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Laryn W. Tinsley
COLDWATER -- Laryn W. Tinsley, age 47, of Coldwater, died Friday, May 28, 2004 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, June 5, 2004 at the First Baptist Church in Coldwater with Pastor David Anderson officiating.
Benjamin Christian Merritt III
EASTPOINTE -- Benjamin Christian Merritt III, infant son, died suddenly at home, Friday, May 28, 2004 in Eastpointe.
He was born March 31, 2004 in Eastpointe to Ben and Kelly Merritt. Surviving are his parents; brother, Zachary Good of Detroit; grandparents, Butch and Violet Wilber of Coldwater; aunt and uncle, Benjy and Erin Wilber of Wisconsin; aunt, Brandy Wilber of Coldwater; cousin, Makaighla Wilber of Coldwater; great-grandmothers, Bernetta Bird and Rosemary Wilber of Coldwater; several great-uncles, great-aunts and cousins.
Services were held at 3 p.m., Monday, May 31, 2004 at the S.K. Schultz Funeral Home, Eastpointe, with Pastor Gene Cobb of First Church of Christ officiating. Cremation has taken place.
Lola Marie Metzger
BRONSON -- Lola Marie Metzger, age 90, of Bronson, died Tuesday evening, June 1, 2004 at her home following a short illness.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 5, 2004 at the Pleasant Hill Missionary Church located five miles south of Bronson on Pleasant Hill Road.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Family Life Center of Pleasant Hill Church and also on Saturday from 10 a.m. to the time of service. Interment will follow in Pleasant Hill cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the Family Life Center of Pleasant Hill Church or to Gideons International. Arrangements are by the Kolcz Funeral Home. A complete obituary can be found at www.kolcz.com where private messages may be left for the family.
Ethel E. Hoag-Porter
COLDWATER -- Ethel E. Hoag-Porter, age 75, of Coldwater, died May 30, 2004 at Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility.
She was born Sept. 14, 1928 in Flint to Arthur and Eva (Swartz) Borgert. She lived in the Branch County area most of her life. She worked at the Coldwater Regional Center and retired after 25 years. Ethel loved animals and nature.
Survivors include three daughters, Janice Miller of Coldwater, Sharon Janik of Quincy and Georgia and David Biddy of Birmingham, Ala.; five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one brother, Charles Borgert of Coldwater.
Graveside services were held Wednesday, June 2, 2004 at Burr Oak cemetery, Burr Oak, with Pastor Shayne Looper of Lockwood Community Church officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to Maple Lawn.
Arrangements by Putnam Funeral Home, Coldwater.
Joshua S. Case
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Joshua S. Case, age 22, of Colorado Springs, Colo. and formerly of Coldwater, died on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 in Colorado Springs.
He was born on Nov. 28, 1981 in Walla Walla, Wash., to Gerald and Gwendolyn (Miller) Case.
He was a lifelong resident of Coldwater, having moved to Colorado Springs five years ago, taking a job as a landscaper.
Joshua loved fast cars and listening to music.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert and Barbara Case and Bud Miller.
Survivors include two sons, Keegan Sean Case of Coldwater and Caleb Matthew Case of Colorado Springs; parents, Jerry and Gwen Case of Coldwater; sister, Shawnelle Holt of Bronson; brother, Jeremiah Case of Pennsylvania; grandparents, Lewis and Evelyn Lukazcek of Coldwater and Lori Miller of Union City; aunts and uncles, Charles and Darla Miller of Quincy, Sue and Ted Gardner and Tom and Barb Case, all of Coldwater, Scott Case of California, Rodney and Emi Case of Kansas, Phil and Sherrie West of Augusta, Ga., Terry and Kerry Cole of Merango, Kevin and Shantel Ashley of Albion, Ryan and Jolie Conley of Coldwater and Andy Lukazcek of Quincy; 25 cousins and two nieces.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 14, 2004, at 11 a.m. at the Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater, with the Rev. Shayne Looper of the Lockwood Community Church officiating.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 13, 2004 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be directed to the Substance Treatment and Referral Services (STARS) in Coldwater. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Arrangements were handled by the Dutcher Funeral Home, Coldwater.
Ronald J. Matuszak
MARSHALL -- Ronald J. Matuszak, age 81, of Marshall, passed away Wednesday, June 9, 2004 at Tendercare of Marshall.
He was born on July 13, 1922 in Toledo, Ohio, to John J. and Mae (Holewinski) Matuszak. He was involved in the Quincy American Legion, AARP and the St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. He served with the U.S. Marines Corps in the South Pacific during World War II. He enjoyed making miniature furniture, gardening, reading, model shipbuilding, fishing and listening to classical music. He also volunteered at the Branch County Food Pantry.
Ronald worked for the Federal Mogul Corporation in Coldwater for 24 years and then was employed by the State of Michigan at the Regional Center, retiring in 1986, after 11 years of service.
Survivors include his wife, Genevive Eddy, whom he married on Feb. 14, 1953; daughters Mary (Mark) Fidler of Coldwater and Pat Matuszak of Mt. Pleasant; one beloved grandchild, Katie Fidler; brother, Leonard (Rita) Matuszak of Toledo, Ohio; several nieces and nephews; and special "grandsons" Lucas and Russell Gates.
His two sisters and a brother preceded him in death.
Visitation will be today, June 11 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Gillespie Funeral Home, Coldwater, where the Rosary service will take place at 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 12 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, Coldwater, with Father Brian Stanley officiating. Interment will follow in Sorter cemetery, Branch County.
Memorials in lieu of flowers are suggested to St. Charles Catholic Church or the Food Pantry.
Helen M. Morris
COLDWATER -- Helen M. Morris, age 94, of Coldwater, died June 11, 2004 at Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility.
She was born Sept. 3, 1909 in Coldwater to Lewis Fiske and Carrie Dexter. She married Bert Morris in 1926 in Coldwater and he preceded her in death in 1958.
She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.
Survivors include children, Evelyn Merkle of Coldwater, Richard Morris of Coldwater, Ethel Merritt of Coldwater and Gladys Foulk of Hillsdale; 11 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Bert Morris in 1998, one sister and four brothers.
Services will be held Tuesday, June 15, 2004 at 11 a.m. at Gillespie Funeral Home with Pastor Jeff Bream officiating. Visitation will be Monday, June 14, 2004 from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Oak Grove cemetery in Coldwater.
Memorials may be made to Northview Christian Church, Coldwater.
Eleanor E. Taylor
BRONSON -- Eleanor E. Taylor, age 87, of Sturgis, formerly of Bronson, died Sunday, June 13, 2004 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. The family will receive friends at Kolcz Funeral Home from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday with funeral services following at 6 p.m.
Harry L. Thornton
TEKONSHA -- Harry L. Thornton, age 90, of Tekonsha, died Sunday, June 13, 2004. Arrangements are pending at Putnam's of Tekonsha.
Margaret L. Leister-Shipley
BATTLE CREEK -- Margaret L. Leister-Shipley, age 82, of Battle Creek died Friday, June 18, 2004 at Evergreen Manor.
She was born in Coldwater on May 3, 1922, the daughter of Earl and Edna (Munbrue) Groesbeck. For the majority of her life, Margaret was a homemaker. Before starting her family, Margaret worked as a switchboard operator in Coldwater and then was transferred to Fort Custer after the bombing at Pearl Harbor.
Margaret married James "Jimmy" Leister, Jr. on June 10, 1945 at the Percy Jones Chapel in Battle Creek. He preceded her in death on Jan. 27, 1985. She married Rev. Harold Shipley in Battle Creek on May 12, 1990. He preceded her in death on Aug. 10, 1997.
Margaret is survived by her daughter, Sharon Leister of Battle Creek; a grandson, Tim (Marianne) Hayes of Orland Park, Ill.; a granddaughter, Katie (Chris) Richardson of Kalamazoo; two great-grandchildren, Benjamin Hayes and Brandon Richardson; a brother-in-law, Cecil Leister and many loving nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husbands, James and Harold, a brother, Theo and a sister, Thelma Schrontz.
Margaret had a great love for her church and enjoyed shopping and collecting teacups and ceramic birds. She also loved to spend time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a member of the Faith Baptist Church, the Queen City Court No. 16 Order of Amaranth and the Battle Creek Chapter No. 153 O.E.S. Margaret was also a former member of the First Congregational Church where she was a founding member of the Rose Standish Circle. At the request of the family, friends may call after 9 a.m. today at the Farley-Estes and Dowdle Funeral Home, Battle Creek where the family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, at the funeral home with Rev. William P. Myers, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the Macular Degeneration Foundation.
Elsie Slisher
BRONSON -- Elsie Slisher, age 101, of Bronson, passed on quietly Saturday, June 19 with her family at her side in her home in Bronson Township.
Elsie was born Dec. 27, 1902 to Bert and Lois (Dunn) Danner in Matteson Township. She graduated from Bronson High School in 1920 and in 1926 married Floyd Slisher of Bronson. Together she and Floyd farmed for the rest of their lives and raised three children, Virginia, Dale, and Max. Elsie enjoyed flowers, gardening, sewing, and cooking; her flavorful roast beef and homemade noodles were especially anticipated.
Virginia (Slisher) Calhoun has lived with Elsie for many years and cared for her. Her eldest son Dale and his wife Charlotte farmed alongside them. Max, the youngest son, and his wife, Kathy -- both school teachers -- live in Grand Rapids, MI.
She was preceded her in death by her husband, Floyd and her sister, Floy Lowther of Texas.
Elsie is missed by seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and six great great grandchildren.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 23 at the Bronson First United Methodist Church where she was a member. Visitation will be at the Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.
Mary Jane Timm
BRONSON -- Mary Jane Timm, age 77, of Bronson, died early Sunday morning, June 20, 2004 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a several month Illness.
She was born May 5, 1927 in Three Rivers, daughter of George and Irene (Houghteling) Herding and married Lloyd Timm on June 2, 1945 in Akron, Ohio. The couple first moved to Bronson in 1954. In 1958 they moved to Richland, where they lived until 1968 when they moved back to Bronson.
Mary worked at the former Douglas Corporation -- now Douglas Autotech -- for 17 years, retiring in 1977 due to ill health. She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Burr Oak and enjoyed sewing, cooking, baking and bowling.
Surviving are her husband, Lloyd; her daughters and sons-in-law, Shirley and Vincent Wieter of Canton and Betty and Glenn Provencher of Sturgis; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a half-brother and two half-sisters. She was preceded in death by her daughter Nancy Tinney in 1977, her parents and her grandparents.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Mary Jane Timm will be held Thursday, June 24, 2004 at St. John Lutheran Church in Burr Oak. Interment will follow in Bronson cemetery. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. at St. John Lutheran, Burr Oak.The family will receive friends at the Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday where memorial donations may be made to St. John Lutheran Church. Obituary is also at www.kolcz.com where private messages may be left for the family.
Donald J. Fillmore
COLDWATER LAKE -- Donald J. Fillmore, age 73 of Coldwater Lake, died Saturday, June 19, 2004 at the Community Health Center of Branch County. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Dutcher Funeral Home, Coldwater
Derwerd L. Adolph
UNION CITY -- Derwerd L. Adolph, age 90, of Union City, died on July 15, 2004 at his home.
Adolph was born on July 20, 1913 in Union City to Edward C. and Martha (Ahlgrim) Adolph. He married Bernadine E. Carpenter on Aug. 2, 1941 in Union City. She survives.
Mr. Adolph lived in the Union City area all of his life. He worked for the state of Michigan.
Survivors include wife Bernadine and son Mark Adolph of Plymouth.
He was preceded in death by daughter Rebecca (Pepper) Adolph and two brothers.
Derwerd was a 1931 graduate of Union City High School.
A gathering of family and friends will be held on Wednesday, July 21, 2004 at 2 p.m. at Riverside cemetery in Union City.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lifespan Hospice.
Arrangements are by the Putnam Funeral Home in Union City.
Wilma R. Denbrock
COLDWATER -- Wilma R. Denbrock, age 75, of Coldwater, died on Thursday, Aug. 5, 2004 at Tendercare of Marshall.
Mrs. Denbrock was born on April 1, 1929 in Portsmouth, Ohio to Charles and Kathryn (Bruner) Anderson. She married John Denbrock on Feb. 9, 1957 in Angola, Ind.
Wilma was a nurse's aid at Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility for 13 years, retiring in 1984. She had also worked at the makeup counter at the former Murphy's in Coldwater many years ago.
Wilma has lived in the Coldwater area for most of her life. She was a devoted mother and grandmother. She enjoyed the outdoors, flower gardening and traveling. She especially enjoyed the beaches in northern Michigan and the Pictured Rocks.
Wilma is survived by sons Doug Dosier of Coldwater and John Denbrock of Howell; daughters and sons-in-law Cindy and Ken Klein of Coldwater, Claudia and Rob Dorfman of Okemos, Susan and Earl Bennett of Coopersville and Kristie and Mark Gates of Dewitt; and 10 grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Monday, Aug. 9, 2004 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Dutcher Funeral Home. A private graveside service will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2004 at Oak Grove cemetery in Coldwater, with Rev. Dave Anderson of the First Baptist Church officiating.
Memorial donations may be directed to Tendercare of Marshall or Hospice of Jackson. Arrangements are by Dutcher Funeral Home, Inc. in Coldwater.
Leah G. Iams
ROSE LAKE -- Leah G. Iams, age 87, long-time Rose Lake resident, died on Aug. 5, 2004.
Iams was a retired administrative assistant for USDA in Marshall.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the Putnam Funeral Home in Coldwater. There will be a private burial service. Arrangements are by the Putnam Funeral Home in Coldwater.
