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...

Dec 24, 2023

Cleo Dewell (Steve) Stephens, age 88 of Greenwood, IN died December 24, 2023.

“When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude.” – G. K. Chesterton

Born in Kavito, Kentucky on August 16, 1935, Dewell was the oldest son of Cleo and Lissie (Grammar) Stephens. Life on a small...

Dec 24, 2023

Edythe E. Newkirk of Comstock, Michigan passed away on Christmas Eve, 2023, at the age of 90. Edythe was the daughter of the late Leslie and Myldred (Copeland) Tyler.

Edythe was born in Kalamazoo, MI, on June 5, 1933 and spent most of her life in Comstock. She married William "Bill" Newkirk on December 24, 1953- 70 years ago to...

Dec 23, 2023

William (Bill) Ernest Ohland went to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 23, 2023.   He was born June 6, 1931, in Winthrop, Minnesota, to Alfred and Lillian (Voight) Ohland.  He was raised in Winthrop and enjoyed spending time on his aunt and uncle’s farm.  After graduating from Winthrop High School in 1951, he served in the U.S. Army,...

Dec 21, 2023

On December 21st, we lost our beautiful, loving daughter, Tracy, 50 years old, from Alzheimer’s disease. Tracy was born on January 15, 1973, with Down Syndrome and showed how a unique person could spread so much love and joy for 50 years.

 

She was born in Toronto, Canada, to her parents Susan and Russell Bailey, who moved to...

Dec 21, 2023

Suzanne Katsonis Krizan passed away peacefully at home on December 21, 2023 following a short illness; surrounded by the love of her family and friends near and far. Suzanne, better known as Sue or Suzy, was born on October 18, 1947 in Harrisburg, PA to Doris Geise and George Manuel Katsonis, the son of an immigrant from the Greek island...

Dec 21, 2023

 

Lois Irene Kitzmiller-Ulery passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2023, at the age of 89. She was born on February 1, 1934, to the late Ray and Grace (Noble) Peacock. Lois enjoyed dancing, traveling, doing ceramics and spending time with all her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. One of her greatest joys was fishing and she was affectionately known...