Obituaries
John Paul Gesmundo
Feb 28, 2013
John Paul "JP" Gesmundo, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 28, 2013, at Kairos Dwelling, Kalamazoo, MI. John Paul “JP” was born May 22, 1954, in Kalamazoo, MI, the son of Serafino and Marian (Erway) Gesmundo. He graduated from Gull Lake High School, married Patty Bessert in 1985, became a Director of Bullock House, a co-owner of Mid-West Marketing and...
Richard L. Shirah
Feb 27, 2013
Richard L. Shirah of Kalamazoo, passed away Wednesday, February 27, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Richard was born June 4, 1942 in Kalamazoo, the son of Douglas and Virginia (Goricki) Shirah. He was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Parchment. Richard loved this community and believed it to be a great place to raise his family. He worked at the...
Alice Olesen Jensen
Feb 27, 2013
Mrs. Alice Jensen passed away Wednesday, February 27, 2013 in Kalamazoo. She was born January 11, 1927 in Denmark. She was a research associate at the Upjohn Company, now Pfizer, in Kalamazoo. She helped implement the Kalamazoo County Juvenile Court Dental Hygiene Program. Alice was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Erik Jensen, on February 29, 2012. She is...
Kathryn Bernadine Badgley
Feb 27, 2013
Bernadine died February 27, 2013. She was born in Nebraska on February 11, 1919, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Fitzsimmons) Fischer. She was a Customer Service rep at Consumers Energy. Bernadine was a lifetime member of St. Augustine Cathedral where she was involved in Workers of Mary, Catholic Daughters and ran the St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Shop. She...
Maxine Bessie Sage
Feb 26, 2013
Mrs. Maxine Sage passed away Tuesday, February 26, 2013, in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Sage was born September 11, 1920 in Barry County, MI, the daughter of Fred W. and Effie (Minegar) Gile. Maxine enjoyed gardening, golf, and traveling with her husband; they managed to visit all 50 states! She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 sisters, 2 brothers, and...
Ellen Jeanne Weighman
Feb 24, 2013
Ellen Jeanne Weighman passed away Sunday, February 24, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Arrangements are pending and will be announced.
Frank Leonard Yankoviak
Feb 21, 2013
Mr. Frank Leonard Yankoviak passed away Thursday, February 21 in Kalamazoo. Frank was born March 4, 1924 in Cheboygan, MI, the son of Michael and Victoria (Andreski) Yankoviak. He was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church. Frank was a Veteran of the US Marine Corps and served during WW II. He was manager of technical services at James River...
Richard Frederick Ostericher
Feb 15, 2013
Richard Frederick "Rick" Ostericher, 66, of Kalamazoo passed away suddenly on Friday, February 15, 2013 while vacationing. Rick was born March 17, 1946 in Grand Rapids, MI, the son of Frederick and Gertrude (Andrews) Oesterreicher. He graduated from Arthur Hill High in Saginaw, MI, obtained a Bachelor of Science from Central Michigan University in 1969, and his Masters from Western...
Claretta Cecelia Prior
Feb 14, 2013
Mrs. Claretta Prior passed away peacefully Thursday, February 14, 2013 at White Oaks Assisted Living in Lawton, MI with her children present. Mrs. Prior was born December 17, 1918 in Huntingburg, IN, the daughter of Felix and Cora (Yeager) Sermersheim. She was a longtime member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Portage, where she sang in the funeral...
Ethel Margaret Hall
Feb 8, 2013
Ethel Margaret Hall passed away Friday, February 8, 2013 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. She was born September 6, 1920, in Ransom, IL, the daughter of Edward and Agnes (Mulvihill) Walling. She worked for Whirlpool Corp. in contract sales for 20 years and upon retiring, worked for the American Red Cross in Winter Haven, FL. She moved back to...
Ernest Matthew Budenieks
Feb 6, 2013
Ernest Matthew Budenieks, 56, of Dearborn, MI, passed away Wednesday February 6, 2013 at the Veterans Medical Center in Ann Arbor. Ernie was born June 1, 1956 in Chicago, IL the son of Ivars and Karin (Hansen) Budenieks. He was a Veteran, having served in the US Army. Surviving are his parents; 2 sisters, Margaret (William) Koepke of Dearborn, Susan...
Dora Bunker
Feb 6, 2013
Mrs. Dora Bunker passed away Feb. 6 in Portage. She was born Sept. 15, 1928 in Monroe, NC, the daughter of Samuel and Lena (Outen) Taylor. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Kalamazoo. She is survived by her husband, Mr. Eugene Bunker. Per her wishes cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation or...
Veronica N. Howard
Jan 27, 2013
Mrs. Veronica Mary Barbara Howard of Kalamazoo, passed away Sunday, January 27, 2013 in Kalamazoo, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Vera -- as she was affectionately known by all those who knew and loved her -- was born October 30, 1921, in Brooklyn, NY; the daughter of Thomas and Mary Norton. In 1945, she married Richard A. Howard. They...
June A. Deforrest
Jan 25, 2013
Mrs. June A. DeFORREST, of Kalamazoo, passed away Friday, January 25, 2013 in Kalamazoo. June was born June 21, 1916 in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Edward and Esmer (Simons) Poulsen. She attended St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Portage. She had worked in sales at JC Penney and at Colonial Bakery. June was preceded in death by her...
Howard E. Pickett
Jan 22, 2013
Howard E. Pickett, of Kalamazoo passed away Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at Wyndham West. Mr. Pickett was born April 9, 1915 in Allegan, MI, the son of Frank and Mary (Redmond) Pickett. He retired from Michigan Bell in 1978. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Kalamazoo, in the Usher’s Club, and the Holy Name Society. Howard...
Mark Joseph Brown
Jan 20, 2013
Mark J. Brown, of Kalamazoo, passed away Sunday, January 20 at his home. Mark was born February 1, 1952 in Kalamazoo, the son of Loren and Marie (Koller) Brown. He was an Eagle Scout and a competitor in swimming and bowling. He went to National Competition in Special Olympics. He was employed with Harding’s Market in Parchment. Everyone who knew...
Carol Rowland
Jan 19, 2013
Mrs. Carol Rowland, of Kalamazoo, passed away January 19, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Carol was born June 26, 1942 in Northville, MI, the daughter of Leonard and Helen (Kozlowski) Fritz. She was an attorney and retired from practicing in federal courts. She volunteered in the Thrift Shop at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and was a special needs teacher prior to law...
Josephine K. Hastings
Jan 19, 2013
Josephine K. Hastings, of Kalamazoo, passed away Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. “Jo” was born October 9, 1920 in Galesburg, MI, the daughter of Jefferson and Ona (Thornberg) Johnson. She was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church. She enjoyed sewing, reading, and completing crossword puzzles. Josephine was preceded in death by her husband of...
Barbara J. Oisten
Jan 18, 2013
Barbara J. Oisten of Kalamazoo, Passed away Friday, January 18, 2013 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Barbara was born April 20, 1941 in Grand Rapids, MI, the daughter of Hubert and Mary Ann (Scalige) Redner. Barbara was a member of St. Monica Catholic Church. She retired as a buyer from American Energy Exchange. She was an avid reader and enjoyed all...