Obituaries

Oct 23, 2020

Alisa Deloris (Roberts) Riddell, 59, of Gobles, MI, died October 23, 2020 in Gobles, MI. She was born on February 9, 1961 in St. Louis, MO, daughter of David and Margaret (Oatsfall) Roberts.

Alisa graduated from Paw Paw High School. She worked various odd jobs but her favorite was always being an amazing wife, sister, friend, aunt,...

Oct 18, 2020

Generous, funny, loving, colorful, family. Norma or Norm to her husband of almost 62 years, Chuck; parents Don and Ada Sexton, brother Ron Sexton, sisters Donna Wedig and Mary Bowlby, lifelong friends Jean Kirshak and Nancy Cox, and brother-in-law Martin Chilcutt; Aunt Norma to many nieces and nephews; Mom to Martha VanAmberg, Chuck and Jeff Chilcutt but also called...

Oct 17, 2020

Clark Deforest Smith, age 80, of Three Rivers and formerly of Lawton, passed away October 17, 2020. Clark was born March 31, 1940 in Grand Junction, Colorado, to the late Lloyd Deforest Smith and Susie (Donohoo) Smith.

Clark was an avid train enthusiast, from working on them to traveling on them. He enjoyed road trips and fall...

Oct 13, 2020

John P. Makowski, 85, of Paw Paw, MI, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2020 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on June 20, 1935 in Oil City, PA, the son of Frank and Barbara (Jamroz) Makowski.

John attended Catholic School and graduated from Cathedral Prep in Erie, PA. He attended Seminary...

Oct 13, 2020

Christopher Brent Van Doren, 43, of Sturgis, MI, passed away suddenly Tuesday October 13, 2020.

He was born November 10, 1976 in Springfield, Ohio, the son of David  Van Doren and Joyce Ryan.

Chris grew up in Sturgis where he was in the Boy Scout's Troop 431, earning his Eagle Scout award in 1994. He...

Oct 8, 2020

Robert Carl Cassada, 88, of Paw Paw, MI, passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2020, at Maple Lake Assisted Living from Parkinson's Disease. He was born on November 17, 1931 in Paw Paw, MI, son of Virgil Cassada and Vena (Hawkins) Cassada.

Mr. Cassada owned the Paw Paw Music Appliance & Furniture store for many years. He...

Oct 3, 2020

Josephine Elizabeth Myers, 87, of Paw Paw, passed away Saturday October 3, 2020 in Paw Paw.

She was born December 9, 1932 in South Bend, the daughter of Alphose Govaert and Marie (Roedsen) Govaert.

Josephine enjoyed being a homemaker. Her main focus was taking care of her family.

In 1969, Josephine married Stephen...

Sep 30, 2020

Aidan Javier Alexander Newton, 18, of Paw Paw, passed away Wednesday, September 30, 2020.

He was born December 7, 2001 in Watervliet, Michigan, the son of Jay and Kelly Allen and Brandy Newton .

Aidan enjoyed the outdoors and spent a lot of time hunting and fishing. He loved music, writing poetry and enjoyed playing...

Sep 29, 2020

Tansy Maysel Ledford, 71, of Lawton,  passed away Tuesday September 29, 2020 at her home.

She was born May 3, 1949 in Kentucky, the daughter of Arthur Perry and Maysel (Morgan) Perry.

On March 28, 1966, in Virginia, she married Benny Ledford who survives.

She is also survived by her mother, Maysel Perry,...

Sep 29, 2020

Andrew Phillip Breitenbach, 55 of Mattawan, passed away Tuesday September 29, 2020.

He was born April 4, 1965 in Paw Paw, the son of John Breitenbach and the late Alma (Toliusis) Breitenbach.

Andrew graduated from Paw Paw High School in 1983. He then served his country in the Army. He enjoyed studying history in his...

Sep 28, 2020

Alice Ibolya Ferris, 66, of Mattawan, passed away Monday September 28, 2020 at University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. She was born April 6, 1954 in Vlaardingen, Netherlands, the daughter of Martin Smith and Eszter Smith.

Alice graduated from Western Michigan University with her Bachelor's Degree in Art and furthered her education by earning her...

Sep 27, 2020

Therman (Buddy) Preston, of Paw Paw, MI, was reunited with his beloved wife, Connie (Good) Preston on September 27, 2020. He left this world doing what he loved most, riding his Harley.

He was born on July 2, 1955 in Plant City, FL, the son of James and Virginia Preston. Surviving are his daughter, Becky (Greg) Berndt,...

Sep 25, 2020

Lynne Ann McGuire passed away at her home in Paw Paw on September 25, 2020.  Lynne was a life-long resident of the area, and was the chef-owner of Bistro 120 for decades.

Lynne was a terrifying sparkplug of raw energy and impacted the Paw Paw community in innumerable ways throughout her lifetime.  She was well known for...

Sep 23, 2020

Work hard, play hard.  That was Joe’s motto, and he lived it daily.  He loved his dream job at the Kalamazoo Math and Science Center and spent countless hours there, and in preparation for being there.  He felt so lucky to work with such a talented and dedicated staff, and found great hope and inspiration in his students.  He...

Sep 23, 2020

Loretta “Lassie” Hackenberg, 92, of Lawton, Passed away September 23, 2020. Heaven gained an angel today, as our mom reunited with our dad, in the early morning hours, at Jackie’s house with grandson Jake by her side.

She was born in East Decatur, on September 27, 1927, the daughter of the late Sam and Mary (Panek) Laskovy....

Sep 21, 2020

Ruby Jane Martin Renfer, 93, of Lawrence, MI, passed away on September 21, 2020. She was born February 19, 1927 in Diehlstadt, MO, daughter of William and Beulah (Martin) Hornback. She was loved by everyone who met her.

Ruby graduated from Charleston High School in Missouri. She was valedictorian of her class. During her junior year of...

Sep 19, 2020

Robert David Oxley, 6, of Lawton, passed away Saturday, September 19, 2020.

Robbie was born August 4, 2014 in Kalamazoo, the son of Keith Oxley and Nancie (Corum) Oxley who survive. Robbie was currently attending kindergarten at Saint Mary School in Paw Paw. He was always full of energy, had a big heart and giving hugs to...

Sep 15, 2020

Marvin Flick, 77, of Paw Paw, passed away Tuesday September 15, 2020 at Rose Arbor in Kalamazoo.

He was born January 2, 1943 in Paw Paw, the son of the late Earl William Flick and Anna Sofia Maria (Guritz) Flick.

On September 10, 1985, in Paw Paw, he married Julie  Houska Flick who survives.

Sep 14, 2020

On September 14, 2020 Fay Frances Allen, 77, of Lawrence Michigan, passed away peacefully at Rose Arbor Hospice Care knowing she was loved by her family and friends. She was born on July 26, 1943 in Hesperia Michigan, the daughter of the late Thelma Craner and Eugene Allen. Fay attended Paw Paw High School and graduated in 1961. Fay...

Sep 10, 2020

John Grahame, 69, of Decatur, passed away Thursday September 10, 2020.

He was born September 16, 1950 in Cumberland , Maryland, the son of the late Joseph Grahame Sr. and Nellie (Davis) Grahame.

John was raised in West Virginia where he attended college. He was an avid West Virginia Mountaineers fan. John was a longtime...