Obituaries

Jan 29, 2023

Sandra Kay (Vliek) Schlieter, 72, of Hartford passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, at Rose Arbor Hospice of Kalamazoo.

Sandy was born in Benton Harbor, to Henry Vliek and Eleanor Orr, on June 25, 1950. She grew up in Keeler with her 7 siblings. Sandy graduated from Hartford High School in 1968. Sandy married Rick...

Jan 16, 2023

Lewis Earl Pritchard, 81, of Hartford passed away suddenly on Monday, Jan. 16, 2023, at home. He was reunited with his beloved wife, Brenda, of 52 years, who he was devoted to, even after her passing on Aug. 27, 2012.

Lewis was born on June 2, 1941, in Dell, Ark., the son of Homer and Minnie (Barrett)...

Jan 11, 2023

Bobby Joe Williamson, 76, of Hartford was born on March 3, 1946, in Butler, Ala., the son of James and LouElla (Todd) Williamson. He passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph.

Bobby served his country proudly in the U.S. Marines during the Vietnam War. He formerly owned and operated Central...

Dec 16, 2022

Dianne Marie Haney was born Feb. 10, 1940, in Muskegon, the daughter of Andrew and Gertrude (Ludwig) Dresen. Dianne passed away suddenly at her home, in Lawrence, on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022, at the age of 82.

On March 16, 1957, Dianne was united in marriage with LeRoy Haney. She was formerly employed at the Du-Well Corporation...

Dec 15, 2022

James David Lewis was born on Aug. 11, 1958, in Hartford, the son of James and Mary (Alexis) Lewis, both of whom precede him in passing. Also preceding him in passing was a brother, Michael Lewis.

James passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at West Woods of Bridgman, at the age of...

Dec 1, 2022

Deborah Gretchen Bedwell, 64, of Hartford went home to be with her Lord and Savior, on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2022.

Deborah was born on March 17, 1958, in Mansfield, Ohio, the daughter of Arthur and Talma (Gorman) Boggs, both of whom precede her in passing. She was also preceded by her nephew, David Perry.

On...

Nov 26, 2022

Gonzalo Victoria Horta, 68, of Hartford passed away on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph.

Gonzalo was born on March 26, 1954, in Mexico, the son of Pedro Victoria and Manuela Horta, both of whom precede him in passing. Also preceding him in passing are two children: Ernesto Victoria and Alberto Victoria....

Nov 24, 2022

Ernest Lee Goodson, 71, of Hartford passed away on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Ernest was born on May 21, 1951, in Lawrence. He was the owner of Wiltse Fencing in Watervliet for many years. On many weekends, you could find him drag racing at the U.S. 131 Motorsports Park in Martin,...

Nov 14, 2022

Norma Lee Wright was born on May 16, 1951, in Eloise, Fla. The daughter of Nathan and Sarah (Adams) Wright, she spent most of her life in Van Buren County.

Sadly, Norma passed away on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022, at her home in Sister Lakes at the age of 71. She had been bravely fighting a long...

Nov 5, 2022

Kenneth Alan Wilson Sr., 90, of Hartford passed away on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Caretel Inns of Lakeland.

Kenneth was born on March 8, 1932, in Chicago, the son of Michael and Cecile (Brauch) Wilson, both of whom precede him in passing. Also preceding him in passing are a daughter, Shirley Haggard; seven grandchildren; two sisters:...

Nov 3, 2022

Phyllis Jean Conklin, 96, of Lawrence passed away comfortably on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022, surrounded by family at home.

Phyllis was born Nov. 1, 1926, in Kankakee, Ill., the daughter of Harry and Nellie (Beauvais) Wright, both of whom precede her in passing. Also preceding her in passing are her late husband, Melvin James ‘M.J.’ Conklin, on...

Oct 30, 2022

David Warren Lake, 73, of Benton Harbor was born April 30, 1949, in Fort Worth, Texas, the son of Matthew Jr. and Norma (Robertson) Lake, both of whom precede him in passing.

David passed away on Sunday, Oct. 30, 2022, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

David was a police officer for many...

Oct 11, 2022

Thomas Ray Spangler Sr., was born on March 26, 1966, in Paw Paw, the son of Janet (Spangler) Morris, whom preceded him in passing. Also preceding him was a grandson, Chase Hall Jr.

Thomas passed away suddenly, on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022, in Watervliet Township.

Thomas attended Bangor schools. He worked at M140 Auto Parts...

Oct 9, 2022

James Daniel Fuller, 49, of Hartford passed away suddenly on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, at home.

James was born Oct. 5, 1973, in St. Joseph, the son of Harry and Elizabeth (Lurline) Fuller.

James loved his family, fishing, good music and playing the guitar. He was loving, caring and protective of the ones he loved....

Oct 4, 2022

Jimmy Ray Green, 66, of Hartford passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, after a long battle with cancer.

Jimmy was born on Jan. 20, 1956, in Georgia, to the late Charles L. and Eunice M. (Burnside) Green.

He joined the Navy young, serving in the Vietnam War. He enjoyed fishing, the...

Sep 23, 2022

Judith Jordan, the oldest of three girls, was born to Tony and Betty Kopus, of Traverse City, Mich., on Aug. 21, 1938. She passed away on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, at the age of 84.

Judith graduated from Traverse City Central High in 1956. In 1959, she moved to St. Joseph to take a job at the...

Sep 19, 2022

Rickey Lee Beck, of Lawrence, was born June 17, 1969, in Killeen, Texas, the son of Larry and Sharon (Lane) Beck.

Rickey passed away at the age of 53, on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, at The Timbers of Cass County in Dowagiac.

Rickey was formerly employed at Lawrence Masonry of Lansing, Mich., until health issues...

Sep 16, 2022

Janice Charlotte Stone was born March 22, 1942, in Floral, Ark., the daughter of Theodore and Audrey (Nicholson) Reeves.

Janice passed away on Friday, Sept. 16, 2022, at Spectrum Health Lakeland, St. Joseph, at the age of 80.

Janice was united in marriage with Carl Stone on June 13, 1960. Janice helped her husband in...

Sep 8, 2022

On Wednesday, Sept. 8th, 2022, Stanley Mark Morseau passed away peacefully with his family by his side.

Stan was born on Nov. 14th, 1945, in Hartford, before moving to Ypsilanti, where he began his career as a roofer and waterproofer. Stanley was a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, where he served on Tribal Council...

Sep 2, 2022

Peggy Jean Winans, 81, of Hartford passed away Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, at home.

Peggy was born Aug. 4, 1941, in Ridgley, Tenn., the daughter of Charles and Reba (Pearson) Bunn, both of whom precede her in passing. Also preceding her in passing were her husband, Duane on March 1, 2010; a sister, Deborah Johnson; a brother,...