Obituaries
Elaine Kay Fitzgerald
Mar 18, 2025
Elaine Kay Fitzgerald, 78, of Battle Creek passed away Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
Elaine was born January 20, 1947 in Chicago to Edward and Anne (Tara) Poya. She was a die-hard Cubs fan and her motto was “Go Cubs Go!” She was a stay-at-home mom while raising her children and then became a teacher’s aide at their school. She loved animals...
Ronald Dean "Ron" Thomas
Mar 16, 2025
Ronald Dean Thomas, 73, passed away Sunday, March 16, 2025 surrounded by family.
Ronald was born June 1, 1951, in Marshall to John and Carolyn (Dean) Thomas. He grew up in Marshall, graduating from Marshall High School, then served in the Army Reserves for 6 years. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time surrounded by nature....
Anita Louise Houston
Mar 15, 2025
It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Anita Louise Houston, loving wife and partner of Walter Dressler (aka Doug Houston). She grew up in Los Angeles and worked at CalState LA for 25 years. She later got to fulfill a dream to move to Las Vegas where she worked for the city until she retired. She moved...
Jimmy and Ruth Hardy
Mar 13, 2025
Jimmy W. Hardy and Ruth A. Hardy passed away on March 13, 2025. Both were loved by and survived by their sons, Jeffrey Hardy, Jon Hardy and Jason (Jane) Hardy; their grandsons, Jeffrey (Christina Hauser) Hardy, Kyle Hardy, Dakota (Jomary) Hardy and their great-grandchildren. There were preceded in death by their parents and a still-born son, Jimmy Hardy Jr.
Jimmy Hardy...
Jennifer Marie Dunkelberger
Mar 13, 2025
Jennifer Marie Dunkelberger (Blair) age 55, passed away March 13th, 2025 at Bronson Hospital with her husband and daughters by her side. She was born on April 22nd, 1969 in Elmira, New York to Janice Darlene Pealer (Evenden) and Michael Earl Blair. She married John Robert Dunkelberger on October 24th, 1993 in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, and had two daughters Laura...
James Douglas Brinkman
Mar 11, 2025
James Douglas Brinkman, age 60, of Dowling, Michigan passed on Tuesday March 11, 2025 at home after a long illness.
James was born May 19, 1964 in Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu to James Raymond and Linda Jo (Davis) Brinkman. He married the love of his life, Mary Jo Amundson-Brinkman on October 12, 2013, she survives. He is also...
Mary Jo Quartermaine
Mar 10, 2025
Mary Johanna Quartermaine of Battle Creek, Michigan, passed away peacefully at Pinnacle Care Nursing Home on Monday March 10th, 2025, at the age of 78. MaryJo was born February 1, 1947 in Battle Creek, Michigan, the daughter of Harry Quartermaine and Velma “June” (Whaley) Quartermaine. She grew up in Battle Creek and was a graduate of St. Philip Catholic Central....
Robert Glen "Bobby" Gates
Mar 9, 2025
Robert Glen “Bobby” Gates, 33, passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 9, 2025.
Bobby was born to Glen Gates and Joy Gates on January 15th, 1992. He attended Pennfield schools and in 2002-2003 he attended and graduated from the Young Marines.
Bobby loved the outdoors, spending time on the lakes and drawing. He is survived by his father Glen Gates,...
Robert I. Price
Mar 9, 2025
Robert “Bob” Irwin Price, age 91, of Battle Creek passed away at home on Sunday March 9, 2025. Bob was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on February 19, 1934, the son of Ben and Mabel (Ingram) Price. He enlisted in the US Army in 1953 and served as a tank crew member until his discharge in 1957. Upon returning to...
Gloria Lee Fry
Mar 7, 2025
Gloria Fry passed away peacefully at home on March 7, 2025. She was born in Comstock in 1930, the daughter of John Ellsworth and Margaret (Messany) Pearson and graduated from there.
In April of 1950, Gloria married J. William “Bill” Fry. Her frugal nature and long hours at Argus Camera ensured Bill’s graduation from the University of Michigan Medical School. In...
Brian Wensauer
Mar 7, 2025
Brian W. Wensauer, age 81, died peacefully at home, with his family at his side, on Friday morning, March 7, 2025.
As the third child and only one born in Battle Creek Michigan, after his family moved here so his father could start his new government position as the personnel director with Percy Jones Hospital in 1943. Brian attended one of...
Robert "Bob" W. Barker II
Mar 6, 2025
Robert W. Barker II, 75, was born on April 28, 1949 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and passed away on March 6, 2025 at Bronson Hospital in Battle Creek. He was the son of Robert and Eleanor Barker of Battle Creek. Bob was a great and caring individual who was totally involved in his business, his hobbies, and most importantly his...
Christopher James "Chris" Nicolich
Mar 6, 2025
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Christopher “Chris” James Nicolich. Chris passed away at home on March 6, 2025 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 47 years young.
Chris was a lifelong resident of Emmett Township in Battle Creek. He spent his childhood enjoying playing sports and spending time with his brother, Michael,...
Stuart Martin "Stu" Peck
Mar 5, 2025
Stuart Martin Peck was born July 30, 1948, to Andrew II and Clara Peck. He passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 5, 2025, surrounded by his family.
Stu grew up in Fort Custer, graduating from Springfield High School in 1966. He helped his parents from a young age, working in the family businesses, Peck's Landscaping, and Peck's Rock Shop. He served...
Vernial "Nig" LeBlanc
Mar 2, 2025
Mrs. Vernial (Williams) LeBlanc, affectionally known as “Nig” transitioned peacefully on March 2, 2025 surrounded by family and friends. She was born on April 10, 1951 to Beulah Johnson in Little Rock, Arkansas. As a toddler, the family moved to Battle Creek, MI where she met and fell in love with Charles ‘Doc Beatty’ LeBlanc, married in Sept, 1973.
Vernial attended...
Constance D. "Connie" Penny
Feb 28, 2025
Constance D. “Connie” Penny, 87, died Friday, February 28, 2025 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Connie was born October 15, 1937 in Kalamazoo to Walter and Florence (DeRyke) Anderson. She graduated from Galesburg High School in 1955. On June 30, 1955 Connie married Edgar Penny in Galesburg, who sadly preceded her in death in 2008.
Connie enjoyed traveling and wintering in Okeechobee,...
Phillip Arthur Rowe
Feb 27, 2025
Phillip A. Rowe, 72, of Battle Creek, lost his final battle on this earth on February 27, 2025 while trying to recover after surgery for a fractured vertebrae.
Phil was born on November 23, 1952, the son of Wilbur and Dorothy (Fann) Rowe. He attended Battle Creek Central High School and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1969. After receiving...
Carolyn Ann Ouding
Feb 25, 2025
Carolyn Ann Ouding passed away on February 25, 2025 at the age of 86.
She was born March 31, 1938 to parents Joel and Kathrine Larsson. Carolyn graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School and then went on to earn an associates degree from Michigan State University. Caroyln married Robert Ouding in 1960 and they had three lovely sons together. Carolyn was...
Wendell R. Zull
Feb 25, 2025
Wendell R. Zull, 89, of Bellevue, died February 25, 2025. Wendell was born July 17, 1935 in Battle Creek, MI to Ralph and Alice (Wood) Zull. He graduated from Battle Creek Central High School, class of 1954 and worked 33 years at Ralston Purina, retiring in 1994.
On April 1, 1967 Wendell married the former Charlene Murphy, who survives. Wendell is...
Clara Louise Scherer
Feb 25, 2025
Clara Louise “Didge” Scherer of Battle Creek, MI went to be with her Lord and Savior on February 25, 2025 in Kalamazoo, MI at the age of 80 surrounded by her family. Born in Battle Creek, MI August 13, 1944 to Clara Wittrock (Doyle) and John Wittrock.
Didge is survived by her three wonderful children, Roger “Adrian” Scherer, Clara (Thomas) Reed...
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