Obituaries

Russell Arthur "Russ" Zaharion

Russell Arthur "Russ" Zaharion

Jan 5, 2018

Russell Arthur "Russ" Zaharion, 89 of Battle Creek died with his family at his side, at Glenn Arbor Hospice Residence on Friday, January 5, 2018. Russ was born August 30, 1928 in Battle Creek, Michigan, the son of Thomas and Angela (Englebritzen) Zaharion. Russ grew up in Battle Creek and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School, earned an Associate...

Richard Lee

Richard Lee

Jan 4, 2018

Richard Lee, 75, of Harrison, AR, and formally of Battle Creek, MI, died on Thursday January 4th, 2018 at Cox Health Systems South in Springfield, MO after a long illness.Richard was born on November 7, 1942 in Kennett, MO, the son of Marie Erma (Lowe) Lee and adopted by Frederick V. Lee. His adopted father served with the U.S. Navy,...

Marcia (Gustke) Harbert

Marcia (Gustke) Harbert

Jan 3, 2018

Marcia (Gustke) Harbert, age 89, passed away peacefully at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo on January 3rd with her three children at her bedside. After a stroke in 2008, she staged a long, feisty battle with dementia. Marcia, the daughter of Chris and Myrtle Tucker, was born on June 27, 1928. Up until her stroke, Marcia had a very rich...

Tamara Mae (Acker) Hammock

Tamara Mae (Acker) Hammock

Jan 2, 2018

Tamara Mae (Acker) Hammock, 77 of Battle Creek died at The Oaks on January 2, 2018.She was born November 13, 1940 at the former Lakeview General Hospital to Ned and Helen (Wilkins) Acker. Tamara was raised at Mill Lake by Grandma Maude Aker and was a 1959 graduate of Battle Creek Central High School, where she was a member of...

Thomas Michael "Tom" Lower

Thomas Michael "Tom" Lower

Jan 2, 2018

Thomas Michael "Tom" Lower, age 40, of Battle Creek passed away unexpectedly on January 2, 2018. He was born in Battle Creek on July 18, 1977, the son of Michael T. and Mary E. (Andrews) Lower. He graduated from Battle Creek Central High School and continued his education at Kellogg Community College. Tom worked as an automotive mechanic at various...

Melinda June Bentley

Melinda June Bentley

Dec 31, 2017

Melinda June Bentley, age 65, passed away on December 31, 2017 at Glenn Arbor Hospice after a lengthy illness. Melinda, the daughter of Donald L. and Charlene M. (Watkins) Bentley, was born in Battle Creek on June 9, 1952, was a lifelong resident and 1970 graduate of Harper Creek High School. She went on to continue her education at Western...

Charles Ernest "Charlie" Waychoff

Charles Ernest "Charlie" Waychoff

Dec 31, 2017

Charles Ernest "Charlie" Waychoff of Climax, MI Charlie, age 84, died Sunday morning, December 31, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo, MI, following a brief illness. Charlie, the son of Paul E. and Virginia E. (Phillips) Waychoff, was born in Washington, PA on November 8, 1933 and moved to this area in the late 1980's. He served his Country honorably...

Vernena "Nena" Wright

Vernena "Nena" Wright

Dec 30, 2017

Vernena "Nena" (Warwick) Wright, 80 of Battle Creek died at her home with her family at her side on Saturday, December 30, 2017. She was born December 23, 1937 in Fairmont, North Carolina the daughter of Charles and Sarah (Jacobs) Warwick and as a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. Vernena was raised in Pembroke and was a...

Charles Bartha

Charles Bartha

Dec 30, 2017

CHARLES BARTHA OF BATTLE CREEK, MICharles, age 94, passed away at home alongside his beloved wife on December 30, 2017. Charles, the son of Lajos and Borbála (Karakó) Bartha, was born on October 23, 1923 in Viss, Hungary. He married his wife, Ilona (Asbóth) Bartha on July 5, 1958 in Detroit. Charles and his wife were inseparable.Charles lived a full...

Richard Bruce Geiger

Richard Bruce Geiger

Dec 29, 2017

Richard B. Geiger 82, of Sebring, FL and formerly of Marshall, Michigan died Friday, December 29, 2017. Richard was born October 15, 1935 in Kalamazoo, MI to June and Kathrynn (Grace) Geiger. After high school, Richard served honorably in the United States Marine Corps in which he was active for three years, and was a reservist for seven years. He...

Kay Louise Ferguson

Kay Louise Ferguson

Dec 28, 2017

Kay Louise Ferguson, age 77, of Marshall went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on December 28, 2017 after fighting Leukemia for many months. She was born August 28, 1940 in Springport, MI to Earl and Lottie Wilburg. Kay graduated from Olivet High School where she was active in the band, the chorus, the debate team...

Judith Ann (Asline) "Judy" Whaley

Judith Ann (Asline) "Judy" Whaley

Dec 28, 2017

Judith Ann (Asline) "Judy" Whaley of Richland, MI Judy, age 83, died Thursday morning, December 28, 2017 at the Glen Arbor Hospice Residence, Battle Creek, MI with her loving family at her side. Judy, the daughter of Dr. J. Norris and Marion (Hotaling) Asline, was born in Bay City, MI on June 21, 1934. She was a 1953 graduate of...

Maria "Maggie" Smyth

Maria "Maggie" Smyth

Dec 28, 2017

Maria M. "Maggie" Smyth, 96, of Battle Creek, died Thursday, December 28, 2017. Maggie was born September 2, 1921 in Raguhn, Germany to Hermann and Hildegard (Elben) Richter. Maggie married Rothwell "Smitty" Smyth in 1956 in Germany. Later that year the couple moved to the United States. While still in Germany, Maggie worked as a bookkeeper at the town hall...

Theodore A. "Ted" Carbine

Theodore A. "Ted" Carbine

Dec 24, 2017

Theodore A. Carbine, age 78, of Battle Creek passed away on Sunday, December 24, 2017 at the Glenn Arbor Hospice Residence. He was born February 24, 1939 in Memphis, TN to Ione Sweet Bryce and Theodore P. Carbine. Ted was a graduate of the Lakeview High School, Class of 1957, and worked his way through college as a conductor on...

William H. "Bill" Somers

William H. "Bill" Somers

Dec 24, 2017

William "Bill" Henry Somers, 86, of Hickory Corners died Sunday, December 24, 2017 at his home where he had lived for 55 years. He was born April 29, 1931 in Kalamazoo, MI. the son of Grant and Tina Somers. Bill graduated from Kalamazoo Central and WMU, with a degree in Paper Science. His schooling at WMU was halted when the...

Margaret Mary "Peg"(Mcmullen) Bettencourt

Margaret Mary "Peg"(Mcmullen) Bettencourt

Dec 22, 2017

Margaret Mary "Peg" (McMullen) Bettencourt, 94, of Battle Creek and formerly of Adrian died peacefully with her family at her side on Friday, December 22, 2017 at Heritage, where she resided since October 2016. Peg was born February 16, 1923 in Taunton, Massachusetts to John and Mary (Orpen) McMullen. She grew up in Taunton, Massachusetts and was a Taunton High...

Richard J. Pickard

Richard J. Pickard

Dec 22, 2017

Richard J. Pickard, 70, of Battle Creek, Michigan passed away peacefully December 22, 2017. Richard was born November 5, 1947, in Detroit, the only child of the late Maurice H. and Edwarda Sophie (Horosko) Pickard. He graduated from Roseville High School in 1966. For a brief time, he worked at Montgomery Ward in Roseville and at Chrysler. He completed Radio...

Mildred Louise Rueckert

Mildred Louise Rueckert

Dec 18, 2017

Mildred Louise Rueckert, age 97, of Battle Creek passed away Monday morning, December 18, 2017 surrounded with love. She was born in Minneapolis, MN on October 22, 1920, the daughter of Emil and Louise (Brown) Rueckert.Mildred is survived by her sweetheart and companion of 46 years, Donna Gene Hodges of Battle Creek; two special friends, Kim Harrington and Denise Jones...

Johanna (Verheul) Hirsch

Johanna (Verheul) Hirsch

Dec 18, 2017

Johanna (Verheul) Hirsch of Richland, MI and formerly of Troy, MI Johanna, age 87, died peacefully Monday afternoon, December 18, 2017 at Park Village Pines, Kalamazoo, MI with her loving daughter, Wendy at her side. Johanna, the daughter of Leonardus and Anna (Nederhand) Verheul, was born in Royal Oak, MI on October 30, 1930; was a 1948 graduate of Milford...

Harold Arthur Tower

Harold Arthur Tower

Dec 17, 2017

Harold Arthur Tower, 94, of Battle Creek died at Brookdale Assisted Living in Portage on Sunday, December 17, 2017.Harold Arthur Tower, 94 of Battle Creek, passed away on 17 December 2017 after a short illness. He was born on 2 August 1923 in Barryton, Michigan to the late Guy and Elizabeth (Geedy) Tower. Harold graduated high school in 1941 and...