Obituaries

Jan 6, 2020

Diana Marian Forbes passed away peacefully on Monday morning. Diana was raised in the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe. There she was involved in many church and civic activities. During a USO event she met her future husband, Richard "Dick" Forbes. After a short courtship, they were married, which in 2019, they celebrated 54 years of devoted life together....

Jan 2, 2020

Mallory Rusty Figg, 58, of Paw Paw, went to spend eternity with his savior on Thursday, January 2, 2020 in Paw Paw. He was born June 22, 1961 in Watervliet, the son of Herschel Richard Figg and Ethel Mae(Stair) Figg whom survive. Rusty Enjoyed farming and selling the produce he grew at farmers markets. On September 26, 1987 in...

Jan 1, 2020

Debra Ann Hoffer, 66, of Lawton, Michigan passed away on January 1, 2020 in Niles, Michigan.

She was born May 11, 1953 and grew up near Lawton, Michigan, raised by her mother and step-father, in the middle of a family of five girls and four boys.  The family used to sit down and have a blast playing...

Jan 1, 2020

Erika J. Toliusis, 78, of Paw Paw, passed away January 1, 2020 in Kalamazoo, MI. She was born June 30, 1941 in Germany, the daughter of the late Joseph and Emila Toliusis. Erika migrated to the United States with her family at a young age. Erika's family eventually made their way to Paw Paw where she lived on the...

Dec 28, 2019

Judith Ann Jones, 65, of Paw Paw, Michigan, died on Saturday, December 28th, 2019 at her home. She was born August 20th, 1954, in Chicago Illinois, the daughter of Richard and Luella (Huening) Bintz. She was raised in a loving family with 3 siblings. After graduating in 1972 from Mother Guerin High School, she attended Southern Illinois University where...

Dec 23, 2019

Ronald Gregory Budzyn, 82, of Portage, MI, died December 23, 2019 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on September 14, 1937 in Detroit, MI, the son of Valentine and Catherine (Bohon) Budzyn.

Ronald attended St. Mary's Catholic School and later graduated from Mattawan High School in 1956. He joined the United States Army...

Dec 20, 2019

Antoinette Marie Gironda, 77, of Lawrence, MI, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday, December 20, 2019 in Lawrence, MI. She was born on March 19, 1942 in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Anthony and Mary Jagla.

Antoinette graduated from Kelley High School in 1961. In 1976 she and her husband Vito moved their...

Dec 19, 2019

George John Nieman, 76, of Paw Paw, MI, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, December 19, 2019 at his home. He was born on April 28, 1943 in Detroit, MI, the son of George and Hazel Nieman.

George served faithfully in the United States Navy aboard the USS Antietam for 6 years. He...

Dec 18, 2019

Darlene Kay McKenzie, 74, of Paw Paw, MI, passed away on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 in Kalamazoo, MI. She was born September 21, 1945 in Howell, MI, the daughter of Kenneth L. and Leona McKenzie.

Darlene graduated from Paw Paw High School with the class of 1963 and from Ferris State University with her Associates Degree as...

Dec 16, 2019

Nancy Buskirk, 84, formerly of Paw Paw, Grand Rapids, and Good Hart, daughter of the late Lewis and Hazel Williams, died at Life Care Center of Winter Haven in Florida on Dec. 16, 2019. Nancy, who passed on her love of reading to her kids, was a member of several book clubs and a volunteer at her local Friends...

Dec 11, 2019

Sandra Lee Hagg, 79, of Paw Paw, MI, passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2019 in Kalamazoo, MI. She was born on May 24, 1940 in Cleveland, OH, the daughter of Milton Faller and Freda (Davis) Berns.

Sandra retired as a 911 dispatcher from Van Buren County Emergency Services. She adored her family but her grandkids and...

Dec 10, 2019

With deep sadness the Mansberger family would like to announce the death of our beloved and admired husband / father Mark Mansberger, age 66, of Paw Paw, Michigan.  Mark was born in Three Rivers, Michigan on April 26, 1953 and was the eldest son of Harry Benjamin Mansberger Jr. and Joyce Darmilee Harder, and oldest brother to siblings Lynn...

Dec 8, 2019

Herbert "Jim" Sage, 88, of Kalamazoo, MI, passed away Sunday December 8, 2019 at his home in Kalamazoo. He was born June 19, 1931 in Gobles, the eldest son of the late Cleon Sage and Nina  (McElheny) Sage. On October 17, 1956, he married the love of his life, Cleo (Wolf) Sage who survives. He is also survived by...

Dec 8, 2019

Lena Grzebyk, 81, of Paw Paw, passed away peacefully Sunday December 8, 2019. She was born December 5, 1938 in Detroit, the daughter of the late Marino Tasti and Mary (Fusto) Tasti. Lena had a spark about her and loved to be around people. She enjoyed living at Miller Court Apartments where she had many friends. She was a...

Dec 8, 2019

Edward Ignacek Sr., 91, of Paw Paw, MI, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 8, 2019 in his home surrounded by his family. He was born on June 10, 1928 in Chicago, IL, the son of Joseph and Anna (Ehlert) Ignacek.

Edward was raised in Chicago and proudly served in the United States Army including being stationed...

Dec 4, 2019

Bernard Linole Thrasher, 71, of Lawton, MI, passed away on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. He was born in Kalamazoo, on May 16, 1948, the son of Eugene and Wanetta (Kutz) Thrasher. He attended Comstock Schools and Kalamazoo Central High School. Bernard was married to Marie Anne Farrell in 1971. He worked for multiple businesses in the Kalamazoo area including...

Dec 2, 2019

James Robert Tibbitts, age 84, of Mattawan, passed away Monday December 2, 2019 at Rose Arbor in Kalamazoo. He was born September 5, 1935 in Galesburg, the son of  the late Wilbur Tibbitts and Cletus (Prough) Tibbitts. Jim was a Longtime active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Paw Paw. He served his country in the Army, and enjoyed...

Dec 1, 2019

Patricia Ann Wachtor, 72, of Paw Paw, MI, passed away in her home on December 1, 2019. She was born October 13, 1947 in South Bend, IN, the daughter of Louis and Sophie (Krochmal) Krakowski.

Patricia graduated from South Bend High School. She married the love of her life, Robert Anthony Wachtor on October  5, 1968. They...

Nov 30, 2019

Susan Sievers Dunton, 72, of Lawrence, MI, died on the morning of November 30th, 2019 after a long and hard fought battle with cancer.  Sue was born January 12, 1947 in Ann Arbor, MI, the only child of Edward C. Sievers and Ruth (Venema) Sievers. Sue devoted herself to raising her children and spent many years volunteering with Boy...

Nov 28, 2019

Amy Jo Middleton, 48, of Paw Paw, passed away Thursday November 28, 2019 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born January 20, 1971 in Celina, Ohio, the daughter of Rolland Priddy and Judy (Ferguson) Evans. She is survived by her husband, Raymond Middleton, son, Devin Middleton; daughter, Ashlee Middleton; step-son, Korey Wolthuis; mother, Judy Evans and her brother,...