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)...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Battle Creek, MI. Cleo Maxon, born December 20, 1915 in Convis Township, MI, went to be with the Lord on September 12, 2011. He was preceded in death by two half-sisters; Agnes Fitzjohn, Bernice Saulter, and a grandson Howard Simmons. Cleo is survived by his daughters Tonya Nesbitt of Greensboro, NC, Dora (Dan) Stanton of Dowling, MI and Ruby of...
DARLING, Harvey Portage Harvey passed away in Kalamazoo, MI September 10, 2011. Harvey grew up in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek and spent a lot of his younger years on the family farm in Pavilion Township. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central H.S., joined the Navy during WWII before returning home and going to work for The Upjohn Company in the Print...
DIEHL, Carl S. Age 82 Of Mattawan Passed away September 7, 2011 surrounded by family. He was born on April 2, 1929 in Detroit and was a veteran of the Korean War, where he served as a special agent in the Army's Counter Intelligence Corps. Carl loved his family, his employer Chrysler, model airplanes and ham radio. He is survived...