Search Archived Marriage Records
James W. Narregan
KALAMAZOO -- James W. Narregan, 61, of Kalamazoo passed away Sunday, April 6, 2003, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo.
Jim was born April 2, 1942, in St. Joseph, the son of Harold and Lorrane (Seavers) Narregan.
Survivors include: his mother, Lorrane Narregan of Decatur; a sister, Deborah N. (Steven) Weurding of Kalamazoo; brother, Robert M. Narregan of Wixom, Mich.; and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his father, Harold, in 1986.
Jim graduated from Decatur High School in 1960. He graduated from Ferris State College and was on their baseball team for four years. After Ferris, he taught chemistry in Paw Paw for one year. He then joined the Army and was in the Army Special Forces, Army Airborne and Green Beret and served in Vietnam. He was highly decorated, receiving a total of 17 awards and decorations. He graduated from Wayne State University Law School and was a former Prosecuting Attorney for Kalamazoo County. In 1978, he went into private practice in Kalamazoo, where he was currently in practice. Jim was an avid fisherman and raised Palomino Quarterhorses for more than 20 years. He was a member of VFW Celery City Post 6248 of Decatur, a member and past president of Palomino Horse Breeders of America, board member of Palomino Horse Association and a member of the Kalamazoo County Bar Association.
Cremation has taken place. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Newell Funeral Home, Decatur, where memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, with the Rev. Brian Hall officiating. Private graveside services with military rites conducted by VFW Celery City Post 6248 of Decatur, will be in Lakeside Cemetery, Decatur. The family suggests memorials be made to Kalamazoo Humane Society, Cheff Therapeutic Riding Center or the VFW in Decatur.
Maria Perez-Ventura
SODUS -- Maria Perez-Ventura, infant daughter of Nicholas Perez and Maria Cristina Ventura of Sodus, died May 31, 2003, at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph. She was born on May 30, 2003.
In addition to her parents, she is also survived by her sister, Marlene.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 4, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Burial will follow in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Sodus.
Lois J. Truman
ST. JOSEPH -- Lois J. Truman, 81, of St. Joseph died June 15, 2003, at her residence.
A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at Peace Temple United Methodist Church, Benton Harbor, with the Rev. Dave Knapp officiating. Friends may visit with the family Wednesday from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be made to Peace Temple United Methodist Church or to the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan.
Lois was born April 1, 1922, in Grand Rapids, to George and Anna (Ambos) Metzdorf. She graduated from Chicago Lakeview High School in 1939. Lois was a beautician for many years at Roberts Hair Fashions, Benton Harbor. She was skilled in cooking, baking and sewing. She also enjoyed cake decorating. Lois was an active member of the Peace Temple, especially active in United Methodist Women's groups.
She is survived by two sons -- Arthur Truman of Niles and Terrence (Connie) Truman of St. Joseph; six grandchildren -- Eli Truman, Joey Truman, Melissa Truman, Tyler Truman, Misty Flowers and Billy Milliken; and five great-grandchildren.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents; and three brothers, George Metzdorf, Ray Metzdorf and Jack Metzdorf.
Lorraine N. Bosschem
ST. JOSEPH -- Lorraine N. Bosschem, 88, of Manistee, Mich., formerly of St. Joseph, died Aug. 5, 2003, in Manistee.
She was born May 21, 1915, in St. Joseph, the daughter of Christ and Emilie (Rineas) Lemke. Lorraine married Andrew P. Bosschem on March 17, 1934, in St. Joseph. He preceded her in death on Aug. 19, 1975.
Lorraine had been a journalist and society page editor with the Manistee News Advocate for several years. She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Manistee. She was also a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, an honorary member of the Manistee Elks Lodge and an avid bridge player.
She is survived by a son, Paul (Ginny) Bosschem of Manistee; daughter, Suzanne (Craig) Kuechenmeister of Trussville, Ala.; granddaughters -- Lori (Ian) Brooks of Lake Barrington, Ill., and Sheli (Todd) Griswold of Chief Lake, Mich.; great-grandsons -- Nathan and Drew Griswold and John Paul Robert Brooks.
She was also preceded in death by brothers, Edgar and Arnold Lemke; and a sister, Lucille Lemke.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Manistee. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Manistee.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at the Johnson Funeral Home, 480 Water St., Manistee. Memorials may be given to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Endowment Fund or the Manistee County Foundation.
Lon R. Payne
THREE OAKS -- Lon R. Payne, 52, of Three Oaks, died Thursday night, August 8, 2002, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Cremation will take place. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, August 12, at Pobocik Funeral Home Connelly-Noble Chapel, Three Oaks, with Pastor Jeff Dryden officiating. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Three Oaks Public Library.
Lon was born on March 7, 1950, in Galien, to Thomas R. and Mary E. (Rose) Payne. He was born into a farming family, and continued farming all his life. Lon was currently the executor of the Payne Centennial Farm. He graduated from River Valley High School in 1968, and earned his degree from Lake Michigan College in 1970. On June 8, 1982, he married Gail A. Butterworth in Niles. He was employed as an appliance service technician at Gamble's in Buchanan for ten years, and at Montgomery Wards Service in South Bend for 24 years, before starting his own business, the A Plus Appliance Service, where he did what he enjoyed most, helping others.
Survivors include: his wife, Gail; daughters -- Lori Payne and Dana Payne, both of Three Oaks; sisters -- Frances Piatt of Cannelton, Ind., Audrey Payne and Rosemary Keller, both of Three Oaks, and Mary Hanover of South Bend; and his brother, Thomas J. Payne of Niles.
Rosalie (Drews) Smith-Behnke
ST. JOSEPH -- Rosalie (Drews) Smith-Behnke, 90, passed away on Nov. 25, 2002, at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center.
Rose was born on Dec. 7, 1911, in Kosovo, Poland, (Russia), to Adolf and Julianna (Adam) Drews. She came to the United States at age 10 (1922) along with her mother, brother Reinhold, and sister Natalie Drews. Since coming to Michigan, she lived her life in St. Joseph, where she attended Trinity Lutheran Church and School through 8th grade.
After being employed at the Industrial Rubber Goods Co., for many years, she retired and became a homemaker. Her first husband was Edward L. Smith with whom she had three children, Nancy Joy Smith Lausch of Stevensville, James E. Smith of Bridgman, and Leroy R. (Joanne) Smith of Watervliet.
In 1952, she married Ernie G. Behnke, who passed away in July 2000.
She is survived by her three children along with nine grandchi, Jason Lausch, St. Joseph, Cindy Zelmer, Berrien Springs, Candy Ambrose, Stevensville, Scot Smith, Portage, Drew Smith, Phoenix, Chris Smith, Sodus, Heather Matheny, Conroe, Texas, and Tanya Humphrey, Bedias, Texas; 16 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, and a sister-in-law, Lucille (Behnke) Sestric, Dowagiac.
She was also preceded in death by her parents; brother, Reinhold Drews; sister, Natalie Drews Hettig; half-sister, Amelia (Emily) Grams; and half-brother, August Dreves.
She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. During her last years, while in poor health, she was cared for by her daughter, Nancy Lausch and her son, James E. Smith until her death.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 6:30 p.m. today at Kerley & Starks Funeral Home, 802 Main Street, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, in the Louis W. Kerlikowske Chapel, Kerley & Starks Funeral Home, St. Joseph. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. At her request, there will be no gathering after the service.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Stevensville, of which she was a member.
Frederick O. Phillips
ST. JOSEPH -- Frederick O. Phillips, 69, of St. Joseph died Saturday, Nov. 30, 2002 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph. Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the Dey-Florin Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in St. Joseph, with a Rosary at 7 p.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Benton Harbor. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Helping Hands Ministry in Kalamazoo or to masses, St. Joseph Catholic Church. Notes of sympathy may be forwarded to the family at www.florin.net.
Mr. Phillips was born June 27, 1933 in Riddle, Ind. to LeRoy and Esther Phillips. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. He graduated from Western Michigan University with a bachelor in English and received his masters from Michigan State. Mr. Phillips taught for several years at Benton Harbor High School.
He taught at Phillips Driving School, which he also owned and operated. Frederick then went on to teach at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor and was the Director of the Remedial Program there. He was also a reading specialist for Benton Harbor Public Schools and finally retired from the Gifted and Talented Academy in the Benton Harbor School System.
Mr. Phillips was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph, the Berrien Springs Sportsman Club, and the Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed volunteering as a story teller, and also volunteered at the Berrien Springs Courthouse Museum and Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph. He most recently spent time volunteering for the Box Factory in St. Joseph.
Survivors include: his wife, Delores "Honey" Phillips of St. Joseph; daughters -- Kathryn (Dennis) Grusecki of Belleville, Mich. and Ann (Tom) Browning of Kalamazoo; sisters -- Pat (Bill) Moss of Lexington, Ky.; brothers -- William (Sandy) Phillips of Grand Rapids and Dale Phillips of Benton Harbor; granddaughters -- Merritt Grusecki and Laura Browning; and many nieces and nephews.
