11-21-2018 Tri-City Area Obituaries

SHARON K. SCHMUHL Sharon K. Schmuhl, 75, passed away peacefully Friday, Nov. 16, 2018 at her home in Coloma. Sharon was born March 20, 1943 to the late George and Helen Noffke. She graduated from Coloma High School and attended Western Michigan University.

On May 11, 1979 she married Leslie W. Schmuhl and joined him in the family farming operation in Hagar Township. Besides farming, Sharon and Les also started and operated Coloma Polaris Sales and Service for 40 years. When they decided to retire from the business, Sharon and Les were the longest owners of a Polaris dealership in Michigan. Sharon was very active in her community and in her fight for agriculture. She was an active member of Michigan Agri-Women (former President), American Agri-Women, Curtis Community Women’s Club (former President), Farm Bureau and Zion UCC in St. Joseph. Sharon received numerous awards from the organizations that she was a part of; two of the more prestigious awards were: the ESPIRIT DeCORPS Award presented by Michigan Agri-Women and the LEAVEN Award presented by American Agri-Women. Sharon loved spending time with her family and friends. She was especially fond of the time she spent with them snowmobiling and ice fishing in the UP of Michigan. Sharon was always the one that would take charge and do the planning for the trip. She will be deeply missed by family and all those who knew her. Sharon was always willing to help and never afraid to give her advice and guidance. Sharon is survived by her husband Leslie Schmuhl; her three daughters, Kimberly Schmuhl, Kara (Chris) Gowin, Kathy Schmuhl all of Southwest Michigan and her best buddy – her dog Kendzie. Also surviving is her brother Charles Noffke and sister Susan (Robert) Ginter both of Coloma. There will be no visitation per Sharon’s wishes to never have the spotlight on her. Memorials may be made to Michigan Agri-Women or the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan.

DAWN MARIE SMITH (VANDRASEK) Dawn was born in the morning of November 22, 1963 at Memorial Hospital in St. Joseph, Michigan, the same day that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. She grew up in Watervliet and graduated with the Watervliet High School Class of 1982. Dawn worked for several years in the finance division of Whirlpool Financial. Outside of work she loved cooking and baking, watching golf (especially the Western Am at Point of Woods), cross stitching, and boating with family and friends. Dawn had an eclectic taste in music, enjoying artists from Pink Floyd to Dean Martin. Dawn was a world traveler. She lived coast to coast in the United States; Kailua, Hawaii; Okinawa, Japan; and Tokyo, Japan.

Dawn’s greatest joy came in spending time with her loving family which includes her husband of 24 years, Kevin D. Smith of Granger, IN; her three children, Lauren Smith (21), Evan Smith (18), and Julie Smith (14) all of Granger; her parents, Jack and Marcia VanDrasek (Ison) of Watervliet, MI; and her sister and brother-in-law, Cheryl and Ken Benjamin (VanDrasek) of Coloma, MI. Dawn also has aunts, cousins, and one uncle. Dawn passed away on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 and cremation has taken place. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet, MI on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 12:00 p.m. with visitation starting one hour prior to the service at 11:00 a.m. Memorials may be made in Dawn’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. You are invited to leave a message of comfort for Dawn’s family at hutchinsfuneral.com.

DAVID S. SCHER It is with great sadness and wonderful memories that we announce the passing of David S. Scher on November 16, 2018 at the age of 89. Dave of Naples, FL, formerly of Coloma, peacefully passed away at Avow Hospice in Naples. He is now at peace after struggling with Alzheimer’s & Parkinson’s Disease. Dave was born May 31, 1929 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was an Army Veteran of the Korean War, active member of the Shriners and Mason’s. Prior to retiring, Dave was the owner of The Elite Bar in Watervliet and a salesman at Krenek RV Super Center.

Dave was a hardworking, extremely active, caring man that would give the shirt off his back in a snowstorm if he had to. Back in the day, Dave loved racing his jet boat “Solid Gold” and his pontoon boat with his wife and son, Mark, at Paw Paw Lake Yacht Club. When he wasn’t working or boating, he enjoyed supporting his daughters in their passion for riding horses. He also enjoyed golfing, dancing, art shows, and concerts on the bluff in St. Joseph. Dave was preceded in death by his late wife Barbara (Bohle) Scher, parents Ray and Marcia Scher, and beautiful daughter Tami McLean-Scher. He is survived by his sister Roberta (Richard) Resnick; his children: step-son Rick (Mia) Winans, Mark (Dr. Maria Lourdes) Scher, Kim Scher; and his grandchildren Jordan Donohue and Cali McLean. Dave will be greatly missed by all that knew him. Graveside services to be held 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at B’Nai Sholom Cemetery in Benton Harbor. Arrangements are by Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Coloma. Those wishing to leave an online remembrance for the family may do so at www.duffieldpastrick.com. In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan, or Humane Society of Naples, FL.

WILLIAM “BILL” JACKSON Bill’s life began February 6, 1942, in Kennett, Missouri. He grew up in Hartford where he graduated high school and met the love of his life. Bill proudly served his country in the United States Army in the Dental Core. Upon returning home Bill went to work at Whirlpool Corporation for more than forty years, first as an Engineer and then in their Quality Assurance Division. Bill served his community of Hartford for many years as a volunteer firefighter. When he wasn’t working or serving his community Bill enjoyed being outdoors fishing or working in his yard. He was also a member of Rod Knockers, a classic car club. Bill will be remembered for his humor and his story telling. Bill leaves behind a loving family to cherish his memory which includes his wife of almost 55 years, Shirley (Smith) Jackson; a daughter, Amy (Rodney) Greene of Big Rapids; two grandchildren, Jordan Greene of Texas and William Riley Greene of Big Rapids; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bill died Wednesday, November 14 at The Timbers of Cass in Dowagiac. His parents, Homer and Cora Thelma (Wilburn) Jackson precede Bill in death. Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet is assisting Bill’s family with cremation and a memorial service will be celebrated in the spring. A donation may be made in Bill’s name to St. Jude’s. You may leave a message of comfort for Bill’s family at hutchinsfuneral.com.

Death Notices Jerry Lee Rawson Sr., 75, of Covert died Nov. 9, 2018 at home. Purely Cremations – Starks Family Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Benton Harbor Virginia Rose Lovelace, 87, of Dowagiac died Nov. 14, 2018 at The Timbers of Cass County, Dowagiac. Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford Maria “Mary” Rosa, 93, of Benton Harbor died Nov. 16, 2018. Hutchins Funeral Home, Watervliet Maxine Ruth Burg, 98, of Hartford died Nov. 15, 2018 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford