Obituaries
Paul Watson Vanderstelt
May 8, 2024
Paul Watson Vanderstelt, 90, of Comstock and formerly of Muskegon, Michigan died peacefully at Rose Arbor in Kalamazoo on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
Paul was born May 5, 1934, in Muskegon, Michigan to Peter and Olive Jean (Nickett) Vanderstelt. He grew up in Muskegon, was a 1952 graduate of Muskegon High School and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western...
David L. Prior
May 15, 2024
David L. Prior, 90, of Battle Creek passed away May 15, 2024 after a short illness.
He was born August 29, 1933 in Oil City, Pennsylvania to Ronald and Marcella (Kelly) Prior. David grew up in Orwell, Ohio and graduated from Grand Valley High School in 1952. He attended John Carroll University for a year until he enlisted and served for...
Robert J. Norton
May 13, 2024
Robert J. “Bobby” Norton, age 51, formerly of Muskegon, Michigan unexpectedly passed away on Monday morning, May 13, 2024 at the Lifecare Center in Plainwell. Bobby was born at Muskegon General Hospital in Muskegon, Michigan on October 8, 1972, the son of Robert L. and Joane L. (Matthews) Norton. He had a huge heart and always said "YES" to helping...
Kay J. (Mosher) Opich
May 10, 2024
Kay J. (Mosher) Opich, 89, a lifelong Battle Creek resident died peacefully at home on Friday, May 10, 2024.
Kay was born March 27, 1935, in Battle Creek, Michigan to Richard G. and Grace Marie (Collamore) Mosher. She attended the former Raymond Road School and was a 1953 graduate of Battle Creek Central High School. Kay was briefly employed as a...
Stella Rose Townley
May 10, 2024
Stella Rose Townley of Battle Creek, Michigan, passed away on May 10, 2024, at the age of 65. Stella was born in Chicago Heights, Illinois on November 2, 1958, to the late Vera Estella and Billy Ray Townley. They relocated to Kalamazoo, Michigan in the early 1960s.
Stella lived most of her childhood in Kalamazoo, Michigan where she graduated Comstock High...
Durrell Norman Dolph
May 10, 2024
Durrell Norman Dolph I, 92, of Battle Creek, Michigan passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones.
Durrell was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis Conklin Dolph; his father, Norman Justice Dolph; his mother, Ruby Gifford Dolph; his three siblings, Joyce Hill, Barbara Bradford, and Marion DeBois.
Durrell is survived by his children, Phyllis (David) Dishman, Mary (Russell) McJunkin,...
Audrey S. Cook
May 9, 2024
Audrey Sue Cook, 64, of Richland, received her heavenly promotion on May 9, 2024 after a five-year battle with metastatic breast cancer.
Audrey was born on September 26, 1959 to Arnold and Marilyn (Kinney) Lourens in Des Moines, Iowa. After Audrey graduated from Adel-Desoto High School in 1978, she moved to Michigan to be closer to her mother Marilyn and step-father...
Lance R. Riska
May 7, 2024
On May 7, 2024, Lance Richard Riska passed peacefully at home, with his wife Deborah and daughter Erin by his side.
Born to Ermajean and Chester in June of 1957, Lance was raised in Saginaw by Ermajean and Frank, as part of a big, boisterous, blended and extended family, comprised of siblings of every sort and many special cousins.
In 1978, Lance...
Emery Thomas "Tom" Stemaly
May 7, 2024
Emery Thomas “Tom” Stemaly, 47, of Battle Creek, passed away Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
Tom was born July 21, 1976 in Battle Creek to Edwin and MaryEtta (Holcomb) Stemaly. He was a 1994 graduate of St. Philip Catholic High School. He worked several jobs, including as a Lyft driver, delivering pizza and as a welder for Freedom Motors. Tom loved sports...
William E. "Bill" Bauer
May 6, 2024
William E. “Bill” Bauer, 90, formerly of Battle Creek died peacefully at Drew’s Country Living in Hillsdale, Michigan on Monday, May 6, 2024.
Bill was born November 30, 1933, in Unity, Illinois to Franklin and Ida Earline (Heater) Bauer. He grew up in Marion, Illinois and was a graduate of Marion High School. Bill earned his bachelor’s degree in education from...
Jonathan "Jonnie" Palone
May 5, 2024
Jonathan “Jonnie” Palone, age 25 of Mattawan unexpectedly passed away on May 5, 2024. He was born in Battle Creek on February 27, 1999, the son of Philip and Amy (Vinzant) Palone. Jonnie graduated as a 4.0 student from Loy Norrix High School with the Class of 2017, furthered his education at Western Michigan University and managed a Subway restaurant...
Kirk Allen Gorby
May 4, 2024
Kirk Allen Gorby, 54, of Battle Creek passed away Saturday, May 4, 2024.
Kirk was born November 26, 1969 in Coldwater to Robert and Brenda (Nowland) Gorby. He served his country honorably in the Navy and went on to work for Bradford White Corporation. In December of 2002, he was united in marriage to Trisha LeAnn Paul. He loved bike-riding, playing...
James Newkirk Standley
May 4, 2024
James “Jim” Newkirk Standley, age 86, of Climax, MI passed peacefully on the morning of May 4, with family by his side. He was born on September 5, 1937 in Delton, MI, the son of Duane and Hazel (Edmonds) Newkirk.
Jim is survived by his wonderful, loving wife of 36 years Janice (Babcock) Standley; children, Linda (Don) Steen, Bill (Teresa) Morris,...
Carolyn J. Kitt-Corkins
May 4, 2024
Our mother, Carolyn J. Kitt-Corkins passed away on May 4, 2024. She was born in Coldwater, MI on June 2, 1938 to Herbert and Frances (Sheriff) Davis. Carolyn graduated from Battle Creek Central High School, Class of 1956. She had been employed by the Battle Creek Enquirer, Michigan National Bank, Kellogg Company and Plante Moran Accounting Firm for many...
Jeanne "Carol" Alday
May 4, 2024
Jeanne Carol Alday, age 95, of Bellevue, formerly of Battle Creek, died Saturday, May 4, 2024 at the Legacy at the Oaks.
Carol was born in Mattoon, IL on January 12, 1929, the daughter of James W. and Georgia (Bartlett) Ragan.
In 1942 she moved to Battle Creek and graduated from B.C.C.H.S. in 1948. She then attended Mullinex Business School...
Martha Phelps Kelly
May 2, 2024
Martha Phelps Kelly, age 69 of Battle Creek, unexpectedly passed away on Thursday, May 2, 2024. She was born in Battle Creek on December 16, 1954. She was the loving daughter of Dr. Keith and Dorothy “Dottie” (Hensel) Phelps and graduated from Lakeview High School with the Class of 1973. Martha received her RN certification from Bronson School of Nursing...
Richard "Rick" Butler
May 1, 2024
Richard H. “Rick” Butler, 66, of Augusta, died May 1, 2024. Rick was born February 15, 1958 in Kalamazoo to Louis and Frances (Hamilton) Butler.
Rick grew up in Hickory Corners and attended Gull Lake High School where he spent his early years horseback riding, working on go carts, motorcycles and as a mechanic at Richland Marathon. Additionally, he...
Venus Mitchell
Apr 30, 2024
Venus Mitchell, beloved mother, daughter, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 57 on April 30, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.
Born on February 3, 1967 in the vibrant city of Battle Creek, Venus was the daughter of Ramona Potter. She grew up in a tight-knit community where she quickly gained a reputation for her kindness,...
Terry L. Farmer
Apr 30, 2024
Terry L. Farmer, 78, of Battle Creek, died April 30, 2024. Terry was born April 16, 1946 in Battle Creek to Jules and Minnie (Linville) Farmer. He graduated high school and went on to serve his country honorably in the United States Air Force. Terry loved being on the road and was an over the road trucker for most...
Jean Ann McIntyre
Apr 29, 2024
Jean Ann McIntyre died Monday, April 29, 2024 at Meilland Square Memory Care in Kalamazoo, MI. She was born July 11, 1940 in Richmond, IN, the youngest daughter of Chauncey and Marcella (Brock) McNelly, graduated from Hagerstown High, attended Ball State and later Indiana University East, graduating with a Business Degree.
After homemaking for her children, she returned to college to...
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