Obituaries

Nov 8, 2011

SIEGFRIED, E. Eleanor (Cousins) Kalamazoo Passed away Nov. 8, 2011 in Grand Rapids. Eleanor was born Nov. 22, 1935 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Forest and Elizabeth (Buckley) Cousins of Galesburg. She graduated from WMU with a teaching degree. She worked at Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital for 11 years and was a substitute teacher for many years. Eleanor retired from the...

Nov 4, 2011

LITTELL, Betty Vera Gobles Passed away Nov.4, 2011. Betty was born Sept. 10, 1932 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Marvel and Frederick Jackson. She worked at Bronson Hospital before she married Roland Littell and started a family and moved to Gobles in 1972, where she resided until her passing. Betty loved to play games and was always reading but most...

Nov 4, 2011

Nov 2, 2011

KRAAK Richard Kraak went to be with his Lord on November 2, 2011. He was born July 6,1971. He was the son on Jere and Marilyn Kraak. He was preceded in death by his grandparents Ida Mae and Ray Kraak and Annette Straight. Richard worked at Van Beck Roofing and Koolant Koolers. He is survived by a son dylan Logan...

Nov 1, 2011

Oct 29, 2011

WESTMORELAND, Ruth Ann Age 70 Of Kalamazoo Ruth passed away very peacefully on October 29, 2011 with her family at her side. She lost her battle with cancer. She was born to Floyd and Eva Yarger on December 1, 1940 in Midland, MI. Ruth leaves behind the loves of her life, Lorenzo Coe and her two daughters, Wendeva (Steven) Allen...

Oct 29, 2011

Doreen Mary Webb Ellwood Doreen passed in the early hours of Saturday, October 29. She was born to Thomas and Florence Webb in Oxford, England on June 25, 1932. She met her future husband there in 1950 while he was serving the U.S. Air Force. After courtship of two years, he returned to the U.S. and Doreen immigrated to join...

Oct 28, 2011

Dr. RICHARD LEE KONIECZKA Dr. Richard Lee Konieczka, age 73, of Kalamazoo, Michigan died at home, Friday, October 28, 2011 surrounded by family and friends. Rich was born on March 25, 1938 to the late Leo and Josephine Konieczka in Saginaw, Michigan. Rich graduated from Glen Arbor High School, attended Northwestern Michigan College, and continued his education at the University...

Oct 27, 2011

VANT ZELFDE, Ben Schoolcraft Passed away Oct. 27, 2011. Ben was born April 2, 1939 in Decatur, Mi the son of Dennis and Hattie (Bosma) Vant Zelfde. Ben was a greeter for Meijer's on South Westnedge for 30 years retiring in 1995 and was a member of the Netherlands Reformed Congregational Church of Kalamazoo. Surviving are 2 sisters; Lena (Anthony)...

Oct 27, 2011

ORR, Ralph Gordon Ralph Gordon Orr, a highly regarded reporter for the Detroit Free Press who lived in retirement for 21 years at Gun Lake, passed away Thursday, October 27, 2011 in Kalamazoo at the age of 91. Ralph was born in Portland, Oregon on July 22, 1920 and grew up in Three Rivers, Michigan. He earned a bachelor's degree...

Oct 22, 2011

DEAN, Leo L. Portage Passed away Oct. 22, 2011. Leo was born Aug. 18, 1928 in Kalamazoo the son of Lee and Ireta (Shaw) Dean. Leo retired from Eaton Corporation 1981. He married Delores Delobel Sept. 8, 1950 who survives. Also surviving 3 children; Karen (Jeff) Carlsen of Kalamazoo, Craig Dean of Mattawan and Scott Dean and significant other Lou...

Oct 20, 2011

Oct 18, 2011

Oct 11, 2011

THOR, Colleen A. Plainwell, MI Colleen Thor passed away on October 11, 2011. She was born December 9, 1925 in Mankato, MN, daughter of William E. and Lillian (Otto) Smith. She graduated from Wittenberg College, Springfield, OH in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in art, and married Gordon Thor the same year. Colleen retired from Kalamazoo College as fine arts...

Oct 5, 2011

MENDHAM, Richard E. Vicksburg Passed away Oct. 5, 2011. Richard was born April 1, 1922 in Elkhart, IN the son of Harvard and Wilma (Taylor) Mendham. He was a WWII Army Veteran. He is survived by 2 daughters; Gayle (David) Porter of Otsego and Linda (Don) Bogema of Marcellus, 5 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by...

Oct 5, 2011

HILL, BETTY J. Age 79 Kalamazoo Went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, October 5, 2011. Betty was born on January 7, 1932 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Fred and Cecil (Taggart) Bucher. She was a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo and enjoyed wintering with her husband at their condo in Florida during retirement. Betty was united in marriage to...

Oct 1, 2011

David J. Secord was an accomplished man who invested in people and measured success by building character as well as skill. He guided students and was concerned for their well being in much the same way that he did for his own family. A straightforward guy, David earned everything he had, paid cash for whatever he bought and did business...

Sep 29, 2011

Mitchell, Joan Bennett (Nelson) Passed away suddenly at Bronson Methodist hospital today Thursday September 29, 2011. Joan was born May 2, 1926 in Chicago, Illinois the daughter of William R. & Viella (Ewing) Bennett and lived in Kalamazoo for many years. Joan retired from The Upjohn / Pharmacia Company after 22 years. She is survived by her husband Carl whom...

Sep 26, 2011

Dorothy Louise (Penn) Haugard, age 84, of Haslett (formerly of Lawrence, MI) died September 26, 2011 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Dorothy was born in Detroit on April 14, 1927. She was a graduate of Cooley High School, Michigan State University and Western Michigan University. Dorothy taught reading in the Hartford and Bloomingdale school districts and completed her working career...

Sep 26, 2011

REED, Mildred H. Schoolcraft Passed away Sept. 26, 2011. Mildred was born Feb. 28, 1910 in Schoolcraft the daughter of Samuel and Ida (Krebs) Barber. Survived by 7 children; Lyle Staffen, Kenneth Staffen, Norma Berry, Leona Fuller, Leroy Reed, Linda Kauffman and Wendy Sutton, 24 grandchildren, many great and great great grandchildren. Mildred was preceded in death by first husband...