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Alfred Donald Cowan
KNOB NOSTER, MO. - Alfred Donald Cowan, "Mr. Al, " 82, passed away June 29, 2009, of natural causes at his daughter's home in Bellevue, Neb. Alfred was born on Feb. 13, 1927, in Quenemo, Kan., to Fred and Laura Cowan. He married Alice Aletha Smith on Dec. 23, 1955.
Alfred was a 23-year Air Force veteran, retiring at Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster, Mo. He resided most of his remaining life in Knob Noster, and was a lifetime member of the Knob Noster United Methodist Church. He was an avid gardener, and enjoyed children, including his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was also a lifetime member and past-president of the Knob Noster Optimist Club. He drove school buses for many years for the Knob Noster School District, and was awarded the nickname, "Mr. Al" by many affectionate school children.
He is survived by his daughters, Patricia Brannen, Warrensburg, Mo., Laura Worsley, Tipton, Mo., and Jeanette Taylor, Bellevue, Neb.; and his son, David Cowan, Benton Harbor. He is also survived by his first son's daughter, Diane Rattinger, Sedalia, Mo. Also surviving are 10 other grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; his brothers, Maynard Cowan, Lyndon, Kans., and Everett Cowan, Topeka, Kan.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Alice Cowan; his son, Harold Rattinger; his brother, David S. Cowan; and one grandchild.
Services were held at 11 a.m. July 1 at Knob Noster United Methodist Church, with Pastor Asher McDaniel officiating. Burial followed in the Knob Noster Cemetery with full military honors.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Knob Noster Methodist Church and may be left in care of Sweeney-Phillips & Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg, Mo.
Jerry Brown
BERRIEN SPRINGS - Jerry Brown, 84, of Berrien Springs passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, surrounded by his five children at his home.
Jerry's life began on Jan. 13, 1925, in Baroda, the fourth child of Lester D. and Frances M. (Bodjack) Brown, who both preceded him in death.
After graduating from Benton Harbor High School, Jerry entered the U.S. Navy, serving from 1943-1945. He went through training at Great Lakes Naval Training in Chicago. He was a 3rd Class Petty Officer and Aviation Machinist.
After the Navy, he went back home where he operated a Texaco Service Station from 1946-1950. In 1950, Jerry joined his dad and two brothers in the proprietorship of Twin City Recreation Bowling Alley, on the Main Street of Benton Harbor, (after 20 years the Rec closed). He also worked for a short time in real estate, and in 1971, he became a rural mail carrier with the Berrien Springs Post Office, retiring in 1990.
On June 6, 1953, he married Dorothy Welsh from Muskegon, whom he met through his cousin, while she attended Western Michigan College. Together they raised five children, traveled around the U.S., and began Oronoko Lakes Recreation in 1970. Dorothy preceded him in death after 51 years of marriage, on Feb. 16, 2005.
Jerry enjoyed life to the fullest! In younger years, he enjoyed flying planes, racing his Porsche with the Sports Car Club of America, working on cars, and later reading and telling jokes.
Survivors include his daughter, Kathleen F. and Erin Dee Lott of Berrien Springs, and their children, Brandon E. of Berrien Springs, Michelle K. of Seattle and Kristine F. of East Lansing, Mich.; daughter, Barbara A. and Joseph Kienzle of Berrien Springs and her son, Gerald R. Glowacki of Mason City, Iowa; daughter, Laura L. Cowart of Berrien Springs and her children, Byron O. and Amy (Holmes) of Buchanan and Kayla L. of Kansas City, Mo.; daughter, Suzanne M. and Steven A. Haskins of Seaville, N.J., with her children, Dustin K. and Jennifer (Blundo) Brown and their son, Oliver (great-grandson) of N. Wildwood, N.J., Alexander and Benjamin Brown, Steve's son, Christopher S., and their sons, Dillon A. and Bryce G. Haskins; son, Daniel D. and his children, Mallory M. and David P. of Berrien Springs; plus his dog, Topo, and the cats, Tina and Princess.
Also surviving are siblings James (Jack) H. and Lee (Yost) Brown of Benton Harbor; Lester D. Brown Jr., and Marylynn F. Rock, both of Berrien Springs; Lois D. and John Scheuer of Coloma; Shirley A. Rukes of Sarasota, Fla.; and Mark A. Brown of Berrien Springs, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Jerry will be greatly missed by his children, as they've known him to be "One helluva Dad!"
In lieu of flowers, make donations in Jerry's name to your favorite charity or to Hospice of Berrien County.
Cremation has taken place. There will be no service.
Jack H. Burridge
DETROIT - Jack H. Burridge, 84, of Detroit died June 30, 2009.
Beloved husband of the late Beulah. Dearest father of Jack T. (Donna), Linda Gay (John), Annette Cortas (Duane), Paulette Kohrs (Joe), Craig, Kimberly Mead, and Scott and Kathy. Also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Dear brother of Thomas E.
Funeral Monday 11 a.m. at the Howe-Peterson Funeral Home, 22546 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, Mich. Visitation Sunday, 2 to 9 p.m. Interment Michigan Memorial Park, Flatrock, Mich.
Rose (Cuchinski) Callender
St. Joseph - Rose Bernice (Cuchinski) Callender, 91, of St. Joseph passed away on Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St. Joseph. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today, with a Rosary at 6:30 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Elementary School.
Rose was born on Sept. 2, 1917, in Chicago. She was the daughter of John and Victoria (Wzorek) Cuchinski. She moved to St. Joseph with her family in 1920. She later married John E. Callender in St. Joseph on June 5, 1937. She enjoyed to the fullest each and every phase of her long and joyous life. She loved to cook and bake, and also enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren's sporting events.
Rose is survived by her two daughters, Judith (Ron) Koeper of St. Joseph and Nancy (Walter) Sawyer of Arlington, Va.; and son, John (Betty) Callender of Columbus, Ohio. She is also survived by a sister, Crestelda Tiefenbach of St. Joseph, and a brother, Harry Cuchinski of St. Joseph; along with five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a daughter, Caroline Agay, a sister, Alice Barrick, and two brothers, Joseph Cuchinski and Casmer Cuchinski.
Mary Evelyn Wilson
BENTON HARBOR - Mary Evelyn Wilson, age 45, of Nixa, Mo., passed away Thursday, June 25, 2009. She was born Jan. 5, 1964, in Benton Harbor.
Mary was employed by Springfield City Utilities for 26 years. At age of 19 she was employed at the James River Power Plant. She later became the first female warehouse worker. Mary was a member of IBEW Local No. 753. She loved being outdoors, fishing, and mushroom hunting. She also enjoyed traveling. Mary was a proud member of the Democratic Party.
Survivors include, her son, Kyle Wilson, Nixa; Kyle's grandparents, Don and Sharon Wilson, Ozark, Mo.; her father, Charles Spear, Springfield, Mo.; her mother, Kathleen Biederbick Spear, Nixa; two sisters, Rebecca Allen and husband, George, Nixa, and Karen Eggert and husband, Eric, West Plains, Mo.; three brothers, Patrick Spear, Nixa, Steve Spear and wife, Crystal, Wichita, Kan., and Thomas Spear, Springfield; nieces, nephews, other family members include cousins, May Schultz-Reed, Eau Claire, L. Michael Schultz, St. Joseph, Charles Schultz, Eau Claire, Dr. Linda Phillips, Fredonia, N.Y., and aunt Beverly Groenke, Berrien Springs.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Harold and Evelyn Biederbick, uncle and aunt, Robert and Jane Hollacher.
Elizabeth 'Lish' (Clarke) Torstenson
SOUTH HAVEN - Elizabeth Anne "Lish" (Clarke) Torstenson, 82, of South Haven passed away Sunday, June 28, 2009, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.
She was born Jan. 9, 1927, in South Haven to Arthur H. and Bernice (Williams) Clarke Sr. Lish graduated from South Haven High School in 1946. She then graduated from Western Michigan Teachers College where she received her bachelor's and master's degrees. Lish married Robert J. Torstenson on Aug. 24, 1947, at the First Congregational Church in South Haven. Lish taught at Lincoln School for over 10 years. She was a member of the Tri County MS Board and the AAUW. Lish liked to knit in her free time. She also tutored students in remedial reading. Lish was a member of the First Congregational Church UCC in South Haven where she served as the Christian Education Director for many years.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Robert J. Torstenson, who died in 1998; one brother, Arthur H. Clarke Jr.; and two sisters, Charlotte Griffin and Barbara Bradshaw.
She is survived by three sons - Chris (Margaret) Torstenson of Elkhart, Ind., Robert Jr. (Nancy) Torstenson of South Haven, and Craig (Kathy) Torstenson of Kalamazoo; seven grandchildren - Mike (Karen) Veit, Joy (Kyle) Roberson, Jill (Mike) VanderBilt, Meg Torstenson, Erik (Heather) Torstenson, Trisha Torstenson and Sean Torstenson; and four great-grandchildren - Cordner, Deven, Owen and Joseph.
Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 11, at the First Congregational Church UCC in South Haven. Memorial services will begin at 11 a.m. at the church with the Rev. Jeffrey S. Dick officiating. Burial will take place in Lakeview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society or the First Congregational Church UCC of South Haven.
The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home of South Haven.
Manuel Romero
HARTFORD - Manuel Romero, 83 of Hartford passed away Monday, June 29, 2009, at his home.
Manuel was born Jan. 1, 1926, in Bishop, Texas, the son of Juan and Gabriela (Rojas) Romero, both of whom preceded him in passing. Also preceding him were a great-granddaughter, Jordan Manciaz, a brother, Casimiro Ortega, and a sister, Nicolas Guzman.
Manuel started working in the oil fields as a truck driver, given the task of moving oil rigs from field to field. Due to his safe record of no accidents over the course of 18 years, he received many awards. He moved to the area in 1969, where he would remain the rest of his life. After he settled down in the area, he was employed at Duffy Mott's of Hartford until its closing, when he became a farm contractor.
Manuel married Oralia Garza on March 14, 1949. She survives, along with three daughters, Diana (Tomas) Castillo of Watervliet, Graciela (Alfonso) Chavez of Hartford and Leticia (Luis) Aranda of Lawrence, five sons, Juan (Sharon) Romero of Illinois, Gerardo (Luisa) Romero of Maryland, Aldo Romero and Lorenzo Romero, both of Hartford and Rodolfo (Crystal) Romero of Coloma. He is also survived by 28 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and a sister, Francisca Reyna of Losebanos, Texas.
The family will greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Hartford, where the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 2. Father Fabio Garzon will serve as celebrant. Burial will follow in Maple Hill Cemetery, Hartford. The family requests that memorials be made to the St. Jude Children's Hospital or to the Sheriff's Fraternal Order of Police. Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford is handling the arrangements.
