Obituaries

Local obituaries for Berrien Springs, MI and surrounding areas

Mary Elaine Holmes

Mary Elaine Holmes

Mar 1, 2021

Mary Elaine Holmes, 84, died Monday, March 1, 2021, at Loving Care Home in Berrien Springs. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 5, at Allred Funeral Home, Berrien Springs, with visitation one hour prior. Pastor John Glass of Pioneer Memorial Church will officiate. Burial will be in Union Cemetery, Berrien Center. Memories may be shared online at...

Ermel J.D. Dunavin

Ermel J.D. Dunavin

Feb 26, 2021

Ermel J.D. Dunavin, 93, went to his heavenly home with Jesus on Friday, Feb. 26, 2021 at Hanson Hospice Center. Ermel was born June 11, 1927 in Craighead County, Ark. He married Betty Uneta Harrell of Leachville, Ark. on Oct. 8, 1948. They were married for 72 years. Ermel entered military service in the Army at 18 years old and...

Lazaro Falcon

Lazaro Falcon

Feb 20, 2021

On Saturday, February 20, 2021, Lázaro Falcón, 87, loving husband and father, passed away at his home in Berrien Springs, surrounded by family and friends. Lázaro was born to Alfonso Falcón and María Isabel González, on November 14, 1934 in Havana, Cuba. At an early age, Lázaro began an apprenticeship in carpentry, which led to his lifelong dedication to the...

Donald A. Carlson

Donald A. Carlson

Feb 17, 2021

Donald A. Carlson, 65, of Berrien Springs, died Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at his home. He was born July 30, 1955, in St. Joseph, the son of Russell and Elaine Geik Carlson. He attended Lake Michigan College, and later graduated from a five-year electrical apprenticeship and worked as journeyman electrician for many years. Later he worked for Cressy and Everett...

Don Dockerty

Don Dockerty

Feb 9, 2021

Don Dockerty was born March 3, 1945 at Fort Snelling, Minn. to Grace and Hillis Dockerty while Hillis was serving in the US Army in France during World War II. On February 9, 2021 Don passed away surrounded by his wife and three children at Woodland Terrace of Bridgman. Growing up Don primarily lived in the Monticello, Ind. area and...

Roy T. Anderson, Sr.

Roy T. Anderson, Sr.

Feb 8, 2021

Roy T. Anderson, Sr., 89, of Niles, died early Monday, February 8, 2021. He was born in Helena, Arkansas, on September 16, 1931. He grew up in Arkansas and also spent some of his early years in Missouri. He came to Michigan in 1947 and spent the rest of his life in Michigan on his same property where he passed...

Barbara D. Gilliam

Barbara D. Gilliam

Feb 7, 2021

Barbara D. Gilliam, 79, of Eau Claire went home to be with her Lord on Sunday, Feb. 7, 2021. She passed away peacefully at home. Barbara was born and raised in Arkansas on Sept. 6, 1941 to Raymond and Irene (Vittito) Hicks. One of 11 siblings, Barbara was never at a loss for company growing up and always had a...

Tina L. Paugh

Tina L. Paugh

Jan 31, 2021

Tina L. Paugh, 60, of Eau Claire, died Sunday, January 31, 2021 at Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph. She was born December 15, 1960 in Ada, Ohio, the daughter of Doyle and Mary Lee (Martin) Paugh. She was a caregiver at the Old Farm Living Center in Berrien Springs. She loved working with owner Pat Case, as well as...

James T. Schulte

James T. Schulte

Jan 27, 2021

James T. Schulte, 70, commonly known by friends as “Red”, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 from complications of a stroke. Jim was born Sept. 19, 1950 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Joseph A. and Marguerite “Peg” Schulte of St. Joseph (now deceased). He is survived by his son, Thomas (Ashley) Schulte and his grandson, Eddie Schulte of Benton...

Jerry Dewayne Fentress

Jerry Dewayne Fentress

Jan 11, 2021

Jerry Dewayne Fentress, 64, of Eau Claire, died Monday, January 11, 2021, at West Woods of Bridgman. Funeral services will be Thursday, January 14, with visitation at 1 p.m. and the funeral at 2 p.m., at Bowerman Funeral Home in Eau Claire. Messages for the family may be left online at www.bowermanfuneral.com. Jerry was born September 6, 1956, in Benton...

Larry Dean Ford

Larry Dean Ford

Jan 8, 2021

Larry Ford, aka “The Bird”, passed away in his sleep in late January. He died of COPD and issues related to smoking. It was determined that he did not have COVID-19. Larry was born June17, 1955, in Columbus, Wisconsin, the son of Dwain and Lorraine (Saline) Ford. He was a local homebuilder and specialized in the framing of large homes...

Ronald W. Hass

Ronald W. Hass

Dec 29, 2020

Ronald W. Hass, 68, of Eau Claire passed away Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. Ronald was born to the late Eamil and Thelma (Goldner) Hass of Eau Claire. After graduating from Eau Claire High School, Ronald married Jeanne (Griffin) Hass. During the course of their 48-year marriage, Ronald and Jeanne raised three children and welcomed three grandchildren. Ronald was a hard-working...

Kimberly Ann Cheatham

Kimberly Ann Cheatham

Dec 29, 2020

Kimberly Ann Cheatham, 55, of Dowagiac, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020, at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at Caldwell Cemetery in Eau Claire. Bowerman Funeral Home, Eau Claire, is assisting with arrangements, and messages for the family may be left online at www.bowermanfuneral.com. Kimberly was born April 28, 1965,...

John Larry Souers

John Larry Souers

Dec 28, 2020

John Larry Souers, 78, of Eau Claire, died Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, at his home. Larry was born June 29, 1942, in St. Joseph to Stanley and Frieda (Adams) Souers. He worked in construction for Souers Construction, then became an independent contractor. He loved riding his Harley, mushroom hunting, going to deer camp with his sons and friends, and fishing...

Lawrence J. Kamvazaana

Lawrence J. Kamvazaana

Dec 25, 2020

Pastor Lawrence Kamvazaana passed away peacefully in his sleep Christmas morning in Berrien Springs at the age of 73. He was and will always be greatly loved by countless friends and family. Lawrence is survived by his four children: Msama--Kalamazoo, Mika--Berrien Springs, Chikondi & Mnyisei--Houston, Texas. Lawrence was born March 7, 1947 in Mwanza, Malawi to Jackson and Mnyisei. He...

Douglas Paul Ewalt

Douglas Paul Ewalt

Dec 19, 2020

Douglas Paul Ewalt, 62, passed away Saturday, December 19, 2020, in South Bend, Indiana. Douglas was born on November 30, 1958, in Berrien Center, Michigan, to Frank and Marcella (Buechter) Ewalt. He was a 1977 graduate of Berrien Springs High School, and served as an offensive lineman on the football team. He married the love of his life, Carla Ziebarth,...

Ronald J. Vorrath

Ronald J. Vorrath

Dec 14, 2020

Ronald Jerome Vorrath, 87, of Buchanan, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, at 7:20 p.m. At his bedside were his three children and three of his grandchildren. Ron was born Nov. 23, 1933 in Baroda Township to Peter and Christina (Weber) Vorrath. He graduated from Berrien Springs High School in 1952. He attended Chicago Technical...

Florence H. Crumley

Florence H. Crumley

Dec 13, 2020

Florence H Crumley, 96, passed away on Sunday, December 13, 2020, at Royalton Manor, St. Joseph. Florence was born on September 30, 1924, to Conrad and Mary Dick in Portland, Oregon. During WWII she worked in the Portland Shipyards as a welder, a “Rosie Riveter.” She graduated from Portland Sanitarium and Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse in...

Virginia N. Baker

Virginia N. Baker

Dec 6, 2020

Virginia N. Baker, 92, of Eau Claire, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020, at Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph. Services will be Thursday, Dec. 10, at Bowerman Funeral Home in Eau Claire, with visitation from 1-2 p.m. followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Caldwell Cemetery, Eau Claire. Messages and memories may be shared online at...

James Michael Rodell

James Michael Rodell

Dec 2, 2020

James “Jim” Michael Rodell, 74, of Eau Claire, passed away at his home on Dec. 2, 2020. Jim was born August 13, 1946 in Benton Harbor to the late Victor and Leota (Robinson) Rodell. He grew up in Eau Claire, graduating from Eau Claire High School in 1965. He also attended Lake Michigan College. He worked for IBM and Kodak...