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Donald Demus Doak
NILES - Donald Demus Doak, 91 years old of Niles, passed to his rest Wednesday, July 8, 2009, at his apartment in Brentwood of Niles Assisted Living. He formerly lived at Colonial Acres in Edwardsburg, Sarasota, Fla., Market Steet in St. Joseph, and North Shore Drive in Benton Harbor.
He was born Aug. 3, 1917, in Sturgis, Mich., the son of Ralph Leslie and Elsie Mae (Coombs) Doak.
Donald was retired supervisor of Indiana & Michigan Power in the Stores and Transportation Department. He enjoyed boating, especially on Lake Michigan, from the St. Joseph and Benton Harbor area. He was a former member of the Twin Cities Camera Club as an amateur. He was a pro to assemble and build "Heath Kits" that were made in the Twin Cities area.
Donald was married Jan. 16, 1937, at Howe, Ind., to Helen Bernice "Hap" Olsen, who passed July 27, 1979. To this marriage was born daughters, Deanna and Sally. Deanna married William Kerr and they live in Madison, Wis., and Sally married Richard Cox and they live in Edwardsburg.
Donald married his second wife, Grace Sayer, Nov. 22, 1980, at the Dailey Church, North of Edwardsburg, and she passed April 8, 2006. This marriage, there were three stepdaughters, who are Deborah (Harry) Stemple and Cheryl (Doug) Stickney, both living in Edwardsburg, and Cindy (Jim) Rogner of Frankenmuth, Mich. Also surviving are two brothers, Marshall Doak of St. Joseph and Steve Doak of Waco, Texas.
There are eight loving grandchildren, Robyn (Brian) Kindle, Doak (Beth) Holman, Betsy (Dustin) Tavernier, Scott (Shea) Cox, Kevin (Niko) Stemple, Toni (Tom) Burns, Jeff Stickney and Jennifer (Michael) Ebanks. Also, there are eight dear great-grandchildren, Cooper Tavernier, who adored his grandfather, and Michelle and Amanda Holman, Adam and Aaron Kindle, Kailey Stemple, and Kyra and Teig Burns.
Family who have passed, are Donald's parents, his two wives, and one grandson, Grove Holman, and two sisters, Dorothy Keller and Marjorie Williams.
There will be a Celebration of Life at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 11, 2009, at the Edwardsburg Presbyterian Church. Officiating will be the Rev. Scott Scheel. The family will receive family and friends from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the church, located at 68961 Lake Street, Edwardsburg. It is suggested that memorial donations be directed to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, Mich. 49085. Arrangements are by Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg.
Joseph E. Lee Sr.
BENTON HARBOR - Joseph E. Lee Sr., 82, father and grandfather, departed this life on Saturday, July 4, 2009, at home in Cartersville, Ga., surrounded by his loving and caring family.
A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 12 p.m. on Friday, July 10, at Robbins Brothers Funeral Home in Benton Harbor. Burial will follow in Crystal Springs Cemetery, Benton Harbor.
Joseph was born to the union of David and Mary (Caldeleught) Lee in Vanduser, Mo., on Sept. 18, 1926. He came to Benton Harbor in 1969 and worked for Auto Specialties where he retired.
He leaves to cherish his memory and mourn his loss, three sons: Lewis (Sonya) Lee of Atlanta, James Lee of Grand Rapids and Floyd (Rommietta) Lee of Cartersville; three daughters: Ophelia Lee of Benton Harbor, Mary Wilson of Lilbourn, Mo., and Debra Wilderness of New Madrid, Mo.; 45 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
He also leaves a brother-in-law, Mitchell Turner (Australia) of Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; and two sisters-in-law, Verna Taylor of Kalamazoo and Freddie Anderson of Jackson, Mich., along with a host of other relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, Millie J. Lee, his brother, Jesse Lee, and seven sons: Phillip Lee, Joseph Lee Jr., Nathaniel Lee, Johnny Lee, Donald Lee, Clarence Lee and David Lee.
Lawrence D. Abbott Sr.
BANGOR - Lawrence David Abbott Sr., 75, of Bangor died Tuesday, July 7, 2009, at his home in Geneva Township.
He was born Sept. 25, 1933, in South Haven to William Lee and Eleanor (Adams) Abbott. Larry married Wilma Sue Rose on Jan. 15, 1955 at Simpson United Methodist Church in Bangor. Larry worked as a molder for South Haven Rubber Company for 37 1/2 years and DuWel for 4 years. Larry and Sue are the owners of Abbott's Blueberry Farm. They are a member of the Michigan Blueberry Growers Association.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his baby daughter - Sharon Abbott, who died in 1955; and brother - Jack Abbott.
He is survived by his wife - Wilma Sue Abbott of Bangor; two sons - Larry (Deborah) Abbott Jr. of Lacota and Dennis Abbott of Lawrence; four grandchildren - Shannon (Kevin) Brown, David (Marjorie) Abbott, Isis and Jason; two great-grandchildren - Nick and Marrissa; seven siblings - Mary Ellen Goodrode and Jane Aiuppy, both of South Haven, Dean Abbott and Buck (Carole) Abbott, both of Bangor, Joyce Abbott of South Haven, Keith (Bonnie) Abbott of Gobles and Pete (Molly) Abbott of Grand Junction; and his close friends - Paul and Lois Krugler of Bangor
Visitation will be today, July 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home, South Haven. Funeral services will be Friday, July 10, at 11 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Harold F. Filbrandt officiating. Burial will take place in Monks Cemetery, Geneva Township. Friends wishing to make a memorial contribution can do so to South Haven's Hospice at Home or the American Cancer Society.
Doris Tarzwell
Ernest Tarzwell
BENTON HARBOR - Memorial services for Doris Tarzwell and Ernest Tarzwell will be held at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, at Chikaming Seventh-day Adventist Church on Red Arrow Highway in Sawyer. Dinner immediately following at 6 p.m. at Chikaming Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Ernest Tarzwell passed away on May 9, 2009, at the Veterans Home in Grand Rapids. Doris Tarzwell passed away on March 11, 2009, at Lakeland Continuing Care Center in St. Joseph.
They touched many lives in Berrien County, where they called home for more than 60 years. Between them they also touched more than 4, 000 children lives for 70 years in their service in Christian and public education.
Doris after starting her career in Pontiac and finishing it up in St. Joseph as a teacher at Washington School and Ernest in New Troy, Eau Claire and the Benton Harbor School System, where Ernest also served as an administrator. Ernest was a proud Army veteran of World War II serving as a medic in Europe. They lived in Michigan their entire lives and were married for more than 60 years as well.
Ernest was head elder at the Fair Plain Adventist Church until he could not physically continue. Ernest headed up the fruit program there as well. To say the least, Ernest was involved in his community and church giving back as much as he could to make life a little easier for others is an understatement.
They were preceded in death by a son, Don Tarzwell, in 1995.
Survivors include, a son and his wife; two grandchildren and several stepgrandchildren.
Genevieve (Kroening) Lee
ST. JOSEPH - Genevieve (Kroening) Lee, 78, of St. Joseph passed away at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph, on Monday, July 6, 2009.
Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St Joseph. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 12 until 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Friends are invited to share a meal in the community room at the funeral home immediately after the service. Her final resting place will be at Millburg Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Coloma Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses or Berrien County Cancer Service. Those wishing to send the family a message of condolence may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com.
She was born Oct.13, 1930, in Chicago, to Alfred and Victoria (Pelz) Kroening. Jenny moved to Benton Harbor in 1943, and married Richard Lee, Sr. in 1951. Jenny worked at Whirlpool for many years and retired in Jan. 1, 1994. Faithful to the end, she was getting dressed for morning field service, when felled by a stroke.
She is survived by a brother, Don (Evelyn) Kroening of Benton Harbor, and sister-in-law, Ethel Kroening of St. Joseph.
She will be greatly missed by her children, Richard (Shelley) Lee Jr. of Key West, Fla., and Victoria (Dan) Thornton of St. Joseph.
The lights of her life were her three grandchildren, Jesse (Stephanie) Thornton and Kelsey Thornton of St. Joseph, Peter Thornton of Fort Wayne, Ind., and her two great-grandchildren, Jocelyn and Damien Thornton.
She also leaves behind a vast spiritual family of brothers and sisters, in particular the Coloma, Benton Harbor and St. Joseph congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Lee Sr., her parents, and her brother, Alfred Kroening.
JoAnn Bankston McKay
BENTON HARBOR - Dr. JoAnn Bankston McKay passed away on Monday, June 29, 2009, at her home in Libertyville, Ill. Born in Benton Harbor to John and Annabelle Bankston on Feb. 4, 1947, she dedicated Her life to the education and care of children and family.
Dr. McKay accepted Christ at a young age and went on to become an active member of Second Baptist Church in Benton Harbor. After graduating from Benton Harbor High School, Dr. McKay earned her bachelor's degree from Western Michigan University, focusing in special education. She went on to earn her master of arts in education, and later completed a doctorate in psychology.
Dr. McKay served as a school psychologist for the North Chicago School District No. 187 for 26 years, until her retirement in June of this year. She also served as an adjunct professor at National Louis University in Illinois.
Her passion for Christ, family, fine art, gardening, jazz, classical music, antiques, gospel music, self-knowledge, and children was evident in every aspect of her life. Dr. McKay was actively involved in the community through her involvement with Links, Incorporated; Jack and Jill of America; United Way and various churches and other civic organizations.
On Dec. 5, 1970, she wed Edwin Bernard McKay. Together they raised two children, Sean A. McKay M.D., LCDR MC USN (Leonor McKay), and RyAnn McKay, Esq.
In addition to her husband and children, Dr. McKay is survived by her mother, Annabelle Bankston of Benton Harbor; her siblings, Sylvia Coleman (Charles Coleman) of Benton Harbor, Karen Bankston of Kalamazoo, John C. Bankston II of San Francisco; her niece and nephews, Cari Godin (Joseph Godin) of Alexandria, Va., Michael McClendon of Kalamazoo, Chad White of Kalamazoo; special friends, Robert Goodman and Jessica Lanting; and numerous other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her father, John C. Bankston.
JoAnn was loved for her humility, generosity, classy manner, culinary artistry, beauty, amazing spirit, confidence and strength.
