11-30-2017 Tri-City Area Obituaries

MAXINE WILLMENG

 Maxine Willmeng, 94, of Coloma, died on Thursday, November 23, 2017 at The Whitcomb Tower in St. Joseph.

Services celebrating her life will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 4, at the Coloma United Methodist Church.  Her ashes will be entombed at the Coloma Cemetery Columbarium.  Memorials may be made to the Coloma United Methodist Church or the North Berrien Senior Center.  Arrangements are by the Davidson Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in Coloma.  Please share memories, messages, or photos at www.florin.net.

Maxine was born on Sept. 23, 1923 in South Bend, IN to Van R. and Loretta E. (Cutler) Burke. Maxine has lived in this area since she was 5 years old. She married Jack J. Willmeng on January 2, 1944 and he preceded her in death in 2003 after almost 60 years of marriage. For 35 years, Maxine worked at JC Penney as a sales clerk. She was a member of the Coloma United Methodist Church. Of all the things that Maxine enjoyed, she cherished most the time she spent with her family.  Maxine and her husband never missed a school activity of the grandchildren. Maxine always liked to talk and socialize wherever she went.  She was a kind and gracious lady who was friendly to everyone she met.

Her family includes her daughters, Margo L. Humes of St. Joseph, Judith (Ranse) McKinney of Three Rivers, and Janice (David) Vollrath of Coloma; her grandchildren, Scott and Dana, Tami, Brian and Michelle, Marc, Troy, Travis and Nicole, Matthew and Kelsey and Daniel, her 16 great-grandchildren and her 2 great-great-grandchildren.  Besides her husband and parents, Maxine was preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara, her grandson, Trent, her son-in-law, Russell Humes, and her brother, Vernon Burke.

JIMMY LEE VERMILYER

 Jimmy Lee Vermilyer, 67, of Niles, died very early Monday morning, Nov. 27, 2017 at home under Hospice care.

Services celebrating his life will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2017 at the Living Word Church of God, 6993 Red Arrow Hwy., Coloma. Burial will follow at Mission Hills Cemetery, Niles. Memorial donations may be made to the American Kidney Association or the Humane Society of SW Michigan. Please share memories, messages or photos at www.florin.net.

Jimmy was born in LaPorte, Indiana on May 29, 1950 to Charles and Edna (Grimes) Vermilyer. He married Sandra Dunton on January 6, 1970, and they have celebrated almost 48 years of marriage. Jimmy proudly served his country in the Army National Guard. A member of the Living Word Church of God, Jimmy enjoyed spending time with his church family. He worked with several different contractors in the area, mainly in roofing. Of all the things Jimmy enjoyed, he cherished time spent with his family.

His family includes his wife Sandy; his children, Stacy (Robert) Camp of St. Joseph and Tracy (Gail) Vermilyer of Pontiac, Michigan; 1 grandchild, D.J. Vermilyer; and his sister, Iona Shriver of Lawrence, Michigan.

Besides his parents, Jimmy was preceded by two brothers, Arnold and Raymond Vermilyer.

CHRISTINE DIANE PRICE

 Christine (Chris) Diane Price (nee McFarland) passed away in her sleep on Saturday, November 25, 2017 at her home in Indianapolis, Indiana following long and courageous battles with Parkinson’s disease and lung cancer.

She was born August 13, 1951 in Benton Harbor and was a 1969 graduate of Hartford High School. She is survived by her mother, Maxine McFarland of Hartford; husband, Richard Price; children Kimberly Linderman Miller (Chad Compton) and Dennis Linderman; grandchildren Duncan Miller, Joshua Miller, Zachary Compton, Logan Linderman, and Casey Linderman, all of Indianapolis; siblings Linda Bippus, Dan McFarland (Vicki), and Michael McFarland (Johnna), all of Hartford, and JoAnne O’Rourke of Kalamazoo; seven nephews and nieces, and 13 great-nephews and nieces. Her father, Art McFarland Jr. preceded her in death.

Chris will be remembered for her cheerful attitude, positive outlook, and encouragement of others. She was especially drawn to helping older people. After managing convenience stores for many years, she and her husband started a grocery store in a neighborhood with a high-rise apartment building for the elderly and disabled. When her regular customers from the building could not come to the store, they called Chris to ask if their groceries could be delivered. This led to the start of a grocery delivery business, which became her passion by combining her love of older people with a concrete way to help. Chris also had a love for children and delighted in spending time with her five grandsons.

A memorial service will be held at the Hartford Federated Church on Saturday, December 2 at 1:00 p.m.

Death Notices

Karen L. Howard-Brown, 61, of Benton Harbor died Nov. 19, 2017 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Brown Funeral Home, Niles

Darlene J. “Tag” Runge-Wutzke, 86, formerly of Stevensville died Nov. 21, 2017 at Country Manor Care Center, Bridgman. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph

Cheryl L. Hogue, 61, of Watervliet died Nov. 21, 2017 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Coloma

Stephen A. Hudzinski Jr., 80, of Sodus died Nov. 21, 2017 at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph

Nicholas G. Walker, 34, formerly of Coloma died Nov. 21, 2017at home in Chicago. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Coloma

Donald Earl Burrous, 84, of South Haven died Nov. 23, 2017 at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo. Filbrandt Family Funeral Home, South Haven

Robert R. Jones, 76, of Benton Harbor died Nov. 26, 2017 at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Coloma

John Edward Klann Jr., 62, of South Haven died Nov. 12, 2017 at home. Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford

Joseph E. Brule, 80, formerly of Watervliet died Nov. 24, 2017 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Hutchins Funeral Home, Watervliet

Joyce M. Myers, 82, of Stevensville died Nov. 26, 2017 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph

James D. Bartalone Sr., 94, of St. Joseph died Nov. 27, 2017 at Pine Ridge Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Stevensville. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph

Nicholas George Walker, 34, of Chicago, formerly of Coloma, died Nov. 21, 2017 at home. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Coloma

David Dennis Martin, 65, of South Haven died Nov. 26, 2017 at Bronson Hospital of South Haven. Filbrandt Family Funeral Home, South Haven