08-16-18 Tri-City Area Obituaries

DONALD POMEROY MILHAM Donald Pomeroy Milham, 93, of Benton Harbor, died August 11, at The Willows Assisted Living Community in St. Joseph, surrounded by his family. Born in Kalamazoo in 1925 to the late Elbert Grey and Donna Southworth Milham, Don moved with his family to Watervliet in 1935, where he attended local schools, graduating from Watervliet High School with the Class of 1942. He entered the Army and served in the 95th Infantry Division in Europe. Following his discharge in 1946, he married Ann Hartmann of Watervliet.

While working at Watervliet Paper Company Don earned bachelor and master’s degrees from Western Michigan University and began a 25-year teaching career with Coloma schools. Since 1958, Don and Ann resided in Hagar Township on the shore of Lake Michigan. He was predeceased by his wife of nearly 60 years, Ann, in 2006. He is survived by his sons Donald (Mary Jane) of Watervliet and Glenn (Barbara) of South Windsor, CT. He and Ann have seven grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. There will be a visitation at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet on Friday, August 17, from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at New Hope Community Church in Watervliet at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 18, followed by interment at Mt. Everest Memorial Park in Kalamazoo.

MAY LYNN ISBRECHT May Isbrecht, 63, of Watervliet, achieved the ultimate goal in life on Sunday, August 12, 2018 after battling a lengthy illness. Passing peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family, she is finally face to face with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.

Visitation was held on Wednesday, August 15, at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 16, at Crystal Springs Church of God in Benton Harbor. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery, Watervliet. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Crystal Springs Church of God, of which May lived her dedication to her Christian faith. May was born November 8, 1954, in Coloma to Ocie and Genevieve Barnett. She married Michael Isbrecht on October 25, 1973, in St Joseph, where together they raised three boys. She was previously employed by Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor for many years before retiring and traveling with her husband on business trips. May was a devoted sister, wife, mother and grandmother. She loved her family more than anything in the world and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. She leaves behind a loving family to cherish her memory which includes her husband of nearly 50 years, Michael Isbrecht of Watervliet along with her three sons, Scott Isbrecht of Coloma, Tom (Kim) Isbrecht of Watervliet and Mikee (Sarah) Isbrecht of Coloma; six grandchildren, Alex, Emma, Nathan, Luke, Ella and JT; sisters, Paula Gates of Pocahontas, AR and Elizabeth Keysacker of Jonesboro, AR; brothers, Rick Barnett of Paw Paw, MI and Kevin Barnett of Jonesboro, AR; along with her extended family and many friends who will also deeply miss her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ocie and Genevieve Barnett along with her father- and mother-in-law, Elmer and Ella Isbrecht. We love you and miss you with all our hearts, and you will never be replaced. We’ll never forget all you have taught us and helped us through in life. Hope to see you soon… But remember, you must be born again.

JAMES L. ENGLE James L. Engle, 76, of Kalamazoo, passed away on Tuesday, August 7, 2018 at University of Michigan Medical Center. Jim was born on December 20, 1941 in Watervliet to Charles Arthur and Kathryn Louise (Lee) Engle. He graduated from Hartford High School in 1960. In 1960 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and he was honorably discharged in 1964.

He attended Western Michigan University, where he earned his B.S. in Education in 1974. After student teaching he started working with Whirlpool Corporation in St. Joseph and worked over 40 years with them as an engineer. After retiring Jim worked on a contracted basis for Whirlpool. Jim and Gail McKenna were married on June 27, 1970 in Kalamazoo. The couple lived the majority of their lives together in Hartford, Watervliet and Coloma until recently moving to Kalamazoo. Jim is survived by his wife Gail, their children Joye (Matthew) Mayer, and Ryan (Cindy) Engle, their grandchildren James Mayer, Beatrice Mayer, Amelia Engle, Audrey Engle, and Charles Engle; his brother Roger (Ann) Engle; and sister Sarah (Jack) Rolback; cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother and sister-in-law Bryce and Sandra Engle. A Memorial Service was held Monday, August 13 at Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services, Battle Creek Chapel with Rev. Ron Hansen of the United Methodist Church officiating. Interment with military honors followed at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. The family suggests that you remember and honor Jim with a memorial contribution sent to Talons Out Honor Flight Michigan, PO Box 280, Portage MI 49081 or talonsouthonorflight.org.

Death Notices Donald LeRoy Harper, 81, of Watervliet died Aug. 7, 2018 at home. Purely Cremation – Starks Family Funeral Homes, Benton Harbor

Judith Ann Burns, 74, of Linden MI, formerly of Coloma, died July 26, 2018 in Fort Belvoir VA

Randall Pollyea, 73, died Aug. 8, 2018 at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville. Napier Chapel – Florin Funeral Service, Benton Harbor

Robert James Hadlow Sr., 76, of Watervliet died Aug. 8, 2018 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Purely Cremations – Starks Family Funeral Homes, Benton Harbor