Obituary Listing

Nov 5, 2018

Donna LeJune Houtkooper (Harrison), 93, of Kalamazoo, passed away Monday, November 5, 2018. Donna was born on March 26, 1925 to Hopeful and Anna Howard.

Donna married Lowell Harrison in the mid 1940s and together they were blessed with 2 children and many years of marriage until his death in the mid 1980s. Donna worked as a...

Nov 3, 2018

Ronald Edward Backus Sr., 81, of Branch, died Saturday, November 3, 2018, at home surrounded by his loving family.  He was born November 26, 1936, in Buchanan, Michigan, the son of Edward and Dreyda (Pufall) Backus.

Ron is survived by: his wife, Linda Backus; his son, Ronald (Tracy Lollar) Backus Jr.; his brother, Leo Backus; 3 step-children,...

Nov 3, 2018

Paul John Ahnefeldt, 65, (Bear) of Montague, passed away Saturday, November 3, 2018. Paul was born on September...

Nov 2, 2018

Elizabeth Jennie Carter O'Brien, 86, of Hart, passed away Friday, November 2, 2018, at Cherry Blossom Manor in Hart, entering there one day prior.  She was born October 28, 1932, in Colfax Township, Oceana County, Michigan, the daughter of Phineas David and Jennie (Arnold) Carter Sr.

Elizabeth attended Argubright Business College in Battle Creek and earned her...

Nov 2, 2018

Donna Marie Walicki, 79, of Pentwater, passed away Friday, November 2, 2018, at Mercy Health Partners Mercy Campus in Muskegon. She was born August 25, 1939, in Detroit, the daughter of Edward and Catherine (Celenack) Salancy.

Donna earned her nursing degree from Mt. Carmel Mercy Hospital in 1960.  On June 28, 1963, she married Lawrence J. Walicki. ...

Nov 1, 2018

George Edwin Benson, 94, of Whitehall, passed away Thursday, November 1, 2018. George was born on January 5, 1924 to Henning and Josephine Benson.

George served his country proudly in the US Navy. He married Lois Mae Colby in 1956 and together they were blessed with 2 children and 50 years of marriage until her death in...

Nov 1, 2018

William Louis Strecker MD, FACA, age 94, of Montague, Michigan, passed away on November 1, 2018 peacefully at home with his family around him. Dr. Strecker was born in Terre Haute Indiana on November 19, 1923 to Louis George and Rose Marie (Myers) Strecker. He grew up on a farm near Vermilion Illinois and attended a one-room school house...

Oct 29, 2018

Michael or those who knew him "Mickey" was born May 28, 1939 in Ypsilanti, Michigan to Roy & Mildred Johnson. His family relocated to Kentucky for 3 years then settled into Whitehall where he graduated in 1958 with well wishes from teachers and staff.

He honorably served in the US Navy from 1959-1963. After his time in...

Oct 29, 2018

James "Jim" Michael Maher, 82, of Ludington, passed away Monday, October 29, 2018, at home.  He was born October 25, 1936, in Kalamazoo, the son of Robert and Helen (Cylka) Maher.

After graduating from Mendon Community School, Jim attended Western Michigan University until transferring to Wayne State University where he earned his degree in Mortuary Science.  Jim...

Oct 28, 2018

Linda Lou VanderLaan, 71, of Hart, passed away Sunday, October 28, 2018, at home. She was born April 13, 1947, in Lexington, Tennessee, the daughter of Edward and Sudie (Miller) Dennison.

Linda was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister who loved being with her family. She always looked forward to Thanksgiving when she was able to...

Oct 28, 2018

Donald "Duck" Eugene Huntley, 74, of Holton passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 28, 2018.  Duck was born on December 14, 1943 to Fremont and Ester Huntley.

Duck married Linda Drake in 1967. Together they were blessed with 5 children. Duck worked as an operating Engineer in the marine construction field for most of his career. He...

Oct 27, 2018

Mark Arthur Hendrickson II, died Saturday, October 27, 2018. Arrangements are pending. Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Pere Marquette Chapel, Ludington, is in charge of arrangements. www.beaconfh.com

Oct 27, 2018

Muriel May Harwood, 90, of Whitehall, passed away Saturday, October 27, 2018. Muriel was born on August 4, 1928, to Harold and Norma Benson.

Muriel was blessed with six children in her life. In 1951, she married Bruce Harwood and together they enjoyed over 50 years of marriage until his death in 1997. Muriel was a fur...

Oct 26, 2018

Paul K. VanWestrienen, age 80, of Kalamazoo, Michigan was born to Henry Artis VanWestrienen and Georgia Leone Kier VanWestrienen, he passed away at Oceana County Medical Care Facility on October 26, 2018. He fought a long battle from numerous illnesses.

He graduated from Kalamazoo High School in 1956 and earned the role as first chair clarinetist, furthering...

Oct 25, 2018

Pastor Thomas Victor Boehne, 67, of Ludington, passed away Thursday, October 25, 2018. He was born December 12, 1950, in Itasca, Illinois, the son of Victor and Ruth (Buck) Boehne.

Thomas was the pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church, in Ludington, for the past 18 years, prior to that, he was the pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church,...

Oct 22, 2018

Christopher Anthony Schaner, 17, of Hart, died unexpectedly Monday, October 22, 2018.  He was born August 28, 2001, in Muskegon.

Christopher was in his senior year at Hart High School, where he played baseball and football.  In his free time, he loved hunting and fishing.

Christopher is survived by: his mother and step-father, Jessica and...

Oct 22, 2018

Leora "Lee" Chapel, 75, of Ludington, formerly of Hart, passed away Monday, October 22, 2018 at Oakview Medical Care Facility. Lee was born in Muskegon, the daughter of the late William and Eileen (Lorentz) Hoppe. She was a graduate of Muskegon Catholic Central High School and married her husband of 58 years, Ronald J. Chapel,...

Oct 22, 2018

Dolores Lavonne Leona Pietrzak (Petzak) Larson, 89, of Ludington, passed away on Monday, October 22, 2018, at Medilodge of Ludington.  She was born the eldest daughter of Leona Marie and Edmund Bernard Pietrzak (Petzak) on April 12, 1929 in Ludington.

On June 25, 1948, Dolores married Otto Fred Larson.  They made their home on Lewis Street in...

Oct 18, 2018

Randy Lee Cole, 48, of Ludington, passed away Thursday, October 18, 2018.  Randy was born on October 11, 1970, to Jack and Norma Cole.

Randy married Yolanda Meza on October 9, 1989. Together they were blessed with 3 children. Randy enjoyed fishing, tinkering with mechanical things, working on cars, gardening, his cats and his family. He was...

Oct 14, 2018

Mary Louise Bedau, 94, of Whitehall, passed away Sunday, October 14, 2018. Mary was born on July 24, 1924 to William and Dorothy Weise. Mary married David Bedau in Park Ridge, Illinois. Together they were blessed with 74 years of marriage and 3 children. Upon graduation from high school Mary worked for the American Dietetic Association and later in life...