11-28-2019 Tri-City Area Obituaries

GORDON BANASIK Gordon Everett Banasik, 90, passed away Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, into the loving arms of his Heavenly Father, at Hazel Findlay Country Manor in St. Johns, MI, surrounded by family love. Gordon is now reunited with his wife, Joan. Gordon was born Oct. 13, 1929, in Langdon, North Dakota. He was the son of Frieda and John Banasik. After the loss of his father at a young age, Gordon was raised by his mother, Frieda Banasik, later wed to Charlie Green. Gordon was the second youngest of seven children. As a young boy, Gordon sold newspapers with his sister, Donna, and worked at Langdon’s newspaper, The Cavalier County Republican, from 8th grade until his high school graduation

. After graduating from high school, Gordon served in the U.S. Air Force for four years during the Korean War before being honorably discharged. Gordon graduated from Wahpeton State School of Science in North Dakota, after completing a two-year printing program, which prepared him for his future career in printing. He began work at The Redfield Press as a printer and linotype operator in Redfield, South Dakota, where he met the love of his life, advertising manager Carol Joan Mielke. Gordon and Joan were married Aug. 15, 1954, in Joan’s hometown, Watertown, S.D. Gordon and Joan enjoyed 62 years of marriage until Joan’s passing in 2016. Together they moved to Germany in 1954 where Gordon worked for The Stars and Stripes, the military newspaper, and where their two eldest sons were born. In 1959, Gordon and Joan moved to Watervliet, MI, where they purchased the longstanding weekly newspaper, The Watervliet Record, from Winifred Case and the late Francis Case. Gordon and Joan wholeheartedly immersed themselves in the Watervliet community where they raised their five children. In the early years of publishing The Watervliet Record, Gordon printed the paper on a hand-crank press, built an addition to house a large press, and then it was printed offset at West Michigan Publishers in Paw Paw in 1970. After 25 years of publishing The Watervliet Record, Gordon and Joan sold the newspaper to Karl and Anne Bayer in 1984. Gordon was subsequently employed in the prep department at Patterson Printing in Benton Harbor for 11 years, and at Imperial Printing Company’s layout/ prep department in St. Joe for 10 years. While Gordon was employed at the printing companies, Joan served on the Watervliet School Board for 20 years. From the 1960s to the 1990s, Gordon and Joan were active in the Watervliet Lions and Lioness Clubs. He and Joan were members of the Watervliet First United Church and then the Coloma United Methodist Church for many years. Gordon and his wife, Joan lived in Watervliet for 56 years before moving to St. Johns in January of 2015 due to health issues. Gordon’s pride and joy has been his five children and their families – from the magic of enjoying ordinary days together to celebrating Thanksgivings, Christmases, and birthdays together. Gordon was honored on his 90th birthday, Oct. 13, with a gala occasion including his five children, grandchildren and their families – featuring dinner, two birthday cakes, and a happy birthday strings serenade by several grandchildren. Gordon was a devoted husband to his wife, Joan, and they were always together. They fiercely loved their children, their families, and community. Together, Gordon, Joan, and their love for each other would brighten up a room. Gordon was a man of character, a gallant gentleman, who was always positive, and smiling. Gordon was loyal to his Michigan sports teams – University of Michigan football, the Detroit Tigers and the Pistons – and especially loved watching games with his sons. As Gordon didn’t grow up having a father, he became a sports fan after having sons. Gordon coached his sons’ little league baseball teams, and along with his wife, Joan, loved attending Watervliet’s athletic games. Other favorites of Gordon’s were reading his newspapers, playing bingo, delighting in friends and neighbors, enjoying music, classic movies, church services, and wheelchair dancing with his daughter. Through the years, special family events for Gordon and Joan included their 40th anniversary celebration at Lake Michigan Golf Hills, their 50th anniversary ranch/ golf resort trip with their children and grandchildren, their 55th anniversary one-week Smoky Mountains vacation with their children and their families, and their 60th anniversary party with family and friends. Gordon is survived by his five children: Barry (Karen) Banasik of Webster, NY; Ben (Betsy) Banasik of Menomonee Falls, WI; Barbara (Rick) Stock of Granger, IN; Bob (Sheila) Banasik, Coloma, MI; and Brad (MaryJo) Banasik, Okemos, MI; brothers Jack Banasik, Langdon, N.D.; and Allyn (Laurie), Fargo, ND; sister Donna Foreman, Tulsa, OK; sister-in-law, Shirley Sikkink (Marv), Casa Grande, AZ; sister-in-law, Mavis Mielke, Littleton, CO; seven grandchildren: Vanessa (Daniel) Mead, Grand Rapids; Rebekah and Rachel Banasik, Okemos; Grant Banasik, Coloma; Katie Banasik, Menomonee Falls; Heather Occhiuto, Cleveland Heights, OH; and Charlie Zelie, Rochester, NY; three great-grandchildren: Anthony Occhiuto, Mayfield Heights, OH; Andrew and Erin Zelie, Rochester; and numerous nieces and nephews. Gordon’s family will host a visitation, celebration of life, and luncheon on Friday, Nov. 29, at the Coloma United Methodist Church, 144 S. Church St. The visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m., and the funeral service with military rites will start at approximately 11:00 a.m., which will be followed by a luncheon in the basement of the church. There will be a memorial grave site service in the spring at the Watervliet Cemetery where Gordon will be laid to rest alongside his wife, Joan, and their newborn son, Ramon John, who was born in February of 1961. Gordon is preceded in death by his parents, Frieda and John, newborn son, Ramon John, brother, Orphille, and sisters Elda and Lucille, and his wife, Joan. Memorials may be made to Hazel I. Findlay Country Scott Manor, 1101 S. Scott Rd., St. Johns, MI 48879.

Death Notices Michael H. Graffenius, 64, of Watervliet died Nov. 19, 2019 at home. Hutchins Funeral Home, Watervliet

Karen L. Vertroba, 77, of Coloma died Nov. 20, 2019 at home. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Coloma

Barbara Sue Machado, 58, of Coloma died Nov. 20, 2019 at home. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Coloma

Dawn M. Scott, 54, of Watervliet died Nov. 21, 2019 at home. Hutchins Funeral Home, Watervliet

Ray Burns, 93, of Benton Harbor died Nov. 23, 2019 at Hanson Hospice House in Lincoln Township. Fairplain Chapel – Florin Funeral Service, Benton Township

Juana Cruz, 65, of Lawrence died Nov. 23, 2019 at home. Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford