Obituaries
Michael Joseph Lisak
Mar 6, 2015
Michael J. Lisak of Kalamazoo, passed away Friday, March 6, 2015 at Mission Community Hospital in Panorama City, CA. Michael was born on October 5, 1952 in Kalamazoo, the son of Joseph and Helene (Juskiewicz) Lisak. He worked as a chemical operator for Upjohn/Pharmacia/Pfizerfor 33 years. Michael is survived by his wife, Patricia (Visser) Lisak. Friends will be received on...
Charlotte Anna Ferraro
Mar 5, 2015
Charlotte Anna Ferraro passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2015. Charlotte was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on March 26, 1924, second daughter of Charles Grant and Gladys (Yaw) Grant. She graduated from Battle Creek High School. After working a year at Michigan Bell in Battle Creek as an operator, she became the first member of her family to go...
Joan Ellen Rodenhiser
Feb 26, 2015
Joan E. Rodenhiser of Portage a loving mother, grandmother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin, teacher and friend. Born April 6, 1935 in Kalamazoo. Daughter of Oliver Sheldon and Georgia B. (Overhuel) Stiles. Joan was the epitome of caring and unconditional love. She was always teaching, working and giving of herself. She was consistently present for her children whether it was...
Anne Katherine Morris
Feb 25, 2015
Anne K. Morris of Portage, surrounded by loving family, Anne passed away peacefully on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Anne was born April 11, 1930 in Detroit, the daughter of Arthur and Elizabeth (Kay) Stadler. On October 1, 1949, in Fenton, MI, Anne was united in marriage to Robert D. Morris, who preceded her in death in...
Lisa Reynolds
Feb 25, 2015
Passed away February 25, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center. Lisa was born March 17, 1967 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Richard and Jacqueline (Yeakey) Shirah. She was united in marriage to Jim Reynolds on September 2, 1989, who survives her. Together they raised three daughters. She was formerly employed at Fifth Third Bank in Kalamazoo. Lisa loved spending time with...
Barbara Jane Miller
Feb 19, 2015
Barbara J. Miller of Kalamazoo, passed away Thursday, February 19, 2015 at home. Barbara was born November 1, 1938 the daughter of Marvin and Martha (Smith) Crummel. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School, retired from Flowserve and enjoyed bowling, fishing and Bingo. On June 1, 1963 in Kalamazoo Barbara was united in marriage to Larry Miller who preceded her...
Joseph N. Badalamenti
Feb 19, 2015
Joseph N. Badalamenti of Portage, passed away peacefully February 19, 2015 at Borgess Hospital with his family by his side. Joe was born in Kalamazoo on June 6, 1939 and is the son of Anthony and Josephine (Anselmo) Badalamenti, who preceded him in death. While in high school, he and his brother, Tony, started a cleaning business, T&J Floor Care,...
James Gordon Murray, DDS
Feb 19, 2015
James Gordon Murray, DDS. Jim was born Sept 25, 1930 and died Feb 19, 2015. He was born in Minneapolis, MN to Leonard and Olive Murray. He is survived by his wife of 34 years. Nancy, sons: Dr. Michael (Candi) Murray, Kevin (Huddie) Murray, James Murray, Brian Murray and daughter Kathy (Tom) Romine. Also surviving are 4 step-children, 17 grandchildren...
Jimmy Hung Tran
Feb 18, 2015
Jimmy Hung Tran of Portage, passed away Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at home. Jimmy was born July 12, 1937 in Saigon, Vietnam the son of Long Thanh and Que Thi Tran. He retired from the communications division in the army. Jimmy was united in marriage to the former Judy Kim Nguyen who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Son Duc...
Bernice Barbara Siwik
Feb 18, 2015
Bernice B. Siwik of Kalamazoo, passed away Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at Tendercare of Portage. Bernice was born October 21, 1921 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Felix and Michalini (Parda) Siwik. She retired as a shipping department administrative assistant for Montgomery Ward and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kalamazoo. She is survived by nieces and nephews....
Edward Lee Widger, II
Feb 18, 2015
Edward Lee Widger, II of Kalamazoo, passed away Wednesday, February 18, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center. Eddie was born May 8, 1967 in Kalamazoo the son of Edward and Mildred (Dodson) Widger. He worked for 28 years at Borroughs Corp. as a team leader in the shipping dept. Eddie enjoyed deer camp, guns, baseball, hockey and especially a Detroit Tigers...
Mary Emma Lewis
Feb 17, 2015
Mary Emma Lewis of Bloomingdale, passed away Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at Meadow Woods Nursing Home in Bloomingdale. Mary was born in Kalamazoo, on February 20, 1921 the daughter of Leo and Emma (Noteboom) Hammill. She worked as a machine operator in the paper manufacturing industry. Mary was united in marriage to Donald Lewis on October 19, 1946 in Kalamazoo,...
Loretha Jean Moore
Feb 17, 2015
Passed away February 17, 2015. Loretha was born in Fonde, TN the daughter of James and Louise (Bennett) Hatfield. She was employed at Beech Products as a machine operator. She was a member of First Freewill Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by a daughter: Michelle Moore and two brothers, Kenneth and Lewis Hatfield. Loretha is survived by her...
Carol Jeannie Drake (Elsman)
Feb 16, 2015
Carol "Jeannie" Drake of Kalamazoo, passed away Monday, February 16, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center. Jeannie was born December 2, 1937 in Kalamazoo the daughter of James and Dorothy (Pierce) Elsman. Before her retirement she was employed as a waitress for Therman’s Restaurant, the Elks Club then for 12 years as a greeter for Meijer’s on West Main St. She...
Wayne Robert Hoag
Feb 15, 2015
Passed away Sunday, February 15, 2015, at home after a brief battle with cancer. He was born March 19, 1946, in International Falls, MN, the son of Robert and Betty (McNeely) Hoag. Wayne moved to Kalamazoo when he was five years old and attended St. Mary’s Elementary School. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School with the class of 1964...
Frances Tice (Locker)
Feb 12, 2015
Passed away Thursday, February 12, 2015 at Tendercare of Portage, Michigan. Frances was born June 29, 1927 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Percival & Ida (Jewel) Willis. She liked to spend her time crocheting and playing cards. She loved to bowl and participated in several bowling leagues. Frances was the former owner of The Sportsman Center. She was a member...
Kathleen Cora Thorn
Feb 12, 2015
Kathleen Thorn quietly and peacefully passed away at Kairos Dwelling on February 12, 2015. She and her husband, John Earl, met and married in Chicago, moved to Michigan, and built their dream home on Fair Lake where they raised their children and grandchildren. Kathy was a woman of strong convictions and not afraid to speak her mind. As we all...
Jane Ann Killinger
Feb 11, 2015
Jane A. Killinger of Kalamazoo, passed away Wednesday, February 11, 2015 at home. Jane was born January 13, 1964 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Jacob and Sally (Stewart) DeHollander. She was a graduate of Davenport University, a 10 year employee of Borgess Medical Center as a Reprocessing Technician and a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church. On September 23, 1989...
Robert Niccolls Straw PhD
Feb 8, 2015
Robert N. Straw, PhD, of Kalamazoo, passed away Sunday February 8, 2015 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo MI following a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Robert was born August 24, 1938 in Burlington Iowa, the first child of Robert Arthur and Marion Niccolls Straw. They both predeceased him as did his only sibling, Caroline Straw. Growing up on the...
Jack Dean Bowker
Feb 8, 2015
Jack D. Bowker of Portage passed away Sunday, February 8, 2015 at Rose Arbor Hospice. The son of Lloyd and Helen (Bujack) Bowker, Jack was born in Kalamazoo in 1931. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving during the Korean War. Jack retired as a project manager from the James River Corp. and was a member of Prince of Peace...