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B. Ernest Kish
GRAND BEACH, Mich. - B. Ernest Kish, 81, of Grand Beach, Mich., died Sunday May 24, 2009, at LaPorte Hospital.
Friends may call from Wednesday 5 to 8 p.m. (Michigan time) at Sommerfeld-Smith Family Funeral Home, 15 N. Barton St., New Buffalo. A Celebration of Life Service will be held an 11 a.m. (Michigan time) at the funeral home, officiated by the Rev. Bradley Bartelmay. Memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church, 24 S. Whittaker, New Buffalo, MI 49117. Friends wishing to leave a message of condolence or to sign the family guestbook at www.sommerfeld-smith.com.
Ernie was born Dec. 3, 1927, in East Chicago, Ind., to Louis and Mary (Reptka) Kish. He served his country in the United States Army with the 82nd Airborne Division.
On June 23, 1956, he married his wife June Cottingham, in Michigan City, Ind.
While attending Indiana University majoring in accounting he worked as a salesman. He owned his own vacuum cleaner business in LaPorte, Ind. After retiring in 1998 from AM-Lyn Products he continued to service some of his customers plus keeping family and friends vacuum cleaners repaired.
He was a member of the Masons, belonging to the Scottish Rite Valley of South Bend and Orak Temple in Michigan City.
He was an avid fisherman and a White Sox Fan, Big Bands and spending winter in Florida. His first love was his family. He enjoyed attending church, school and sporting events with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife June of Grand Beach; three daughters - Denise (Dave) Sheeler of Michigan City, Donna (Floyd) Buckner of New Buffalo and Delynn (Jack) Campbell of Portage, Mich.; six grandchildren; one great grandson; and one sister Rosemary (Frank) Miller of Merrillville, Ind.
Robert 'Bobby' A. Trux
MILLBURG - Robert "Bobby" A. Trux, 65, of Millburg passed away Saturday evening, May 23, 2009, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph.
Per his request, cremation has taken place and his cremains will be buried at Millburg Cemetery at a later date. The Fairplain Funeral Chapel of Florin Funeral Service has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Bobby was born Jan. 19, 1944, in French Camp, Calif., to James and Genevieve Trux. After moving to this area, he worked on his family's farm which made him particularly fond of animals. He later helped his father operate a motorcycle shop. He also enjoyed riding both motorcycles and bicycles. Bobby loved and was loved by many children.
Bobby is survived by his brother, Frederick Trux of Millburg; companion, Raisa Wedech of Millburg; Susan Spears and her family Devon and Chelsea of Coloma; and by the Mayer family of Watervliet.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents; and by his half-brother, Ron Trux.
Dorothy Leah Enger
EDWARDSBURG - Dorothy Leah Enger, 94, of Edwardsburg died at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, May 23, 2009, at home of natural causes.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 27, at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, with Phil Weldy and Pastor Mike Elsey of Ontwa Baptist Church, Edwardsburg, officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Buchanan. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 26, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southwest Michigan.
Mrs. Enger was born Dec. 1, 1914, in Berrien County and lived in this area for more than 65 years. She retired from Simplicity Pattern Co.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ora and Dottie Briney; daughter, Suzanne Putnam, in 2004; brother, Marshal Briney; sisters, Virginia Beadle, Jane Dumbleton, Marie Nelson and Evelyn Leiter.
She is survived by her husband, Oscar Enger, whom she married on Dec. 3, 1979, in Buchanan; son, Douglas (Sharon) Mullen of Galien; daughters, Kristina (Charles) Underly of Berrien Springs and Lauraine (Everett) Whitfield of Niles; stepdaughter, Judith Marie Ketchum of South Bend, Ind.; 12 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; six stepgrandchildren; and one stepgreat-grandchild.
Rance Lowell Deckard
BERRIEN CENTER - Rance Lowell Deckard, 83, of Berrien Center passed away Saturday, May 23, 2009, at Lakeland Long Term Care following an illness.
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, at Pioneer Memorial Church, with Pastor Arne Swanson officiating, where friends may visit with the family an hour prior to service time. Cremation has taken place. Friends may also sign the register book at www.legacyfuneral.com. Legacy Family Funeral Service - Matthew R. Purchase Chapel assisted the family with arrangements.
Rance was born on June 20, 1925, in Bedford, Ind., to Raymond and Nadine (Sears) Deckard. On April 18, 1946, in Bedford he married Corine Anderson who survives.
Rance served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a dedicated educator and principal receiving his education from Emanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University) and Michigan State University with a degree in English literature. He had taught at E.P. Clarke School in St. Joseph, at Bacon School in Scottdale and was a principal in the Benton Harbor school system. Rance was a licensed private pilot and also enjoyed flying radio controlled planes as a hobby. He had a fondness for nature and especially loved poetry and literature. He was a member of the Pioneer Memorial Church and the Michigan Teacher's Association.
In addition to his loving wife, Rance is survived by one daughter; Marci Sears of Mishawaka, Ind.; and one son, Joseph (Rhen Adamson) Deckard of Hood River, Ore.; one sister, Esther Scott of Kentucky; two brothers, Bill of Lafayette, Ind., and Raymond of Bedford, Ind.; one granddaughter, Elizabeth A. Sears of Mishawaka; and a great-grandson, Jackson Evan Sears.
Rance was preceded in death by two brothers, Mansel and Kenneth, one sister, Helen Hobough, and a grandson, Evan J. Sears in August of 1999.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Andrews University Scholarship Fund.
Janet M. Decker
SOUTH HAVEN - Janet M. Decker, formerly of South Haven, died May 26, 2009, in Tucson, Ariz. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Larissa and Derek Beaudreau of Tucson, her mother, Edith Decker of South Haven, and sisters, Beth (Tony) Tanke of Davis, Calif., and Kathy (Don) Burrous of Niles.
Her husband, Dominic DeLuca of Tucson and her father, R.F. Decker of South Haven, preceded her in death.
Janet graduated from the University of Michigan and UCLA majoring in microbiology and immunology. She held research and teaching positions at the Hall Institute, Melbourne, Australia, the University of South Carolina and, for the past 20 years, at the University of Arizona.
A memorial service will take place at a later date. The family requests in lieu of flowers that memorials be made in Janet's name to the American Cancer Society, South Haven Area Hospice Services or a charity of the donor's choice.
Robert A. Wyman
BENTON HARBOR - Robert A. Wyman, 75, of Benton Harbor passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 29, 2009, at Lakeland Specialty Hospital.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 4, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Mich. 49085 with the Rev. Kendall Holder officiating. Visitation with the family will be from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to American Heart Association or Berrien County Cancer Service.
Robert was born on March 25, 1934, in Buchanan, to Emanuel and Mildred (Binger) Wyman. Robert married his wife, Hazel on May 14, 1976, in St. Joseph. He enlisted as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army. Robert was a farmer and became self-employed in construction. He will be missed by his family.
Robert is survived by his wife, Hazel (Schmidt) Wyman; a sister, Donna Wyman Rody; nieces and nephews, Anthony (Peggy Lundy) Lewellinger, Linda (Phil) Sundberg, Karen Stakely (A.J), Michael Lundy (Laurie).
He was preceded in death by a sister, Gladys, and his parents, Emanuel and Mildred.
Lawrence 'Low' Martin
SOUTH BEND - Lawrence "Low" Martin, 43, of South Bend died Friday, May 29, 2009, in South Bend.
Services celebrating his life will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, June 5, at the Refreshing Fountain Church of God in Christ, 175 S. Euclid, in Benton Harbor with the Rev. Williams Nichols of the Unity Temple Church of God in Christ officiating. Burial will follow in Crystal Springs Cemetery. The visitation will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday at the church. The Fairplain Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in Benton Harbor is in charge of the arrangements.
Low was born on Jan. 18, 1966, in Berrien Springs to Tommie Patton and Cornelia Martin. He was employed as a car salesman with Gates Toyota in South Bend for the last 10 years and previous to that he was employed at Jerry Hunts in Benton Harbor. He enjoyed fishing and sports and loved cookouts with his family. Low kept the family together.
He is survived by his children, Montel Hobbs, Saunda Campbell, Lakrasha Campbell, J. R. Martin, Lawrence Martin Jr., Prenell Martin, Champagne Martin, Darious Martin; his stepchildren, Tony Cosey, Tyrese Winters, Antonio Winters, Ashley Cosey, Precious Johnson, Antonio Johnson, Anwan Johnson and Troy Davis; his sister, LouAnn Martin; his grandchildren, Money, Jordan, Little Tyrese, Kesean, Little Montel, Navaeh, Aasia, Ausun and Layla; his aunts, Dorothy Hawkins, Rose Redd and Pauline Lee; his uncles, Henry Martin, W. K. Hawkins II, Richard Jackson, and Richard Lee; his niece, Corcharnelia Martin, and his nephews, Charles Martin Jr. and Aaron Martin.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, Charles, in 1989.
