Nov 9, 2023

Stephen Lawrence Banner, age 69, of Parchment passed away unexpectedly on November 9, 2023 surrounded by family. He was born December 3, 1953, in Kalamazoo, to the late Francis Edward (Ed) and Elizabeth Louise (Schallhorn) Banner.

Steve graduated from Parchment High School in 1972 and traveled to Colorado to attend the Denver Floral Academy. He returned to Michigan and worked...

Nov 9, 2023

Tereatha (Alexander) Longmire, age 61 of Kalamazoo, passed away surrounded by family on November 9, 2023. She was born on December 7, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois, the daughter of Earl Lester and Carrie (Matthews) Longmire.

Tereatha, known to many for her beautiful smile, enjoyed her position in business administration at Borgess Hospital for many years. More than anything, she...

Nov 9, 2023

Lon Edward Keith passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at the age of 71. He was born in Pontiac, MI on December 3, 1951, to the late Wesley and Charlene (Kieffer) Keith. Lon started his career as a disc jockey for WBRN in Big Rapids, MI during his time at Ferris State University obtaining his...

Nov 8, 2023

Melba Catherine Brown, age 92, of Grand Rapids, formerly of Kalamazoo, passed away November 8, 2023. She was born February 2, 1931 in Mackinaw City, Michigan to the late Lee Clark and Melba Catherine (Shepler) Brown.

Melba was a graduate of J.W. Sexton High School in Lansing and went on to obtain a nursing education at Central...

Nov 7, 2023

Craig Robin Helmic passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, November 7th, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Originally from Lansing, Michigan, Craig moved to Kalamazoo after getting married in 1971. After earning a Bachelor's degree at Western Michigan University, Craig and Nancy moved to Portage, where they raised their two children.

Craig enjoyed going to any professional...

Nov 7, 2023

Peter Ernest Frederick Wilkins, age 80, of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2023, at Bronson Hospital, following a valiant five-year fight against cancer.

Pete was born on November 9, 1942, in Bay City, Michigan, to the late Frederick and Loretta (Schmidt) Wilkins. Pete’s father, a minister, moved the family to Buchanan, Michigan, when Pete was four years old,...

Nov 6, 2023

Janice Elaine (Clarke) Lehrke age 86, of Portage, Michigan passed away on November 6, 2023, at White Oaks Assisted Living Center in Lawton.

Janice was born on September 26, 1937, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to the late Richard Dalton and Phyllis Constance (Maxam) Clarke.  Jan, as her friends and family called her, was a lifelong resident of the...

Nov 6, 2023

Yvonne Bell Kreamalmeyer, age 95, of Portage passed away peacefully at her home on November 6, 2023. She was born December 23, 1927, in her grandparents' home in Flowerfield, Michigan, the daughter of the late Nelson and Ruth Haas.

Yvonne graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1946. Soon after, she met her future husband, William Kreamalmeyer,...

Nov 5, 2023

Thomas “Tom” William Brady, 67 of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family on Sunday morning, November 5, 2023. He was the son of William and Patricia (Phillips) Brady, born in Kalamazoo on October 12, 1956.

As a young boy, Tom attended Barbour Hall Junior Military Academy. He was a graduate of Kalamazoo...

Nov 4, 2023

Passed away Saturday evening, November 4, 2023 at her home. Carrie was born August 27, 1940 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Edward H. and Marjorie G. (Newlin) DeForest. She was a class of 1958 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and a graduate of Chic Cosmetology where she taught some classes and won awards for hair design. Carrie was...

Nov 3, 2023

An obituary is not available at this time for Bachan Kaur. We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our Tribute Wall.

Nov 3, 2023

Diane Lee (Nelson) Cochran’s faith became sight when she went home to be with Jesus on Friday, November 3, 2023, at the age of 79, after a lengthy, valiant journey with dementia. Diane was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on June 2, 1944, to the late Kenneth and Darlene (Davison) Nelson. On April 28th, 1963, Diane married the love of...

Nov 3, 2023

Angeline Ann Ponzini passed away peacefully on Friday, November 3, 2023, at the age of 72. She was born in Eureka, CA on March 30, 1951, to the late Francis W. Wilbur and Rose M. (Tomas) Wilbur.

Angie received her Associate Degree in early childhood development and worked many years as a paraprofessional with the Battle Creek Intermediate School District....

Nov 3, 2023

Chester “Chet” C. Lahr, Jr., age 73 of Schoolcraft, left us of natural but unexpected causes on November 3, 2023. He was born on August 10, 1950, in Huntington, Indiana. Chet graduated from Portage Northern High School in 1968. On July 15, 1972, a beautiful summer day, he married Rita E. Kosowicz. His daughter Rachel was born adding joy...

Nov 3, 2023

Dr. Samuel “Sam” Martin Sefton, 83, of Richland, passed away peacefully on November 3, 2023, in his home surrounded by his children Debbie, Sammy, Michael, and David, with Thursday Night Football in the background – just the way he would have wanted.

Sam was born on April 7, 1940, in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Kenneth and Marie (Manning) Sefton. He...

Nov 2, 2023

James Morgan “Jim” Benton, age 94, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away on November 2, 2023, at his home. Jim was born on October 1, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan to the late Hartwell and Virginia (Beebe) Benton.

He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School with the Class of 1947.  Jim worked at KVP before being drafted into the...

Nov 2, 2023

In loving memory of Claudia Estelle (Henderson) Hearn, affectionately known as "Grammy" or Grandma, passed away Thursday November 2, 2023. She was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 26, 1931.

Claudia was affectionately cared for by her son Prentis Apollo Hearn. For many years her son, Kevin Hearn, also looked upon her needs and provided support....

Nov 2, 2023

William “Bill” Norman Johnson was born on September 15, 1937, to Elmer and Iva (Souders) Johnson in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Bill passed away on Thursday, November 2, 2023, after a long battle with Frontotemporal Dementia with Parkinsonism. Bill was the youngest of five children growing up in the Kalamazoo area. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1955. Bill...

Nov 1, 2023

Robert Szyniszewski, 68, of Portage, MI, passed away November 1, 2023, in his home after some time under hospice care.

Robert was born on October 31, 1955, to Harry and Jane (Antczak) Szyniszewski of Detroit, MI. He graduated from St. Florian’s High School in Hamtramck, MI in 1973. After graduating, he began in sales, working a majority of his career for...

Oct 31, 2023

Benjamin "Ben" Michael Weststrate passed away unexpectedly on October 31, 2023, in Detroit, Michigan. Ben was born on July 13, 1980, in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Ted and Coral (Clark) Weststrate.

Ben, a man of unique passions, found solace in the thrill of snowboarding and the harmony of music.

Ben leaves behind a legacy of love, survived by his cherished son, Brenan Weststrate...