Mary Elizabeth Anderson, 94, (née Thornton), formerly of Vicksburg, died Dec. 28 in Grand Rapids. She is survived by her son, Robert (Juliane) Anderson of Ada; her daughter, Susan (Stephen) Marston of Edina, Minn.; grandchildren, Becca Anderson, Christopher Marston and Elizabeth (Todd) Hallack; and great grandchild, Samantha. Liz, or Butch, as she was known to her many Air Force friends, was born in Jonesboro, Ark., to the late Reverend Doctor Robert Andrew and Ivah (Sharp) Thornton in 1924. In 1945, while Rev. Thornton was preaching in Artesia, Miss., Liz met 2nd Lt. Joseph Anderson of Kalamazoo. They were wed in October of that year and moved to Michigan after his discharge. Several years later, Joe was recalled into the United States Air Force and they moved around the country and the globe. After Joe retired from the Air Force, they settled into a beautiful home on Sunset Lake in Vicksburg, where they joined and were active for many years in the Vicksburg United Methodist Church. They frequently traveled to the family cabin on the Manistee River. After Joe passed in 2012, Liz moved to the Clark on Keller Lake Retirement Community in Grand Rapids. Interment was next to her beloved Joe at the Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta. Donations may go to the Vicksburg United Methodist Church, earmarked for “Missions”.
Janet Kay Buck, passed away on January 2, at New Friends where she had been a resident for two years. Janet was born May 3, 1944 in Vicksburg to Paul and June Tackaberry. She graduated from Vicksburg High School in 1962 and then attended South Bend College of Commerce in Indiana. After moving back to Kalamazoo, she married Richard Buck. They both worked in the Printing Business for many years in Kalamazoo. When they retired they moved to Leisure Time Condominiums. Richard passed away in 2013. Janet is survived by her sister Berneice Hunt, Kalamazoo, step-son Bradley Buck, Angola, Indiana and many cousins and all of their families. Private burial will be at Mount Ever-Rest Memorial Park beside her husband.
Norman Joseph Collins, 69, Schoolcraft, passed away Dec. 21, after a heart attack. He was born October 24, 1949 in Kalamazoo, the son of Elmer and Genevieve (Skoglund) Collins. Surviving are his wife, Tena Ross-Adams Collins, step-sons Nickolaus (Katarina), Timothy, Nathanyell (Kimberly) and Brandon and step-grandson Elliot Farrell. He was preceded in death by brothers Woodrow Collins and Howard Collins, and sister Dyane (Collins) Wildig. Norm worked at Stryker for 46 years, one of the longest employees on record. He and Tena were regular supporters of the Gospel Mission in Kalamazoo, enjoyed attending Earth, Wind and Fire concerts and vacationed in Mexico every year. Norm was a generous person, frequently helping those in need and had a great sense of humor. Funeral services were held on Dec. 28 at Avink Funeral Home in Schoolcraft. Burial was at Schoolcraft Cemetery following the service. Donations may go to the Gospel Mission in Kalamazoo. Visit his page at avinkcremation.com.
John Davidson, 69, Scotts, passed away on Dec. 1, with family at his side. John was born in Kalamazoo on May 25, 1949, the son of the late Arthur and Shirley (Gettys) Davidson. He was also preceded in passing by two siblings, Richard and Donald Davidson. On March 27, 1969, he was drafted into the army to serve in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in April 1971 and worked for Georgia Pacific Paper Company. He later retired from ICM Products. He enjoyed traveling and took many memorable cross-country trips and cruises with his family. On December 18, 1971, he married Peggy (Reaume) Davidson, who survives. He is also survived by three children, Lewis (Treasa) Davidson II, Tina (Scott) Eager and Rebecca Powers; an honorary daughter, Samantha (Sam) Gannon and her three children, Jacob, Max and Miah; grandchildren Kassandra Kloth, Alexandra (Aaron) Flood, Lewis John Davidson III, Marina Davidson, Jonathan Eager, Collin Eager, Emily “Toby” Powers, Kaya Powers, Levi Eager; an honorary granddaughter, Sarah (Donqual) Smith-Johnson and their daughter, Lashay; great-grandchildren Lilliana, Arayah, Adestria, Felicity, Ozïl; siblings Myra (Donald) Psalmonds, Susan (Kenneth) Cross, Arthur Davidson, Brenda (Arthur) Austin, Denise Zirkelbach, Dale “Barney” Davidson, Peggy (Mark) Slater; a sister-in-law, Rose Davidson; a special niece, Yvonne Reaume; and several nieces, nephews and friends. Donations may go to St. Joseph Catholic Church or the Hospital Hospitality House.
Marcella “Bid” C. Erskine, Schoolcraft, passed away Jan. 1. She was born to James and Neta (Smith) Mears on Jan. 11, 1926. Bid was a wife, mother and grandmother, worked at nursing homes, and cooked at restaurants, including Arlene’s Truck Stop and Marjo’s. Marcella is survived by Virginia Schuring, of Muir; James (Bonnie) Erskine, of Scotts; Judy (Don) Hatfield, of Ohio; John Erskine, of Kentucky; 12 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren; a sister, Bertha May “Midge” (Al) Engelman, of Portage; and numerous nieces and nephews. Bid was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest; a daughter, JoAnne Erskine; a grandson, Greg Schuring; and a great granddaughter, Stephanie Hirdning. Visit Bid’s page at mccowensecord.com. Donations may go to the Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.
Daniel P. Fearn, 91, Vicksburg, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Jan. 3. He was born June 16, 1927 in Jackson to William and Lavina (Brassmer) Fearn. In the Korean War, Dan’s regiment received two Presidential Unit Citations. One for the Battle of Twin Tunnels and the other at Chipyong-ni, where he got two Purple Hearts. His wounds sent him to the hospital ship Constellation and on to the Tokyo General Army Hospital. He was also a member of the Arbor Day Society, Disabled American Veterans (D.A.V.), Military Order of the Purple Heart, USFA (United States Forces Austria Association) and the Second Division Association Korean Branch. He was a charter member of the Warren Woods Nazarene Church and an active member at Chapman Memorial Church of the Nazarene. He is survived by his wife, Lois, of 66 years, daughters Danise Fearn, of St. Clair Shores and Diane Hurst and her husband, Larry, of Bourbonnais, Ill.; grandsons Jared (Kari) Whitlow, of Illinois; Jeremy (Michelle) Whitlow, of Oklahoma; Justin Whitlow (Emily), of Illinois; and granddaughter, Emily Hurst, of Illinois. He is also survived by stepgrandsons Nicholas (Kate) Hurst, of Wisconsin; Andrew (Rebecca) Hurst, of Alabama; Adam (Lauren) Hurst, of Wisconsin; great-grandchildren Liam and Harper Hurst, Atley Hurst, Isacc Hurst, William Whitlow, and Zoe Whitlow; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandson Joshua Whitlow; granddaughter Janelle Whitlow; brother, Lyle Fearn; sister, Dorothy Fearn Adler; and son-in-law, Patrick Whitlow. Dan will be buried with military honors at Fort Custer National Cemetery. Visit his page at mccowensecord.com. Donations may go to Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.
Carla Jo Glidden, Vicksburg, died Dec. 2 at home in the loving care of Lee, her husband of 62 years, and her children, Cindy (Lou) Moratti, Roger (Toni Strong) Glidden, Bruce (Yolanda) Glidden and sister Mary Reynolds. She was born Feb. 25, 1939. Carla loved spending time with her 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, quilting, spending time at the family cabin in Baldwin and creating crafts with Lee. Donations may go to Hospice of Southwest Michigan or West Michigan Cancer Center.
Dr. F. Claus Globig, born April 9, 1928 in Stuttgart, Germany, died peacefully and without pain on Nov. 28, at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. Claus was the third son of Florence and Rosa Globig. While his father and two older brothers served with distinction and honor during WWI and WWII, Claus was 16 when he defended Berlin against the oncoming Russian army by engaging in anti-aircraft and other underground activities. After the war, Claus met the love of his life, Rose-Marie Kanter, born in Lugnitz, Germany, after she and her family had fled from the Russians in the eastern part of the country, now Poland. They completed high school and college together. Claus completed his doctoral degree in chemical engineering, and they wed in Darmstadt, Germany, on Nov. 18, 1953. They emigrated to Michigan in 1959 where Claus worked at Simpson Lee Paper Company for 35 years with great dedication and distinction. Among other products, his team developed archival papers for artists and photocopy papers for Polaroid and Xerox. The couple were highly interested in and active in the arts, and he was president of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts three years in a row. Claus’ love for Mozart was almost legendary, and his presence at the Kalamazoo Symphony was mandatory. At Claus’ request, he will be cremated and his ashes combined with his beloved’s to be strewn in the Atlantic Ocean, the waters they crossed 59 years ago, at Singing Beach, Mass. Dr. F. Claus Globig is survived by his son, Claus-Stefan Globig and his girlfriend, Teresa Scholten, of Kalamazoo; his daughter, Susanne Globig, of San Francisco; his daughter, Dr. Isabel Neff ,and her husband, Dr. Frederick Neff, of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass., and their children, Greg Neff, of Los Angeles, Calif., and Nicole Neff, of Nashville, Tenn.; and Dr. Harry-Max Kanter and his children Nils and Silke, who reside in Germany.
Milton Bruce Harvey, 77, Fulton, died Dec. 31, at Medilodge of Portage. He was born in Detroit on Nov. 13, 1941, the son of Milton Albert and Frieda Elizabeth (Scatlos) Harvey. He graduated from Detroit Pershing High School and later from Michigan State University. Bruce was employed at Simpson Lee and later Fox River Paper Company in Vicksburg for over 36 years. Following the closure of the plant he worked at Finlaw Refinishing in Schoolcraft and the Meijer Store on Beckley Road in Battle Creek. He attended the Fulton Christian Church, and later the Factoryville Bible Church. Bruce was a volunteer firefighter for Wakeshma Township. He enjoyed reading, watching old western movies, puttering in his garage and listening to his Christian CDs. He especially looked forward to the annual trek to Cadillac hunting for mushrooms on Mother’s Day weekend. Bruce was married to Helen A. Coburn on Nov. 25, 1960 in Fulton. She survives along with three children, Kimberly (John) Bennett of Mendon, Timothy (Kimberly) Harvey of Vicksburg, and Susan Winchester of Sturgis; six grandchildren, Leslie Bennett of South Africa, Michaela Bennett of Portage, Maeve Bennett of Mendon, Kaytee Harvey and Taylor Harvey of Vicksburg, and Shelby (Aaron) Carlton of Battle Creek; one great-grandchild on the way; a sister, Judy (Ross) Bricker of Macomb County; a brother, Richard (Darlene) Harvey of Farmington; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Nadine Hebert; and a brother, Roger Harvey. In keeping with his wishes, cremation has been conducted. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, January 12, at the Factoryville Bible Church, 33650 Factoryville Road, Athens. A private interment of his cremains will take place later in North Fulton Cemetery. The family suggests that memorials be directed to either Great Lakes Caring Hospice, or to the Factoryville Bible Church. Visit his page at eickhofffuneralhome.com.
Kathryn F. Holland, 83, Scotts, passed away January 4. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 11 at 11 a.m. at the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church. A gathering for friends will be held one hour prior to the service at the church beginning at 10 a.m. Entombment will be held at Mount Olivet Catholic Cemetery. Visit her page at mccowensecord.com. Donations may go to the Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. The family is being assisted by the McCowen & Secord Life Story Family Funeral Home, Vicksburg.
Phyllis Stephens, 84, Vicksburg, passed away Dec. 9. She was born to Vernal and Maxine Ash on May 29, 1934 in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. She moved to West Lake in Portage in 1977 where her husband, Chuck, started Quality Air Service, a business they later sold to their son, Gale. Their final years together were in a home they built together in Vicksburg. She is survived by children Gale Edward (Anne) Stephens of Portage and Craig Alan (Sabine) Stephens of Portage; grandchildren Michael James Stephens and Lisa Ann Jepkema, both of Portage; great-grandchildren Ava, Anna, Isaac, Ryker and Skyla. Phyllis is also survived by her sister, Charlotte (Bob) Middleton of Florida, her brother James Alan Ash of Indiana and several nieces and nephews. Phyllis was preceded in death by her loving husband, Chuck Stephens in 2012 and her daughter, Susan Kaye, in 2007. Visit Phyllis’ page at mccowensecord.com. Donations may go to Generous Hands.
Justin Storey, 21, Scotts passed away Dec. 2. He was born on March 27, 1997 to Thomas and Jennifer Storey at Borgess Hospital. Justin Storey was a free spirit who lived every moment he was given as a gift to be treasured. With a heart that knew neither stranger nor enemy, Justin never hesitated to extend a warm welcome or lend a hand to a person in need. Justin loved children, animals, and the simple pleasures of being outdoors with those he loved. As a youth, he played rocket football, which he continued to play through middle and high school in Vicksburg. He also ran track and cross country. He began working in final assembly on trim presses at Metal Mechanics in Schoolcraft. Justin is survived by his parents; brothers Jesse, Tommy, and Trevor Storey; grandparents Naomi (Howard) Storey-Barnes, Joseph (Carmen) Morrow, and Lenora (Michael) Storey and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Justin was preceded in death by great grandmothers Imogene Herrington and Mary Ann Nichols. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the McCowen & Secord Life Story Family Funeral Home, Rupert-Durham Chapel, 409 S. Main Vicksburg. The family will greet friends an hour prior to the service from 10-11 a.m. Please visit Justin’s webpage at mccowensecord.com to share a photo or memory, sign the guest book, and read his life story. Donations be made to the Kalamazoo Humane Society or Gryphon Place.
Marcia (Axtell) Waldron, 81, formerly of Schoolcraft, died peacefully in her sleep on Dec. 12 at Grace Healthcare in Three Rivers. Marcia was born Sept. 4, 1937, in Kalamazoo. She was predeceased by her parents, Everett and Olive (Bremer) Axtell of Schoolcraft and her former husband, Edwin Waldron, of Oshtemo. Marcia was the youngest of Everett and Olive’s 13 children. Marcia spent her early childhood in Kalamazoo with her 12 siblings. In the 1950s she moved to Schoolcraft with her parents, graduating from Schoolcraft High School in 1957. Here, she made many friends, including her dear, lifelong friend Jackie (Maile) Skinner. Survivors include her children, Steven (Kathleen) Waldron of Schoolcraft and Patricia (Walter) Ruszkowski of Schoolcraft; grandsons Michael (Andrea) Ruszkowski, DDS, of Hudsonville, Samuel Waldron and Jack Waldron; and great grandchildren Scott and Josie Ruszkowski. Marcia leaves behind several nieces and nephews; including her nephew, “Butch”, with whom she grew up and maintained a close relationship throughout the years. Per Marcia’s wishes, she will be interred in Kalamazoo’s Riverside Cemetery with her parents. A private family service will be held at a later time. The family expresses its gratitude to those who provided day-to-day support for Marcia as she struggled with the lingering effects of a stroke in her final years at Schoolcraft’s Cedar Park Senior Center as well as at Grace Healthcare. Memorial donations may be made to Cedar Park Senior Center or to Schoolcraft Community Library.