Local obituaries for Kalamazoo, Portage, & Climax MI.
James Peter Bishop
Feb 23, 2024
James Peter Bishop of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed on Friday, February 23, 2024, at the age of 83. Jim is survived by his wife, Donna Joy (Engelsman) Bishop, of 56 years; son, Brian James Bishop and Brian’s spouse, Kimberly Dillon Bishop of Belmont, California, and two grandchildren. He is pre-deceased by his parents, Peter Cornelius Bishop and Jenevieve Bishop of Grand...
Betty M. Southon
Feb 23, 2024
Betty Marie Southon passed away on Friday, February 23, 2024 at the age of 94. She was born April 25, 1929, in Kalamazoo, MI to the late Lester and Ruth (Helle) Clark. Betty was a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School as well as Western Michigan University. While attending classes at Western, she worked in their administration department, helping fellow...
Linda Marie Anderson
Feb 22, 2024
Linda Marie Anderson entered this world on July 5, 1955. She was born to Thomas Edward Anderson and Alma Marie Jones in Albion, Michigan. Several years later, Linda would welcome her sibling, Charles Anderson, into the world. Linda was a daddy’s girl, tagging along with her father on road trips and day-to-day errands whenever she was around him.
Linda would acquire...
Robert E. Newton
Feb 22, 2024
Passed away Thursday afternoon, February 22, 2024 at his home. Bob was born March 12, 1928 in Kalamazoo, the son of LeRoy and Winifred (Merreman) Newton. Bob worked at Consumers Power Company for 44 years. He was an active member in the union, UWUA Local 150, where he was the treasurer for 21 years and delegated to many conventions. After...
Virgil Lee Kahl
Feb 22, 2024
Virgil Lee Kahl passed away Thursday, February 22, 2024 at the age of 77. He was born in Kalamazoo, MI to the late Harlan and Betty (Whitehurst) Kahl on September 7, 1946. Virgil proudly served his country in the United States Navy during Vietnam. He worked for the City of Kalamazoo where he worked in the Parks and Recreation Department....
Dorothy Carolyn DeDee
Feb 21, 2024
Dorothy Carolyn DeDee, 86 of Kalamazoo, passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2024. She was the daughter of Gladys (Baumgardt) and Christian Born, born on February 19, 1938, in Brooklyn, New York.
She graduated from Lynbrook High School in 1956. While in high school, Dorothy was employed part time by Al Wansor’s Lynbrook Music Center and in the summers, she worked...
Nira Belle Watkins
Feb 21, 2024
Nira Belle Watkins of Kalamazoo passed away on February 21, 2024, at the age of 97. She was born on July 3, 1926, in Fredonia, Kansas, the youngest daughter of the late Homer and Hattie Scarborough. On February 17, 1951, she married Robert Glenn Watkins. Bob and Nira met in Sunday School at a Methodist church in Wichita, Kansas, and...
Phyllis T. Garrett
Feb 21, 2024
Phyllis J. Garrett, age 77 of Lowell formerly of Portage, died on February 21, 2024. She was born on April 22, 1946, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Stanley and Thelma (Miller) Neal. Phyllis grew up on the family farm helping her dad with the crops. They had a farm stand on Riverview Drive selling the strawberries and corn. Phyllis was...
Stephen B. Friedman
Feb 20, 2024
Stephen Burt Friedman passed away on February 20, 2024. Steve was born on March 23, 1931 in Amsterdam, New York, the son of Raymond and Rosella Friedman. After graduating from high school, he studied at the University of Rochester, Syracuse University, and the University of Illinois, earning a Ph.D. in microbiology in 1962. In between his studies, he served for...
Gertrude "Trudy" J. Harper
Feb 19, 2024
Passed away Monday evening, February 19, 2024. Trudy was born September 9, 1928 in Zeeland, MI the daughter of Ralph and Emma (Kloostra) Wagner. Raised in Holland in the 1930’s to immigrant parents, six older brothers, and many cousins was only the beginning of Trudy’s life. Her house had many windows. She was an avid bowler, and secretary of many...
Robert T. Ransbottom
Feb 19, 2024
Robert T. Ransbottom, age 95 of Martin, died on February 19, 2024. He was born October 19, 1928, in Constantine, Michigan, one of seven children of Lloyd and Gertrude (Sutherland) Ransbottom. Robert served in the U.S Army during the Korean Conflict. For 39 years, he worked in maintenance at RockTen/Maximar Paper Mill, from 1952-1993. He married Bonnie Closs on April...
Ruby Bernice Simpson
Feb 18, 2024
Ruby Bernice Simpson, age 87, passed away February 18, 2024. She was born September 6, 1936, in Crabtree, Arkansas, to the late William Ayers and Mollie (Williams) Neldon.
Her dad was, at one time, a local judge and lawyer: but most of the time a simple farmer, which meant they were poor, and life was hard sometimes. But her mom would...
Shirley A. Sherfield
Feb 18, 2024
Shirley Ann Sherfield, an unforgettable woman who left an indelible mark on those around her, passed away on February 18, 2024, at the age of 78 in Portage, Michigan. Born on December 18, 1945, in South Bend, Indiana, she was the cherished daughter of Michael C. and Marie E. (Brown) Ostheimer.
She graduated from Lawrence High School in 1964 and ventured...
Joseph Junior Jerkins
Feb 18, 2024
Joseph (Joe) Junior Jerkins passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 18, 2024. He was born April 27, 1932 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Joseph Milton Jerkins and Nelly May (Windibank) Jerkins. He grew up in Detroit and graduated from Southeastern High School in 1949. He joined the U.S. Army and served honorably during the Korean War as both an enlisted...
Ruthie "Ruth" Poissant-Breiland
Feb 17, 2024
Passed away Saturday morning, February 17, 2024, in Kalamazoo, MI. She was born Ruthie Viola Reule April 30, 1928, in Viking Township, ND the daughter of Reinhold and Martha (Aman) Reule. Ruthie grew up in Olmstead, ND and graduated from Egeland high school. After marrying, she and Wauburn A. Poissant lived in Cando, ND, and Herlong, CA. Following their return...
Phyllis Jane (Newcastle) Jalving
Feb 17, 2024
Phyllis died peacefully at Friendship Village Woodside (Kalamazoo) on February 17, 2024. She was just one week shy of her 105th birthday. She was a long-time resident of Friendship Village (since 2006), and we wish to thank the fantastic, amazing staff there for their loving care. They all helped to make her life fulfilling and enjoyable for so many years,...
Edna Louise Post
Feb 16, 2024
Edna Louise Post, 99, of Mesa, AZ, born October 13, 1924 in Kalamazoo, MI to Lewis Andrew and Eva Ionia (Brown) Colvin, passed peacefully into God’s hands on February 16, 2024.
Edna served as a cook for the Lansing, Michigan School District for nearly 20 years. She was a member of Hastings, Michigan Garden Club and attended several churches over the...
Robert Joseph Zakrzewski
Feb 16, 2024
Robert Joseph Zakrzewski, age 81, from Jones, Michigan, passed away on Friday, February 16, 2024, at Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart, Indiana.
Robert was born on March 20, 1942, to the late Edward Steven and Mary Marie (Delater) Zakrzewski. Robert was a graduate of Bristol High School and then served in the United States Air Force. He retired from Owens-Illinois Manufacture...
Georgia Mae Letts
Feb 15, 2024
Our Little “Peach” was born on May 12, 2023, in Kalamazoo, MI. From the moment she arrived, she filled our hearts with joy! Her bright blue eyes and rosy cheeks melted our hearts.
Georgia is the beautiful daughter of Dennis and Kathrine Letts and baby sister to Tucker Letts.
Georgia is also survived by her great-grandparents, John and Betty Letts, Bertha and Terry Dykes,...
Marlene Alice Breu
Feb 15, 2024
Marlene Alice Breu, age 79, of Kalamazoo passed away February 15, 2024. She was born May 1944 in New Market, Virginia to the late Richard and Hazel Renalds.
Marlene attended James Madison University, Purdue University, and the University of Minnesota, obtaining a PhD in clothing and textile design. She taught at Western Michigan University as a tenured professor and was a...
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