08-09-2018 Tri-City Area Obituaries

ERICH J. SMITH Erich J. Smith, 49, of St. Joseph passed away at the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor on August 4, 2018 surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 11 at Salem Lutheran Church with burial following in Coloma Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 10 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma. Memorial donations in Erich’s memory may be made to the University of Michigan Pulmonary Research. Those wishing to leave a message of comfort for the family online may do so at www.duffieldpastrick.com.

Erich was born in St. Joseph on April 12, 1969 to William H. and Joan (Molter) Smith. He graduated from Coloma High School in 1987. Erich was the foundry manager at G.M. Foundry in Benton Harbor, which was started by his great-grandfather, making him the fourth generation. Erich was a true Michigan fan and was rarely seen without his maize and blue. We will all miss his “Hey Buddy” greeting on phone calls and his personal brand of humor. Erich was most proud of his daughter Hailey Nicole Smith. Additional survivors are his mother Joan R. Smith of Benton Harbor; his sister Elizabeth “Beth” (John) Griesbaum of St. Joseph; nephews Jacob and Nathan Griesbaum of St. Joseph; good friend Robert Alexander of St. Joseph and his furry friends Otis and Lebrona Jane. He was preceded in death by his father William H. Smith in 1998. Erich was able to help others through the gift of organ donation.

CULLEN STEVENS CHILD Jr. Cullen Stevens Child Jr. passed away on Sunday, July 15, 2018, in Bullhead City, Arizona at the age of 78. He was born to Cullen Stevens Child and Mildred Augusta (Post) Child, in New Rachelle, New York, on August 11, 1939. He later moved to Michigan and graduated from Coloma High School in 1958. He joined the U.S. Air Force after graduation, and was stationed at Travis City Air Force Base in California, as a surgical tech. He later graduated from Brigham Young University in 1975. He married his high school sweetheart, Donna Jean Davis, soon after joining the service in 1960. They had a son, Steven in 1961, a daughter, Jean in 1964, and a daughter, Lisa in 1976.

Cullen was born under a wandering star, moving his family to different locations within the United States over the years, taking on several different occupations. At one point he decided to travel the fairs making and selling quality fudge. He was a perfectionist in his fudge craft, to the point where he hauled a 500-pound marble slab from fair to fair. He eventually opened a fudge shop in Seaside, Oregon called ‘the Fudgery,’ selling candy and ice cream. In later years he and his wife, Donna, worked as sales reps for several products at fairs and home-shows around the country with their children in tow. Once on their own, Cullen and Donna continued working occasional home-shows until their retirement. Cullen joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with his wife soon after marriage, and they were active members of the church throughout his life. He was loved by many friends, and lived a happy, jovial life. He is lovingly survived by his wife, Donna Jean (Davis) Child; son, Steven Lewis Child (SO: Gloria Jean Reynolds); daughters, Jean Elizabeth (Child) Oberholzer (spouse: Michael John Oberholzer), and Lisa Ann (Child) Lybbert (spouse: Wade Milby Lybbert); eight grandchildren: Leah Crystal Child, Katherine Elise (Oberholzer) Nichols (spouse: Caleb Duane Nichols), Nicholas Adam Child, Racheal Michelle (Oberholzer) Larsen (spouse: Dallen Robert Larsen), Aaron Cullen Child, Marelise Nicole (Oberholzer) Phillips (spouse: Kyle Mathew Phillips), Chase Cullen John Oberholzer (spouse: Constanza Macarena Cἀceres (Villarroel) Oberholzer), and Samantha Jean Lybbert; three great-grandchildren: Madeline Elizabeth Nichols, Mackenzie Elise Larson, and Braden Duane Nichols. A celebration of life was held at the LDS Church in Bullhead City, Arizona on Sunday, July 21. A graveside service will be held at North Shore Memorial Garden in Coloma, Michigan at the Apostles section, on Wednesday, August 15 at 2:00 p.m.

FRED WOODWARD Fred’s life began September 28, 1947, in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He grew up on the family farm in Coloma and attended St. Joseph Catholic School and graduated from Coloma High School. As a young man he earned the rank of Eagle Scout and he served his country in the United States Army. Fred continued his desire to serve his community growing through the ranks of the North Berrien Fire and Rescue where he retired as Lieutenant. You could also find him running Woodward’s Bait and Tackle in Coloma. Outside of work and putting out fires Fred loved nature, hunting and fishing with friends. Fred dearly loved his family which includes his wife Llynee (Betz) Woodward; two sons Fred E. Woodward and Michael Hinton; four grandchildren Lauryn Woodward, Amber Hinton, Tiffany Hinton, and Jaden Hinton; four brothers Tim (Victoria) Woodward, Dave (Dawn) Woodward, John (D’Ann) Woodward, and Paul Woodward; three sisters Christine (Jerry) Rivers, Caroline Woodward, and Beth (Dave) Bradbury; and many dearly loved nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. Fred died Thursday, July 26, 2018. His parents Fred C. and Rita (Kibler) Woodward precede Fred in death. Fred’s life will be celebrated August 11, 2018, starting at Watervliet Fire Station at 11:00 a.m. with a procession to North Berrien Fire Station #1 in Coloma where a memorial service will be celebrated. Memorials may be made in Fred’s memory to Watervliet Firemen’s Association, North Berrien Firemen’s Association, or Caring Circle Hospice. You are invited to leave a message of comfort for Fred’s family at hutchinsfuneral.com.

Death Notices Joyce Morlock, 83, of Coloma died July 31, 2018 at home. Duffield & Patrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Coloma

Nanette “Nan” Keifer, 66, of Hartford died July 30, 2018 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph

DeLores “Lori” B. Kiser, 61, of St. Cloud FL, formerly of the Tri-City Area, died Aug. 1, 2018 at home.

Ernest Allen Daisy, 70, of Hartford died July 25, 2018 at home. Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford

Betsy Nash Jacobs, 86, of Sister Lakes died August 6, 2018 at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph