Local obituaries for Kalamazoo, Portage, & Climax MI.
Mary Tyler
Feb 4, 2024
Mary Little Tyler, age 95 of Kalamazoo, died peacefully at home on February 4, 2024. She was born on October 5, 1928, the daughter of Alvin and Emily (Tedrow) Little. Mary was a 1946 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and received her bachelor's degree in education from the University of Colorado. On October 18, 1952, she married James Tyler...
Dennis Alan Bruce
Feb 3, 2024
Dennis Alan Bruce of Portage, Michigan, passed away on February 3, 2024, at the age of 77 following a courageous battle with cancer. Dennis (Denny) was born on September 26, 1946, in Battle Creek, Michigan, to Lee and Margaret Bruce. He graduated from Harper Creek High School in 1966, served in the Army in Vietnam, and worked at General Motors...
Helen Williams
Feb 3, 2024
Helen Mable (Lozier) Williams of Kalamazoo, MI, formerly of Warsaw, IN, Michigan City, IN, Fairport, NY, and Pittsford, NY, went home to be with Jesus on Saturday, February 3, 2024. She was 97 years old.Helen was the first child of eight, born December 26, 1926, to Harry Kermit Lozier and Bertha Fearl (Snell) Lozier in Warsaw, IN. Helen grew up in...
Beatrice Ann Piper
Feb 3, 2024
Beatrice Ann Piper, age 93, passed away Saturday, February 3, 2024. She was born March 20, 1930 in Climax Township, the daughter of the late Buhl and Blanche (Shurlow) Spooner, and was a lifelong resident of Climax.
Beatrice loved nature and all animals. She enjoyed reading and collecting crystals and Native American memorabilia, books, and figurines, and often gave to Native...
Terrie Ann Kaczmarek
Feb 3, 2024
Terrie A. Kaczmarek, 77, passed away February 3, 2024 at her daughter’s home in Schoolcraft. Terrie was born January 22, 1947 in Three Rivers, Michigan, the daughter of Lawrence and Marian (VanOver) Speece.
Terrie graduated from Schoolcraft High School in 1965. After getting married and having her girls, Terrie decided she wanted to be a nurse and attended Morraine Valley Community...
Linda Kay Vlietstra
Feb 3, 2024
Linda Kay Vlietstra, age 82, of Portage peacefully entered her heavenly home on February 3, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born April 18, 1941, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of the late George and Sarah (Slager) Terpstra.
Linda graduated from Portage Central High School in 1959. She was employed at Upjohn/Pharmacia, where she spent over 23 years, and worked in...
Thomas Henry Flickinger
Feb 2, 2024
Thomas Henry Flickinger, known affectionately as “Tom”, departed from this world on February 2, 2024, in Schoolcraft, Michigan, at the age of 78. He was born on August 29, 1945, in Carson City, Michigan, to the late Byron S. and Bernadine A. (Abel) Flickinger. In 1967, Tom married Sharon Mary Rice. When Sharon died in 2018, the two had been...
Christina Rose
Feb 2, 2024
Christina (Ruple) Rose, 47, of Sturgis, MI, passed away on Friday, February 2nd, at Borgess Hospital.
Christina was born at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI, on Nov. 19, 1976, to Debra (Staffen) and Martin Ruple. She had 1 brother, Corey Ruple. Christina grew up in Three Rivers, MI, and graduated from Three Rivers High School.
She was an extremely valued member...
Tricia Lee Vanden Bos
Feb 2, 2024
Tricia Lee (Hoogendoorn) Vanden Bos was born the daughter of Nick and Minnie (Dontje) Hoogendoorn, July 31, 1934, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was the 13th of 14 children. Tricia passed away on February 2, 2024, surrounded by family at Medilodge of Westwood.
On November 7, 1952, Tricia married Allan Vanden Bos, who preceded her in death on April 20, 2015, after...
Barbara Jean Melvin
Feb 1, 2024
Barbara Jean Melvin, age 90, of Kalamazoo, MI passed away peacefully at home on February 1, 2024. She was born February 18, 1933, at home in Texas Corners to Joseph and Anna (Urban) Papierz.
Barbara graduated from Comstock High School, class of ‘51. Shortly following that, she married the love of her life James Melvin on August 2, 1952. She worked at the now defunct Kalamazoo Stationery Company, afterward transitioning...
Edward M. Shipe
Feb 1, 2024
Edward M. Shipe passed away on February 1, 2024 with his mother and sister at his side. Edward was born on August 11, 1960, the first child and favorite son of Maynard and Grace (Schreuder) Shipe.
Edward grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Edward is survived by his mother, Grace; his sister Elaine (Dan) DeHoff; one niece and one nephew; special friends:...
Onalee Anderson
Jan 31, 2024
Onalee “Lee” Anderson passed away peacefully at Friendship Village of Kalamazoo on January 31, 2024. She was born on September 1, 1928, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Freda Minetta (Bacon) Gerber and Neal Victor Gerber.
She was raised in Worthing, SD. After completing high school at the Worthing School (K-12) as one of five students in her graduating class, she...
Michael Patrick O'Hare
Jan 30, 2024
Michael Patrick O’Hare passed away peacefully at home after a five-year battle with dementia. Michael was born on October 17, 1946, in Angola, Indiana to the late John and Vonetta (Grandstaff) O’Hare. After graduating from high school, Michael went on to college at Northern Michigan University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree and began teaching. He pursued other careers in...
Eric "Rick" P. Knurr
Jan 30, 2024
Eric Paul “Rick” Knurr, Jr. of Kalamazoo passed away on January 30, 2024, after an adventurous life filled with music, dancing, games, travel, plenty of laughter and most importantly, abundant love. Rick was born on August 2, 1943, in the Bronx, New York City to Eric and Dorothea Knurr. Moving to New Jersey, he graduated from Lodi High in Saddlebrook...
Florence Marie Kaylor
Jan 29, 2024
Florence Marie (Garbacik) Kaylor of Portage, Michigan, died on January 29, 2024, at the age of 86. Florence was born in Detroit, Michigan, on February 15, 1937, to the late John and Helen (Mach) Garbacik. She graduated from Cody High school in 1955. On October 5, 1963, Florence married Harrison Ed Kaylor at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Detroit, Michigan....
Nellie Cornelia Lingbeek
Jan 29, 2024
Nellie "Nell" Cornelia (Kloosterman) Lingbeek of Kalamazoo, Michigan, went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 29, 2024, at the age of 95. Nell was born in Comstock, Michigan, on February 1, 1928, to the late Cornelius and Cornelia (Yzenbaard) Kloosterman. In 1948, Nell married Dick Lingbeek. The two would spend 52 years together until his passing in...
Toni Sue Strong
Jan 28, 2024
Toni Sue Strong of Vicksburg, Michigan, unexpectedly passed away at her home on Sunday January 28th, 2024.
Toni was born April 9th, 1954, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Paul and Jackie Strong. She was later gifted a sister and 2 brothers by her parents, becoming the oldest in a sibling set of four. While growing up, Toni enjoyed spending time on the...
Sybil Jo Fordos
Jan 28, 2024
Sybil Jo (York) Fordos was a beloved grandmother, mother, sister, and wife during her incredible almost 74 years of life. She passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family in the early morning hours of January 28, 2024.
Sybil was born February 8, 1950, in Detroit, Michigan, where she was the younger daughter of Allen and Ellen...
Thomas L. Guyer
Jan 28, 2024
Thomas L. Guyer, age 87 of Kalamazoo, died on January 28, 2024. He was born on October 13, 1936, in Flora, Indiana, the son of Lester and Jean (Cripe) Guyer. He was a 1954 graduate of Flora High School and received his bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Purdue University in 1958. Tom was in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1960-1966....
James H. Bacon
Jan 27, 2024
James H. Bacon, age 76 of Richland, entered eternity with his Lord on January 27, 2024. He was born August 11, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Robert and Lydia (Gergely) Bacon. Jim grew up in the Detroit suburbs. He worked at Bob’s Auto Glass for many years, until losing his eyesight in an accident. Jim still enjoyed woodworking,...
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