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Noreen E. Carter
South Pasadena, California - Noreen E. Carter, age 78, of South Pasadena, formerly of Bur Oak, Michigan , died Tuesday, December 16, 2003 at the South Pasadena Convalescent Hospital.
She was born May 11, 1925 in Burr Oak, Michigan daughter of Harry E. and Geneva (Hagadorn) Smith. Noreen graduated from Burr Oak High School and attended Tri-State University where she met Donald Carter. Tney were married in 1949.
The couple moved to Seattle, Washington in 1950, to California in 1955 and to South Pasadena in 1961 where Noreen owned and operated the Copy Art Company for ten years, retiring in 1993.
Surviving are her husband, Donald Carter of South Pasadena, her daughter and son-in-law, Julie and Byron Forbes of Martinez, California, daughter Jodie Carter of Antelope, California, son John A. Carter of South Pasadena, a grandson Peter Carter and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and a brother.
Friends may call at the Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson from 3 - 6 PM Monday, December 22, 2003. Private interment will take place in the Burr Oak cemetery.
Jim L. Green
Harlingen, Texas - Jim Lester Green, age 69, of Harlingen, Texas, formerly of Bronson and Coldwater, Michigan, died Tuesday, November 25, 2003 at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen.
He was born August 7, 1934 in Fallensbee, West Virginia, son of Carl and Estella (Green) Doty. His Mother died at birth and Jim was adopted by Charles and Marie Green. He lived in Bronson and Coldwater most of his life, moving to Harlingen Texas in 1981.
A farmer and heavy equipment mechanic, Jim was a member of the Branch County Michigan Farm Bureau and the Texas Farm Bureau of Willacy County.
He married Lois Deal in 1956 and she survives along with three sons, Rick (Sherry) Green of Harlingen, Texas, Reid (Vicki) Green and Rex Green all of Coldwater, Michigan; six Grandchildren; four great grandchildren; his Mother-in-law, Marie Green of Coldwater; two brothers, Paul (Bernie) Doty of Westerville, Ohio and Floyd (Marian) Doty of Sarasota, FL; his step-brother, E.L. Morehouse; brothers-in-law, Dayne Himebaugh and Roy (Diane) Deal all of Coldwater and several nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and a step-sister.
Memorial Services will be held at 1 PM Saturday, December 6, 2003 at the Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson with Rev. Paul Deal officiating. Interment of ashes will be in Oak Grove cemetery, Coldwater.
A gathering of friends will be held at the Kolcz Funeral Home on Friday, December 5, 2003 from 4 - 8 PM where Memorial Donations may be made to the American Heart Association or to the American Cancer Society.
Clyde L. Kibiloski
Bronson - Clyde L. Kibiloski, age 81, of Bronson, died Saturday, November 22, 2003 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a short illness.
The Funeral Mass celebrating the life of Clyde L. Kibiloski will be held at 10 AM Wednesday, November 26, 2003 at St. Mary of Assumption Catholic Church in Bronson with Rev. Fr. Richard A. Fritz officiating. Interment will follow in St. Mary cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson from 2 - 8 PM Tuesday where the Rosary will be recited at 7 PM Tuesday. A complete obituary will appear as soon as information is available
Hattie E. Wohlers
Bronson - Hattie E. Wohlers, age 96, of Coldwater, formerly of Bronson, died Tuesday, December 9, 2003 at Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility. She had been in failing health.
Hattie was born Hattie E. Nutt on March 2, 1907 in Bronson, daughter of Willard and Rosa (Deeds) Nutt and was a lifelong area resident. She married Walter Wohlers on June 10, 1925 in Bronson . Walter died on November 18, 1991.
While growing up in East Gilead, Hattie attended the Bethel-Gilead Community Church. She later joined the Bronson First Congregational United Church of Christ and enjoyed helping with many meals and bazaars at the Church. Hattie was also a member of the Gilead Girls Womens Club and a former member of the order of Eastern Star in Bronson.
Hattie worked at the former Douglas Manufacturing Company in Bronson (now Douglas Autotech), helped in the office of the former Wohlers Real Estate in Bronson; and in the old days, she drove a milk truck and even drove a seven passenger Plymouth Sedan Schoolbus for the former Luce School.
Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, Keith and Carol Wohlers of Bronson, her daughter Kay Adamson of Kalamazoo, seven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren, her brother-in-law Lawrence Wohlers of Tucson, Arizona and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services celebrating the life of Hattie E. Wohlers will be held at 1 PM Friday, December 12, 2003 at the Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson. The Rev. Jim Erwin of the Bethel-Gilead Community Church will officiate. Interment will follow in East Gilead cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Kolcz Fuenral Home from 3 - 8 PM Thursday where Memorial Donations may be made to the Bethel-Gilead Community Church.
Dorothy S. Norush
Bronson - Dorothy S. Norush, age 84, of bronson, died early Thursday, December 11, 2003 at Maple Lawn Medical Care Faciity in Coldwater where she had been in failing health.
Dorothy was born December 26, 1918 in Bronson, daughter of Steve and Frances (Czajkowski) Yesh and was a lifelong resident. She had worked at the former Bronson Reel Company in Bronson and had attended Wright Beauty Academy in Battle Creek where she graduated to become a Beautician.
Dorothy married Fabian Norush on May 11, 1948 at St. Mary of Assumption Catholic Church in Bronson. She was a member of St. Mary of Assumption Catholic Church and enjoyed making silk flower arrangements.
Surviving are her husband, Fabian, her daughter and son-in-law, Maria and James Worden of Jackson, Michigan; grandchildren Sarah (Bill) Ledwidge, Ryan Worden and Kelly Worden, her brother Eugene Yesh of Sturgis, and sisters, Margaret Herman of Bronson and Alphonsa Bobay of Florida. She was preceded in death by a son Duane at birth , brothers, Stanley Yesh and Fabian Yesh and sister Catherine Chalometes.
The Funeral Mass will beheld at 10 Am Saturday, December 13, 2003 at St. Mary of Asumption Catholic Church in Bronson with Rev. FR. Richard Fritz officiating. Prayers before Mass will be held at 9:30 AM Saturday at the Kolcz Fuenral Home.
The family will receive friends from 6 - 8 Pm Friday at the Kolcz Funeral Home where the Rosary wil be recited at 7 PM Friday. Memorial Donations may be made to Maple Lawn Activity Fund.
William J. "Bill" Hyska
Bronson - William J. "Bill" Hyska, age 53, of Bronson died late Wednesday, December 10, 2003 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a short illness.
Bill was born August 1, 1950, son of Nellie (Ludwick) Hyska and the late Steve Hyska. he married his loving wife Karen Zabonick on May 25, 1974 at St. Mary of Assumption catholic Church in Bronson.
Bill, commonly known as "Billski" was a US Army Veteran serving with the First Cavalry in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Army Commendation Medal. He was a proud employee of the Branch County Road Commission for the past 20 years and was extremely active member of the Bronson Knights of Columbus, the American Legion Posts in Bronson and Orland, Indiana the VFW Post in Bronson and St. Mary of Assumption Catholic Church in Bronson where he also served as an Usher. Bill enjoyed giving of himself through countless hours of volunteer service and was honored by his community by being crowned King of the Bronson Polish Festival in 1998.
Along with his wife of 30 years, Bill is survived by his daughter Janelle Hyska of Coldwater, his sons, Ryan Hyska (Megan Persing) and Matthew Hyska all of Bronson; his Mother Nellie Hyska of Bronson; brothers and sisters-in-law, John and Cynthia Hyska and Mike and Kathy Hyska; sisters and brothers-in-law, Janet and Don Reed, Cindy and Steve Forey, Pam and Don McConn and Celeste and John Brown; his Mother-in-law, Betty Zabonick, sister-in-law, Mrs, Dan (Myra) Belote; brother-in-law, John Arver and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, caring friends and co-workers.
He was preceded in death by his father Steve Hyska, his sister Monica Arver and Father-in-law William Zabonick.
Bill thoroughly enjoyed hosting annual family reunions at Hyska's Hoo Dee Hoo Hill. He also enjoyed his pontoon boat, fishing, hunting, bowling, NASCAR and volunteer cooking. He had a unique love of conversation and socializing. Bill knew no strangers.
The Funeral Mass celebrating the life of Bill Hyska will be held at 11 AM Monday, December 15, 2003 at St. Mary of Assumption Catholic Church in Bronson. The Rev. Fr. Richard Fritz and Rev. Fr. Evanson Njogu will officiate. Prayers before Mass will be held at 10 :30 AM Monday at the Kolcz Funeral Home. Interment will follow in St. Mary cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Kolcz Funeral Home from 6 - 8 PM Saturday and from
2 - 7 Pm Sunday where the Rosary will be recited at 4 PM Sunday. Memorial Donations may be made to the Bronson Knights of Columbus or to the William Zabonick Memorial Fund.
Victor M. Kruszka
Bronson - Victor Kruszka, age 80, of Bronson, was surrounded by his family when he went to be with the Lord on Monday, February 9, 2004 at the Community Health Center of Branch County following a two week illness.
Victor was born December 6, 1923 in Bronson, son of Joseph and Theresa (Sobeske) Kruszka and was a lifelong Bronson area resident and spent his early years at his family farm. He was first employed at L.A.Darling for 21 years as a machinist. he then worked for 20 years at the Michigan State Highway Dept. retiring in 1988. He also farmed since buying his property in1957.
On August 5, 1950, he married Patricia Sobeske at St. Mary of Assumption Church in Bronson. Victor was a US Army veteran of the Japanese Occupation following World War 2 and a veteran of the Korean Conflict. He was a member of St. Mary of Assumption Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus Council 2924 in Bronson and the American Legion Post 0423 in Orland, Indiana.
He enjoyed farming, maintaining the century old family farm, traveling, music (mostly polkas and country western), was especially fond of his Tennessee Walking Horses and loved spending time with his granddaughter Jacqueline.
Surviving are Patricia, his loving wife of 53 years, son Rick L. Kruszka of Anderson, South Carolina; daughter and son-in-law, Chandre A. and Eric L. Eishen of Bronson; granddaughter Jacqueline R. Eishen, his brother Raymond Kruszka of Bronson and several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Edward Kruszka.
The Funeral Mass will be held at 11 AM Thursday, February 12, 2004 at St. Mary of Assumption Catholic Church in Bronson with Rev. Fr. Richard A. Fritz officiating. Prayers before Mass will be held at 10:30 AM Thursday at the Kolcz Funeral Home of Bronson. Interment will follow in St. Mary cemetery with full military honors conferred by the Orland American Legion Post 0423.
The family will receive friends at the Kolcz Funeral Home from 2 - 8 PM Wednesday at the Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson with the Knights of Columbus Rosary to be recited at 7 PM Wednesday.
Kenneth Lee Strong
Sturgis - Kenneth Lee Strong, age 59, of Sturgis, formerly of Bronson, died Thursday, February 5, 2004 as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident in Sturgis.
He was born July 14, 1944 in Branch County, son of Kenneth E. and Sarah Isabel (Milliman) Strong. He married Georgia Condon on June 25, 1977 in Holy Angels Catholic Church in Sturgis.Ken retired in 2001 after over 20 years with Ross Laboratories in Sturgis. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Surviving are his wife Georgia, daughter Monica Stron of Mesick, sons, Kenneth L. Strong Jr,. in Northern Michigan and Faye Strong of Mesick; several grandchildren, and sisters, Bertha (Jo) Colpetsir of Coldwater, Beverly (Carlin) Grindle of Bronson,Gladys Hoard of Burr Oak and Sarah (Sally) Howard of Bronson.
he was preceded in death by a son Robert Strong, two brothers, Raymond Strong and daWayne Strong and his parents.
Funeral Services will be held at 1 PM Monday, February 9, 2004 at the Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson, Interment will follow in Adams cemetery. Friends may call at the Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson from 10 AM Monday until the time of service at 1 PM. Memorial Donations may be made to Pet Haven in Sturgis.
David A. Kubasiak
Bronson - David A. Kubasiak, age 25, of Bronson, died Thursday, January 29, 2004 in Lake County, Michigan from injuries sustained in a snowmobile accident. Arrangements are pending with the Kolcz Funeral Home of Bronson.
Louise R. Van Pelt
Bronson - Louise R. Van Pelt went to be with her Lord on January 27, 2004 at 90 years of age. She joins her twin sister Jeanette, who died shortly after birth. She also joins her husband Donovan Van Pelt, her son David R. Van Pelt, her parents and her brother Paul Russell.
Louise was born March 13, 1913 in Toledo, Ohio daughter of Henry H. and Grace Louise (Horton) Russell and moved to Bronson as an infant with her family. She graduated from Bronson High School in 1930, attended the former County Normal School in Coldwater, then took Nurse's Training at the former Leila Post Hospital in Battle Creek, (now Battle Creek Health System). Louise then received her Bachelor's degree with honors in Elementary Education from Arkansas State University in 1978.
Her marriage to Donovan Van Pelt on March 9, 1934 lasted for 62 years until Donovan died on January 28, 1996. The couple moved from Bronson to Paragould, Arkansas with Don's career with the L.A.Darling Company in 1966 and moved back to Bronson in 1981 when Don retired.
Louise was an accomplished seamstress, creating the wedding dresses for all three of her daughters. She also had taken the "pinch hitter" course to become her husband's co-pilot in the family airplane. Her first "solo" flight at age 57 in 1970 was a very memorable moment in her life.
She had moved from the family farm near Bronson to Friendship CVillage in Kalamazoo in 2000 and resided there until shortly before her death.
She was a valued member and organist at the First Baptist Church in Bronson for many years and more recently at the Pleasant Hill Missionary Church. While living in Paragould, she was a member of the First Baptist Church and she had attended the Calvary Bible Church while living in Kalamazoo.
Louise was a member of the Burr Oak Spinning Guild and had demonstrated her craft at the St. Joseph County Fair in Centreville. A multi talented Lady, she made the wedding cake for her daughter Virginia, enjoyed knitting and other needlework and was an avid reader. Louise also gave private piano and organ lessons to many students in Bronson, Colon and Paragould over a period of several years. She enjoyed being a member of the exercise class at the Branch County Commission On Aging and was named Mother of the Year at Pleasant Hill Church in 1993.
Surviving are her daughters and sons-in-law, Virginia Ann and James Stewart of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Janet Dodge and Bob Lamb of Lawton, MI and Marrijane and Robert Walker of Portage; eight grandchidlren; 16 great grandchildren and a sister Rosemary Russell of Friendship Village in Kalamazoo.
Funeral Services celebrating the life of Louise R. Van Pelt will be held at 1 PM Saturday, January 31, 2004 at the Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson with Pastor Don Matteson of the Pleasant Hill Missionary Church officiating. Interment will follow in Matteson Twp, cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Kolcz Funeral Home from 3 - 7 PM Friday, January 30, 2004 where Memorial Donations may be made to the Pleasant Hill Missionary Church or to the Oncology Unit at the Community Health Center of Branch County.
George Cronkhite
Bronson - George Cronkhite, age 85, of Bronson, died Monday, January 19, 2004 at his home. He was born December 14, 1918 in Pontiac, Michigan, son of John and Maude (Hopkins) Cronkhite.
He married Jean Klempp on October 5, 1940 in Angola, Indiana. She died November 4, 2003. George and Jean lived in Florida in the middle 1940's where George worked as a carpenter building homes. They moved to Bronson in 1948 where George farmed for 40 years. He also owned and operated the Shell gas station in Burr Oak for over ten years from 1960 to the early 70's. He then worked at the former Burr Oak Foundry as a pattern maker for ten years until the company closed and he retired.
He enjoyed working and was known as a Jack of all trades, able to accomplish anything he set out to do. He had lived in Imlay City and Holly, Michigan before moving to Florida then in Schoolcraft, MI before moving to Bronson. He attended Pleasant Hill Missionary Church and enjoyed hunting and fishing and loved his family.
Surviving are daughters and sons-in-law, Barb and Dan Schwartz, Bev and Raymond Allen and Judy and Steven Wagner all of Bronson and Joyce and Steve Brooks of Burr Oak; sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Carol Cronkhite of Bronson, Bill and Joyce Cronkhite of Sturgis and Jerry and Mary Cronkhite and Doug and Pam Cronkhite all of Burr Oak; 33 Grandchildren; 58 Great Grandchildren and four great great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Jean, his parents, two brothers, Leonard Cronkhite and Stacle Cronkhite and an infant sister Alta Cronkhite.
Funeral Services celebrating the life of George Cronkhite will be held at 1:30 PM Saturday, January 24, 2004 at Pleasant Hill Missionary Church with Pastor Don Matteson officiating.
Interment will follow in Adams cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Kolcz Funeral Home from 2 - 4 & 6 - 8PM Friday where Memorial Donations may be made to Pleasant Hill Missionary Church.
