All Obituaries

FINK, JoAnn D. Portage JoAnn Doris Fink (Retzlaff), passed peacefully at her home on January 24th, 2020. JoAnn was born April 3rd, 1933 in Appleton, Wisconsin to Reno Retzlaff and Anna Krueger. JoAnn was married for over 50 years to Donald Fink, a long time automotive dealer in Kalamazoo. JoAnn spent many years boating, snowmobiling, and traveling with her husband, Don Fink, until his passing in 2004. JoAnn was a loving, kind and supportive mother to her two children: Jeff (Shelly) Fink of...

Gerald C. Lind passed away Thursday, January 23, 2020. Jerry was born in Lansing, Michigan on May 23rd, 1931 to the parents of Carl and Lucille Lind and had a sister Joyce, whom is deceased. He graduated from Lansing Sexton High School and played basketball and golf. He caddied at Lansing Country Club on the weekends and had a privilege of caddying for Ben Hogan on a special tournament. Jerry also attended Michigan State University and joined the Air Force during the Korean War in 1951. He...

BROWN, Hugh James, Ph.D., went home to be with his Lord on January 23, 2020. Dr. Brown was born April 5, 1928, in White Plains, New York, the son of John J. Brown Sr. and Olive Rose Hopper Brown. He was a Kalamazoo area resident for over 50 years and also spent 15 years as a resident of Bonita Springs, Florida. Hugh was so many things to so many people: a loving and dedicated husband of 62 years; a world-class parent with his wife, Patricia, to seven children; a community leader with a...

FRANKE, JANET A. of Portage, MI Janet Arlene Franke went home to be with her Lord on January 23, 2020 at the age of 87. Janet was born September 18, 1932, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Jacob and Gertrude (Kiel) Bouma. She was a lifelong area resident and on September 24, 1954, she was united in marriage to Herman H. Franke. She was a former member of the Portage Reformed Church and currently a member of the Covenant United Reformed Church. Throughout the years Janet had...

Joseph V. Doepker, age 80 passed away peacefully on Tuesday January 21st, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer's and bladder cancer. Joe was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan to the late Corneilius "Neil" F. Doepker and Katherine E. (Roberts) Doepker. Joe was a graduate of Arthur Hill High School in Saginaw, MI. On November 7, 1959 he married his love Katherine E. Briguglio. They were married for 60 years and together had five children, nine grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Joe worked...

Passed away Monday afternoon, January 20, 2020. Bev was born December 4, 1930 in Three Rivers, MI the daughter of the late Leonard and Mae (Goldsmith) Butler. She was a graduate of the Bronson School of Nursing and was a surgical registered nurse at Bronson Hospital for nearly 30 years working in the operating room. Bev regularly attended Berean Baptist Church and enjoyed flowers and gardening. She was also involved with the Gideon's, Stephen Ministries, and Kid's Hope. On December...

Richard (Dick) Raynes passed away peacefully on January 20, 2020 at Glenn Arbor Hospice, Battle Creek, MI. Richard was born on February 16, 1930 in Kalamazoo, MI, the son of Basil Raynes and Gertrude (Sanford) Raynes. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1949. Dick started work with Kroger Grocery on East Main in 1947 and moved to the Portage store in 1949. He knew how to save a dollar and was proud when, at age 19, he purchased a brand new 1950 Chevrolet Deluxe for $1800 in...

DEWEESE, Bernie I. of Kalamazoo, MI Died peacefully in his sleep after a brief bout with leukemia and onset dementia Monday morning January 20, 2020 at his residence. Bernard was born May 21, 1939 in Muskegon, Michigan a son of Eugene "Chet" and Elizabeth "Bess" (Busschuert) Deweese. He had been a Kalamazoo area resident most of his life and owned and operated Kalamazoo Garage Door & Repair for over 40 years. Bernard was also member of St. Thomas More Catholic...

TILLEMA, JAY of Portage, MI Jay Howard Tillema, age 86, went home to be with his Lord on January 20, 2020. Jay was born October 9, 1933, in Portage, MI, the youngest of six children of Ike and Mina (Sootsman) Tillema. Born and raised on Centre Street, he was a lifelong Portage resident and graduated from Portage Central High School. On April 30, 1954, he was united in marriage to Beverly J. (Yonkers) Tillema. Jay was a lifelong faithful member of the First Reformed Church of Portage. He was...