Obituaries
Jerry Lynn Culp
Dec 27, 2025
Jerry Lynn Culp, of Portage passed away on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at the age of 82. Born to Edgar and Margaret Culp on October 30, 1943, he grew up on Donnell Lake, in Vandalia, Michigan.
Jerry was inspired by a teacher in elementary school to become a teacher. After graduating from Cassopolis High School in 1962, he attended Western Michigan...
David Gerlofs
Dec 25, 2025
David Roy Gerlofs, age 71, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, December 25, 2025, following natural causes.
David was born on May 17, 1954, in Kalamazoo, the son of Clayton and Margaret (Smith) Gerlofs. He was a proud graduate of Parchment High School, where he played saxophone in the school band, an early reflection of his...
James Longman
Dec 25, 2025
James Merle Longman, 93, passed away peacefully on December 25, 2025, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was born on November 28, 1932, in Climax, Michigan, to the late Merle James and Madge Arlene (Roe) Longman.
James graduated from Climax High School, where he met Charlene VanTichelt. They were married on October 7, 1951, and built a life centered around family and community.
He...
James Russell Smith
Dec 24, 2025
James Russell Smith, at 52 yrs old, passed away on December 24, 2025. He was born in Battle Creek Michigan on March 28, 1973.
He loved hours walking and hanging out in nature. His friends called him "crash dummy" or "yodaddy". He adored being a grandpa and loved his grandson Sylas. He was always out visiting or just driving back roads....
Elizabeth Hart
Dec 23, 2025
Elizabeth Ann (Spitzley) Hart, age 75, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2025. She was born on October 12, 1950, in Lansing, Michigan, the eldest child of William and Gladys (Brown) Spitzley, and from an early age exhibited the quiet strength and thoughtful curiosity that would define her life.
Elizabeth graduated from Western Michigan University in 1971, earning a Bachelor of...
Gertrude H. Wheeler
Dec 19, 2025
Gertrude H. Wheeler, age 97, passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on December 19, 2025. Born on February 18, 1928, in Detroit, Michigan, she was the only child of the late Karl and Martha Knack. She was affectionately known as Gertie among her friends.
Gertrude’s early life was spent in Detroit, where the Great Depression hit hard. When her father...
Mark Zidell
Dec 18, 2025
Mark Gregory Zidell, age 70, of Portage, Michigan, passed away on Thursday, December 18, 2025. He was born on February 5, 1955, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the son of Frederick and Jean (Wheeler) Zidell.
Mark lived life to the fullest and was known for doing things his own way. He especially enjoyed spending time with friends on Gourdneck Lake, where he made many memories...
Pauline Kubacki
Dec 18, 2025
Pauline Kubacki passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus Christ Our Lord on December 18, 2025. The daughter of Bernard and Florence Booms, Pauline spent her final days in Oshtemo, Michigan and previously lived in Bad Axe, Michigan.
Born in Harbor Beach, Michigan, Pauline graduated from Our Lady of Lake Huron High School in 1965. She continued her education at...
Clay Edward Bombrys
Dec 17, 2025
Clay Edward Bombrys, 51, of Jones, departed this life a brave warrior, following a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by family at Bronson Hospital the evening of Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
Clay was born on January 23, 1974, in Niles, Michigan, the third child of David Edward Bombrys of Decatur and Mary Frances (Freestone) Bombrys Pastorick of Marcellus. He graduated from...
Mark Steven Lettow
Dec 17, 2025
Mark Steven Lettow, of Portage, passed away on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the age of 73. He was the eldest of three sons born on April 8, 1952, in Kalamazoo to Max and Mary (Meisling) Lettow. He battled heroically against Alzheimer's disease, and he faced it with remarkable dignity for over eight years.
He was a graduate of Loy Norrix...
Dennis Skalski
Dec 17, 2025
Dennis Joe Skalski, passed away at home with his wife, Rhonda, by his side on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at the age of 78. Denny was born on July 14, 1947, in Kalamazoo, MI. He was the son of Steve and Lucille (Cosby) Skalski. Denny is leaving behind a legacy of hard work and love that touched many lives.
A proud...
Bradley Stopher
Dec 17, 2025
Bradley Dale Stopher, age 67, of Orangeville, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
Brad was born on March 10, 1958, in Plainwell, Michigan, the son of William Stopher and June (Brock) Burge. He attended Gull Lake High School and, following graduation, went directly to work at Parker Hannifin, where he dedicated many years of service until his retirement at the age of...
Pamela Slater
Dec 16, 2025
Pamela Jean Slater, age 77, of Portage, MI, passed away with her daughters by her side on December 16, 2025. Pam was born on April 23, 1948, to Frederick and Jean (Wheeler) Zidell. Pam grew up in Portage, Michigan. She graduated from Portage Central High School in 1967.
Shortly after high school, Pam met a young man from Parchment at the...
Kivan Meyers, Sr.
Dec 15, 2025
Kivan Allen Meyers Sr., age 66, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away on December 15, 2025.
Born into the loving family of Earl Jr. and Lulu Meyers, Kivan carried forward the values they instilled in him: hard work, devotion to family, and an appreciation for simple joys. Those qualities shaped the man he became and the life he built.
Kivan was a dedicated,...
Michael DeYoung
Dec 13, 2025
Michael Richard DeYoung
January 12, 1948 – December 13, 2025
Michael Richard DeYoung, a lifelong resident of the Kalamazoo area known for his quick wit and creative spirit, passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the age of 77.
Born in Kalamazoo on January 12, 1948, to Donald and Jeannette DeYoung, Mike was a true son of West Michigan. Throughout his...
Phyllis Tuinstra
Dec 10, 2025
Phyllis Joan Tuinstra, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and child of God, entered her eternal home in the presence of her Lord and Savior on December 10, 2025. Born to Bastian and Nellie De Jager, Phyllis was one of five children raised in a loving Christian home shaped by faith, hard work, and deep family bonds-values that remained central...
Janet R. Blough
Dec 9, 2025
Janet R. Blough, of Vicksburg, passed away on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, at the age of 84. She was born on November 14, 1941, in Elkhart, IN. She was the daughter of Winfield and Ardith (Buswell) Hollander. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and dedicated community member.
Janet graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School with the Class of 1959. She...
Ron Duane King
Dec 9, 2025
Ronald “Ron” Duane King of Fulton, MI passed away peacefully at his home on December 9, 2025, at the age of 83. He was born on June 13, 1942, in Ypsilanti, MI, the son of Woodburn and Doris (Hazell) King.
Ron was a 1960 graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and was part of the final class to graduate before the...
Mary Carlson
Dec 5, 2025
Mary Bayley Carlson died just after midnight on December 5, 2025 at Friendship Village in Kalamazoo. She waited until all her children had arrived to be with her, a gracious host to the end. Two weeks earlier she celebrated her 92nd birthday with champagne and her favorite French cheeses, surrounded by family.
Mary was born in the midst of the Great...
Linda Marker
Dec 5, 2025
Linda Kay Marker, age 78, of Kalamazoo, MI, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on December 5, 2025. She was born on May 25, 1947, in Grand Rapids, MI, to Harold and Geraldine DeWitt. Linda grew up in Lowell, MI, where she attended high school and met the love of her life, Carl “Doug” Marker. Together they...
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