Obituaries
Josephine "Jo" Carol Schils
May 20, 2025
Josephine “Jo” Carol Schils of Battle Creek, Michigan died May 20, 2025. She was born September 16, 1929 in Marquette, Michigan, the daughter of Victor and LaFerne Hurst. She is survived by her sons, Gary (Sylvia), Brian (Sheila), Don (Julie), Dean and three grandchildren, Dane, Tauri and Pari. She was preceded in death by her husband, John Schils and brother,...
Lynwood Malcolm Gray
Feb 17, 2025
Lynwood Malcom Gray, 85 of Houston, Texas and formerly of Battle Creek, Michigan departed this life on February 17, 2025.
He was born on August 29, 1939, in Battle Creek to Ronald and Dorothy (Curtis) Gray. He grew up in Athens and Vermontville and was a 1958 graduate of Vermontville High School. He attended Argubright Business College in Battle Creek and...
Peter J. Graham
Mar 26, 2025
Peter John Graham passed away in the early hours of March 26, 2025, at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, MI.
Pete was born on August 2, 1938, to Arthur and Barbara (Barss) Graham in Worcester, MA. He graduated from Ypsilanti High School in 1956 and joined the U.S Army, serving in Korea, after the Armistice. Soon after his discharge, he married Felecia...
Carolyn C. Christ
May 2, 2025
Carolyn (Carr) Christ of Battle Creek, Michigan joined our Father in Heaven on Friday evening May 2, 2025, after almost ninety wonderful years on this earth.
Carolyn was born on July 6, 1935, as Elsie Carolyn Carr in Highland Park, Michigan as the only child of Warren “Budd” and Elsie Virginia (Kaufman) Carr.
Throughout her childhood, her family moved almost annually across...
Virginia "Ginnie" Ruth (Harpster) Sootsman
Jun 5, 2025
Virginia “Ginnie” Ruth (Harpster) Sootsman passed away on June 5, 2025. She was born on November 21, 1933 to Floyd Jennings Harpster and Ruth Adele (Berry) Harpster. Virginia attended a one-room country school, WK Kellogg Junior High School, and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School in 1951. She then attended Western Michigan University until she married her high school...
Laura Lu Wedl
Jun 3, 2025
Laura Lu Wedl, 89, of Battle Creek, died June 3, 2025. Laura was born November 17, 1935 in Dayton, TN to Earl and Lucille (Pool) Gothard. Laura was a long-time member of the Salvation Army and was very active there. She also enjoyed camping, sewing and taking long bus trips.
Laura is survived by her children, Linda Sue (Charles) Rosini, Debra...
Terry O. Smith
Jun 3, 2025
Terry O. Smith of Battle Creek, Michigan peacefully passed away on June 3,2025 at The Oaks Senior Living Center with his family at his side, after living a full and satisfying 94 years.
Terry was born on November 7, 1930 in Battle Creek, Michigan to Ora and Margaret (Tennyson) Smith. He acquired his quiet work ethic from his father and his...
Fatima Susan Sadik
Jun 2, 2025
Fatima Susan Sadik, age 69 of Richland passed away Monday afternoon, June 2, 2025.
Fatima was born on October 10, 1955, in Detroit, Michigan, to Jusuf and Remsia. She was the youngest of three children, with two older brothers, Server and Jake. She grew up in Redford and graduated from Thurston High School before earning a bachelor's degree from Western Michigan...
Janet A. Knapp
Jun 2, 2025
Janet A. Knapp, 100, died Monday, June 2, 2025. Janet was born September 10, 1924 in Battle Creek to Sydney and Edith (Anderson) Harris. She graduated in 1942 from Battle Creek Central High School and attended Argubright Business College. She was employed by the Grand Trunk Western Railroad from April 1943 to November 1979, at which time she took a...
Evelyn I. Dunning
May 30, 2025
On May 30, 2025, Evelyn Irene Dunning lost her battle with dementia at the age of 100.
Evelyn was born and raised in Fresno, California. She lived in Fresno until she met a handsome Army Sargent by the name of Jack Dunning. They married and moved to Michigan. First to Detroit, then to Richland to be near family and raise their...
David A. Wilson
May 29, 2025
David A. Wilson, 81, of Delton, died May 29, 2025. David was born June 10, 1943 in Ithaca, NY to David and Virginia (Lester) Wilson. He graduated from Trumansburg High School (New York) in 1961 and went on to Rochester Institute of Technology where he received his electrical engineering degree. He retired in 2010 from Graphic Packaging as superintendent of...
Gary A. Erskine
May 28, 2025
Gary A. Erskine, 84, of Battle Creek, died May 28, 2025. Gary was born November 15, 1940 in Battle Creek to Paul and Alma (Jenkins) Erskine. He graduated from Athens High School in 1958. He married the former Shirley Haley on August 4, 1961. Together, they owned and operated GE Stamp Works in Battle Creek for many years. In his...
Robert "Bob" Emerson
May 28, 2025
Robert Joe Emerson, 89, a lifelong Battle Creek resident, died peacefully at home with his family at his side on Wednesday, May 28, 2025.
Bob was born September 5, 1935, in Battle Creek, Michigan to Wayne W. and Grace M. (Hoch) Emerson. He grew up in Battle Creek, was a 1953 graduate of Lakeview High School and graduated from Ferris State...
Phillip Patrick Hurst
May 27, 2025
Phillip Patrick Hurst, 86, a lifelong Battle Creek, Michigan resident died peacefully at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital on Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Phil was born on August 12, 1938, in Battle Creek the son of Clark and Mary (Cox) Hurst. He graduated in 1956 from St. Philip Catholic Central. Phil was employed as an electrician at the Kellogg Company for 39+...
Dale Allen Cochensparger
May 25, 2025
Dale Allen Cochensparger, 64, of Springfield, MI died at Bronson Battle Creek on Sunday, May 25, 2025.
Dale was born December 13, 1960, in Battle Creek, Michigan the son of Francis Dale and Marjorie (Antes) Cochensparger. Dale grew up in Battle Creek and attended Gull Lake High School. Dale honorably served his country in the U.S. Army overseas in Germany. He...
Thomas J. Brown
May 24, 2025
Thomas J. Brown, 70, of Richland, died May 24, 2025. Tom was born October 7, 1954 in McKeesport, PA to Billy and Mary (Schrockman) Brown. Tom started his working career as a trucker and ended up managing sales.
Tom married the former Denise Miller, on June 3, 2002, who survives. He is also survived by two daughters, Crystal (Matt) Zandarski and...
Idamae (Barnes) Wyman
May 23, 2025
Idamae (Barnes) Wyman, age 88 of Battle Creek, passed away peacefully at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo on Friday evening, May 23, 2025. She was born in Kalamazoo on May 31, 1936, the daughter of Donald and Roberta (Pond) Barton and graduated from Mattawan High School. Ida worked for many years as a caregiver at several Adult Foster Care Homes...
Karol Owen
May 19, 2025
Karol was a devoted husband to Mary Lou & a loving father to Kurt Owen (Michelle), Kathy McNally (James), & Kim Owen (Wayne).
A tool & die maker at General Motors for 25 years. He found joy in life’s simple pleasures - bowling with the gang, golfing with friends, & hunting/fishing with his father-in-law. Karol took great pride in his meticulous...
Alonzo Orso Chatman, Jr.
May 18, 2025
Alonzo Chatman Jr. affectionately known by family and friends as “Lonnie Jr./Ace or Lonzo” was born October 23, 1955, in Cincinnati Ohio. The son of Alonzo “Lonnie” Chatman Sr. and Mary E. “Betty” Chatman, he was the eldest of his siblings.
On August 19, 1978, Alonzo was united in marriage to the love of his life June L. Atkinson, from this...
Carla Lynn (White) Connerty
May 16, 2025
Carla Lynn (White) Connerty, beloved mother, 60, of Battle Creek, MI, passed away at peacefully on May 16, 2025, leaving a void her family cannot fill.
She was born in Battle Creek in 1964 to Alfred White and Maxine Scott. Carla attended Battle Creek Public Schools and obtained her cosmetology license before she graduated, going on to do hair and work...
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