CLARA L. BRADFORD

Clara L. Bradford of Benton Harbor died Tuesday, January 24, at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph.

Clara’s life began August 3, 1946 in Benton Harbor.  She was a lifetime area resident and graduated from Watervliet High School in 1964.  After high school Clara earned a degree from Benton Harbor Business College. She worked for Benton Harbor Area Schools as the Superintendent’s secretary, Clara also worked at St. Joseph Public Schools and after starting a family she returned to Benton Harbor Area Schools as a substitute secretary. She also helped her husband Virgil on the farm while raising their two sons.

Clara was compassionate and she demonstrated it through being a caregiver for her parents and her friend Cynthia.

For many years Clara was an active member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Bainbridge Township serving as a Deaconess on the church board, and where she was the chairman of the homebound committee for four years. Outside of work and church you could find Clara being a member of the Young Women’s Social League.

She enjoyed projects like painting, staining or refinishing furniture, or doing yard work and tending to her flower wall. Clara enjoyed the water either fishing, swimming in her pool, or as a kid swimming and skiing at her grandparents’ cottage on Pipestone Lake.  Clara also filled her time reading mystery novels, playing cards, attending antique auctions or an antique class, and catching up with her friends.  Above everything she enjoyed spending time with her family and supporting her children and grandchildren at their games and activities.

Clara’s loving family includes her husband Virgil Bradford; two sons, Jeffrey (Jennifer) Bradford of St. Joseph and Mark (Kristie) Bradford of Fishers, IN; four grandchildren, Tyler Moore, Marcus Bradford, Nathan Bradford, and Lisa Bradford; a brother, John (Martha) Smith of Florida; and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Her parents Harry and Clara (Gayton) Smith and a brother, William Smith, precede Clara in death.

A funeral service was held January 27, 2017 at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet. A private family burial took place at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph.  In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Clara’s memory to Coloma Public Library.  You are invited to leave a memory of Clara at hutchinsfuneral.com

HAROLD F. VOORHEES

Harold F. Voorhees, 90, of Coloma died Thursday, January 26, 2017 at the New Life Living Center in Haslett, MI.

Services and burial was held on February 1, at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Battle Creek.  Arrangements are by the Davidson Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in Coloma.  Please share messages, memories, or photos at www.florin.net.

Harold was born on Aug. 2, 1926 in Dodgeville, NY to John and Florentine Voorhees.  He married his wife, Hazel in 1975 and she preceded him in death in 2015.  Together they celebrated 40 years of marriage.  Harold was a veteran of the U.S. Army during WWII.  He owned Harold’s Electric for 33 years and also worked in construction for 17 years.

JAMES A. “JIM” RADEMACHER

James A. “Jim” Rademacher, 73, of Wilson, MI passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, Sep. 24, 2016, at his home of an apparent heart attack.

He was born on Jan. 25, 1943, in Detroit, the son of Richard and Rosellen “Yen” (Dugal) Rademacher. Jim graduated from Hartford High School in 1961. He attended Marquette University, earning his degree in engineering, and then University of Detroit Law School.

Jim started practicing law in 1975 in Escanaba and continued to do so until his retirement in 2013.

On Aug. 17, 1968, Jim married his beloved wife, the former Glenda Andersen in Mancelona, MI.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling out west and reading. He loved spending time at camp and with his family, especially his grandchildren.

He was a member of the Escanaba Elks Lodge 354, Normenco Sportsman Club, Wildlife Unlimited and the International Safari Club.

Among survivors include his wife, Glenda of Wilson; children, Robin (Paul) McCue of Chicago and James “Keaton” (Catherine) Rademacher of Philadelphia; grandchildren, Elizabeth and Jimmy Rademacher, Emmett and Declan McCue; brothers and sisters, Lynne (Larry) Crone of Pennsylvania, Richard (Ellen) Rademacher of Stevensville, Ruth (Bill) Roach of Saline, MI, John Paul (Dee) Rademacher of Oregon and Chris (Cheryl) Rademacher of Coloma; and many nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Jean Marie Veide.

A funeral mass was held Sep. 29, 2016 at St. John Neumann Church in Spalding with Rev. Mike Vichich officiating. Memorials may be made to the Wheelin’ Sportsmen; an outdoor group who helps create equipment for disabled hunters.

JAMES R. WALKER

James R. Walker, 83, of Foley, AL died December 31, 2016.

James was born in Hartford, Michigan in 1933 to Harold and Beatrice Walker. James attended Hartford Public Schools until he was drafted in 1952 into the army. After the military James did construction work until he started work at Parrett Business Machines in St. Joseph, MI. In 1985, James became a full-time employee of Hartford Public Schools until retirement.

In 1958, James married Clara (Lawler) in Hartford and spent the next 58 years raising their family. Survivors include his wife, Clara; two sons, Jonathon (Kelly) Walker of Alabama, Benjamin (TK) Walker of Illinois; two grandsons and four great-grandchildren; siblings, Dawn (Bud) Pitcher of Hartford, Harold (Jean) Walker Jr. of Dowagiac, Robert Walker of Hartford, Richard (Jean) Walker of South Bend and many nieces and nephews.

James will be placed in the National Government Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida in March of 2017.

Death Notices

John Anton Brower, 77, of Watervliet died Jan. 25, 2017 at home. Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford.

Gerald “Jerry” William Troike, 66, of St. Joseph died Jan. 21, 2017 at home. Purely Cremations-Starks Family Funeral Homes, Benton Harbor.

Steven Robert Harmon, 70, of Longwood, FL, formerly of St. Joseph died Jan. 23, 2017.

Edwin “Ron” Neumann, 73, of Coloma died Jan. 25, 2017 at Royalton Manor, St. Joseph. A memorial service will be held in June.

John Anton Brower, 77, of Watervliet died Jan. 25, 2017 at home. Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford.

Lisa Maureen Wildeman, 55, of Singapore, formerly of Niles died Dec. 27, 2016. Memorial mass will be held 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2017 at St. Joseph Church, 220 Church St., St. Joseph.

Raphael (Rae) Marie Rotgers, 92, died Jan. 24, 2017 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph.

Lorraine Louise Christner, 85, of Watervliet died Jan. 26, 2017. Hutchins Funeral Home, Watervliet.

Mary Linneweh, 94, of Hartford died Jan. 28, 2017 at South Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Coloma.