Obituaries

Mar 25, 2022

Mary Ann Birmele, 95, of Hartford passed away to her heavenly home, on Friday, March 25, 2022, at her home.

Mary Ann was born on Aug. 27, 1926, in Calhoun County, to Paul and Augusta (Goodrich) Bodine. She was the second in a family of five children.

Mary attended Otsego Public Schools and graduated from...

Mar 23, 2022

Beverly Annette Wesaw, of Coloma passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at the age of 63, at Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center, in St. Joseph, after a brave battle with sudden illness.

Bev had an utmost pride for her lineage and was very proud to be a member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Beverly...

Mar 12, 2022

Thomas John Gaborik of Hartford passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at the young age of 47, at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Mich., after a hard fought battle with pneumonia.

Thomas was born in St. Joseph, to John and Donna (Riley) Gaborik on Nov. 19, 1974. He resided in Hartford until the age of...

Mar 3, 2022

Linda Louise Barker DeLoach was born in McDougal, Ark., on April 29, 1942, the daughter of Lennie A. and Vivian (Wells) Barker.

Linda, of Lawrence, passed away peacefully in her home on March 4, 2022, at the age of 79.

Linda loved her family more than life. She loved to spoil her grandchildren and great-grandchildren...

Mar 2, 2022

Eugene (Gene) Carr went to be with his Lord Wednesday, March 2, at the age of 97. He was born July 22, 1924, in Hinckley, Ill., to Archie and Wilhelmina (Troeger) Carr, the fifth of 15 kids. The family moved to Michigan in 1937.

He married the love of his life, Helen Wright, in 1946, and they...

Feb 27, 2022

Eleanor Edna Dodd of South Haven, formerly of Keeler, was born on Feb. 23, 1927, in Wayne, Mich., the daughter of William and Elsie (Himmelreich) Long. Eleanor passed away at the age of 95, on Sunday, Feb. 27, 2022, at A Place Called Home in Stevensville.

On May 11, 1946, Eleanor and Robert Dodd were united in...

Feb 25, 2022

Robert Gendron, better known by “Bobby G'' passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 25, 2022, at the age of 54 at his home in Hartford.

Bobby was born July 3, 1967, in Watervliet, to Robert and Donna (Strand) Gendron. He graduated from Hartford High School in 1985. He continued his education attending the following: Albion College, Grand Valley...

Feb 20, 2022

Rosemary Stokes was born in Lawrence, Mich., on Nov. 4, 1944, the daughter of Arthur and Donna (Starbuck) Kelemen.

Rosemary, 77, of Benton Harbor passed away Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, at the Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville.

Rosemary loved being a homemaker, enjoyed doing crafts and watching the birds and squirrels. She was an auxiliary member...

Feb 16, 2022

Valeria Baker was born in Hertel, Wis., on April 11, 1947, the daughter of Philip Taylor and Viola (Alexis) Graverette.

Valeria passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2022, at the Chalet of Niles.

She is survived by two sons, Christopher D. Taylor of Lakeland, Fla. and Charles M. Baker of Austin, Texas. She is also...

Feb 14, 2022

William Lamar Cochran, 66, of Hartford passed away Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, at his home.

William was born April 23, 1955, in Arcadia, Fla., the son of Walter and Neva (Skinner) Cochran, both of whom precede him in passing. Also preceding him in passing was a brother, Leonard Cochran.

William dedicated most of his working...

Feb 14, 2022

Shirley May Somers, 84, of Hartford passed away on Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville.

Shirley was born on Nov. 19. 1937, in Watervliet, the daughter of Joseph and Adele (Bartella) Swetay.

Shirley was known as the "Dalmatian Lady" for her many walks in all the Hartford parades with her famous dog,...

Feb 11, 2022

Ronald Leroy Hirsch Sr., 68, of Coloma passed away on Friday, Feb. 11, 2022, at Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph.

Ronald was born on Dec. 6, 1953, in Benton Harbor, the son of Fred and Hilda (DeVay) Hirsch, both of whom precede him in passing. Also preceding him in passing are a sister, Karen Hirsch;...

Jan 26, 2022

Bernice was born on Sept. 3, 1928, to Virgil and Mildred (Hiler) Matrau of Bainbridge Township. She was a lifetime area resident and graduated from Watervliet High School. Bernice was the founder and owner of Rudell Real Estate and the president of the Southwestern Michigan Board of Realtors.

Bernice had a love of antiques and was an...

Jan 21, 2022

Richard C. “Dick” Showerman, 84, of Hartford passed away on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022.

Dick, as he was known by everyone, was born Jan. 31, 1937, in Howell, Mich. He graduated from Fowlerville High School and Cleary Business College. He worked many years for Monsanto, Sohigro, and Terra.

Richard is survived by his wife, Angela...

Jan 21, 2022

Dale Ronald Long, 87, of Decatur passed away Friday, Jan. 21, 2022, at Spectrum Health Lakeland, St. Joseph.

Dale was born Feb. 13, 1934, in Bainbridge Township, to William Sr. and Minnie (Walter) Long, both of whom preceded him in passing.

Dale is survived by his wife, Karol; two sons, Greg A. (Fannie) Long and...

Jan 13, 2022

Bruce Arthur Dowd, 80, of Hartford passed away peacefully on Jan. 13, 2022, at White Oaks Assisted Living Center of Lawton. A memorial service is planned for Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Calvin Funeral Home in Hartford. Visitation, with the family, will be held from 2-4 p.m., with a service immediately following. A private burial will be held at...

Jan 8, 2022

Icie Mae Richardson, of Paw Paw, was born on Jan. 24, 1937, in Caraway, Ark., to Hurtis “Alvin” and Edith (Ryan) Brewer.

Icie passed away suddenly on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich.., at the age of 84.

Icie considered Hartford her home town living there for 45 years, before...

Jan 5, 2022

Eulene “Sue” Soulard, formerly of Hartford, passed away peacefully at Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, on January 5, 2022, following a two-week battle with COVID-19.

Sue was born on Nov. 12, 1953, in Plant City, Fla., to Ozee and Marion Moon: she was the youngest of four children: Owen, Gary, and Mary. She and her...

Jan 4, 2022

Paul Pradon was born on April 20, 1937, in Chicago, and passed away in the arms of his beloved wife, Donna, on Jan. 4, 2022.

Paul spent his early life in Chicago until he was eleven when the family moved to Michigan. He spent three years serving in the U.S. Army where he met Donna Marie Lenz...

Jan 2, 2022

Carrol Lee Stokes, 78, of St. Joseph passed away on Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, at Spectrum Health Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph.

Carrol was born on Sept. 2, 1943, in Malvern, Ark., the son of Ed and Evelyn (Blasengame) Stokes, both of whom precede him in passing. Also preceding him in passing are a sister, Donna Jones;...