Obituaries
Marian Reva Howard
Aug 4, 2017
Marian Reva Howard of Portage, passed away August 4, 2017 at Bronson Hospital. Marian was born in Fulton, MI on November 2, 1922 the daughter of Russell and Margaret (Hetletveldt) Cramer. Once her sons were off on their own she did homecare for Upjohn home health care. She was preceded in death by her husband: Robert C. Cramer in 2003,...
Sherry Jo Fawley
Aug 2, 2017
Sherry J. Fawley of Comstock, passed away Wednesday August 2, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center. Sherry was born June 25, 1954 in Kalamazoo the daughter of E. Roscoe and Nancy (Teachout) Purk. She worked as an office coordinator in a medical office and retired a few years ago. Sherry had a passion for flowers she loved them all. She enjoyed...
John Copley Singleton Jr
Aug 1, 2017
Born September 29, 1932 in New London, Connecticut to John (Jack) and Florence (Mosher) Singleton. John went to be with his family on August 1, 2017 while at the VA Medical Center in Battle Creek, MI. He was preceded in death by both parents, wife Donna (Teeter) Singleton, son Brian Singleton, sisters Shirley Courtney, Lillian Blank, Roberta Carter and brother...
Joseph Dennis Chadderdon
Jul 20, 2017
Joe passed away on July 20, 2017 at Rose Arbor Hospice. He was born in Richland Junction, MI on July 19, 1920, the son of Ray and Bernice (Dhaenens) Chadderdon. He was Technical Director of Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment Company where he researched, developed and implemented innovative processes for manufacturing Parchment Paper. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during...
Michael Baranski
Jul 19, 2017
Michael passed away on July 19, 2017. He was born in Wisnicz, Poland on February 26, 1924 the son of Antony and Antonina Baranski. As a youngster in 1940, he was sent to a farm in Germany as a laborer in place of his step-father. He joined approximately 5 million others in forced labor in the German farm system. While at the farm, he met and married Kay Skalski – the...
Suzanne Louise Schwab
Jul 18, 2017
Passed away July 18, 2017 at Bronson Methodist Hospital after a four-year struggle with cancer. Suzanne was born December 13, 1960 in Painesville, OH the daughter of Charles and Margaret (Hogan) Schwab. She retired from customer service at Bank of America and most recently from Stryker Corporation and was known for always helping others. Suzanne enjoyed crocheting, cross stitching, and...
Emma Lois Swadling
Jul 18, 2017
Emma L. Swadling of Kalamazoo passed away Tuesday July 18, 2017 at Butterfly Oasis Assisted Living. Emma was born September 17, 1925 in Springfield, IL the daughter of Nils and Coralee (Landin) Reistad. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church, and was formerly employed by united Nursing Services, was a foster grandparent for Croydon School, and a 4-H Leader....
Virginia M. Keesling
Jul 14, 2017
Virginia was born at home in Augusta, Michigan to Bessie (Marvin) Gifford and Clayton Elyhu Gifford on October 30, 1919. She died at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo at the age of 97, on July 14, 2017.Virginia’s eldest son, Jeffrey is deceased. Her son, Jesse Keesling, Jr (wife Marsha), her daughter, Suzanne Anderson (husband Dan) and daughter Cynthia Carpenter (husband...
Maria Z. Karamalegos
Jul 13, 2017
Maria Karamalegos passed away July 13, 2017. She was born in Kalymnos, Greece on May 16, 1929 the daughter of Themelis and Kalotina (Saroukou) Zervos. She was a member of the Greek Orthodox Churches in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. She was preceded in death by her husband Zacharias on February 2, 2001, brother: Nicolas Zervos and sister: Niki Zervos. Maria...
Elizabeth Jean Gloor
Jul 13, 2017
Betty passed away July 13, 2017 at home. Betty was born in Chicago Heights, IL on May 19, 1932 the daughter of Lester and Harriet (McMurray) Gloor. She lived briefly in Minneapolis and Chicago Heights before settling with her parents in Kalamazoo which she lovingly called home. Betty graduated from St. Augustine High School in 1950. She then went on...
John J. Steve
Jul 12, 2017
John Steve Junior passed away at home on July 12, 2017, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. John was born in Battle Creek, MI on February 2, 1955 the son of John E. and Marjorie (Pierce) Steve. He worked for Hammond Roto Finish for 33 years. He enjoyed camping and having a beer while sitting around the bonfire with family...
Harry Albert Thomas, Jr.
Jul 11, 2017
Harry A. Thomas, Jr. of Portage passed away in the loving arms of his sister, Dorothy Sisson, Tuesday July 11, 2017 in Kalamazoo. Harry was born July 30, 1946 in Brooklyn, NY the son of Harry and Frances (George) Thomas. He attended Lawton High School and was a Vietnam veteran serving in the U.S. Army. Harry was a life-long truck...
Sean Liam Harter
Jul 10, 2017
Sean L. Harter of Kalamazoo passed away Monday July 10, 2017 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Sean was born September 30, 1974 in Kalamazoo the son of John and Kimberly (Canfield) Harter. Sean enjoyed comics and gaming, especially enjoyed Comic-Con, Dungeons & Dragons and going to IMAX movies. Surviving are his father, John Harter of Kalamazoo; sisters, Shannon (Kiwarn) Harter-Hunt of...
DeLouise Florence VanEck
Jul 6, 2017
DeLouise F. VanEck of Portage passed away Thursday July 6, 2017 at Brookdale of Portage. DeLouise was born September 9, 1927 in Albion the daughter of John and Clara (Fernholz) Finnegan. She was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church where she put in many volunteer hours and mission work, she enjoyed making rosaries, gardening, synchronized swimming, quilting, crocheting and...
Paul Francis Bresnahan
Jul 4, 2017
Passed away suddenly Tuesday July 4, 2017 at home. Paul was born June 24, 1960 in Chicago, IL the son of John P. “Jack” Bresnahan and the late Claire Marie (Rutz) Bresnahan. Paul was a graduate of Portage Northern High School. He was a long time employee of Arvco Container Corp in Kalamazoo. Surviving are his father, John P. Bresnahan...
Gary R. Thomas
Jul 3, 2017
Gary R. Thomas of Kalamazoo, passed away Monday July 3, 2017 at Metro Health Hospital in Grand Rapids. Gary was born in Saginaw on January 28, 1952 the son of Milton and Marilyn (Marsh) Thomas. He graduated from Arthur Hill High School and lived in Kalamazoo the last 22 years and was employed for Tuffy Muffler then retired as a...
Frances Catolica Alewine
Jul 2, 2017
Frances Catolica Alewine, 85, of Bradenton, Florida, formerly of Houston, Texas and Kalamazoo, Michigan native passed away peacefully Sunday July 2, 2017 in Bradenton. Fran was born December 26, 1931 to the late Victor and Mary (Milan) Catolica Jordan in Kalamazoo. She remained a resident of Kalamazoo/Vicksburg until she married a Southern gentleman, W. Gerald Alewine on August 15, 1967...
Debra Jean Keown
Jun 27, 2017
Debra Jean Keown 59 of Comstock passed away Tuesday June 27, 2017 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Debra was born July 1, 1957 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Robert and Joyce (Worden) Skees. Anyone who knew Debra knows of her big heart, forgiving nature, and fierce love for her family and friends. She was united in marriage to Kerry A. Keown...
Audrey June Bowditch
Jun 20, 2017
AUDREY JUNE BOWDITCH (nee Koskella) was born July 25, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan. As a baptized follower of Jesus, she trusted in Him who, through His death and resurrection, offers all who believe the free gift of salvation and eternal life. A faithful and joyful worshipper, she knew her Bible well and even selected all of the hymns and Scripture...
Joseph A. Byrne, Sr.
Jun 19, 2017
Joseph A. Byrne, Sr. (Joe) was born October 26, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Thomas and Margaret (Ahern) Byrne. He was the fourth of five children and he is the last of his siblings to pass away. Joe was raised in a strong Irish Catholic environment and remained a man of great faith his entire life, passing his...