11-08-2018 Tri-City Area Obituaries

VICTOR WALTER Victor’s life began October 5, 1936 in Coloma, Michigan. He was a lifetime area resident and gifted carpenter. Victor proudly served his country in the United States Army. Victor was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Watervliet and a member of the Watervliet Knights of Columbus Council. He enjoyed being outside doing yard work, gardening, hunting and fishing. Victor also enjoyed cooking and baking. His greatest love was spending time with family and friends.

Victor leaves behind a large loving family to cherish his memory including: his wife of 57 years Karol (Hildebrand) Walter; five children Jeffery (Laurie) Walter, Gerald Walter, Lori (Tim) Greco, David (Lisa) Walter, and Patricia (Michael) Lohraff; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five siblings Kathleen Walter, Barbara (Leonard) Hauch, Jack (Kathleen) Walter, Donald Walter, and George (Joanne) Walter; and numerous nieces and nephews. Victor died Sunday, November 4, surrounded by his loving family at home. Victor is preceded in death by his parents John and Agnes (Arcus) Walter and brother, Jim (Charlene) Walter. Friends may visit with Victor’s family Thursday, November 8, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service being prayed at 7:30 p.m. at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet. A memorial mass will be celebrated Friday, November 9, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Watervliet. Burial of his cremains will follow mass in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Watervliet. Memorials may be made in Victor’s memory to Knights of Columbus Council 4055 or St. Joseph Catholic Church in Watervliet. You are invited to leave a message of comfort for Victor’s family at hutchinsfuneral.com.

CHARLES WILLIAM MEACHUM Charles (Bill) William Meachum, 68, passed away peacefully October 31, 2018 at his home in Tavares, Florida, in the presence of loved ones. He was born on August 2, 1950 in Paw Paw, Michigan to Charles and Arletta Meachum.

He is preceded in death by his father, Charles. He is survived by his mother Arletta, of Bangor, and two siblings, Robert and Helen. He spent the last five years with his significant other, Patty Bordon. He is survived by his three children, Guy (Tasha) Meachum, Kelly Meachum and Chad Meachum; and five grandchildren, Hailey, Clara, Alivia, Carson and Amelia. Bill lived most of his life in Hartford Michigan. He spent the last years of his life in Florida. He was liked by many and made many close friends throughout his life. He was an Army Vietnam Veteran, and retired from local 325 Operating Engineers. Bill had a passion for riding his motorcycle, fishing, hunting, and loved going to races. A memorial service and luncheon will be held on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at 1 p.m. at the FOP, 3470 Angling Rd. in Coloma.

WALD RODEWALD Ewald’s life began October 19, 1917 in Bainbridge. He was a lifetime area resident, graduating from Watervliet High School in 1936. He proudly served his country in the United States Army as Captain of Field

Artillery during World War II. After serving his country Ewald returned to Bainbridge where he was a fruit farmer and worked for the United States Postal Service. Ewald’s greatest joy was his family which includes his daughter Sherry and her husband Larry Ameling, three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He died Tuesday, October 30 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland. His loving wife Esther, parents Fred and Anna (Warskow) Rodewald and a sister Marie precede Ewald in death. Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet assisted Ewald’s family with cremation and he was buried with a private ceremony at St. Paul’s Cemetery in Bainbridge Township. His church family will celebrate his life with a memorial service Saturday, November 10, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Bainbridge Township. Memorials may be made in Ewald’s memory to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Caring Circle Hospice, or North Berrien Senior Center. You are invited to leave a message of comfort for Ewald’s family at hutchinsfuneral.com.

SANDRA KRIEGER Sandra Krieger, 74, of Coloma, passed away on November 6, 2018 at South Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in South Haven.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 9 at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma with visitation beginning one hour prior. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens. Memorial donations in Sandra’s memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. Those wishing to leave a message or share a memory with the family online may do so at www.duffieldpastrick.com. Sandra was born March 3, 1944 in South Haven to Charles and Joy (Hankey) Larkin. On March 15, 1966 she married the love of her life, Roy Krieger. They had celebrated 52 years of marriage. Prior to her retirement Sandra had been employed as a telephone operator. She loved to sew and was an accomplished seamstress. In her younger years she had also served as a 4-H leader. She is survived by her husband Roy; five children, Carlyn Guyor of Benton Harbor, Christian Krieger of Coloma, Jacob Krieger of Benton Harbor, Katrina Krieger of Watervliet and Caine Krieger of Dallas, Texas; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Sandra was preceded in death by her parents and her sister.

Death Notices Jackie Lee Branson Sr., 74, of South Bend IN died Oct. 25, 2018 at Courtyard Healthcare Center, Goshen IN John “Jack” Henry Claeys, 92, died Nov. 2, 2018. Regina Ann Powell, 51, of South Bend, formerly of Benton Harbor died Oct. 25, 2018 at home. Family Funeral Home, Benton Harbor Lucinda Schaffer, 76, died Nov. 5, 2018. Hutchins Funeral Home, Watervliet