Obituaries
Joseph Michael Mario
Jan 16, 2026
Joseph Michael Mario, 79, of Battle Creek passed away Friday, January 16, 2026.
Joseph was born June 9, 1946 to Joseph and Alberta (Bishop) Mario in Plainwell. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Army and worked as a telephone cable repairman. He enjoyed hunting, bowling, golf and especially loved ice fishing.
On July 19, 1969, he was united in marriage...
Dale Richard Dittmer
Jan 17, 2026
Dale Richard Dittmer was born on December 23, 1937. Dale passed peacefully in his sleep on January 17, 2026.
He married the love of his life, Karen, in 1959. They remained happily married for 66 years. Dale was preceded in death by his parents Alfred and Lucille Dittmer and his eldest son, Eric Dittmer. Dale is survived by his loving wife,...
Judith L. "Judy" Melvin
Jan 20, 2026
Judith Lynn Melvin passed away peacefully at home with family on January 20, 2026 at the age of 86. Judy was born December 31, 1939 in Hammond, IN, the daughter of Dale M. and Ada (Darby) Smith. She graduated from Valparaiso University in 1961 and was married that summer to Leigh Melvin. She taught English in Portage, IN, prior to...
Charles Lawrence "Larry" Clark
Jan 1, 2026
Charles Lawrence “Larry” Clark, 91, crossed over peacefully, after a brief illness, on Thursday, January 1, 2026 at Lakeview Assisted Living with grandchildren by his side.
Larry was born on June 9, 1934 in Muskegon, MI the son Charles Richard and Lorrene Madaline (Bright) Clark. He lived in Clark’s Corners Robinson Township near Grand Haven, MI until his father became the...
William John "Bill" Tema
Dec 29, 2025
William John Tema (Bill) graduated into the arms of His Savior on Monday, December 29, 2025, peacefully in his bed at Beacon Pointe. Bill was born on June 23,1937 in Manitoba, Mississippi to a cheese factory manager and his wife, an immigrant from Finland. He would become the middle child (Michael, Martha). Because of his father’s work, they moved from...
Bertha Aileen Varga
Nov 25, 2025
Bertha Aileen Varga, 91, passed away November 25, 2025.
Bertha was born March 29, 1934 in Southampton, Bermuda to Frank and Dorothy (Williams) DeSilva. She graduated from Mount Allison University with her Bachelor of Arts and went on to work at various jobs, retiring from Post in 1993. She was united in marriage to Ernest David Varga on September 12, 1957....
Seran Aileen Varga
Jan 15, 2025
Seran Aileen Varga, age 66, passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at her home. She was born in Battle Creek, Michigan on October 6, 1958, the first of two daughters to Bertha and Ernest Varga. Seran grew up in Battle Creek and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School. She was strong-willed, independent, kind, and had a great sense...
David R. Fisher
Jan 7, 2026
David R. Fisher, 79, of Richland, died January 7, 2026. David was born March 23, 1946 in Detroit, MI to Russel and Olive (Bilyea) Fisher. He married the former Janet Coolman in 1967. Two short years later David enlisted in the United States Army and served his country honorably in the Vietnam War, from 1969-1970. After his time in the...
Dalyn C. Hoffman
Dec 4, 2025
Dalyn C. Hoffman, age 86, of Augusta, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on December 4, 2025. Born on December 23, 1938, Dalyn lived a full and generous life grounded in family, service, faith, and an endless curiosity for how things worked.
A proud veteran, Dalyn served his country from 1962 to 1964 as a member of the 158th Army...
Ruth E. Hammond
Dec 18, 2025
Ruth E. Hammond, 95, of Battle Creek went to be with her Lord & Savior on Thursday morning, December 18, 2025 at Bronson Battle Creek. She was born in Parchment, Michigan on January 31, 1930, the daughter of Marion C. and Rhea E. (Porter) Smith.
Ruth married Robert C. Hammond on October 11, 1947; he preceded her in death on May...
Robert Edward Wedel
Jan 20, 2026
Robert (Bob) Edward Wedel, 75, of Battle Creek, Michigan passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 after a brief illness.
Bob was born in Battle Creek on September 1, 1950 to parents Clarence William (Bill) Wedel Jr. and Margaret Pauline (Polly) née Barney.
After high school graduation from Battle Creek Central in 1968, Bob was drafted into the United States Army where...
Larry Nelson "Stoney" Green, Jr.
Jan 19, 2026
Larry Nelson Green, age 63, of Battle Creek, Michigan died at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital on Monday, January 19, 2026.
Larry was born December 6, 1962, in Battle Creek, Michigan, the son of Larry Nelson Sr. and Juanita Maria (Darlington-Brown-Green) Doty. “Stoney” grew up in Barry County, was a 1981 graduate of Hastings High School and attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College....
Joann (Frederick) Williston
Jan 17, 2026
Joann entered her heavenly home on January 17, 2026. She was born on May 15, 1943 in Battle Creek, Michigan, the daughter of Paul and Bertha (Grunder) Frederick. She married John Williston on June 20, 1964, and they had two children, John B. (Heather Taylor) and Jennifer Ann Williston. Joann was a graduate of Pennfield Dunlap High School in 1961...
Charles Ray Palone
Jan 9, 2026
Our beloved Charles “Charlie” Palone, age 78, of Battle Creek, went home to the Lord on January 9, 2026 surrounded by his family and friends. He was born December 4, 1947 in Prairie Grove, Arkansas to Ray and Dolores (London) who later married his step-father, Ernest Shedd. Charlie is a 1966 graduate of Hastings High school and attended Kellogg Community...
Richard Edward Orns
Jan 8, 2026
Richard “Dick” Edward Orns, a lifetime resident of Battle Creek, Michigan, went to his Heavenly home on January 8, 2026, at the age of 81.
Dick was born on April 12, 1944, to Richard Edward Orns, Sr. and Mildred Orns. He was a proud graduate of Harper Creek High School, Class of 1962, and a veteran who faithfully served in the...
Cecil T. Young
Jan 8, 2026
Cecil Thomas Young, 95 of Battle Creek, MI went home to the loving arms of departed loved ones on January 8, 2026.
Cecil was born on September 23, 1930, in Alpine, Tennessee, to Thomas and Lestie (Winton) Young. He grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan, and graduated from Battle Creek Central High School. He proudly served his country by enrolling in...
John E. Gessner
Jan 5, 2026
John E. Gessner, 79, of Battle Creek, passed away on January 5, 2026. He was born on July 18, 1946, in Nashville, TN, to Frederick and Martha (Battle) Gessner. John had been a resident of Battle Creek since 1963, graduating from Harper Creek High School in 1965 and earning his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University. He honorably served in...
Toby Alfred Conine
Jan 5, 2026
In Loving Memory of Toby Conine
Our hearts are broken as we share the loss of our Son, a Brother, a Father, an Uncle and a Cousin.
Toby Conine, who passed away after a devastating and aggressive battle with leukemia. What began as an unimaginable diagnosis quickly turned our world upside down. Toby fought with everything he had, but this disease moved...
Joan Kathryn (Thomas) Bauman
Jan 4, 2026
Joan Bauman, 98, died on January 4, 2026, with everlasting love in her heart for her family and friends.
She was born on November 7, 1927 in Muskegon, Michigan to James and Frances (Russman) Thomas and grew up in Battle Creek. She attended St. Philip Catholic School through 9th grade and graduated from Lakeview High School.
She attended St. Camillus School of...
The Honorable John Holmes
Jan 4, 2026
The Honorable John R. Holmes
“The Honorable John R. Holmes, age 81, of Battle Creek, Michigan, passed away peacefully at Beacon Hospital in Kalamazoo on Sunday, January 4, 2026 with his wife and five children by his side.”
John was born on June 6, 1944, in Battle Creek, Michigan, to David N. and Margaret (Symons) Holmes. He grew up in Battle Creek,...
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