Jan 7, 2025

On January 7, 2025, after 102 years of living a wonderful life, we lost another special person from the Greatest Generation. Ken died at his home surrounded by loved ones. He was born November 2, 1922 in Kalamazoo, the son of the late Claude and Effie Dunlap. He had a spirit for adventure, and the heart of a warrior. He...

Jan 7, 2025

William (Bill) Solomon Binning, 81, of Kalamazoo, MI, passed away on January 7, 2025. Born May 27, 1943, to Fred R. and Bernice Binning, Bill had a distinguished career as a mechanical engineer with Flowserve Corporation (formerly Durametallic), where he traveled the world solving engineering challenges. While he was proud of his work, his greatest joy was his family. He...

Jan 7, 2025

Adam Atkinson, age 58 of Kalamazoo, was called Home by God on January 7, 2025. He was born on October 6, 1966, in Adrian, Michigan, the son of Eleazer Atkinson, Sr. and Maria DeLaPaz Atkinson. Adam was a special boy and was cherished by his family from the beginning. He loved time with his family and social groups. Adam loved...

Jan 7, 2025

Benjamin “Bennie” Bowden, age 82, of Portage, passed away January 7, 2025. He was born August 15, 1942, in Kalamazoo to the late Benjamin and Eva (Oakley) Bowden.

Bennie was a pipe fitter for the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union Local 357 and was a Supervisor for Pro Pipe at Upjohn for many years. After working hard for 55 years, he was...

Jan 5, 2025

Stanley G. Hewes was received into the arms of Jesus on Sunday, January 5, 2025. He was the only child of the late George and Marion Hewes. Born in Three Rivers, his parents moved to Kalamazoo in 1957. Stan loved all the programs that he was involved in, as well and the job opportunities he experienced. He was educated at...

Jan 4, 2025

Joyce Elaine Gjeltema went peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Saturday, January 4, 2025. She was born to Donald and Mina Pastoor on May 6, 1935, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After graduating Calvin College with her teaching degree, she started off for her 10-year plan of teaching for five years on the East Coast and five years on the...

Jan 2, 2025

Dec 31, 2024

Janice Mary Miska Muehlenbeck passed away in Galesburg, Michigan on December 31, 2024. She was 83 years old. Janice was the third child of Darwin and Gwendolyn (nee Zak) Miska and was born September 24, 1941 in Saginaw, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband retired Coast Guard Lt. Commander Carl Jon Muehlenbeck who passed away in 2021....

Dec 31, 2024

Annetta Ruth VanderKlok, age 86, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on December 31, 2024. She was born July 6, 1938, at home in Portage, Michigan, to the late Koert and Jessie (Penning) Kuiper, the middle child of seven kids.

Annetta graduated from Portage Central High School. Growing up, she helped in various ways at her dad’s business,...

Dec 29, 2024

Ruthann Whitney, of Kalamazoo, passed away quietly at her home, surrounded by family on December 29, 2024, at 77 years old. Ruthann was born in Kalamazoo on January 24, 1947, to the late Frederick E. and Ruth M. (Sly) Meisling.

Ruthann loved playing bingo, spending time with her grandchildren, laughing and joking around, her morning coffee, as well as playing scrabble...

Dec 29, 2024

Gregory Don Keyser went home to be with the Lord Jesus on Sunday, December 29, 2024. Greg was born in Michigan to Effie ‘Skip’ and Orrie ‘Dutch’ Keyser on August 17, 1947. His parents preceded him in death in 2016 and 1989 respectively.

Greg grew up in Portage Michigan and was well loved by his parents and older brother Bob (Robert...

Dec 29, 2024

Renay Berkowitz, 83 of Portage, passed away at Bronson Commons on December 29, 2024. She was born on September 8, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York to Max and Mildred (Goldberg) Lerman.

Renay attended James Madison High School, where she met her high school sweetheart Marvin Berkowitz. They were married in Brooklyn on April 2, 1960, and enjoyed over 6 decades of...

Dec 28, 2024

Richard Kurlandsky, 74, of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully at Rose Arbor on December 28, 2024. He was born on April 15, 1950, to Samuel and Bernice (Strum) Kurlandsky in Rock Island, IL. Richard was a graduate of Portage Northern High School and Western Michigan University.

Richard was an avid fan of the Detroit Lions and Tigers and would always cheer for...

Dec 28, 2024

Marcella “Marcie” A. Pearman, age 89 of Kalamazoo, Michigan formerly of South Bend, Indiana, died on December 28, 2024. She was born on April 21, 1935, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Frank and Marcella (Hesko) Wall. Marcie was a graduate of Mount St. Mary’s Academy and Georgian Court University, where she received her bachelor’s degree in biology. On July...

Dec 27, 2024

Carolann “Carol” M. Schmidt, age 82, entered her eternal home with her Lord and Savior on December 27, 2024, after a battle with dementia, and was surrounded by her loving family. Carol was born December 6, 1942, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Martin and Evelyn (Holloway) Zomer. She was a 1961 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and worked for...

Dec 25, 2024

Henry Junior Visser, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend, peacefully went into the arms of his Lord on December 25, 2024, at the age of 99. He was born on October 15, 1925, at home in Holland, Michigan, to Jacob and Johanna (Zoet) Visser. Henrys legacy is one of service, love, faith, and a dedication to family and education.

Henrys...

Dec 24, 2024

Passed away at her home on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. Vickie was born on June 20, 1949, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to the late William and Rose B. (Cole) Jones. Early in her life, after graduating high school, Vickie joined the work force. She would go on to have many jobs in her life; the most important thing to her was...

Dec 22, 2024

Linda Louise Hartman, age 80, of Portage passed away December 22, 2024. She was born July 20, 1944, in Vicksburg, Michigan to the late Howard F. and Barbara J. (Churchill) Baughman.

Linda was a graduate of Portage Central High School and continued her education by earning a business degree. She worked as a data entry analyst at Upjohn for many years...

Dec 21, 2024

Ronald Edward Scholly, 61, died on Saturday, December 21, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, from complications of heart surgery.

Ron was born on September 14, 1963, in Butler, Pennsylvania to Frank Scholly and Janet O’Halloran. Ron’s family moved to Portage, Michigan in 1968 and he attended Portage Public Schools, graduating from Portage Northern in 1981. Ron attended technical school in Lima, Ohio,...

Dec 21, 2024

Franklin Lamont VanOosten, age 89, of Kalamazoo passed away December 21, 2024. He was born February 26, 1935, in Parchment, Michigan to the late Frank and Dorothy (Ryder) VanOosten.

Franklin was a plant manager at Checker Motors for many years. He also worked at Upjohn before dedicating his time as the business manager and co-leading the Seniors Ministries for Centerpoint Church,...