Obituaries
Stuart Arnold Martin
October 13, 2020
Stuart Arnold Martin, 70 of Comstock, passed away on October 13, 2020 at Ascension Borgess Hospital after an extended hospital stay. Stuart was born in Kalamazoo to Ben and Loraine (Stacey) Martin on October 11, 1950. He worked as a heavy machine operator for many years until his retirement. Stuart was a handyman who enjoyed riding, racing and working on...
Robert M. Ostrowski
October 12, 2020
Robert Ostrowski, 86 of Portage, passed away on October 12, 2020 in his home. Robert was born in Buffalo, New York to John and Frances (Dynarski) Ostrowski on March 30, 1934. In May of 1951, he entered the Marine Corps. While on active duty, Robert served during Korean War, and earned a National Defense Service Medal. Robert worked as a...
Michael Wayne Butler
October 6, 2020
Michael W. Butler 57 of Kalamazoo, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, October 6, 2020. Michael was born July 21, 1963 in Kalamazoo the son of Richard and Marilyn (Boyle) Butler. He was a U.S. Army veteran and volunteered at the Battle Creek V.A. Medical Center where he was involved in musical therapy and enjoyed building guitars, he also volunteered for Make-A-Wish...
Brian Lucas
October 4, 2020
Brian Joseph Lucas, born August 12, 1959 at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, lived 61 miraculous years, minus, as Brian said, the two years of his life that did not count; 2014, when he became ill with pneumonia, and 2020, which needs no explanation. In recent years, Brian had spoken of meeting his parents in Heaven. With his zest for...
Raleigh Thomas
October 2, 2020
Passed away October 2, 2020. Raleigh was born on February 15, 1946 in Manchester, KY, the son of Herbert and Lela (Gibson) Thomas. He was a Self-Employed Truck Driver. He enjoyed visiting with friends and family. He was survived by his wife: Barbara (Beaty) Thomas and who also passed away on January 1, 2021: siblings: Harold (Diana) Thomas, Nancy Sayers,...
Wallace James Wrench
September 27, 2020
Wallace James Wrench of Kalamazoo died on Sept. 27, 2020. Wally was born in Libertyville, Illinois on Jan. 1 1929 the son of Alfred Henry and Isabelle Genevieve (Sauve) Wrench. Wally loved to play sports as a youth. Growing up in the Milwood neighborhood playing sandlot baseball and sneaking on the local golf course to play a few holes. He...
Robert L. Hegel
September 27, 2020
Robert (Bob) Lloyd Hegel, 91, died peacefully in his sleep on September 27, 2020, at the Friendship Village Healthcare Unit in Kalamazoo, MI. Born December 5, 1928, in Chicago, Bob was the only child of Sven and Hulda (Turnquist) Hegel. He made life-long friends (the “Jolly Boys!”) while attending high school in Waukegan, IL. Graduating as WWII was ending, he...
Cindy Jo Johncock
September 26, 2020
Cindy Jo Johncock, 67 of Kalamazoo, passed away on September 26, 2020 in her home. Cindy was born in Kalamazoo to Bruce and Dorothy (Rick) Summerville on June 23, 1953. She worked as a registered nurse for Borgess and Bronson for many years until her retirement. Cindy was a loving and caring woman who enjoyed spending time with her family....
Barbara Jean Keech
September 23, 2020
Barbara Jean Keech, 82 of Kalamazoo, passed away on September 23, 2020 at her granddaughter Jeanie’s home. Barbara was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Jack and Dorothy (Galbreath) Flora on December 19, 1937. During her time in the work force, Barbara was a bookkeeper for L.D. Dosca Construction. Barbara was a woman of faith; she was a member of the...
Edward William Harkenrider PhD
September 21, 2020
Edward William Harkenrider, PhD passed away on September 21, 2020 one day before his 98th birthday. He was born September 22, 1922 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Elmer William Harkenrider and Viola Cardula (Muller) Harkenrider. On August 22, 1951 Edward married Kathleen Frances Scullion in Montreal, Quebec. Ed earned his PhD in Philosophy in 1952 from Catholic University. He taught...
Sr. Marie Leonard Richert CSJ
September 20, 2020
Sr. Marie Leonard Richert was born in Flint, MI on June 28, 1935, and was baptized Shirley Ann Richert at St. Matthew Church. After five years of education with the IHMs at St. Matt’s, her family moved to Flint’s east side and became members of St. Mary parish. Inspired by her mother’s deep faith and by the example of the...
Linda Lou Bogard
September 15, 2020
Linda Lou Bogard, 88 of Kalamazoo, passed away on September 15 2020 at Butterfly Oasis. Linda was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Ernest and Beatrice (Wilcox) Gorham on May 12, 1932. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Kalamazoo 4-H where she taught cooking and sewing, and the Parchment United Methodist Church. She enjoyed reading, sewing,...
Bruce Goldwater
September 8, 2020
Bruce Richard Goldwater, 37 of Lawton Michigan, passed away on September 8, 2020 in his home. Bruce was born in Santa Clara California the son of Ricky Goldwater and Judy Sackett on June 26, 1983. He was united in marriage to Heather (Smith) Goldwater on May 7, 2005 in Galesburg, Michigan. He worked as a mechanic to Balli Garage for...
William B. Rudyka
September 5, 2020
William B. Rudyka, 82 of Kalamazoo Michigan, passed away on September 5, 2020 in his sleep, at home. William was born in Stepan Poland to Steve and Mary (Mazuka) Rudyka on January 24, 1938. He was united in marriage to Valeria (Walent) Rudyka on June 13, 1964 in Akron Ohio. He worked as a salesman at an auto dealership for...
Dennis Raymond Chaivre
August 27, 2020
Attention all men, there is hope!!! Dennis R. Chaivre finally won an argument with Rose, his wife of 52 years. The shock of it all caused him to lose his sea legs, stopping his heart aboard the sailboat Enterprise on August 27, 2020. What had happened was… His son, Wyatt, needed a shipmate. Dennis said he was going. Rose said...
Deanna Jane Doyle
August 24, 2020
Deanna Jane Doyle, 82 of Kalamazoo Michigan, passed away on August 24, 2020 in Bronson Methodist Hospital. Deanna was born in Kalamazoo to Albert and Gertrude Sutton on October 11, 1937. She worked in a nursing home for many years until her retirement. She enjoyed playing bingo, going to the casino, fishing, playing cards, spending time with with her grandchildren,...
Alice Marie Cox
August 23, 2020
Alice Marie Cox, 83 of Galesburg Michigan, passed away on August 23, 2020 in Ascension Borgess Hospital. Alice was born in Battle Creek to Luther and Della Marie (Mosur) Carroll on November 20, 1936. She went to high school at Battle Creek Central and graduated in 1954. She worked as a baker for many years until her retirement. She enjoyed...
Juan Jesus Pena
August 17, 2020
Juan J. Pena 65 of Portage passed away Monday, August 17, 2020 at home. Juan was born August 11, 1955 in Rio Bravo, Mexico the son of Jesus and Sanjuana (Cantu) Pena. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and a graduate of WMU. Juan was a member of Cornerstone Pentecostal Church and the Gideons International. He enjoyed golfing and...
Larry Joseph Combs
August 16, 2020
Larry Joseph Combs of Galesburg passed away peacefully early Sunday morning August 16, 2020 at Bronson Hospital of Kalamazoo. Larry was born on December 29, 1942. Son of Dean W. Combs and Burdella Combs (Allen). Larry worked for Kellogg’s as a Refrigeration Millwright and retired after 30 years of service. Larry enjoyed being at his cottage at the lake. He...
Lawrence Eugene Smith Jr.
August 14, 2020
Lawrence “Larry” Eugene Smith Jr., 85 of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away on August 14, 2020 in his home. Larry was born in Cleveland, Ohio to Lawrence Smith Sr. and Margaret Smith on June 18, 1935. He received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Colorado and served in the Navy. He was united in marriage to Gretchen Smith on June...