12-26-2019 Tri-City Area Obituaries

ROSELLEN O. WESSENDORF Rosellen O. Wessendorf, 74, of Dowagiac, passed away Wednesday, December 18, 2019, at her home surrounded by her family.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 305 W. State St., Cassopolis, with Rev. Paul Doellinger officiating. Burial will take place at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens at a later date. Friends may visit with the family Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the church. Memorial contributions in Rosellen’s name may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital or St. Paul Lutheran Church. Those wishing to sign Rosellen Memory Book online may do so at www.clarkch.com. Rosellen was born September 28, 1945, to Carl and Martha (Hutchison) Haisch. She graduated from Lakeshore High School in 1963. On November 16, 1991, she married David Wessendorf at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Joseph. Rosellen was active in the Dowagiac VFW and was the Chaplin for the VFW Auxiliary. She had a strong faith in God that was shown through her commitment to the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Rosellen was known for her beautiful paintings and was recognized as an International Artist, she was also the first female Master Heavy Diesel Mechanic in the State of Michigan. Though she was proud of her accomplishments, she was most proud of her family who she loved greatly. Rosellen is survived by her loving husband, David Wessendorf; children, Larry (Kim) Whitney, Michael (Wendy) Whitney and Jennifer Whitney; step-children, Jonathan (Sisi) Wessendorf, Katrina Berres and Laura (Jeremy) Cionca; 8 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren; siblings, Carl Haisch, Anita Haisch and Sue Walker; step-sister, Cindy (Rick) Marquis and numerous nieces and nephews.

ELBERT “WOODY” ELWOOD JONES Elbert Elwood Jones was born July 9, 1923 in Surrounded Hill, Arkansas, the son of Hiram and Delia Jones. Woody, as he was known to all, passed away at the age of 96 on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 at Hanson Hospice Center, Stevensville. Woody worked at the Van Buren County Fruit Exchange in Hartford until retirement. He was a member of the Hartford Fire Department for 35 years and a life member of the Coloma Lodge 162 F&AM. On April 2, 1949, Woody and Nina Burchfield were united in marriage. She survives along with their three children, Ken Jones of Watervliet, Andrea (Harold) Wade of Hartford and Theresa (Frank) Jones-Saucedo of Holt. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Michael Jones, Amber (Joe) Hinojosa, Nicole (Kyle) Saucedo-Atwood, Joshua (Ashley) Wade and Eric Wade; six great-grandchildren, with one on the way and four siblings, Bill (Laverne) Jones, Douglas (Michelle) Jones, Freeman (Christine) Jones and Mary Francis (Larry) Olsen. Woody was preceded in passing by his twin baby daughters and three brothers, Paul Massey, Hiram Jones and Kenneth Jones. The family will welcome friends from 11:30 a.m. till 1 p.m. on Monday, December 23, 2019 at the Calvin Funeral Home in Hartford, where at 1 p.m. a celebration of life service to honor Woody’s memory will commence. Masonic rites will be said by Pastor Steven Bisbee officiating. Woody will be laid to rest in Maple Hill Cemetery with full military rites by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at www.calvin-leonardfh.com.

PERCY “JOHN” CRUMB John’s life began April 8, 1930, in Coloma. As a young boy his family moved to Watervliet where he grew up and attended school. John proudly served in the United States Army from 1952-1954. He was a grain and animal farmer most of his life, however he also worked as a welder, boiler maker, and drove truck. When he wasn’t working you could find John enjoying the outdoors hunting, fishing, gardening, mushroom hunting and spending time at his cabin up north. John’s greatest joy was spending time with his loving family which includes: two children, Carrol Crumb and Mark (Denise) Crumb; four grandchildren, John (Michelle) Crumb, Mark R. Crumb, Tangie Hance, and Samantha Crumb; four great-grandchildren, Antonio Crumb, Alizandra Crumb, Nemesio Crumb, and Luke Crumb; and many other family and friends. John died Thursday, Dec. 19, 2019 at home surrounded by his family. His wife Lillian (Frazier) Crumb, great-granddaughter Cassandra Crumb, parents Arthur and Katherine (Smith) Crumb, and a brother Donald Crumb precede John in death. Friends visited with John’s family Sunday, Dec. 22, at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet where funeral services were celebrated Monday, Dec. 23. Burial followed in Fairview Memorial Cemetery in Watervliet. Memorials may be made in John’s memory to Berrien County Cancer Services or Caring Circle Hospice. You are invited to leave a message of comfort for John’s family at www.hutchinsfuneral.com.

Death Notices Mary L. Hanson, 81, of Lincoln Township died Dec. 18, 2019 at home. Fairplain Chapel – Florin Funeral Service, Benton Harbor

Maxine A. Gillenwater, 94, of Coloma died Dec. 22, 2019 at home. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Coloma

Barbara E. “Barb” Lingle, 69, of Watervliet died Dec. 20, 2019 at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph

Fran(k) McCauley, 79, of Marcellus died Dec. 17, 2019 at The Willows Assisted Living, St. Joseph. Hutchins Funeral Home, Watervliet