Obituaries

Ray Duane Bonnell Jr.

Ray Duane Bonnell Jr.

Aug 29, 2024

Ray Duane Bonnell, 74, of Paw Paw, passed away Thursday August 29, 2024, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.

He was born February 13, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Ray Duane Bonnell and Loretta (Ricci) Bonnell. He grew up in Hinsdale, Illinois and attended Hinsdale Central High School. 

Ray proudly served his country in the United States Army. After his...

Ethel Mae Figg

Ethel Mae Figg

Aug 26, 2024

Ethel Mae Figg, 87, of Paw Paw, passed away Monday, August 26, 2024, at the Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. 

She was born January 22, 1937, in Little Rock, Arkansas, the daughter of Cecil Eugene Stair and Laura Mae (Miller) Stair.

Ethel was a graduate of Hartford High School Class of 1956. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother and grandmother....

Diane Rumsey Grimm

Diane Rumsey Grimm

Aug 25, 2024

Diane Rumsey Grimm, 70, of Mattawan, passed away Sunday, August 25, 2024, at her home. 

She was born May 25, 1954, in East Lansing, Michigan, the daughter of the late Dalton C. Rumsey Sr.and Wilma F. (Blaesing) Rumsey.

Diane was a longtime active member at Paw Paw United Methodist Church. She also donated her time to Wings of God Transition Home in...

Shirley Marie White

Shirley Marie White

Aug 23, 2024

Shirley Marie White, 92, of South Haven, passed away Friday, August 23, 2024, at Bronson Commons in Mattawan. 

She was born March 6, 1932, in Rockford, Illinois, the daughter of William Verran and Bertha (Stroh) Verran.

Shirley worked as a bookkeeper for many years at Huron Farms in Decatur. Her attention to detail and knack for organization made her very well respected...

Gary "Geeter" Wayne Lasecki

Gary "Geeter" Wayne Lasecki

Aug 21, 2024

Gary Wayne “Geeter” Lasecki, 64, of Lawton, Michigan, passed away suddenly at his home on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. Born on April 23, 1960, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Gary was the son of Alfred and Margaret (Sklebeck) Lasecki. 

From an early age, Gary developed a love for speed, spending countless hours on his motorcycles and dirt bikes. His passion for music was...

Willie Emery Mason

Willie Emery Mason

Aug 15, 2024

Willie Lou Emery Mason, 91, of Paw Paw, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Thursday August 15, 2024, at Blueberry Hill Assisted Living in Lawton.

She was born August 2, 1933, in Phil Campbell, Alabama, the daughter of Willie C. Burgett and Millie (O'Terry) Tyra.

Willie was a woman of deep faith and attended Apostolic Lighthouse Church in Decatur. Above all...

James Paul Dietz

James Paul Dietz

Aug 6, 2024

James Paul Dietz, Sr., 78, of Lawton, passed away peacefully in his home with his family at his side on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. 

He was born October 8, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Thaddeus and Ann Dietz. 

For the entirety of his career Jim worked in and was a co-owner of a local family-owned business. 

Jim was a dedicated member...

Betty Ruth Johnson

Betty Ruth Johnson

Aug 5, 2024

Betty Ruth Stigall Johnson, 82, of Bloomingdale, Michigan, formerly of Blytheville, Arkansas, passed away Monday, August 5, 2024, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She was born in Blytheville and had twelve siblings. Her father, Robert Lee Stigall Sr., was a well-respected cotton and peanut farmer and often gave sermons to the small community of Gosnell, in a church that he constructed with...

Richard Norman Stoll

Richard Norman Stoll

Aug 4, 2024

Richard Norman Stoll, 77, passed away suddenly at his home in Lawrence on August 4, 2024. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on August 20, 1946, to Norman and Clarice (Fiebig) Stoll.

Dick attended Grand Rapids J. C. and earned a bachelor’s degree in business at Western Michigan University, where he was a member of the TKE Fraternity. He then...

John Charles Bonter

John Charles Bonter

Jul 30, 2024

John Charles Bonter, 77, of Paw Paw, passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2024, at Kairos Dwelling in Kalamazoo. He was born June 18, 1947, in Battle Creek, the son of Clarence Bonter and Marie (Dumas) Bonter.

John spent a total of 50 years combined service between the Village of Paw Paw and Van Buren County Police. He was the Former Police...

Leonard Wayne Strefling

Leonard Wayne Strefling

Jul 29, 2024

Leonard Wayne Strefling, 73, of Lawrence, passed away surrounded by family, Monday July 29, 2024, at his home in Lawrence. 

He was born December 13, 1950, in Watervliet, Michigan, the son of William Strefling and Lena (Geik) Strefling.

Leonard worked as a teacher for 31 years at Lawrence Public Schools. The impact he made on his students and co-workers was immense. He...

Janice Evonne Moyle

Janice Evonne Moyle

Jul 28, 2024

Janice Evonne Moyle, 87, of Kalamazoo, passed away Sunday, July 28, 2024. 

She was born January 8, 1937, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the daughter of the late Wesley Ballett and Lucille (Miller) Ballett.

She is survived by her daughter, Denise Jacobs of Lawton; son, Brian (Lauren) Moyle of Treasure Island, FL; four grandchildren, Erin Buhl, Stephanie Smith, Zachary Moyle and Alex Moyle; three...

Theodore "Ted" Major

Theodore "Ted" Major

Jul 27, 2024

Lt. Theodore (Ted) Major USNR (b. Theodore Maciejewski) was born on August 10, 1925, on the family farm in Paw Paw, Michigan to Nikodem & Valentina Maciejewski. He was younger brother to Edmund, and older brother to Eleanor and Carl. He attended Riverside School and Paw Paw High School where he excelled in academics and athletics. He attended Western Michigan...

Royal R. Haefner

Royal R. Haefner

Jul 25, 2024

Royal Haefner passed away from the loving care of his family on Thursday afternoon, July 25, 2024, into the loving arms of Jesus. 

Royal was born on December 17, 1936 to Richard Haefner and Edythe (Washburn) Haefner in Dowagiac, Michigan. He lived his entire life in Paw Paw, Michigan. 

He graduated from Paw Paw High School in 1956 and worked for Smith...

Cloyd Dean Wells

Cloyd Dean Wells

Jul 22, 2024

Cloyd Dean Wells, 90, of Paw Paw, passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on Monday, July 22, 2024, at his home. 

He was born July 12, 1934, in Chester, West Virginia to Cloyd and Mamie Wells. When Dean was 17, he made the courageous decision to join the United States Navy right after graduation. He served on...

Lawrence McEnterfer

Lawrence McEnterfer

Jul 19, 2024

Lawrence McEnterfer, 62, of Paw Paw, passed away surrounded by his family on Friday July 19, 2024, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. 

He was born April 12, 1962, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the son of Frank L. McEnterfer and Josephine C. (Godisak) McEnterfer.

Larry loved to go biking and rode his bike all around town. He also enjoyed tinkering and fixing up...

Gary Lynn Longcore

Gary Lynn Longcore

Jul 18, 2024

Gary Lynn Longcore, of Paw Paw, passed away on July 18, 2024, at the age of 63. Gary was the son of Clarence Longcore, Jr. and Joanne Stearns, born on August 31, 1960.

Gary enjoyed fishing, playing golf, and working on various farms for friends. He had a true talent for fixing motors. Regardless of what type of motor, or what...

Edgar "Jack" Bennett Austin

Edgar "Jack" Bennett Austin

Jul 17, 2024

Edgar "Jack" Bennett Austin, 89, of Paw Paw, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at Borgess Pipp Hospital in Plainwell. 

He was born August 22, 1934, in Paw Paw, Michigan, the son of Edgar Charles Austin and Morgie Violet (Glidden) Austin.

Jack grew up on his family farm in Mattawan, he was taught the value of hard work from a young age....

Norman L. Specht

Norman L. Specht

Jul 6, 2024

Norman L. Specht, 87, of Lawton, passed away peacefully Saturday, July 6, 2024, at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. Norm was born August 20, 1936, in Porter Township, the son of Norman and Alice (Hughes) Specht. He resided in the area his entire life. Norm was at his happiest on the farm harvesting hay. 

Funeral services for Norm will be held...

Carolyn Joyce (Cramer) Sage

Carolyn Joyce (Cramer) Sage

Jul 6, 2024

Carolyn "Joyce" Sage, passed away peacefully at Bronson Commons July 6, 2024. Joyce's family is extremely grateful to the staff at Bronson Commons and Centrica Care Navigators Hospice for the care they provided to her during her final weeks. 

Born in Jackson, Ohio, on March 23, 1925, to the late Charles and Margaret (Jacobs) Cramer. She graduated from Jackson High School...