09-14-2017 Tri-City Area Obituaries

GLORIA MAY PETERS

Gloria May (nee Heater) Peters, 89, of Hartford, Michigan, and more recently Charlevoix, Michigan; gracefully and peacefully went to be with her beloved husband, Wilson and her heavenly Father on Monday, September 4, 2017, surrounded by her loving family.

Gloria was born on January 7, 1928 in Benton Township, Berrien County, Michigan, to Elsie (Schauss) and Joseph Heater. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1947.

Gloria married Wilson Peters on July 22, 1950. Together they joyfully raised three children: Bruce and Gary born 1951; and Shari born 1952.

After her children were in school full-time, Gloria did the unusual and went to work for Whirlpool Corporation. She retired from Whirlpool in 1990 after 32 years of dedicated employment.

Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, Wilson, of 65 years, her parents, her sister Donna, and her brothers David and John.

She is survived by her sons Bruce (Terre) of Paw Paw, MI; Gary (Irene) of Yuma, AZ; her daughter Shari (William) Kitchen of Boyne City, MI; six grandchildren: Joey, Jason, Adam, Elizabeth, Alycia, and Derek; and seven great-grandchildren: Nathan, Henry, Lauren, Anna May, Edwin, Zachary and Addison; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Gloria will be remembered for her love of family and friends, and her quick wit and great sense of humor; which did not overshadow her fearless courage and independent spirit. She was a classy lady both in style and fashion sense, and Gloria’s wardrobe always included beautiful pieces of jewelry. She loved dinner parties, spirited card games, and the camaraderie she shared in Variety Club.

To honor Gloria, please wear your favorite piece of jewelry.

The family wishes to thank American House of Charlevoix, Advisacare, Comfort Keepers and Hospice of Michigan for their compassionate caring and kindness.

Friends and family met at Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford, Michigan for visitation on Saturday, September 9, 2017. Following visitation there was a procession to North Shore Memory Gardens for a graveside service.

Memorials can be made to the Hartford United Methodist Church or Hospice of Michigan.

ARDIS L. (MILLER) LONG

Ardie was born in 1932 to Arthur L. and Aileen (Boyer) Miller in Watervliet. She died Aug. 31, 2017. She was a proud member of the Watervliet Class of 1950, and enjoyed the reunions of the 40 Year Club since 1990.

She had many fond stories of her early years in Watervliet. She left town to attend Northwestern University, met her first husband Bill, and had three boys. She lived in the Chicago area and many towns in southern Michigan in her adult years. In the mid 1970s she migrated to Florida, where she lived out most of the rest of her life. She loved spending time with her friends from the Five O’Clock Club and the Bradenton Elks Lodge.

Ardie was Mom to three sons Gregory F. Reece, James A. (Liz) Reece, and Donald W. (Kathy) Reece; Momere to three grandchildren Amanda K. (Krishan) Bralley, Quinn W. Reece and Victoria A. Reece; and four great-grandchildren Lucia, Zoe, Rayme and Ever. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Arthur (Stub) Miller.

There will be a graveside service Sunday, Sep. 17, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. at the Watervliet Cemetery.

MAURICE “MOSE” KIETZER

Maurice “Mose” Kietzer passed away Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017, peacefully at home.

Mose was born May 1, 1934, in Benton Harbor, to Maurice and Wilma (Seel) Kietzer. On May 29, 1953, he married Delores (Wood) Kietzer and together for 64 years they raised their family on their farm in Keeler. For 25 years, Mose operated Kietzer’s Fruit Market in Sister Lakes, and farmed until he retired in 2008.

His love for the land and farming stayed with him always and if you knew him, he would say, “that looks good… but there is a man over on Pipestone that can do it a little better.” That was how you knew you did a good job.

Mose loved spending his winters in Florida with Delores. Together they spent their days fishing for the “big one” in Lake Okeechobee, Fla., and later settled in Holiday, Fla.

Mose was a member of Keeler Methodist Church and Keeler Fire Department.

Mose was the heart of his family and will be truly missed.

He is survived by his wife, Delores (Wood) Kietzer; his five children, Lorraine “Susie” Medina, Kathyrn (Larry) Wise, Christine (Art) Sedlar, Darcy (Lee) Dennison and Jim (Sandy) Kietzer; his seven grandchildren, Danielle Wise, Holly (Josh) Costa, Joseph Sedlar, Brandy (Matthew) Tenter, Bradley Solecki, Michael Solecki and Jacob Sedlar; and his five great-grandchildren, Emma Costa, Lilly Costa, Nicholas Tenter, Madilyn Costa and Nathaniel Tenter.

Mose was preceded in death by his daughter, Karen Jane.

A celebration of life service will take place from 2-6 p.m. Oct. 22, 2017, at Sister Lakes Lions Club, 66991 95th Ave., Dowagiac. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to South Haven Area Hospice, Caring Circle Lakeland Health Affiliate-South Haven Chapter.

JAMES E. ANDRES

James E. Andres, of Coloma, died Tuesday, September 12, 2017.

Jim’s life began January 20, 1941 in St. Joseph.  He grew up on the family farm in Bainbridge Township and graduated from Coloma High School.  After high school Jim proudly served his country in the United States Army during Vietnam.  Upon returning home he became a barber.  He continued to be a barber from home when he went to work at the Watervliet Paper Mill and then Coca-Cola until he retired.  In his spare time you could find him hunting, fishing, or enjoying a good campfire.  Jim loved to work in his yard and spend time with his family and friends.

Jim’s loving family includes: his wife of 50 years Judy Andres; two sons Joshua (Mary) Andres and Joel Andres; his family-in-law Jim Danneffel, Barb Adams, Bill (Julie) Smith, and Jim (Carolyn) Smith; many nieces and nephews; and his care giver Dawn Fillmore.

His parents Edward and Margaret (Wendzel) Andres and a sister Beverly Danneffel precede Jim in death.

Friends may visit with Jim’s family Sunday, September 17, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet where a memorial service will be celebrated at 3:00 p.m.  Jim has been cremated and a private burial will take place later.  You are invited to leave a message for Jim’s family at hutchinsfuneral.com.

Memorials may be made in Jim’s memory to the Humane Society or Hospice at Home.

FRIEDA MARILYN SCHULTZ

Frieda Marilyn Schultz, of Watervliet, died Monday, September 11, 2017 at The Willows in St. Joseph.

Frieda’s life began January 6, 1934 in Paw Paw, Michigan.  She grew up in Paw Paw, after graduating high school she moved to Watervliet.  Frieda worked in her parents’ restaurants The Midget and Parkside Grill in Watervliet and Coloma commuting from Paw Paw while in high school.  After working for her parents, Frieda worked beside her husband Walter Schultz keeping books for Schultz Standard Station, and many people will remember her from Jones Intercable or Comcast in Watervliet.

In Frieda’s later years you could find her volunteering at Watervliet Hospital, St. Joseph Catholic School, Watervliet High School, or Watervliet South Elementary.  Outside of work Frieda enjoyed doing word searches, and reading.  Her favorite activity was supporting her children and then grandchildren in their sporting events, where you could always hear her cowbell.  Frieda was an active member of her community being involved in the Watervliet Jaycees, Watervliet Athletic Boosters, and she was a Eucharistic Minister and helped with counting collections as an active member of Immaculate Conception Church in Hartford.

Frieda’s greatest joy was her loving family which includes: four children Deb Schultz of Watervliet, Steve (Lonna) Schultz of Benton Harbor, Kevin (Dee) Schultz of Coloma, and Randy (Tina) Schultz of Watervliet; nine grandchildren Nick (Jamie) Schultz, Tyler (Christie) Schultz, Jimmy (Ashley) Butler, Deven Schultz, Katie Schultz, Dina McLain, Tanya Christie, Derek (Jazzmyne) Schultz, and Alexas McLain; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two brothers Frank Pflugradt and Paul Pflugradt Sr.; and many nieces and nephews.

Her husband Walter Schultz, parents Frank and Mary (Pitcher) Pflugradt, and two sisters Paulette Edinborough and Sally Pflugradt precede Frieda in death.

Friends may visit with Frieda’s family Friday, September 15, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, September 16, at 1:00 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Hartford.  Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Watervliet.

Following burial the family invites you to join them at the Watervliet Knights of Columbus Hall for lunch. Memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception Church in Hartford. You are invited to leave a message for Frieda’s family at hutchinsfuneral.com.

Death Notices

Jack Eugene Angelo, 59, of Benton Harbor died Aug. 24, 2017 at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville. Purely Cremations – Starks Family Funeral Homes, Benton Harbor

Mike Moore, 60, of Coloma died Sep. 3, 2017.

Bruce Albert Varnau, 62, died Sep. 4, 2017 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford

Raymond Svorec, 59, of Coloma died Sep. 10, 2017 at home. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Coloma