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Anthony 'Tony' LaVanway
SOUTH HAVEN - Anthony P. "Tony" LaVanway, 40, of South Haven died Tuesday, June 23, 2009, at home.
He was born May 14, 1969, in Watervliet to Donald and Valorie (DeHaan) LaVanway.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Valorie LaVanway.
He is survived by his father, Donald LaVanway of Benton Harbor; one brother, Lance J. (Jill) LaVanway of Springfield, Mo.; cousin, Deanna Pope of South Haven; niece, Zoie LaVanway and nephew, Logan LaVanway, both of Springfield, Mo.; and several cousins.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home, South Haven. Funeral services will begin at 3 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home with Pastor John R. Stermaman. Memorial contributions may be made to the family.
Etta Mae Yancich
WATERVLIET - Etta Mae Yancich, 84, of Watervliet passed away June 23, 2009, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, June 26, at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma where visitation will take place Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery in Watervliet. Memorial donations may be made to Plymouth Congregational Church in Watervliet. Those wishing to sign the online guest book or leave a message of comfort for the family may do so at www.duffieldpastrick.com.
Etta was born on Jan. 1, 1925, in Batesville, Ark., to Frank and Lilie (Mosier) Harbin. She married Victor "Duke" Yancich on Nov. 9, 1946, and together raised four children. Etta retired as a cook from Watervliet High School.
She is survived by her husband, Victor "Duke" Yancich; a daughter, Vicki (Garry) Warman of Mentor, Ohio; two sons, Thomas Yancich of Grand Rapids and Kim (Ruth) Yancich of Traverse City. Also surviving is one sister, Millie (Bill) Wantz of Benton Harbor; five grandchildren, Marlene, Jessica, Devon, Liz and Loren; and great-grandson, Dominick.
Etta was preceded in death by her parents; daughter, Dena Fennessy, in 1996; brothers, Len and Chuck Harbin; and sister, Monnie Bridgman.
Mildred Donna Lightner
HARTFORD - Mildred Donna Lightner, 94, of Sarasota, Fla., formerly of Hartford, passed away June 18, 2009, after a sudden illness.
Mrs. Lightner was born march 26, 1915, in Hartford, the daughter of Richard and Laura (Nodruff) Conklin. She was a graduate of Hartford High School in 1933.
On Nov. 4, 1939, Mildred married Seward Lightner Sr. in South Bend, Ind. They resided most of their lives in Hartford until retirement, when they moved to Florida and then North Carolina. Seward preceded her in death on July 21, 1996.
Survivors include two sons, David Lightner of Indialantic, Fla.; and Gary Lightner and wife Suzanne of Sarasota, with whom Mildred made her home; a stepdaughter, Jean Lightner-Sikkenga of Kalamazoo; and stepson, Seward Lightner Jr. of Hartford.
Among other survivors are five grandchildren, Sabina (Tim) LaClair of South Carolina, Jason Lightner of Florida, Lisa (George) LaCorte of Florida, Lynn Sikkenga of Kalamazoo and Mark (Debby) Lightner of Hartford.
Also, Mildred leaves behind eight great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Mildred was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence Conklin; two sisters, Roberta Haney and Darlene Burnette; and a granddaughter, Laura Sikkenga.
In accordance with her wishes cremation has taken place and internment will be in Maple Hill Cemetery in Hartford at a future date.
Burton Hills
BANGOR - Burton Hills, 84, of Pharr, Texas, formerly of Bangor, passed away April 26, 2009, at Edinburg Nursing and Rehabilitation, Edinburg, Texas.
According to his wishes, cremation has taken place. The family will meet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, at the Bangor Chapel, D. L. Miller Funeral Home with a memorial service at 7 p.m. with the Rev. George Fleming officiating. Burial of his cremains will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Maple Ridge Cemetery, Holt, Mich.
Burton was born July 12, 1924, in Bangor, the son of Bertram and Nettie (Fay) Hills. He lived the majority of his life in the Bangor area, where he was a fruit farmer before moving to Pharr, Texas, 10 years ago. Burton was a member of the cherry growers, Macma (Michigan Apple Commission and Bargaining), the Farm Bureau, and the Horticultural Society.
Surviving are his wife, Margarita (Turanzas), whom he married in 1979; two daughters, Vicki Lynn Brunton, Susan Fay Moore; three grandchildren, Andrew Stephen Lewis, Michael Zachary Moore, Polly J. Moore, and two sisters, Barbara Putman and Alice Efting.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Esther Hills; and sister, Georgiana Ferestad.
Dorothy L. Yost
BERRIEN SPRINGS - Dorothy L. Yost, 93, of Berrien Springs died early Thursday morning, July 2, 2009, at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center, surrounded by her children and granddaughter.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 6, at the Allred Funeral Home in Berrien Springs, with Pastor Esther Knott of Pioneer Memorial Church officiating. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery. Friends are invited to visit with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 5, at the funeral home, and to leave messages online at www.allredfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lakeland Hospice.
Dorothy was born June 2, 1916, in Madison, Wis., the daughter of Henry W. and Bessie Mae (Bowman) Heller. She grew up in Eau Claire, Wis., where she had great times on the farm of her Uncle George, who was like a father to her. She met Lyle E. Yost at the Wisconsin SDA Church Campmeeting, and they were married Sept. 24, 1935, in Chicago. She had lived in Berrien Springs for the past 66 years.
Dorothy had an intense work ethic as she worked as a private duty nurse to send her children to church school to receive a Christian education. She was a mom who was devoted to prayer, and she was a wonderful mother and grandmother. In later years, she had worked alongside her husband at the Berrien County Juvenile Center. Her church membership was with Pioneer Memorial Church.
She is survived by a daughter, Cheryl (Bruce) Gillies of Berrien Springs; two sons, John (Miriam) Yost of Spring City, Tenn., and Jeffery (Donna) Yost of Cumming, Ga.; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle, on Jan. 8, 1993; daughter, Muriel Mae Yost "Sally" Furman, on May 19, 1992; and a brother, LaVerne Heller.
Vernon G. Fester
DOWAGIAC - Vernon's life began on Feb.16, 1923 in Dowagiac, the son of Ferdinand and Lena (Kern) Fester. He was a graduate of the Ccass of 1941 at Dowagiac Central High School. He served his country in the United States Navy during World War II.
Vernon was united in marriage twice in his life, first to Mary (Gard) Fester in November of 1941. Mary passed away on May 27, 1985. He then married Barbara (Martin) Nelson on Sept. 16, 2000, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Dowagiac.
Vernon had been employed at Westwood Trailers, Jessup Door and retired from Sundstrand (Rudy) Manufacturing as an electrician. He was a member of VFW Post 1855, American Legion Post 365 and St. John's Lutheran Church. He loved to dance and play horseshoes. He enjoyed gardening and liked going to the casinos. Vernon loved polka music and was a member of the Polish National Alliance.
His greatest joy was his family which includes his wife, Barbara Fester of Dowagiac; children, Marie Sievert of Dowagiac, Dennis (Deborah) Fester of Niles and Craig (Helen) Fester of Dowagiac; stepson, Chris Nelson of Florida; grandchildren, Corey (Jodi) Fester, Tallie Sievert; stepgrandchildren, Phil (Lynn) Miller, Jeff (Denise) Miller, Aaron (Amanda) Miller; great-grandchildren, Darien Sievert, Keely Fester, Stacia Fester, Aidan Miller, Ella Miller, Siobhan Miller, Casey Miller, Kaleb Miller and Chase Miller; sister, Eldora (Walter) Urbanski of Dowagiac; brother, Edward (Nancy) Fester of Dowagiac; and several nieces and nephews.
Vernon passed away on July 2, 2009, in South Bend, Ind. He was preceded in death by wife, Mary, and brothers, Donald and William Fester.
His family will gather with friends on Sunday from 5 to 8 p.m. at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home, Dowagiac. His funeral service will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at St. John's Lutheran Church, 603 McCleary St., Dowagiac, led by Pastor Jeffrey Weber. He will be laid to rest with military honors rendered by VFW Post 1855 in Riverside Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. John's Lutheran Church or Southern Care Hospice.
Harold E. Myers
STEVENSVILLE - Harold Edward Myers, 73, of Stevensville passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2009, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph.
Harold was born on Dec. 17, 1935, in Buchanan, the son of the late Jacob and Effie (Simpson) Myers. On April 28, 1984, he married the former Claudette Heyn. She preceded him in death on June 1, 2002. Harold was employed by Hoffman Die Casting for 15 years, retiring in 1996.
Survivors include four children - Jeanene (Arden) Madrigal of Bridgman, Sherry (Paul) Herman of Boston, Michael (Wendy) Myers of Wisconsin, and Edith "Edie" (Chris) Beal of Otisville, Mich.; six grandchildren, one great-granddaughter; and two sisters - Helen Barlow of Buchanan and Virginia Sisk of Dowagiac.
Harold was also preceded in death by six brothers and sisters.
Private family services will be held at Graceland Cemetery, Bridgman. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be given to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085. Arrangements have been entrusted to Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Hwy., Bridgman.
