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Florence Jopek
HARBERT -- Florence Jopek, 88, of Harbert, Mich., died Saturday, Dec. 14, 2002, at Calhoun County Medical Care Facility in Battle Creek, Mich.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, at Pobocik Funeral Home Connelly-Noble Chapel, Three Oaks. Friends may call one hour before services at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Lakeside Cemetery, Chikaming Township. Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, Tuberculosis research, 2815 Michigan St., NE, Ste B, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49506.
Mrs. Jopek was born March 19, 1914, in Chicago. On June 8, 1932, she married Joseph J. Jopek in Chicago. Mrs. Jopek was active in her community, especially with the Back of the Yards Council in Chicago, the Cook County P.T.O. and the Lindblom Football Mothers Club and was a volunteer for the mobile T.B. testing vans in Chicago. In 1969, she moved from Chicago to make her home in Harbert. Mrs. Jopek was a historian and an avid Abraham Lincoln collector. Many of her Lincoln items have been donated to the Lincoln Home National Historic Society in Springfield.
Survivors include her sons, Joseph J. (Peggy) Jopek Jr. of Antigo, Wis., Patrick T. (Lori) Jopek of Bridgman and Thomas R. (JoAnn) Jopek of Battle Creek; 13 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, in 1975; by her son, James F. Jopek in 1980; and recently by her brothers, James McKenna, Thomas Dolan and Jack Browning.
Lila Robeson Hird Wagner
ST. JOSEPH -- Lila Robeson Hird Wagner, 83, of North Muskegon, Mich., formerly of St. Joseph, died Sunday, Feb. 2, 2003.
Lila was born July 8, 1919, in East Cleveland, Ohio. She graduated from Shaw High School in 1937 and went on to the Cleveland Business College. In 1944, she married Harold C. Wagner of Tiro, Ohio, and they lived briefly in Tiffin, Ohio, and then on to Cleveland. In 1957, they moved to St. Joseph, and in 1973 to Muskegon, Mich. She studied voice with her aunt, the late Lila P. Robeson, and was soprano soloist in several Cleveland, St. Joseph and Muskegon churches. In St. Joseph she studied voice with Margaret Lester while teaching voice. In Muskegon she also taught voice while studying with the late John Wheeler. Lila was a member of the First Congregational Church, The Mayflower Society, The D.A.R., Colonial Dames, Beta Sigma Phi, The Cecilean Club and Monday Musical of St. Joseph.
Lila is survived by her husband, Harold; their three children -- Fred Wagner of St. Joseph, Paul C. Wagner of Newburgh, Ind., and Karen Andrie of North Muskegon; seven grandchildren -- Kathy, David, Crystal, and Colin Wagner, and Rebecca, Sarah and Kendra Andrie; and three great-grandchildren -- Ellen and Lila Duvall and David Wagner.
Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at First Congregational Church, Muskegon, with the Rev. Michael Bush officiating. Interment at Laketon Township Cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Clock Funeral Home, 1469 Peck Street, Muskegon. Memorials may be made to First Congregational Church Music Program.
Chester A. Harding I
COVERT -- Chester Austin Harding I, my beloved husband and life long mate of 321/2 years, passed away at 11:55 p.m., April 2, 2003, after an 18 month heroic brave battle with chronic illness. His faith in Jesus Christ sustained him.
He was the beloved son of Austin and Hattie Rosser Harding, born on Oct. 17, 1952, in Watervliet. His life long passions were laughter, song and building.
He had a melodious voice that could make the angels rejoice and people give standing ovations. His mind so intelligent as to become a master carpenter, leaving behind magnificent legacies of his skill. He graduated from Covert High School in 1972, and was given medals as the fastest man in southwest Michigan in track.
Chester leaves behind many true and wonderful friends, for we shall all meet again one day.
He leaves us to mourn -- his wife Janie Karen Hall Harding; his children -- Chester II and his wife, Loleta; his daughter, Jacquelyn Karen Harding; four grandchildren -- Breanna Stinback, Kasiah Zion Harding, Maketa and Freddie Cunningham; his mother, Hattie; and 10 siblings -- Charles of New Orleans, Sherman of Niles, Austin of Kalamazoo, David of Covert, Beryl Bromaley of Jamaica, Gloria Bailey of Palm Bay, Fla., Sara Harding of Kalamazoo, Pearl Banks of Kentwood, Mich., Shirley Harding of Los Angeles, Veronica Edmonds of Stevenson Ranch, Calif.
A wake will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 9, at Life Giving Ministry Church located at the corner of M-140 and 16th Ave., in South Haven.
Memorial services will begin at 11 a.m. at the church with Elder Michael Sanders officiating. The family is being helped by the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home, South Haven.
Florann Marie (Montgomery) Gailliard
BENTON HARBOR -- Florann Marie (Montgomery) Gailliard was born on Jan. 7, 1953, in Live Oak, Fla., and departed this world on May 29, 2003, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., where she was raised.
She leaves to live on three daughters, Nykita Montgomery, Kendra (Kevin) Person and Joan Gailliard; two grandchildren -- Kennedy Bender and Mallory Montgomery; her mother, Carlean Montgomery; two sisters -- Carlear Scruggs and Vivian Baptiste; one brother, James (Katherine) Montgomery Jr.; one special cousin, Florine Dyson; two special friends -- Dr. Frances Kwanza and Dr. Ralphenia Pace; and a host of loving family and friends.
Dr. Gailliard graced this world with love and concern for others as well as for higher education, with an emphasis in Hospitality Management and Tourism. While living in Benton Harbor, she worked for the Expanded Nutrition Program and also taught nutrition at Lake Michigan College.
The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 5, at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Fort Lauderdale. Mizell-Kurtz Funeral Home, Fort Lauderdale, is handling the arrangements.
Mearl F. Everhart
BENTON HARBOR -- Mearl F. Everhart, 87, of Benton Harbor died June 15, 2003, at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18, at New Life Baptist Church, St. Joseph, with the Rev. Brian Rumer officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today, June 17, at Louis W. Kerlikowske Chapel, Kerley & Starks Funeral Home, St. Joseph. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to New Life Baptist Church, of which he was a member for more than 50 years.
Mearl was born May 26, 1916, in Bridgeton, Ind., to Dora and Mae (Bradford) Everhart. As a young boy, he worked in the coal mines in Indiana and in the conservation camps, clearing the forests during the Depression. He married his first wife, Eileen Adams, who preceded him in death in 1980. He married Thelma Bradsher in St. Joseph on Dec. 24, 1981. She survives. Mearl was the owner of Mr. Fix-It in Benton Harbor and was known as Mr. Fix-It even after he retired. He enjoyed having coffee in the morning at Meijers with his friends.
In addition to his wife, Thelma, he is survived by children -- Darlene Bergey of Lenoir, Tenn., Del (Nancy) Jordan of Nunica, Mich., Donna (Harry) Traugh of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., Linda (Ron) Calhoun of Watervliet and Faye (John) Blackburn of South Bend, Ind.; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was also preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Marsha Ulrich; a grandson, Michael David Story; granddaughter, Lauren Oulton; sister, Leona Butt; and a brother, Barney Everhart.
William Remington Jr.
BENTON HARBOR -- William W. "Bill" Remington Jr., 69, of Benton Harbor, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2003, due to complications following a stroke, at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at St. Joseph First Church of the Nazarene, with the Rev. J. Dean Pickett officiating. Memorials may be made in Bill's honor to the church or to Berrien County Cancer Service. Cremation has taken place and a private family burial of ashes will take place at a later date. Arrangements are by Dey-Florin Chapel, Florin Funeral Service, St. Joseph.
Bill was born Dec. 13, 1933, in Kalamazoo to William W. and Dorothy (Dignan) Remington Sr. He married Judith Kennedy on Oct. 28, 1961, at Twelve Corners Community Church, Benton Harbor. Bill worked 28 years for the St. Joseph Public Works Department, retiring in 1998 at the age of 64. He worked on practically anything that needed fixing, including the more than 1, 000 sprinkler heads throughout the city. Bill also operated the big machinery required for park maintenance. During the winter he would help plow the streets and sidewalks, and ran the ice skating rink on Napier Avenue and Willa Drive. Bill worked for Industrial Rubber for 16 years prior to that. He was always pleasant, easygoing, dedicated, and enjoyed watching the grandchildren play baseball, hockey, and soccer. Bill was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, who will be dearly missed.
Judith, his wife of nearly 42 years, survives him. Also surviving, a daughter, Terry (Robert) Morrow of St. Joseph, son, Kevin (Beth) Remington of St. Joseph, daughter, Karen (Rory) Dickey of St. Joseph; stepdaughters -- Tina Remington of Black River Falls, Wis., and Cherie (Ken) Stancyk of West Bend, Wis.; three sisters -- Verna (Raymon) Green of Bull Head, Ariz., Carolyn Keith of St. Joseph and Darlene (Fred) Mitchell of Coloma; brother, James Remington of Watervliet; four grandchildren -- Gregg (Jailyn) Morrow, Brian (Josephine) Morrow, Tyler Dickey and Haley Dickey, all of St. Joseph; two great-grandchildren, Matthew and Josiah Morrow.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; stepson, Gerald Tibbs; a brother, Marvin Remington; and two twin sisters.
Michael C. Astopenia
ST. JOSEPH -- Michael C. Astopenia, 27, of St. Joseph died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2002, at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill., after a long and courageous battle with cystic fibrosis.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph. Visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 11, with a prayer service at 8 p.m. at Dey-Florin Chapel, Florin Funeral Service, St. Joseph. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. The family has requested memorials may be made to the Greater Michigan Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for Research. Anyone wishing to send the family a note of sympathy may do so online at www.florin.net
Michael was born on June 4, 1975, in St. Joseph, the son of Michael A. and Beverly (Karch) Astopenia. Michael graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1993, then continued his education at the General Motors Institute in Flint, Mich. Michael was also employed for five years as an engineer with Crusader Die Engineering Inc. in Benton Harbor. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.
Survivors include his parents, Michael and Beverly Astopenia of St. Joseph; one sister, Kendra Astopenia of Los Angeles; two brothers -- Adam and Alex Astopenia, both of St. Joseph; two grandmothers, Florence Karch and Marguerite Astopenia, both of St. Joseph; and many relatives and friends, whom he dearly loved.
Michael was preceded in death by his sister, Kimberly Astopenia, who died in 1984; and grandfathers, Harold Karch and Mitchell Astopenia.
Lester 'Red' Moore
EAU CLAIRE -- Lester "Red" Moore, 89, of Eau Claire died Friday evening, Nov. 29, 2002 at his residence.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Fairplain Chapel of Florin Funeral Service, where visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday. Burial will be in North Shore Memory Gardens. Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of South Haven.
Lester was born Sept. 5, 1913 in Kennett, Mo. He retired from Whirlpool in 1975 after 33 years of service as a maintenance man. He was active in Benton Harbor Babe Ruth and Little League for 18 years, involved in Apprenticeship and Training program and Job Evaluation programs at Whirlpool, and was a former member of the Benton Harbor Moose Lodge for over 20 years.
He is survived by a niece, Linda Moore, whom he resided with, and several other nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Lester was preceded in death by his first wife, Hazel in 1971; second wife, Leona in 1995; son, Barry L. Moore in 1967; mother, Mary Downing in 1979; sister, Altha McCaig in 2001; and nephew, Dewayne E. Moore in 1992.
