Obituaries
David Lee Quinn
Dec 14, 2019
David L. Quinn of Portage passed away December 14, 2019. David was born in Marshall, MI on April 2, 1930 the son of Robert and Irene (Corell) Quinn. He worked in the water department for the City of Kalamazoo. He is a veteran of the Korean War having served in the US Air Force. He was preceded in death by...
Vern Robert Sparks, Jr.
Dec 12, 2019
Vern R. Sparks, Jr. passed away after a hunting accident and went home to be with the Lord Thursday December 12, 2019. Vern was born February 26, 1956 in Detroit the son of Vern and Shirley (Kranz) Sparks. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving in the Military Police. Vern retired from the Kalamazoo Water Dept. and was an avid...
Patricia Anne Rork
Nov 27, 2019
Mrs. Patricia A. Rork, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2019, at home after a long illness. She was born on September 15, 1940 in Allegan, Michigan to Robert and Sally (Yash) Wade. She married Phillip C. Rork in 1964. She was a dedicated teacher for over 30 years and taught 10 years at St. Augustine School then 5th grade...
Laurence Stephen Shannon
Nov 23, 2019
Laurence (Larry) Shannon Jr. peacefully passed away at Glen Arbor Hospice House in Battle Creek, MI on Saturday, November 23, 2019 at the age of 90. Larry is predeceased by his beloved wife, Betty Shannon, parents Emma and Laurence Shannon Sr, all his siblings, Richard, Patrick, Patricia, Kathleen and Margaret. Larry will be lovingly remembered by his children, Colleen (Dave)...
Eileen Elizabeth Verdries
Nov 19, 2019
Eileen E. Verdries passed away Tuesday November 19, 2019 at home. Eileen was born June 25, 1930 in Kalamazoo the daughter of George and Margaret (Dennany) Redmond. She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Paw Paw and graduated from St. Augustine School, received her registered nursing degree at Nazareth College and was employed at Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital, Borgess...
Candy Mae Jukes
Nov 17, 2019
Candy Mae Jukes 50 of Portage passed away Sunday November 17, 2019 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Candy was born November 30, 1968 in Battle Creek the daughter of Henry and Vickey (Clugston) Sproull. She enjoyed playing games on her phone and BINGO. Surviving are her husband, John Jukes of Portage; three sons, Justin Sloan of Kalamazoo, James Jukes of Portage,...
Ferenc Janos Kezdy
Nov 17, 2019
Ferenc Janos “Francois” Kézdy, age 90, died after a short illness on November 17, 2019, surrounded by family at his home in Kalamazoo. Born in Hungary in 1929, he escaped Russian occupation in the early 1950s and settled in Belgium. In 1957 he earned his Doctor of Sciences degree from the Université Catholique de Louvain, where he also met Marie-Thérèse...
Donald O. Beebe
Nov 16, 2019
Donald O. Beebe of Portage, age 91, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 from natural causes. Don was born in Benton Harbor on August 20, 1928, the son of Harry G. and Margaret E. (Wilson) Beebe. He was a veteran having served in the U. S. Naval Reserves for 11 years. He received his Master's in Business Administration at...
Helen Grace Florian
Nov 13, 2019
Helen G. Florian passed away November 13, 2019. Helen was born in Detroit on January 5, 1924 the daughter of Ray and Grace (Kirk) Mothersell. She was a member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. She enjoyed crafts, sewing, card making and Bingo. On July 13, 1946 Helen married George M. Florian who preceded her in death on February...
Chris Alexander Henderson
Nov 13, 2019
Chris Henderson of Cooper Township Passed Away November 13, 2019 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Chris was born June 18, 1961 in Kalamazoo the son of Beverly Howard and step-son to Ronald Howard. He is preceded in death by his two brothers, Michael Wells, Jeffery Henderson; sister, Terri Fosmeijer. Surviving are 2 brothers, David Olvera, Bill Henderson; stepfather, Ronald L. Howard....
Georgette Jean Stanaszek
Nov 13, 2019
Georgette Stanaszek passed away November 13, 2019 she was born September 28, 1921 in Detroit. Georgette was preceded in death, by her parents George and Josephine (Hansen) Darlington, Husband Walter J. Stanaszek, Sisters Betty Gates and Marion Konecny. She is survived by her four children, Linda (Jeff) Geml, Jill (Jack) Brown, John Stanaszek (partner Rob Wedler), and James (Lori) Stanaszek,...
Carrie Ann Skelton
Nov 12, 2019
Carrie Skelton passed away Tuesday November 12, 2019 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Carrie was born May 10, 1955 in Kalamazoo the daughter of John and Dolores (McGuire) Foster. She enjoyed gardening and spending time with her grandchildren. Surviving is her son Brian (Tess) Foster of Kalamazoo; mother, Dolores Hayden; step-father, William Hayden of Kalamazoo; siblings, Mary (James) Bennison of Kalamazoo;...
Randall Jay Sweet
Nov 8, 2019
Randall J. Sweet of Kalamazoo passed away Friday, November 8, 2019, at home. Randy was born December 24, 1946, in Grand Rapids the son of Donald and Alice (Moomey) Sweet. He was united in marriage in July 2017 to the former Sherry Lough who preceded him in death on April 14, 2019. Also preceding him in death was a son,...
Wilda Irene Foley
Nov 7, 2019
Passed away Thursday November 7, 2019 at home. Wilda was born October 1, 1925 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Sibrane and Gertrude (Bassett) Hassing. She was a member of St. Catherine of Sienna Catholic Church and the Sturgis Ladies of the Elks Club. Wilda enjoyed shopping, sewing and going to the casino. On June 7, 1947 in Kalamazoo Wilda was...
Jane Lee Martin
Nov 7, 2019
Jane L. Martin passed away Thursday, November 7, 2019. Jane, lovingly referred to as (MOMPOM) was born October 26, 1929 in Alexandria, VA. She was the daughter of Stanley and Margaret (Duncan) Dreifus. She graduated with a BS in Chemistry from Mary Washington College. She taught chemistry and became a flight attendant at TWA. After that, she was a court reporter. In 1965, Jane...
Donna Kay Fleury
Nov 5, 2019
Donna Kay Fleury of Kalamazoo passed away Tuesday November 5, 2019 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Donna was born January 8, 1942 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Paul and Hallie (Warmer) Wilson. Donna worked at Gull Lake Schools in the cafeteria and as a bus driver. She loved cooking for family, cross stitching, and crossword puzzles. On October 12, 1962 Donna...
Leslie Stanley Wotta
Oct 29, 2019
Passed away Tuesday October 29, 2019 at Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Leslie was born April 23, 1940 in Kalamazoo the son of Stanley and Stella (Smoker) Wotta, who preceded him in death. He was a veteran of the US Army during the Vietnam War era. A very proud Polish man, he had a deep love of Polish food, and...
Jean Ellen Schmitt
Oct 29, 2019
Jean Ellen Treash Schmitt, 88 died peacefully on October 29th after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Jean was born on January 6, 1931, to Oliver and Delia (Baron) Treash the fifth child of that family. All of her siblings have predeceased her. Jean was a loving, caring, outgoing person and a wonderful wife, mother of five, grandmother of six and great...
Larry Eugene Norris
Oct 28, 2019
Larry Eugene Norris died peacefully at his home in Paw Paw, Michigan on October 27. He was 78 years old. Larry was born on June 20th, 1941 in Lawrence. He attended Lawrence Public Schools and graduated from Lawrence High School in1959. He went on to attend Benton Harbor Junior College and graduate from Western Michigan University with a business degree....
Fr. Michael Joseph Howell
Oct 27, 2019
Michael Joseph. Howell, born of the love of Clara (Mager) and Henry in the railroad town of Ottawa, Kansas, on February 11, 1937, came with his parents to Michigan's water wonderland at the end of "The Great Depression" to grow up in and around the farm town of St. Johns. Michael attended St Joseph Catholic Grade School staffed by the...