle Creek passed away Friday March 3, 2023 at home. Randy was born June 6, 1951 in Battle Creek, the son of Karl Draper and Ardis (Newberry) Morrison. He was a 1971 graduate of Lakeview High School, Kellogg Community College, and was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. Randy was employed as radiology technician at the...
Maurice John Burton
Feb 27, 2023
Maurice John Burton was born December 30th 1952 in Chicago Illinois the son of James and Alberta Burton. Maurice was educated in the Chicago school system. After graduating from high school Maurice worked at Hart Schaffner & Marx clothing for over 25 plus years before locating to Greenbay, Wisconsin where he worked at Sears as a manager in shipping and...
Patricia Ann Kozelink
Feb 24, 2023
Patricia Ann Kozelink 84 of Portage passed away Friday February 24, 2023 at home. Patricia was born July 27, 1938 in Lawrence the daughter of Duane and Marguerita (VanBrack) Allen. She graduated from Lawrence High School and was an oil and acrylic paints artist also she enjoyed needle point, knitting, crocheting and was an avid reader and a member of...
Jeffrey Alan Hagerty
Feb 24, 2023
Jeffrey A. Hagerty 43 of Kalamazoo passed away Friday February 24, 2023 at home. Jeff was born October 15, 1979 in Three Rivers to Richard and Sue (Burch) Hagerty. He enjoyed shopping at the mall, going on outings, bowling, walks, gospel music and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. Surviving are his parents, Richard Hagerty of Ft Meyers Florida and Sue Hagerty...
Laura Sue Rugg
Feb 20, 2023
Laura Sue Rugg 52 of Otsego passed away Monday February 20, 2023 at home. Laura was born October 30, 1970 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Franklin and Linda (Perkins) Davis. She was a foster parent and worked as a waitress at Callahan’s, the Lamplighter Lounge and a manager of I-Hop Restaurant. Laura enjoyed scrapbooking and especially spending time with her...
Annette Marta Johns
Feb 19, 2023
Annette M. Johns 95 of Kalamazoo passed away Sunday February 19, 2023 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Anette was born July 6, 1927 in Rockford, IL the daughter of Ray and Lydia (Bersell) Swanson. She retired as a social worker for Catholic Family Services and helped to set up Voluntary Action Agency in Kalamazoo as a member of Service Club. Annette...
Anne Mary Anson
Feb 18, 2023
Anne M. Anson 86 of Kalamazoo passed away peacefully on Saturday February 18, 2023 at Park Place Assisted Living. Anne was born October 4, 1936 in Battle Creek, the daughter of Roy and Flora (Ouellette) Hazard. She was a very creative person; the hallway in her home had a mural painted on it. Having an older truck she painted daisies...
William James Stephens, Sr.
Feb 17, 2023
William “Bill” J. Stephens, Sr. of Battle Creek formerly of Vicksburg passed away Friday February 17, 2023 at home. Bill was born October 4, 1965 in Kalamazoo the son of William and Lois (Ballinger) Stephens. He was a graduate of Vicksburg High School and was a U.S. Army veteran. Bill was employed as a construction worker and enjoyed building, fishing...
Elizabeth J. Simonds
Feb 17, 2023
Elizabeth J. Simonds of Portage went to be with her Lord and Savior on February 17, 2023. Betty was born in Kalamazoo on July 29, 1930 to Matthew and Elizabeth (Kalinowski) Mauer. Betty was a graduate of St. Augustine High School and attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She worked as a bookkeeper and podiatric assistant at Simonds Foot & Ankle...
Richard Larry Rorick
Feb 12, 2023
Richard L. “Dick” Rorick 82 of Parchment passed away Sunday February 12, 2023 at Ascension Borgess Hospital. Dick was born September 30, 1940 in Kalamazoo the son of Harold and Rosanna (Letsinger) Rorick. He attended school in Kalamazoo and entered in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Tully Greenland then served in the Air National Guard after his...
Donte D. Dukes
Feb 5, 2023
August 1, 1993 - February 5, 2023
Donte D. Dukes 29 of Sturgis Michigan, passed away unexpectedly February 5, 2023 at 3;43pm at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo Michigan. Donte was born August 1, 1993 in South Bend Indiana. He spent most of his life living in Elkhart, Indiana.
Donte enjoyed watching wrestling, movies, and sports. Also playing video games. He...
Rev. Fr. James O'Leary
Feb 3, 2023
James O’Leary was born on October 23, 1935, at St. Lawrence Hospital in Lansing, MI. It was an unusual birth. I had two companions – female. We were the first triplets born in the history of Lansing. We grew up together with the natural ups and downs that children have. By junior high school we were appreciating each other...