Local obituaries for Kalamazoo, Portage, & Climax MI.
Irene Elizabeth Tompkins
Dec 5, 2023
Irene Elizabeth (Lawliss) Tompkins, age 90, of Kalamazoo, MI, passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
Elizabeth was born on July 5, 1933, in Davison, MI, to the late James Thomas and Irene Matilda (Lightfoot) Lawliss. Her family moved to Beulah, MI, and at age 16, she won the 1948 4-H National Home Improvement award and many other Regional and...
Gerry VanderPloeg
Dec 5, 2023
Gerry L. VanderPloeg (nee Potgiesser), age 80 of Pine Lake, Plainwell, died on December 5, 2023. She was born on September 11, 1943, in Groningen, Netherlands. She was always proud of her Dutch heritage. Gerry was a 1961 graduate of Parchment High School. For 15 years she sold insurance for Blue Cross Blue Shield and then was an independent sales...
Roger Kroshinsky
Dec 4, 2023
Roger Kroshinsky, age 91, of Portage, passed away December 4, 2023. He was born October 18, 1932 in Benton Harbor, Michigan to the late Edward F. and Lillian Elsie (Modro) Kroshinsky.
Roger was the only boy of five children and became the “man of the house” after the death of his father at a young age. He started work very...
Evyda Louise Jackson
Dec 3, 2023
Evyda Louise Jackson (Johnson) passed away peacefully in the presence of her family on December 3, 2023. Evyda was born to the late Forrest and Pauline (Derhammer) Johnson on June 18, 1941. She was the eldest of three children and lived in the Kalamazoo area her entire life. She attended kindergarten through ninth grade in Milwood and went on to...
Rev. Tamara Susan Melchert Williams
Dec 3, 2023
Rev. Tamara Susan Melchert Williams died Sunday, December 3, after a years-long journey with Multiple System Atrophy.
Everyone who met Tamara loved her. With her infectious smile, she radiated kindness and grace, and she kept that joyful heart even as disease took her mobility, her independence, and her voice.
“Tammy” was born January 23, 1962, in Austin, Texas, to...
Marcella Grace Muller
Dec 3, 2023
Marcella Grace Muller, daughter of the late Fanno and Tena Wubben Van Hove was born August 2, 1932, in Clara City, Minnesota, and went to be with the Lord on December 3, 2023. At an early age, she professed her faith in Jesus Christ and was an active member of Grace Christian Reformed Church for more than 60 years. Marci...
Helen Margaret Schwencer
Dec 2, 2023
Helen Margaret Schwencer, 88 of Portage, passed away unexpectedly doing what she loved, enjoying a car ride with her daughters. She was born in Battle Creek on September 2, 1935, to Milan George and Clara May Sutfin.
Helen married the love of her life, Norman, on July 19, 1952. The two were inseparable and enjoyed everything together including dancing, playing...
Marilyn Jane Quinn
Dec 1, 2023
Marilyn Jane (Dick) Quinn of Kalamazoo, Michigan passed away on December 1, 2023, at the age of 92. Marilyn was born in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, on December 16, 1930, to the late L. Albert and Mildred (Huff) Dick.
Marilyn graduated from Phillipsburg High School. She would eventually dedicate 11 years to the San Diego Municipal Court where she would...
Ann Marie Terpstra
Dec 1, 2023
Ann Marie Terpstra of Southgate, Michigan, passed away at her parents’ home in Kalamazoo on December 1st after a 6-year struggle with breast cancer.
Ann was born in Ann Arbor to Paul and Cheryl Terpstra of Grass Lake on September 29, 1977.
Ann attended Chelsea Public Schools, graduating Cum Laude in 1996. She excelled in basketball, earning SEC First Team...
Katie M. Negri
Nov 30, 2023
Passed away surrounded by her loving family on Thursday morning November 30, 2023. Katie was born November 7, 1985 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Richard and Deborah (Hamlin) Willis. Katie was a graduate of Loy Norrix High School and the Kalamazoo Valley dental program and was employed as a dental hygienist with Galesburg Dental Care. She was a Faithful follower...
Linda Ann Johnston
Nov 30, 2023
Passed away Thursday afternoon, November 30, 2023 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Linda was born April 3, 1936 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Ralph and Mary (Boileau) Leeuw. Despite health issues that manifested in the early 70’s, Linda remained as active as possible. She loved her charity work volunteering at the Portage Community Outreach Center and since she...
Erick Matthew "Matt" Alsup
Nov 29, 2023
Erick Matthew “Matt” Alsup of Portage, Michigan passed away on November 29, 2023, at the age of 64. Matt was born in Watervliet, Michigan, on October 31, 1959, to the late Junior and Maxine (Kruger) Alsup.
Matt graduated from Paw Paw High School, and later worked at Adient, International Paper, Coke Foods, Midwest Aluminum, and Pfizer. He enjoyed entertaining friends,...
Mary Jane Parks
Nov 28, 2023
Passed away Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at the age 66 at her home. Mary was born November 22, 1957 in Lansing, MI the daughter of Robert and Pauline (Dunnfelder) Richards. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, and brother Robert Richards,
On August 16, 1980, she was united in marriage to her loving husband of 43 years, Mike...
Billy Thomas Hart
Nov 28, 2023
Billy “Bill” Thomas Hart, age 92, was born on July 25, 1931, in McDaniels, Kentucky. He passed away peacefully on November 28, 2023, with his daughters, Terri Mucciante and Sally Bentley, by his side.
Bill was the youngest of five children born to Guy O. Hart and Margaret M. (Glasscock) Hart. He was proceeded in death by his parents and all four...
Robert "Bob" Diemer
Nov 27, 2023
Robert “Bob” Diemer, age 79 of Kalamazoo, passed away at home with his loving wife and stepchildren at his side, to be with his Lord and Savior on November 27, 2023. He was born on August 8, 1944, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of William and Myrtle (Neitzel) Diemer. Bob was a graduate of Mattawan High School and Western Michigan University in...
Donna V McCoy
Nov 26, 2023
Donna Vee McCoy, 87, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 26, 2023. Donna lost her husband, Jack McCoy, on Friday, March 8, 2019. She was born on July 31, 1936, in the majestic Smokey Mountains of western North Carolina to the late Reginald and Stella (Owen) Kitchen.
Donna graduated high school in June of 1955. Later that year, on December...
Michael E. Shafer
Nov 23, 2023
Michael Edward Shafer died Thursday, November 23, 2023, from Stage 4 colorectal cancer. Mike was born on December 29, 1973, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the son of Ruth and Robert Shafer.
Mike was part of the Kalamazoo business community and his company, The Technology Pool, provided IT services to businesses in southern Michigan.
When not working, Mike enjoyed listening to an...
Ronald L. Wilson
Nov 23, 2023
Ronald Levell Wilson, age 55 of Kalamazoo, died following a short illness on November 23, 2023. He was born on November 11, 1968, in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest son of Thomas and Juanita (Keyes) Wilson. The family moved to the Kalamazoo area and Ronald attended Loy Norrix High School. He was a star athlete, excelling in soccer, football, and track....
Mary Agnes Thompson
Nov 23, 2023
Mary Agnes Thompson (Hall), 95, of Kalamazoo, MI, passed away on November 23, 2023. She was born to William and Agnes (Buchii) Hall on June 4, 1928, in Hartford, CT. Mary was a vibrant, resourceful, and productive individual.
Mary is survived by her loving daughters: Judy (Gary) Gudelsky, Nancy Smith, Lorri (David) Walch; and son, John (Tina) Randall Thompson....
Judith Welker
Nov 23, 2023
Judith C. Welker, age 83 of Kalamazoo, died on November 23, 2023. She was born on March 7, 1940, in Grand Rapids, the daughter of Gerald and Genevieve (Swanson) Peaslee. She was a 1958 graduate of Creston High School and received her bachelor’s degree in education from Western Michigan University. On July 28, 1962, she married Blair Welker. Judith...
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