Obituaries
Luis Alvarez-Mendez
Mar 7, 2026
Luis Alvarez-Mendez, 64, of Battle Creek, died March 7, 2026. Luis was born on October 7, 1961, in Vedado, Ciudad De La Habana, Cuba, born to Isaac Alvarez and Clara Mendez. Mr. Luis Alvarez-Mendez died peacefully in his sleep in his home. Luis held many jobs throughout his life, including work in hotel reception and environmental services. He was especially...
Gordon Walter Umbreit
Mar 17, 2026
Gordon Walter Umbreit, born February 12, 1932, passed away peacefully, with his daughter by his side, on March 17, 2026. He was born in Allenton, MI as the last of ten children to Elsie and Edward Umbreit.Gordon graduated from Harbor Beach High School in 1950. His first job, however, was in 1943, when he opened up the school each morning...
Robert Allen "Bob" Harberts
Mar 16, 2026
Robert Allen Harberts passed away unexpectedly on March 16, 2026. His wife Patricia (Patti) was able to hold his hand and comfort him during his final moments. He knew he was with the person he loved most dearly and that he was not alone. Bob’s family and friends will miss him greatly. He was such a kind, loving man and...
Purcell Forney
Mar 16, 2026
Purcell Forney, age 96 of Battle Creek passed away Monday, March 16, 2026. He was born in Johnson City, Tennessee on April 28, 1929, the son of Addie and Ruby Forney. He was raised in Elizabeth, Tennessee and moved to Montclair, Tennessee at the age of seven. Later in his adult life, Purcell moved to Michigan, worked at Allman Bakery...
Barbara A. Hale
Feb 21, 2026
Barbara A. Hale, 87, of Climax, died February 21, 2026. Barbara was born December 6, 1938 in Chicago, IL to Karl and Mae (Sikora) Fox. She graduated high school in Illinois and went on to marry James T. Hale in 1959. She worked as a secretary for an insurance company in Illinois for many years.
Barbara enjoyed knitting, gardening and reading....
Joshua David Butler
Mar 21, 2026
Joshua David Butler, 36, passed away unexpectedly on March 21, 2026, at Bronson Battle Creek, surrounded by family and friends.
Josh was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on April 17, 1989, Josh grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan. He attended St. Joseph Preschool, Pennfield Schools, Doris Klaussen Developmental Center, and the ATP program. He worked at Pennfield Family Fare supermarket and enjoyed...
David R. Fisher
Jan 7, 2026
David R. Fisher, 79, of Richland, died January 7, 2026. David was born March 23, 1946 in Detroit, MI to Russel and Olive (Bilyea) Fisher. He married the former Janet Coolman in 1967. Two short years later David enlisted in the United States Army and served his country honorably in the Vietnam War, from 1969-1970. After his time in the...
Eva Maria (Reinhardt) Noud
Mar 21, 2026
Eva Maria (Reinhardt) Noud, 88, of Augusta, passed away peacefully on March 21, 2026.
She was born in Weimar, Germany to Magdalena (Boeber) Reinhardt and Klaus Reinhardt on September 26th, 1937. After Eva’s mother, ‘Leni,’ married an American soldier, Lee ‘Jack’ Conor, the family came to America in 1949. They first lived in San Antonio, Texas where Jack was stationed and...
Chriss Allen Willavize
Mar 21, 2026
Chriss Allen Willavize was born December 15th, 1949, and left us on March 21st, 2026, after a well fought battle with cancer.
Chriss was born to Treva Gates and Russel Willavize (Battle Creek) and had five brothers and sisters. Chriss was dedicated to his country and at the early age, 17, enlisted in the Army. He bravely served his country in...
Jeanette Cecile Gagnon
Mar 23, 2026
The family will receive friends 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care, Battle Creek and 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. Thursday April 9, 2026 at Our Lady of Great Oak, Bellevue where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m.
A full obituary will appear here shortly. Please check back.
Dalyn C. Hoffman
Dec 4, 2025
Dalyn C. Hoffman, age 86, of Augusta, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on December 4, 2025. Born on December 23, 1938, Dalyn lived a full and generous life grounded in family, service, faith, and an endless curiosity for how things worked.
A proud veteran, Dalyn served his country from 1962 to 1964 as a member of the 158th Army...
Peter W. Hirsch
Feb 3, 2026
Peter W. Hirsch, 86, of Battle Creek, died February 3, 2026, at home surrounded by loved ones. He was born in Chicago, the eldest son of Robert W. Hirsch and Agnes (Bunescu) Hirsch. Growing up in Lawton, Michigan, he attended St. Mary’s of Paw Paw and St. Joseph Seminary of Grand Rapids before graduating from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit....
Shirley Van Rhee
Jan 15, 2026
It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Shirley Yvonne Van Rhee, age 94, of Richland, Michigan, on January 15, 2026. Born in Oshtemo, Michigan, to Otto and Evelyn Haylett. Shirley dedicated her professional life to the care of others. A graduate of Central Michigan University, she served as a Registered Nurse and Occupational Health Nurse, beginning...
Ruth E. Hammond
Dec 18, 2025
Ruth E. Hammond, 95, of Battle Creek went to be with her Lord & Savior on Thursday morning, December 18, 2025 at Bronson Battle Creek. She was born in Parchment, Michigan on January 31, 1930, the daughter of Marion C. and Rhea E. (Porter) Smith.
Ruth married Robert C. Hammond on October 11, 1947; he preceded her in death on May...
Ann R. Stovall
Mar 23, 2026
Ann R. Stovall, 82, of Battle Creek, died March 23, 2026. Ann was born on April 19, 1943 in New York to Earl Wayne and Dorothy (Lawler) Rickenbach. She graduated from college with a nursing degree and was a dedicated registered nurse in the area for many years.
Ann had a huge heart. When she wasn’t caring for patients, she was...
Clara Kreinbring
Mar 22, 2026
Clara Kreinbring, 81, of Portage, died March 22, 2026. Clara was born January 12, 1945 in Cleveland, OH to Edward and Norma (Sesplankis) Giuffre. Clara received an associate’s degree in accounting and worked in accounts receivable for several years. In her younger years she enjoyed quilting and sewing. But over the last few years the most important activity for her...
Robert Dewey Wolford
Mar 19, 2026
Robert D. Wolford, age 79 of Battle Creek, passed away Thursday morning, March 19, 2026. He was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on February 24, 1947, the son of Donald D. Wolford and Dorothy Lucille (Barnes) Wolford. Robert graduated from B.C. Central High School in 1965. Robert began a graphic artist apprenticeship in August 1966, just before being drafted into...
Joan J. Texter
Mar 14, 2026
Joan J. Texter, 88, of Kalamazoo, died March 14, 2026. Joan was born April 24, 1937 in Battle Creek to Dale and Marjorie (Kidder) Klepper. Joan grew up on Gull Lake and spent her summers enjoying all kinds of water activities. Her first job was as a lab tech before she went back to college and earned two master’s degree...
Daniel Lee Abercrombie
Mar 13, 2026
Daniel 'Danny' Abercrombie, 49, of Battle Creek, Michigan, passed away peacefully in his home on March 13, 2026. Danny had been battling illness for a long time but continued to fight with strength and determination. He had recently been getting stronger and working hard toward walking again, motivated by one very special goal - to walk his daughter down the...
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