Obituaries
Mark Douglas Cornell
Sep 22, 2026
Mark D. Cornell, of Portage, Michigan, returned home to heaven on September 22, 2026, following cardiac arrest. He was 57 years old. Born on January 20, 1969, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Mark lived a life filled with love, laughter, strength, and deep devotion to the people he loved most.
A 1987 graduate of Parchment High School, Mark carried an energy through life...
Karen Sue Otten
Sep 8, 2026
Karen Sue Otten, age 83, of Kalamazoo, Michigan passed away September 8, 2026.
She was born on November 14, 1942, in Battle Creek, Michigan, the daughter of Walter and Opel (Sackett) Sylvester.
Karen will be remembered as a beloved wife, mom, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She married the love of her life, Ray, in 1985. They share thirty years of marriage...
Sandra DeSico
Oct 15, 2026
Sandra DeSico passed peacefully on October 15th in Kalamazoo, MI.
Sandra spent most of her life in Battle Creek. She was involved with the Civic Theatre and Leila Follies. She was an accomplished bridge player. She worked at Kellogg's for 12 years and led the interior design for the new corporate headquarters. She moved to Chicago at 50 and loved it....
Karen Marian Osborn
Nov 4, 2026
Karen M. Osborn (formerly Day), 65, of Portage, Michigan, passed away on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, under hospice care at Rose Arbor Place in Kalamazoo following a short battle with cancer. Her two sons were by her side.
Karen was born in Kalamazoo on June 9, 1961, the daughter of Marian (Dixon) Day and Larry Day. She graduated from Comstock High...
Keith R. Sargeant
Nov 9, 2026
Keith R. Sargeant, of Schoolcraft passed away on Monday, November 9, 2026, at the age of 56. He was the son of Bruce and Jane (Leary) Sargeant.
Born on October 3, 1970, in Providence, Rhode Island, Keith later moved with his family to Schoolcraft, Michigan, where he grew up and built many of the foundations of his life. He graduated from...
Wayne Van Weelden
Nov 6, 2026
Wayne Van Weelden was called by the Lord on Friday, November 6. He was 98 1/2 years old. He was determined to make 100 and he was so close.
Born in May 1928 in Kalamazoo, Michigan as an only child of his loving parents, Cora Boot-Van Weelden and Paul Van Weelden. As an only child, he spent most of his formative...
Deborah Susan Chaney
Nov 5, 2026
It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of our beloved Deborah Susan (Roberts) Chaney, age 72, who left this world on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Born on March 31, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri, Debbie was a beacon of love, hope, and warmth to all who were fortunate enough to know her. Her life,...
Brian Noel Hannar
Nov 10, 2026
Brian Noel Hannar, of Schoolcraft, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. He was born on February 10, 1955, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the son of Philip "Bud" and Alice (Glidden) Hannar.
Brian was raised in the Schoolcraft area on his family's centennial farm along 12th Street. Beekeeping was in his blood, and as a second-generation beekeeper, he carried on a...
Robert "Rob" Lehman
Nov 2, 2026
Robert F. "Rob" Lehman, 83, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, former president and chairman of the Fetzer Institute, died on November 2, 2026.
Born on November 20, 1942, in Nappanee, Indiana, to Charles R. and Dorothy Hollar Lehman, Rob grew up in the small northern Indiana town. In the early 1960s, he studied at the Free University of Berlin in a city divided...
Lucy Vasile Vokac
Oct 19, 2026
Lucy Vasile Vokac, of Portage passed away on October 19, 2026, at the age of 80. She was born on April 28, 1946, in Queens, NY. She was the daughter of Salvatore and Lucy (Russo) Vasile.
Lucy grew up in the Jackson Heights area of New York and attended the Garden School. After high school, she attended Manhattanville College and the...
Ardeane Wanda Monck
Oct 19, 2026
Ardeane Wanda (Belonga) Monck, of Portage, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home on October 19, 2026. She was born on August 10, 1932, at home in Mackinaw County, Michigan, with the assistance of a midwife, to Earl D. Belonga and Ruth A. (McKenzie) Belonga.
Ardeane grew up during the Great Depression, spending much of her childhood along Horse Shoe Bay on...
Terry Robert Stoken
Nov 12, 2026
Passed away at his home on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with his family by his side. Terry was born on June 1, 1939, in Battle Creek, Michigan, to the late Sylvester and Louise (Root) Stoken. Following his time in school, Terry joined the United States Navy to serve his county with pride. Following his time in the military, on February...
David Holt Burke
Nov 10, 2026
David Holt Burke, of Vicksburg, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, surrounded by his family. He was born on March 17, 1942, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the son of Walter and Evelyn (Holt) Burke.
As a young man, Dave spent a year in Detroit learning his trade before beginning what would become a remarkable career as a barber. For more...
Mildred M. Houghton
Nov 9, 2026
Mildred M. “Millie” Houghton passed away on November 9, 2026, at the age of 91. Born on May 29, 1935, Millie lived a long and vibrant life marked by creativity, devotion to family, and a joyful energy that drew people in and made them feel at home.
A 1954 graduate of Portage High School, Millie went on to build a life...
Beatrice Ann Penning
Nov 7, 2026
Beatrice Ann (Adams) Penning, Portage, Michigan, passed away in her sleep on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2026. She was 95 years old. Born on May 10, 1931, in Oshtemo, Michigan, Bea was a vibrant, attentive, and caring person who lived every day of her life to the fullest.
She was a farm girl at heart. The daughter of Allan and Beatrice (Babcock-Harris)...
Fern Gunderson
Nov 4, 2026
Fern Myrtle Gunderson, of Allegan passed away on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at the age of 77. She was born on April 4th, 1949, in Allegan. She was the daughter of Albert and Juanita Farrer.
Fern grew up in Vicksburg, Michigan. When her family moved out of the area, she was determined to remain and graduate alongside her friends, so she...
Betty Marie Miller
Nov 2, 2026
Betty Marie (Cooper) Miller, 88, of Otsego, passed away on Monday, November 2, 2026, at Holland Hospital, following a short illness. She was born on April 30, 1938, in Kalamazoo, the third child of Leon Aurand Cooper and Ina Marie (Polmanteer) Cooper. Betty lived for several years in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, a place she always hoped to return to...
Marlene "Molly" Dorothy Mentzer
Nov 1, 2026
During the Great Depression, Lewis Maue Cleveland and Dorothy Isabelle Fenner were married on December 27th, 1934, and had their first of three children which was a beautiful baby girl whose name was Marlene Dorothy Cleveland, born on December 30th 1935. They resided on a small farm in Martin, Michigan where Marlene grew up with a younger sister and brother,...
John Frederick Ahrndt
Oct 31, 2026
John “Jack” Ahrndt, who preferred to be called John, passed away on October 31, 2026, in Plainwell at the age of 89. He was born on April 27, 1937.
John found enjoyment in woodworking, watching old westerns, and following football. He appreciated the simple comforts of a good meal, especially mashed potatoes and goulash, and loved his coffee with half-and-half. He...
Olga Bindi
Oct 30, 2026
Olga Bindi, 88, of Vicksburg, formerly of Portage, Michigan, passed away peacefully on Friday, October 30, 2026, at Birch Meadows in Three Rivers.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, on April 26, 1938, Olga was the daughter of the late Jerome and Olga (Yaeger) Cavana. On August 10, 1957, she married the love of her life, Frank Bindi, in New York City....
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