Jan 2, 2024

Walter Stanley Karakula Jr

July 11, 1933 – January 2, 2024

Wally’s grandfather John Karakula immigrated from Galicia, Poland in 1895 to Honolulu, Hawaii to work at a Sugar Manufacturing Plant. After the Spanish American War in 1898 when Hawaii was annexed by the Unites States he came to California and eventually moved to Chicago, Illinois where he met Kathryn...

Jan 1, 2024

Passed away, Monday, January 1, 2024, at home, with his wife by his side. David was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan on March 10, 1948, to the late Leon and Barbara (Parker) Pallett. After graduating from high school, David joined the Navy and served his country proudly. After being honorably discharged, David went on to work for UPS, where...

Jan 1, 2024

Sharon Kay (Fox) Springer of Portage, Michigan, passed away on January 1, 2024, at the age of 81. Sharon was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on August 18, 1942, to the late Donald R. Fox and Dorothy L. (Nash) Fox. In 1960, she graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School, then married Darrell Frank Berry. The couple raised three children and spent...

Jan 1, 2024

David Carl Levine of Kalamazoo, Michigan, died on January 1, 2024, at the age of 83 as a result of a stroke. David was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania, on November 30, 1940, to the late Charles and Anna (Nietsche) Levine.  

After retiring from his work as an interior designer in Florida, David moved to Michigan to be closer to...

Jan 1, 2024

John Michael Van Dyk, age 46, of Kalamazoo passed away January 1, 2024. He was born January 14, 1977 in Kalamazoo, the son of Marvin and Jelene (Dykstra) Van Dyk. He was the third and youngest son.

John grew up on West Lake in Portage, MI, where his childhood was spent fishing, swimming, and ice skating—with his brothers; friends, Ronnie...

Dec 31, 2023

Todra Lynn Haist passed away on Sunday, December 31, 2023 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Todra was born December 26, 1963 in Hartford City, Indiana to Connie Garrett and Vernon “Todd” Taylor.

Todra attended classes at KVCC and Nazareth College for Nursing and later worked at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She met her husband, Donald Haist, while working at ArvCo in...

Dec 31, 2023

Gerald “Jerry” DeBlecourt peacefully entered his heavenly home on December 31, 2023 surrounded by his family. Jerry was born on November 28, 1945 to Louis and Henrietta (Vlietstra) DeBlecourt. He graduated from Kalamazoo Christian High School. Jerry married the love of his life Dorothy (Peterman) DeBlecourt on October 6, 1967. They enjoyed 56 years of marriage and were blessed with...

Dec 30, 2023

Dallas “Yogi” Yowler, born October 5, 1946, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2023. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Dorothy Yowler; his son, Skipp Yowler; his daughter-in-law, Jill (Van Oost) Yowler; his grandchildren, Jacob Yowler and Natalie (Nathan Salinas) Yowler; and many nieces and nephews. He was a resident of Kalamazoo/Portage for his entire life and...

Dec 30, 2023

Paul Ralph MacGrayne of Kalamazoo, Michigan went to be with Jesus on December 30, 2023.  He was born on May 17, 1930, in Kalamazoo, MI.  He was the son of Daly C. and Mina (Weber) MacGrayne.

He graduated in 1948 from Kalamazoo Central High School.  He attended Western Michigan University for 2 years.  Then he enlisted in the U.S. Air...

Dec 28, 2023

Bruce Allan Adams, 65, of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2023. He was born on August 10, 1958, in Kalamazoo, MI, to the late Donald and Alberta (Howard) Adams. Bruce lived in Kalamazoo his entire life, he graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1976 and worked in the printing industry for over 40 years. He was also...

Dec 28, 2023

   John England, age 86, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, December 28, 2023. He was preceded in death by his parents Don and Inez (Albertson) England and his sister, Sue (Fred) VanRavenswaay. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Mical; their children, LeaAnne (Jim) Francis and Sandy (Dan) Adams. He leaves behind...

Dec 28, 2023

Bradley Paul Alexander, age 67 of Kalamazoo, died on December 28, 2023. He was born on July 24, 1956, in Adrian, Michigan, the son of Floyd E. and Marilyn J. (Schmidt) Alexander. The family moved to Pennsylvania and Bradley graduated from Dieruff High School in Allentown, PA, in 1974. The family returned to Michigan in 1976. He was a baker...

Dec 28, 2023

Betty J. Tomlinson, age 88 of Kalamazoo, died at Rose Arbor Hospice on December 28, 2023, after a short stay at Borgess Hospital. She was born on August 16, 1935, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Antone and Mary (Koelman) Wilgenhof. She was a 1952 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School. On January 3, 1953, she married Ralph Tomlinson, Jr. and...

Dec 26, 2023

Sharon Harris, age 72, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly on December 26, 2023.

Sharon was born on July 6, 1951, in Philadelphia, PA, to the late Robert Tyler and Janet Flythe. 

She married Billy Harris, and they were together for over 30 years until they divorced. Although divorced, they remained friends. They were better friends after the divorce...

Dec 26, 2023

Pearl M. Pattison passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 26, 2023. She was born on January 29, 1921. She was the second of 5 children born to Richard and Grace Hathaway of Hastings, Michigan. After graduating from Hastings High School, she attended WMU. (Then called Western Michigan Teachers College).

She married John W. Duff in 1941 right after...

Dec 26, 2023

Patricia Arlene VandenBerg, 88 of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully at Woodside at Friendship Village on December 26, 2023. She was born on March 15, 1935, in Kalamazoo to Paul and Mary Jackson.

Pat married Leonard VandenBerg and they shared a wonderful life together. They loved to play golf; Pat played even after Leonard’s passing up until she could no longer...

Dec 26, 2023

Peter “Michael” Augustins, age 61, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 26, 2023. A full obituary will be coming soon. Michael’s caregivers and friends would like to give special appreciation for the loving and compassionate care given by Community Living Options staff and Centrica Care Navigators staff. Those desiring to make a memorial contribution, in memory of Michael, may do...

Dec 25, 2023

David Elmer Doty, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away on December 25, 2023 at the age of 63. He was born September 30, 1960 to Earl and Nyla (Worden) Doty. David married Penny Richardson on June 11, 2011, who survives.

David loved his family—he loved especially loved playing with his grandchildren. He enjoyed fishing and playing games on the computer. He...

Dec 25, 2023

Dec 24, 2023

Julia Marie (Lizak) Lait of Portage, Michigan, died on December 24, 2023, at the age of 89. “Marie”, as she preferred to be called, was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 7, 1934, to the late Benjamin and Barbara (Toth) Lizak. In 1952, Marie married James Lait in Chicago, Illinois. The two spent over 62 years together.

Marie had the...