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Thomas 'Tom' DeMorrow
SODUS - Thomas Edward DeMorrow of Sodus, a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, Dec. 14, 2009, surrounded by his family.
A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, at Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Burial will follow in Shanghai Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17.
Tom was born to Karl and Dorothy DeMorrow on July 16, 1944, in South Haven. Tom graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1962. Tom married Marietta Harper Haak, the love of his life, on May 22, 1982, in Stevensville.
Tom worked 18 years for the Chessie System Railroad in Chicago. He also worked on the train bridge in St. Joseph. From there he worked for I&M; Electric and AEP in Bridgman, where he had many friends. Tom enjoyed working with wood, on household repairs, mechanics and his yard.
He is survived by his loving wife, Marietta; and his seven children, Karl (Sheila) DeMorrow, Rick DeMorrow, Dale Little, Mike (Chris) Little, Sandy (Lee) Igert, Kenneth (Jennifer) Harper and Kathy Briney. He is also survived by his siblings, Marie Bock, Karl (Alice) Kelly and Robert DeMorrow. Tom had 18 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents and two sons, Terry DeMorrow and Alan Harper.
Tom was a wonderful husband, father and family adviser. He will truly be missed by all his family and friends, and will remain forever in our hearts.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Thomas DeMorrow Family.
Wallace E. Lowery Sr.
NEW BUFFALO - Wallace E. Lowery Sr., 83, died at his residence in New Buffalo on Monday, Dec. 14, 2009.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Lighthouse Village Church of God of New Buffalo, or to the Fellowship Bible Church of Sawyer. Arrangements have been entrusted with Sommerfeld Chapel of New Buffalo.
Wallace was born Feb. 8, 1926, in Langley, Ark., to Proctor and Jeannie (Jones) Lowery. He served his country during World War II while in the U.S. Navy. Wallace married Nancy Virginia Cunningham in Oklahoma City on May 14, 1942. He loved to hunt and fish, and especially loved cooking for his family.
Wallace is survived by his wife, Nancy, of more than 67 years; his children, Gloria (William) McMartin of North Port, Fla., Wallace (Ruth Ann) Lowery Jr. of Three Oaks, Vicki (Jack) MacKenzie of Michigan City, Ind., Joyce (Ronald) Flory of Three Oaks, Virginia (David) Bowers of Atlanta and Roger (Michelle) Lowery of LaPorte, Ind.; 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren; a brother, Johnny Lowery of Buchanan; a sister, Frankie (Ray) Shirley of St. Joseph; a sister-in-law, Cheryl Lowery of Buchanan; and his best friend, Ginger.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Proctor and Jeannie, and two grandchildren.
Donna Jean Blasy
BENTON HARBOR - Donna Jean Blasy, 20, of Benton Harbor passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 1, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph. She is now safe in the arms of her Savior.
Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1965 Broadway, Benton Harbor, officiated by the Rev. Paul S. Naumann. Burial will follow in Hickory Bluff Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the family.
Donna was born to Lanny and Nancy (Conner) Blasy on March 9, 1989, at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. She was a graduate of Michigan Lutheran High School in 2007. She was presently working at St. Matthew's day care. One of her passions was taking care of the little ones.
Donna was survived by her parents, Lanny and Nancy of Benton Harbor; a sister, Sheila (Donald) Terlisner of Benton Harbor; two nephews, Jaycob and Carter; two nieces, Madison and Zoey; two aunts, Linda (Dan) Carroll of St. Joseph and Mollie Logan of Benton Harbor; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and a host of friends. Donna had a special friend, Karen Benitez, and a godson, Camden Lucas Thorson.
Jean A. McKee
NILES - Jean A. McKee, 83, of Niles died at 11:37 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at Healthwin Specialty Hospital, South Bend, Ind., of an extended illness.
She was born on Jan. 8, 1926, in Wheaton, Ill., to Arthur and Audrey (Allen) Garrison. On Aug. 10, 1945, in South Bend, she married Robert C. McKee Sr., who survives. Also surviving are her son, Robert C. (Gail) McKee Jr. of St. Joseph; grandchildren, Amanda Mollison and Anthony McKee; three stepgrandchildren, Paul, Adam and Mark Miller; four great-grandchildren; siblings, Betty Marcusse of Grand Rapids, Sandra Bale and Sylvia Scurio, both of Fennville, Judy Mehos of Niles and Patricia Niedemyer of Columbia City, Ind.
A Mass of Christian Burial for Jean A. McKee will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles, by the Rev. Thomas King, CSC.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Contributions may be made to St. Mark Catholic Church.
Willie E. Templeton
NILES - Willie Eugene Templeton, 82, of Niles died at 6:40 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles of natural causes.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan with Pastor Sean Kidd of Buchanan Christian Church officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Buchanan. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5, at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.
Mr. Templeton was born March 30, 1927, in Bald Knob, Ark., and lived here for 58 years, coming from Swifton, Ark. He was a U.S. Army Korean War veteran and a member of the Buchanan American Legion. He was a farmer and retired from Clark Equipment Co., after 28 years. He was a member of Buchanan Moose Lodge-Heart Club and Niles Eagles.
He married Etta Lea (Vaughn) Templeton on March 27, 1947, in Swifton. She preceded him in death on Nov. 12, 1997. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Will and Myrtle Templeton; brother, Benny Templeton; sister, Hazel Templeton; and a grandson, Jeffrey Robert Payne.
Survivors include daughters, Sue (Wally) Sutton, Shirley "Squirrel" (Lloyd) Bennett, Connie (Bill) Housand and Etta Ziegler; son, Robert (Jean) Templeton; 11 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; brothers, Odean Templeton and Larry Templeton; and sisters, Lois Thompkins, Jewel Worsham, Lucille Templeton and Dana Templeton.
Theresa Plasko
WATERVLIET - Theresa's life began April 8, 1933, in Watervliet. She spent her childhood growing up in the Coloma/Watervliet area. Theresa graduated from Covert High School; after graduation she attended nursing school at Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor. Through some neighbor friends she met Robert Plasko and they married June 19, 1954, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Watervliet.
Theresa was a registered nurse and owned Tech Exercise Salon in Mansfield and Centerville, Ohio, and South Haven. In her spare time Theresa was a Girl Scout leader, American Field Service leader, and she volunteered at the YMCA. When Theresa was not volunteering, she enjoyed playing bridge, square dancing and traveling.
Theresa's greatest love was spending time with her family which includes: her husband, Bob Plasko; seven children, Mark Plasko of Chapel Hill, N.C., Mary (John) Sheets of Meridian, Ind., Victoria Jean Keon of George West, Texas, Phillip (Susan) Plasko of Plano, Texas, Stephen (Norine) Plasko of Waxhaw, N.C., Theodore Plasko of Round Rock, Texas, and Joy (Mark) Turner of Heath Springs, S.C.; 11 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two sisters, Sallie (Noel) Rodriguez of Simi Valley, Calif., and Dee Phillips of Watervliet; and several nieces and nephews.
Theresa passed away on Nov. 2, 2009.
Friends may visit with Theresa's family Friday, Nov. 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet, where a prayer service will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Watervliet. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.
Elsie Dick
ST. JOSEPH - Elsie Dick, 99, of Noblesville, Ind., formerly of St. Joseph, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Ind.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at North Shore Memory Gardens, officiated by the Rev. Robert Confer. The arrangements are entrusted with Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to First Church of God, where she was a member.
Elsie was born on Sept. 15, 1910, to William and Augusta (Radtke) Schmidt in St. Joseph.
She is survived by a daughter, Delphine (James) Lennon of Noblesville, Ind.; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George in 1982; a son, Arno in 2008; and three sisters and three brothers.
