FRED CHABOT Fred Chabot, 74, went home to be with his Lord surrounded by his family on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020.
Fred was born on Sept. 29, 1945 in St. Joseph to Alfred Sr. and Jeannette (Ossiginac) Chabot. He served in the Army from 1965 to 1967 during the Vietnam War. He then married Linda Erwin on Oct. 4, 1969 and had four children. Throughout his life Fred enjoyed playing fast pitch softball, most of it with the Plangger’s Furniture team in Benton Harbor. Over the course of his career he played in over thirty national softball tournaments all over the United States. Fred was also a member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians of Manistee, MI. He is survived by his wife, Linda; sons, Brent Chabot and Browning (Kristin) Chabot; daughters, Heather (Todd) Hess and Paige Chabot; grandchildren, Ty (Katie) Hess, Bryer, Rylie, Clay, and Wayde Hess; Piper, Reese, and Josie Chabot; great-granddaughter Skye Hess; sisters, Karol Ann Chabot and Marlene Davis; brother, Lee Chabot; nephews, James (Lori) Chabot and Joe Chabot; grandniece, Jacquelyn Chabot; grandnephew, Nathan Chabot. A graveside service with military honors will be held at Lake Shore Cemetery in Hagar Township on Thursday, Sept. 17 at 1:00 p.m. Instead of flowers, memorials may be made to: Berean Bible Institute, P.O. Box 587, Slinger, WI 53086. Arrangements are by the Davidson Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in Coloma.
DENNIS SOULARD Dennis “Denny” Soulard passed away on Sept. 12, 2020. Born July 3, 1945, he took great pride in his southwest Michigan roots of living and working in the Coloma and Watervliet area for a large portion of his life.
Denny worked over 25 years at the Watervliet Paper Mill and later Metal Processors in Stevensville. He forged lifelong friendships with many people and acted as a mentor, friend, and listening ear to many. Denny lived with a passion for life and meeting people and can be best described as someone who had never met a stranger and would give the shirt off his back in a second. He coached little and peanut league teams, softball, soccer, and in his younger days was an avid bicyclist. He loved to make people laugh and cherished the time he spent with people over the years, from bowling leagues at Wil-o-Paw Lanes in Coloma, deer camp with friends, traveling, going out to eat, or just simply staying at home. He had an uncanny ability to recall details and tell a story, a true testament to how important people and experiences were in his life. He seemed to always find the best in everybody and gave everyone he met the benefit of the doubt that they were a good person, regardless of their past, or anyone else’s opinions. In the fall of 1990, he met Valerie, and as they say, the rest was history. Val and he retired near Chase and created several memories with friends and family there. Val and Denny also bought a motor home when they retired and traveled to 49 of the 50 States in it, including a long trek to Alaska and back. In recent years they have spent winters in Alabama, Florida, Arizona, and many points in between. Val and Denny were a perfect match and he was very fortunate to spend the last 30 years with his best friend and love of his life. Anyone that knew Denny would know that he wouldn’t want people to be sad of his passing, but to rather take this time to let the ones you love know how much they mean to you and to maybe call up someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Denny is survived by his wife Valerie; son, Keith Soulard (Allison and Jalen); daughter, Kelli Muth (Greg); son, Ryan Soulard (Christina); granddaughter (unofficial daughter) Taylor Prestidge (Matt) and their children – his great grandchildren Hudson and Raeghan-Denni; stepson, Mark Lambrecht (Kim) and their children. Dennis has two siblings, Edward (Phyliss) Soulard of St. Joseph and Jeanine Ratter of Stevensville. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Ted and Goldie Soulard of Coloma. A celebration of Denny’s life is planned for Oct. 3, 2020 in Coloma with more details to be announced soon. You are invited to leave a message of comfort for Denny’s family at hutchinsfuneral.com.
KENNETH GAYNOR Sr. Ken Wayne Gaynor Sr. passed away on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2020, at The Willows Assisted Living in St. Joseph. Ken was born on Jan. 27, 1935, in Hammond, Indiana to Carl and Mildred Gaynor.
He worked as a mechanic at Karson’s in St. Joseph, Rogel’s in Watervliet, Downtown 66 in Benton Harbor, and Ridge & Kramer. In Ken’s younger days he enjoyed traveling, camping, motorcycle riding, boating, bowling and photography. Ken is survived by five sons, Ken (Elaine) Gaynor Jr., Keith (Linda) Gaynor, Kevin Gaynor, Kris Gaynor, and Kelly Gaynor; a brother Ronald Gaynor; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his wife Maureen Gaynor, a daughter Sherry Gaynor, sister-in-law Nancy Gaynor, and his parents. Hutchins Funeral Home is assisting Ken’s family with cremation and his family will celebrate his life privately. You are welcome to leave a message of comfort for Ken’s family at hutchinsfuneral.com.
Death Notices Christopher Bikichky, 44, of Berrien Springs died Sept. 8, 2020 at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville. Allred Funeral Home, Berrien Springs