Obituaries

Richard Furst Newell

Richard Furst Newell

Jul 14, 2022

Richard Furst Newell passed away on July 14th, 2022 at the age of 90. Some may remember him by his dapper seersucker suits, horn-rimmed glasses, and Panama hat- he was more than that. He was a tireless advocate for what is just, an adored husband, father, grandfather, and brilliant attorney. He left behind three daughters for whom he had the...

Willard "Mac" Mcnees

Willard "Mac" Mcnees

Jul 13, 2022

Willard J. "Mac" McNees, age 92, formerly of Battle Creek passed away Wednesday morning, July 13, 2022 in Oberlin, Ohio. He was born in Battle Creek on March 7, 1930, the son of Clifton and Alpha (Drake) McNees and graduated from the W.K. Kellogg Agricultural School in Hickory Corners. Mac faithfully served his country as a member of the United...

Steven Ernest "Steve" Cameron

Steven Ernest "Steve" Cameron

Jul 13, 2022

Steven Ernest "Steve" Cameron, age 65, of Battle Creek, passed away July 13, 2022 in his home, surrounded by family, after surviving with Parkinson's disease for many years. Steve was born on June 7, 1957 in Port Huron, Michigan. He graduated from Port Huron Central High School and gained an associate's degree from Saint Clair County Community College. Steve maintained...

Charles "Chuck" Bowers

Charles "Chuck" Bowers

Jul 12, 2022

Charles "Chuck" Bowers , 68, of Battle Creek, Michigan, passed on July 12, 2022. He was born to Frederick William Bowers and Dorthea Mildred Kipp in Kalamazoo, Michigan on January 21, 1954.Chuck went to Spring Field High School and received high certificate honors from KCC. Chuck worked at Welder and was passionate about affecting the most positive change in people....

Alfred Hoyle

Alfred Hoyle

Jul 11, 2022

"Uncle Sonny" Alfred Hoyle, age 89 went home July 11th, 2022. He was a happy Grandpa, and former employee of Motor Wheel, from which he retired after 26 years of service. He was a Veteran of the United States Air Force, with his last deployment to Tokyo, Japan in 1954. He was a member of Union Missionary Baptist Church, and...

Ryan Kenneth Smith

Ryan Kenneth Smith

Jul 10, 2022

Ryan Kenneth Smith, "Kenny" or "Smitty", 45, sadly passed away on July 10, 2022. Ryan graduated from Lakeview High School in 1995. He was a people person with a magnetic personality and a contagious laugh. He was a skilled and adaptable entrepreneur, leaving his customers always happy. Ryan could sell a bald man a comb. He had a love for...

Margie Lee "Marge" Breitbach

Margie Lee "Marge" Breitbach

Jul 8, 2022

Margie Lee "Marge" Breitbach, 82, of Battle Creek passed peacefully at home surrounded by family on Friday, July 8, 2022 after a long battle with cancer. She was born December 31, 1939 in Caswell County, North Carolina to Everette and Hallie (Scarborough) Lanier. Marge grew up in North Carolina, graduating from Randleman High School in 1957. She graduated with Maurice...

Elizabeth (Bielsky) Backus

Elizabeth (Bielsky) Backus

Jul 7, 2022

Elizabeth "Betty" Backus, 95, of Marshall, died July 7, 2022. Elizabeth was born February 13, 1927 in Hempstead, NY to Joseph and Sophie (Hycsewska) Bielsky. She worked for 38 years at the Kellogg Company, before retiring in 1987. Elizabeth married Eugene Edward "Ed" Backus on September 30, 1961. He sadly preceded her in death in 2020. She is also preceded...

William Carlton "Bill" Loftis

William Carlton "Bill" Loftis

Jul 7, 2022

William Carlton "Bill" Loftis, 93, of Battle Creek, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2022, at Glenn Arbor Hospice. He was born to William A. and Wilma L. (Tharp) Loftis, November 12, 1928, in Salem, Kentucky, the first of four children. Bill grew up on a farm, and attended school in Salem. As soon as he was old enough, he...

Laverne Margaret (Closson) Zebolsky

Laverne Margaret (Closson) Zebolsky

Jul 6, 2022

LaVerne Margaret (Closson) Zebolsky, 83, of Battle Creek, Michigan died peacefully at home with her family at her side, on Wednesday, July 6, 2022. LaVerne was born March 27,1939 in Coldwater, Michigan the daughter of Leham and Nellie (Yakey) Closson. She grew up in Coldwater and lovingly cared for her family as a young woman. LaVerne Margaret Closson was united...

David E. Eldridge

David E. Eldridge

Jul 6, 2022

David E. "Dizz" Eldridge Born November 3, 1927, in Kalamazoo, MI, son of Vernon and Glenora (Garlick) Eldridge. Dizz lived his entire life in this area, graduating from Augusta High School in 1945 and serving in the US Navy from 1945 to 1946 as a Fireman Third Class aboard the U.S.S. Warrick. He served his apprenticeship as a Machinist at...

Robert H. "Bob" Mabey

Robert H. "Bob" Mabey

Jul 6, 2022

Robert H. "Bob" Mabey, age 95, of Richland passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning, July 6, 2022 at the Glenn Arbor Place in Battle Creek. Bob was born in Chicago, Illinois on November 24, 1926, the son of Royal Henry and Freda Ann (Pratt) Mabey. He faithfully served his country as a member of the United States Navy and retired...

Bernice L. (White) Ferguson

Bernice L. (White) Ferguson

Jul 5, 2022

Bernice L. (White) Ferguson, age 93, of Battle Creek passed away Tuesday afternoon, July 5, 2022. She was born in Harrisburg, Arkansas on October 29, 1928, the daughter of Hollie C.E. and Josie M. (Rodgers) White. Bernice grew up in Arkansas, moved to Marshall, Michigan in 1945 and worked at Michigan Bell Telephone Company for many years. Bernice married Stewart...

Steven J. Shepard

Steven J. Shepard

Jul 5, 2022

Steven J. Shepard, 85, of Battle Creek died at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital of natural causes on July 5, 2022. Steve was born January 13, 1937 in Delton, Michigan the son of Gerald and Helen (Brown) Shepard. He grew up hunting, fishing, and trapping on a small farm in Delton. He was a 1954 graduate of Delton-Kellogg High School. Steve...

Janet Embury

Janet Embury

Jul 5, 2022

Janet (Orrison) Embury, 83, of Battle Creek, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at the Oaks at NorthPointe Woods.Janet was born on December 6, 1938 to Gilford and Dorothy Orrison. In 1956, Janet graduated from Marshall High School and married the love of her life, Kenneth Embury. Together they had two children and she was a stay at...

Linda Susanne (Hard) Bumpus

Linda Susanne (Hard) Bumpus

Jul 4, 2022

Linda Susanne (Hard) Bumpus, 64 of Battle Creek died Monday, July 4, 2022, under the loving care of hospice. She was born in Germany December 16, 1957 to Dennis and Reingard Hard. After her family moved to the United States, she became a U.S. citizen in March of 1966. She came to Battle Creek from North Carolina and was employed...

Donna Marie Kleinschmit

Donna Marie Kleinschmit

Jul 4, 2022

Donna Marie Kleinschmit, 69, of Battle Creek, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Monday, July 4, 2022 at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital. Donna was born November 16, 1952 in Berlin, Wisconsin to Adam and Melvina (Werch) Doro. She grew up in Berlin, WI. Donna earned her Associate's Degree in Nursing from Mercy Nursing School in Oshkosh,...

Ross Frederick Fahling

Ross Frederick Fahling

Jul 3, 2022

Ross Frederick Fahling, age 91, of Battle Creek passed away peacefully at home with his loving family at his side on Sunday morning, July 3, 2022. He was born in Battle Creek on May 23, 1931 the son of Peter E. and Beatrice L. (Keech) Fahling. Ross graduated from Battle Creek Central High School with the Class of 1949 and...

Fred H. Hutchings

Fred H. Hutchings

Jul 3, 2022

Fred H. Hutchings, 86, of Battle Creek, died July 3, 2022. Fred was born May 21, 1936 in Battle Creek to John and Josephine (Turbal)Hutchings. He started working for Grand Trunk Rail Road in March of 1956, and made a career of it, working as an electrician until retiring in May of 1997, after more than 41 years. Fred loved...

Sergeo I. Brown

Sergeo I. Brown

Jul 2, 2022

Sergeo Ikeem Tramaine Brown, 26 of Battle Creek died unexpectedly on July 2, 2022Sergeo was born July 10, 1995 in Chicago, Illinois. He came to Battle Creek at the age of seven where he attended Battle Creek Public Schools until 8th grade and then moved to Marshall where he was a 2014 graduate of Marshall High School. While in school...