Obituaries
Ernest Piechocki
Jan 9, 2017
Ernest Piechocki of Kalamazoo passed away Monday January 9, 2017 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Ernest was born April 18, 1926 in South Bend, IN the son of Joseph and Harriet (Ewald) Piechocki. He was a graduate of Kalamazoo College where he was the quarterback on the football team and was a WWII Veteran serving in the U.S. Navy where he...
Marie Eldorene Clark
Jan 9, 2017
Marie Eldorene Clark of Kalamazoo went home to be with God Monday January 9, 2017 at the Laurels of Galesburg. Marie was born October 30, 1932 in Mt. Carmel, IL the daughter of John and Arvelia (Howard) Cox. She was a member of Center Point Church and worked as newspaper assembly/driver at the Kalamazoo Gazette and as a department supervisor...
Paul Bryant Williams
Jan 8, 2017
Paul Bryant Williams of Kalamazoo passed away peacefully Sunday January 8, 2017 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Paul was born March 21, 1933 in Detroit, MI, The son of Eva Marie Williams. He was veteran of the United States Navy and retired from the Upjohn Company. Paul is survived by his wife Maryella (Darby) Williams of Kalamazoo.
Michael Joseph Redmond
Jan 4, 2017
Michael Joseph Redmond of Paw Paw passed away Wednesday January 4, 2017 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Michael was born February 8, 1950 in Kalamazoo the son of Earl and "Opal" Christine (Oakley) Redmond. He graduated from Comstock High School, was a Vietnam Veteran serving in the U.S. Army, member of Comstock VFW Post 6252 and retired from Pfizer as a...
Ruth Marie Black
Dec 31, 2016
Ruth M. Black of Vicksburg Passed away peacefully December 31 at Borgess Medical Center. Ruth was born in Kalamazoo on November 14, 1929 the daughter of Charles and Idabelle (Cleaver) Councell. She was a member of Parchment United Methodist Church. Ruth was a homemaker, who enjoyed knitting and spending time with family. Her warm presence and welcoming smile will be...
Albert Vincent Kimball, Jr.
Dec 29, 2016
Albert (Al) Vincent Kimball, Jr. passed away on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the age of 90. Albert was born on November 23, 1926 in Kalamazoo, the son of the late Albert V. Kimball Sr. and Isabelle Ann (Stevens) Kimball. He served his country in the United States Navy during World War II aboard the USS Haynsworth and is a...
Franilyn J. Pavlack
Dec 27, 2016
Franilyn J. Pavlack Passed away December 27, 2016 surrounded by her family at Kairos Dwelling. Fran was born in Kalamazoo on November 23, 1933 the daughter of Willard M. and Mabel E. (Miller) Cooley. She was a Licensed Practical Nurse. She went to a one room country school for grade school and graduated from Michigan State High in 1951 then...
Alfred J. Kowalik
Dec 26, 2016
Alfred J. Kowalik passed away peacefully Monday morning December 26, 2016. Al was born in Brody-Duze, Poland on December 6, 1941 the son of Jan and Weronika (Lembryk) Kowalik. The family immigrated to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1949 where Al became a naturalized citizen on May 11, 1962. He retired from General Motors in 1993 and soon found the perfect job...
Robert Ellis Rorick
Dec 24, 2016
Robert E. Rorick of Kalamazoo passed away on December 24, 2016 at home with family. Robert was born on May 14, 1942 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the son of Harold and Roseanna (Letsinger) Rorick. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Vietnam Era. Robert was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church he owned Rorick Bro's Auto body and...
Paula P. DeLoof
Dec 17, 2016
Paula P. DeLoof of Portage passed away at Bickford Cottage in Portage on Dec 17. Paula was born in Jackson, MI on July 16, 1933, the daughter of Ralph B. and Pauline (Bowersox) Axtell. Paula was a homemaker living in Plainwell, and a part time bookkeeper for Aspen Displays, Kalamazoo, a company she co-owned with her husband. She also was...
Francis Paul DiBella
Dec 10, 2016
Francis Paul DiBella of Richland Twp. departed this life on 10 December from Rose Arbor Hospice. Frank was the devoted husband of Nancy (Richer) DiBella and loving father to Christine, Michael, Matthew (pre-deceased), and Regina and their partners Dan and Aaron. Born in Boston, he also left behind his sisters Cecilia and Stella, brother Tony, and grandson Max. He was...
Catherine Johanna Heikes
Dec 6, 2016
Catherine J. Heikes of Kalamazoo passed away Tuesday December 6, 2016 at New Friends Assisted Living. Catherine was born October 11, 1919 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Richard and Hannah (Hoppe) Vander Roest. She Graduated from Spring Arbor High School, Retired from Brown Paper Co. and was a charter member of Northeastern Baptist Church. On August 18, 1939 in Vicksburg,...
Matthew DiBella
Dec 5, 2016
DiBella, Matthew, J. of Kalamazoo Passed away peacefully, Monday December 5, 2016 at home. Matthew was born March 31, 1977 in Rochester, MN the son of Francis and Ann (Richer) DiBella. He was a gentle soul who served the role as a loving son, brother, nephew, uncle, cousin, caregiver and friend to many. He enjoyed sports, video games and computers....
Sister Marciana Hennig
Dec 4, 2016
Hennig, Sister Marciana CSJ of Nazareth, MI. Passed away on December 4, 2016. Sister Marciana was born on October 7, 1914 in Detroit, MI. The daughter of Albert and Anastasia (Ziemann) Hennig. Sr. Hennig was a member of Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph since 1929. Sister was preceded in death by her sister; Sister Maurice Hennig CSJ. Surviving are...
Claudia Barrett
Dec 3, 2016
Claudia M. Barrett of Kalamazoo Passed away peacefully Saturday evening on, December 3, 2016 at Bronson Hospital. She was surrounded by her immediate family. Claudia was born May 4, 1948 in Syracuse, NY. The daughter of Raymond and Connie (Ciero) Pearson. Claudia was a very special woman who touched the hearts and lives of countless people and was loved by all. She retired from...
Michael Wayne Sparks
Dec 2, 2016
Michael W. Sparks of Comstock Twp. Passed away Friday December 2, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center. Michael was born December 13, 1957 in Kalamazoo the son of Frank and Barbara (Lowe) Sparks. He was employed as a security guard for Securitas Security Services and enjoyed computer games, playing guitar, trains, and robots and had an engineering spirit. On August 17,...
Margaret Rose Caswell
Nov 28, 2016
Margaret Rose Caswell Passed away November 28, 2016 at home. Margaret was born in Greenbush, MI on September 13, 1922 the daughter of Fred and Margaret (MacDonald) Wisser. She was a member of St. Augustine Cathedral and St. Joseph Parishes. She was preceded in death by her husband Max, son Daniel and grandson Dan Caswell, 4 brothers, 4 sisters. Margaret...
Jessica Ryan
Nov 25, 2016
Jessica Jo. Ryan of Kalamazoo passed away on Friday November 25, 2016 at home. She was born on December 24, 1951 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of James and Anita (Dennany) Edgerton. Jessica graduated from Loy Norrix High school and was a member of St. Joseph Catholic church and she loved animals. She is survived by her son, Aaron J. Root...
Margaret Virginia Deem
Nov 23, 2016
Margaret V. Deem of Portage passed away Wednesday November 23, 2016 at home. Margaret was born March 28, 1918 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Frank and Lida (McGregor) Poole. She was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church and was active in the choir. Margaret formerly employed by Bronson & Borgess Hospitals, Gibson Guitar and was a volunteer for Portage...
Mary Louise Waldo
Nov 19, 2016
Mary L. Waldo of Kalamazoo passed away peacefully on Saturday November 19, 2016 at Friendship Village. Mary was born February 9, 1926 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Charles and Queena (Veit) Swartout. Mary grew up in Allegan, where her father was a respected country dentist. After graduating from Michigan State University, Mary moved to Grand Rapids and was united in...