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Pauline Nichols
BENTON HARBOR - Pauline's life began Jan. 19, 1924, in Newport, Ark. AS was typical of the time, Pauline attended school to the eighth grade, but in 1970 she proudly celebrated completing her GED and received her high school diploma. Pauline had most recently worked in the laundry department of Wilderness Foods; she had also worked as a home economist for Michigan State Cooperative Extension and as a school cook. Pauline enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking and loved to travel.
Her greatest love was caring for her family, which includes her husband, Shelven, whom she married Oct. 26, 1940; five children, Ed (Shirley) Nichols of Mansfield, Ohio, Rick (Karen) Nichols of Kalamazoo, Roger (Paula) Nichols of South Bend, Janice (Frank) Petrovich of Bainbridge Township and Laurie Bowers of Watervliet; 11 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; a sister, Ivoy Pearson of St. Joseph; and many nieces and nephews.
Pauline died Saturday, June 6, at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center. Her parents, Arthur and Emma (Norris) Watson, and six siblings, Elwood Watson, Cuba Lee Bailey, Elbert Watson, Elvera Latham, Vaughn Watson and Shirley Boyer preceded Pauline in death.
Friends may visit with Pauline's family Wednesday, June 10, from 10 to 11 a.m. at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet. Pauline's life will be celebrated following visitation at 11 a.m. on Wednesday with Pastor Miryam Hammond officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Pauline's family.
Marshall Lewis Bond
BENTON HARBOR - Marshall Lewis Bond, 64, of Benton Harbor passed away peacefully on May 29, 2009, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph.
Marshall was born June 7, 1944, in Brownsville, Tenn., to the union of Houston and Polly Bond. At the age of 12 Marshall accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and was baptized at the Woodlawn Baptist Church. Marshall relocated to Benton Harbor in 1965. He enjoyed fishing and working on cars.
He leaves to cherish his memory two sons, Marshall Bond Jr. of Ripley, Tenn., and Marshall Bond II of Fort Myers, Fla.; one daughter, Jennifer Bond of Ripley; one brother, William (Joann) Bond of Benton Harbor; one sister, Mary (Jesse) Watson of Benton Harbor; two grandchildren, Torri Bond and David Barbee, both of Ripley; a special friend, Doretha Williams; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Marshall was preceded in death by his parents, Houston and Polly Bond; and his maternal and paternal grandparents.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 11, at Robbins Brothers (Chapel) Funeral Home, 204 S. Fair Ave., Benton Harbor, Mich. 49022. Interment will be in Crystal Springs Cemetery, Benton Harbor. Final arrangements are entrusted to Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, Benton Harbor.
Helen Jean Forrest Sanders
BENTON HARBOR - Mrs. Helen Jean Forrest Sanders, the first of six children, was born Nov. 3, 1942, in New Madrid, Mo., to the late Benjamin and Ella Forrest. She united in holy matrimony to Cornelius Sanders in 1960. In the late 1960s she moved to Flint, Mich., where she resided for about 20 years before returning to her hometown of Benton Harbor.
She leaves to cherish her memory five sons, Vance Forrest of Ogden, Utah, Cornelius Sanders Jr. of Madison, Wis., Eldridge Bell and wife, Glenda, of Flint, Edward Bell of Roy, Utah, Arthur Sanders and wife, Tierra, of Lansing, Mich.; four daughters, Vanessa Sanders of South Bend, Ind., Lavonne Sanders of Benton Harbor, Veatrice Aggison and husband, George, of Stone Mountain, Ga., Patrice Bell of Flint; two brothers, Bennie Forrest and Alvin Forrest of Benton Harbor; two sisters, Gertrude Johnson of Elkhart, Ind., Shelia Lucas of Benton Harbor; 18 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Cornelius; two sons, Derrick Sanders and Deon Bell; parents, Benjamin and Ella Forrest; a brother, Jerome Forrest; and a special friend, James Bell.
Service will be Wednesday at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, visitation at 11 a.m. and service at 12 p.m.
Lisa Lyn Kaiser
NILES - Lisa Lyn Kaiser, 41, of Niles died at 4:55 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2009, at West Woods of Niles of natural causes.
Memorial services will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday, June 12, at Faith United Methodist Church, Buchanan with Pastor Christopher Kruchkow officiating. Memorials may be made to Faith United Methodist Church, Buchanan.
Lisa was born Oct. 9, 1967, in South Bend, Ind., and was a lifelong area resident. She was employed as general laborer (factory) and was a member of Faith United Methodist Church, Buchanan.
Survivors include her parents, Allen and Dawn (Polley) Kaiser of Buchanan; a son, Derek Kaiser of Niles; daughter, Corynn Kaiser of Niles; brothers, Kevin Kaiser of Dowagiac, Shawn Kaiser of Niles and Scott Kaiser of Galien.
James Motycka
NEW BUFFALO - James Motycka, 68, of New Buffalo, died Friday, June 5, 2009, at his home surrounded by his loving family.
Jim was born March 14, 1941, in Chicago to Anthony and Mary Elizabeth (Ruda) Motycka. He served his country as a U.S. Marine stationed in Cherry Point, N.C. On Aug. 17, 1958, he married JoAnne James in Stevensville. They made their home in New Buffalo and for 10 years lived in Albuquerque, N.M.. Jim was a self-employed contractor and entrepreneur, owning Complete Construction Co., Able Mini Storage, Citgo Gas Station and Snack Bar, and the Dairy Castle in New Buffalo. He was a member of American Legion Post 169 and attended the First United Methodist Church. He enjoyed traveling, collecting treasures and cooking. Jim liked playing cards, dominoes and other games, and loved spending time with his family, friends and especially his grandchildren.
Survivors include his daughters, Mary Jayne (Mark) Robertson and Kimberly Dawn (John) Landess of New Buffalo; grandchildren, Jimmy and Codi Landess; and great-grandchildren, Jaden and Lillyana; brother, Anthony Motycka of New Buffalo; and his extended family and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, JoAnne, in 2006; his parents; brother, Joseph; and sister, Carole James.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, June 10, at the First United Methodist Church in New Buffalo, with the Rev. Brad Bartlemay officiating. Military honors will be presented by the Edward C. Sexton American Legion Post 169. Cremation will follow with interment of the ashes in Pine Grove Cemetery, New Buffalo. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Pobocik Funeral Home, Three Oaks. Memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 24 S. Whittaker, New Buffalo, MI 49117, or to the Franciscan Hospice, 1225 East Coolspring Ave., Suite 1E, Michigan City, IN 46360.
Helen E. Peterson
ST. JOSEPH - Helen E. Peterson, 82, of St. Joseph, formerly of Covert, passed away Friday evening, June 5, 2009, at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo.
Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 10, at Davidson Funeral Home, 249 E. Center St., Coloma, with Pastor Duane Jones officiating. Burial will follow in North Shore Memory Gardens in Hagar Shores. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Congregational Church of Covert.
Helen was born June 9, 1926, in Elkhart, Ind., to Walter and Letha Hefter. She married Harry Peterson on June 28, 1947, and together they had four children, Gregory, Steven, Linda and Keith. Helen graduated from nursing school in 1947 and worked as a registered nurse in South Haven for many years. Additionally, she and her husband were longtime blueberry farmers in Covert. She was a lifetime member of the South Haven Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and of the First Congregational in Covert. Helen and her husband enjoyed square dancing and were active participants in the Hits & Misses Square Dancing Club. Additionally, she enjoyed camping, reading and yearly trips to Florida in their RV. Most of all, Helen cherished time spent with her family - particularly with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Helen is survived by her children, Gregory A. (Nancy) Peterson of Hudsonville, Mich., Linda (Charles) Hadley of Hartford and Keith (Tommi) Peterson of Burlington, N.J.; grandchildren, Shane (Kim) and Curtis Peterson, Rhonda (Rob) Harris, Sarah, Melissa and Brett Hadley, and Donni (Christi), Jody and Kaitlin Peterson; nine great-grandchildren; and by her sister, Roberta Rowley of St. Joseph.
In addition to his parents, Helen was preceded in death by her husband, Harry, in 1998; and by her son, Steven W. Peterson, in 2008.
Charles W. "Charlie" Hinton
SOUTH HAVEN - Charles W. "Charlie" Hinton, 64, of South Haven died on June 6, 2009.
Charlie was born on March 19, 1945, in Tennessee to Clark and Clara (Reeves) Hinton. Charlie worked as a truck driver for many years. Most recently he worked for USF Holland, retiring this past March. He loved to ride his motorcycle and quad. He also loved camping and traveling.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Marilynn Hinton, in 2008.
Charlie is survived by his children - James (Debra) Hinton of Lowell, Mich., and Terena Hinton of South Haven; one granddaughter, Alexandra Hinton; three brothers - Waylon (Donna) Hinton of Blytheville, Ark., Wayford (Sue) Hinton of Tulsa, Okla., and James (Carol) Hinton of Broken Arrow, Okla.; and one sister, Geraldine Goff of Southaven, Miss.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, June 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home, South Haven. The funeral service will be Wednesday, June 10, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Eric Jarvis officiating. Burial will be in Monks Cemetery, Geneva Township.
Margaret Sternaman
ST. JOSEPH - Margaret Mary (Bujack) Sternaman, 87, of St. Joseph passed away on Saturday, June 6, 2009, at Royalton Manor in St. Joseph.
A funeral service celebrating her life will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. The visitation will be prior to the service from 12 to 1 p.m. The burial will follow the service in Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice at Home.
Margaret was born on Dec. 24, 1921, in St. Joseph, to Herman and O'Tillie (Radtke) Bujack. She married Malcolm Sternaman on Aug. 16, 1947, in St. Joseph. Margaret graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1939. She was very involved as a member in her church and was an avid bowler.
She is survived by her son, Gary (Sandy) Sternaman of Parma, Mich.; a stepdaughter, Carrie Lee Howard of Flint, Mich.; two grandsons, Scott Sternaman of St. Joseph and Steve Sternaman of South Bend, Ind.; and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, a brother and three sisters.
