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Joseph Max Michaels
SAWYER - Joseph Max Michaels, 81, of Sawyer, formerly of Chicago, died Monday morning, April 13, 2009. Born Nov. 7, 1927, in Chicago, Joe served in the Navy during World War II and graduated from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Joe worked his whole career in the scrap metal business. Joe was the beloved husband of Vicki, devoted brother of Barbara Weinstock and Stephen Michaels; loving father of Beth (Dale) Primer, Wendy (Tara Pinchal), and Gregory; dear grandfather of Lisa and David Primer; uncle to nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by daughters, Sandra Lynn and Kimberly Joy.
Services will be held at Temple Sinai in Michigan City, Ind., at 11 a.m. (Indiana time) on Thursday, April 16. Memorial donations may be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation or Temple Sinai.
Loretta A. Freehling
BRIDGMAN - Loretta Agnes Freehling, 68, of Bridgman passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2009 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 15, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Glendora with the Rev. Thomas R. Brazinsky officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Bridgman. Friends may meet with the family from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Hwy., Bridgman. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be given to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Glendora.
Mrs. Freehling was born Jan. 3, 1941, in Benton Harbor the daughter of the late Edward and Emma (Klug) Schultz. On July 25, 1964, she married Kenneth A. Freehling. He preceded her in death on Jan. 15, 2009. Loretta was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Glendora. She graduated from New Troy High School in 1959 and Concordia Teachers College in 1963. In 1993, she retired from New Buffalo Public Schools. Loretta enjoyed seeing the country with Ken as they delivered RV's.
Survivors include her sister, Delores Schultz of Bridgman; her mother-in-law, Margaret Freehling of Buchanan; a brother-in-law, Dale (Karen) Freehling of Bridgman; two nephews, Michael (Lora) Freehling and Steven (Jan) Freehling; a niece, Marcia (Michael) Kackmeister; and six great-nieces and nephews.
Gerald 'Bill' Willming
BENTON HARBOR - Gerald "Bill" Willming, age 92, of Holiday, Fla., died March 30, 2009. He resided in Benton Harbor until 1986.
Mr. Willming was born Jan. 15, 1917, in Carlock, S.D., to John B. and Hattie (Sargant) Willming. On Dec. 24, 1944, he married Donna (Story) Willming. Bill served in the Army Air Force during World War II (1942-1946) in the 337th Air Service Group in the Aleutian Islands and Okinawa, Japan. He retired from the former Watervliet Paper Mill in 1979.
Survivors include his wife, Donna; daughters, Karen Skidmore, Holiday, Fla., Susan (Jud Brown) Greco, St. Joseph; grandchildren, James (Kerry) Skidmore, Edwards, Colo., Marc (Gwinn) Skidmore, Benton Harbor, Steve Greco III, Tampa, Fla., Karla (Robert) Campbell, Kalamazoo; great-grandchildren, John Ryan, Mallory, Maggie, Cooper Skidmore, Lydia Dorscht, Hayden Campbell; sisters, Iva Nichols, Benton Harbor, Virginia Piper, California; brother, Duane (Edna) Willming, Arkansas; sisters-in-law, Ellen Wise, Virginia Willming.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, John Allen, Lynn, Lyle, Frank, Lewis, Howard Willming; sisters, Lois Simmons, Loraine Willming.
Memorials: Hernando-Pasco Hospice, Attn: Donations, 12107 Majestic Blvd., Hudson, Fla. 34667.
Jaamal Lamar Burton
KALAMAZOO - Jaamal Lamar Burton, 29, of Kalamazoo, began life on March 26, 1980, in Detroit, Mich. He was the son of Inez Burton and the late William Thomas Burton III. He departed this life on March 28, 2009.
Jaamal is survived by his mother, Inez Burton of South Haven; four daughters - Sidney, JaMeisha, JaMya and Jada; two sons - Marcus and Jaamal Jr.; a special friend, Samantha Drew; his siblings - Vernon Guidry of Covert, Darlyn Guidry and Charles (Marcelina) Brown of Augusta, Ga., Terrance (Tisha) Burton of Kalamazoo, and Shaquille and Olajuwon Burton of Covert; and a host of nieces, nephews, uncles and aunts.
He was preceded in death by his father, William Thomas Burton III; grandparents, William Thomas II and Margaret Burton, and Ezekiel and Fannie Guidry; uncles, Clarence and Ervin Guidry; and his brother-in-law, John Lavondo.
Family hour will be at 10 a.m. and the funeral at 11 a.m. Monday, April 6, at New Bethel M.B. Church, 2360 Townline Road, Benton Harbor, with assistant pastor, Maurice L. McAfee, officiating.
Helen "Sis" VanDyke
May 12, 1921 - January 11, 2013
Helen Alice Van Dyke, 91, of Holland, went to be with the Lord on Friday January 11, 2013.
Helen was born in Pocahontas, Arkansas, moved to Michigan and married Theodore Van Dyke who preceded her in death in 1970. Survivors include sister, Elizabeth Nelson, nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews, and she loved them all as her own.
Visitation for the family and friends will be on Friday, January 18 from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at the Holland Church of Christ, 405 Beeline Road. Memorials may be given to Hospice House of Holland.
Dr. Dale Loren Smith
BRIDGMAN - Dale Loren Smith D.D.S., 89 of Bridgman passed away Monday, January 14, 2013 at his home in the care of his family.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM Friday January 18, 2013 at Woodland Shores Baptist Church, 3555 Shawnee Road, Bridgman with Reverend Britton Smith officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery. Friends may meet with the family from 2-4 and 6-8 PM -Thursday, January 17th at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Hwy., Bridgman. Memorial contributions may be given to Woodland Shores Baptist Church or Hospice at Home.
Dale was born May 9, 1923 in Elgin, Kansas, the son of the late John and Susie (Mann) Smith. He served in the US Army, European Theater, during WWII. On October 11, 1947 he married Mildred “Bobbie” McDonald. Dr. Dale was a graduate of the University of Michigan Dental School in 1955. Dale practiced dentistry for 50 years in Bridgman, many of those years with his son Dr. Neal Smith. Dale was a member of the American Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association and the Lakeland Valley Dental Society. He and Bobbie were founding members of Woodland Shores Baptist Church, Bridgman, where he served in many area’s, He also served on the Bethel Board of Regents and the Bridgman School Board.
He is survived by his wife, of 65 years, Bobbie; a daughter, Joan (David) Sorensen; son, Karl (Jamie) Smith; daughter-in-law, Patricia Smith; 15 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Many friends and family members
Dale was preceded in death by his son, Dr. Neal Smith on August 31, 2012, three brothers and four sisters.
Dennis Lee Smith
March 4, 1947 - January 5, 2013
LaPORTE - Dennis Lee Smith, 65 of LaPorte, Indiana passed away on Saturday, January 5, 2013 at his home.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman, MI. Burial of his cremated remains will be at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Battle Creek. Online condolences accepted at www.PikeFH.com
Dennis was born March 4, 1947 in Crawfordsville, Indiana the son of the late Kenneth and Lois (Haupt) Smith. Dennis graduated from New Buffalo High School in 1965. Dennis was in the US Navy as a radioman on the USS Mahan. He was a tool and die maker by trade.
Survivors include his daughter Ann Marie (Sid) Bustamante of California; four grandchildren - Kayla, Maiya, Tanner, Taran; 1 great granddaughter - Madison; sister - Sharon (Ron) Schryer of Benton Harbor; brothers - Michael (Denise) Smith of Granger, Indiana and Donald Smith of Bridgman.
Carl Gunnar Franzon
November 18, 1933 - January 9, 2013
Carl Gunnar Franzon, 79, of Sawyer went home to be with his Lord on January 9, 2013.
A funeral service will be held Monday, January 14, 2013 at 11 AM, at Harbert Community Church, 6444 Harbert Road, Harbert, with Pastor Kyle J.A. Small officiating. Friends may meet with the family on Sunday, January 13 from 2 - 5 PM at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman. Memorial contributions may be made to Harbert Community Church, PO Box 197, Harbert, Michigan 49115 or Chikaming Township Fire Department, PO Box 40, Harbert, Michigan 49115.
Carl was born November 18, 1933 in Chicago, Illinois the son of the late Axel and Ruth (Johanssen) Franzon. The family moved to Sawyer, Michigan where Axel opened Franzon’s Shell in 1950. After graduating from New Troy High School and a tour in the Army, Carl returned to Sawyer to work with his father. In 1965 Carl married Barbara Krieger and they settled in the Sawyer area. Carl worked for his father until he passed and Carl took over as owner and operator of Franzon’s Shell. It was at Franzon’s that many people got to know Carl, whether getting their gas pumped and windows washed or the many regular customers and travelers along the way whose cars he got back on the road. A number of young men got their start working for Carl, and a number of older men were kept going by the pot of coffee he always had brewing. Carl served for many years on the Chikaming Fire Department and his little blue Bronco racing to fires was a familiar sight in the community. Carl was a long-time member of Harbert Community Church.
Survivors include his wife Barbara; daughter - Kathy (David) Lane of Point, Texas, sons - Robert (Maureen) Stanage of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Russell Stanage of Bridgman, Carl (Christine) Franzon of Cheboygan, daughter - Sandra (Scott) MacMartin of Bridgman; 12 grandchildren - Ian, Jessica, Jeremiah, Jasmine, Nathan, Lisbeth, Aurora, Carlina, Christiana, Axel, Kody, Alec; great grandchildren - Alexis, Isabella, Destiny, Michael, Kalynne, Samantha, Hailynn, Braxton; sister - Gunnel (Jim) Brunsell; and sister-in-law - Nancy.
Carl was preceded in death by his father Axel, his mother Ruth, and a brother Axel (Ingvar).
Vern Franklin Tollas
November 9, 1932 - January 8, 2013
Vern Franklin Tollas, 80, of Baroda passed away on Tuesday, January 8 at home surrounded by his family.
A funeral service will be held Saturday, January 12, 2013 at 11 AM, at Zion United Church of Christ, Baroda, with Reverend Christopher Noffke officiating. Friends may meet with the family on Friday from 5 - 7 PM at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman. Burial will be in Ruggles Cemetery, Baroda. Memorial contributions may be made to Zion United Church of Christ, PO Box 10, Baroda, Michigan 49101.
Vern was born November 9, 1932 in his life-long home in Baroda, Michigan the son of the late William Albert and Marie Bertha (Geike) Tollas. Vern was a US Army Veteran and a member of the American Legion Post #345. He married Eleanor Jean Woodrick November 8, 1952 and they have been faithful members of Zion United Church of Christ in Baroda. Vern worked at Continental Can Company in Stevensville retiring in 1990 to continue working the land on The Farm. His love was to be out in the fields and fishing when his work was done.
Survivors include his wife Eleanor; children - Jan Tollas McCuistion of Denver, Colorado, Neil (Janet Moore) Tollas of Wyoming, Ohio, Jerry (Julie) Tollas of Otsego, Michigan, Nancy Baer of St. Joseph, Karen (Wayne) Hall of Berrien Springs, Steve (Amy) Tollas of Sawyer; grandchildren - Kate & Amalia Tollas, Shahla Powell, Jeremy (Amanda) Tollas, Mary Sue & Jaclyn Tollas, Emily Baer, Janell Tollas; great grandchildren - Adalyn, Elaina, Ella; brothers - William Tollas of Madisonville, Kentucky, Robert (Fran) Tollas of Charlevoix, Michigan; sister Lois (Eldon) Nitz of Baroda.
Vern was preceded in death by his brother Arthur Tollas.
