Obituaries

Deborah Jeanne Simmons

Deborah Jeanne Simmons

Feb 26, 2020

On February 26, 2020, Deborah Jeanne Simmons, a loving wife and mother, gained her angel wings at the age of 64.

Deborah was born August 4th, 1955, as the first 3lb 2oz baby at Stuttgart Hospital in Badkonstadt, Germany. She graduated from Delton-Kellogg High School in 1973 and went to Wright Beauty Academy to practice cosmetology. Deborah...

Michael Alan Watson

Michael Alan Watson

Feb 25, 2020

Michael Alan Watson, 51 of Gaylord, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 25, 2020.

Born in Warren, MI on March 20, 1968, Mike was the son of Alan P. and Judith M. (Ward) Watson.  In 1980 the family moved to Roscommon where Mike graduated from Roscommon High School in 1986.

With a passion to serve...

Victor C. Horton

Victor C. Horton

Feb 24, 2020

Victor Charles Horton, 86 of Elmira, passed away at home on Monday, February 24, 2020.

Born in Riverdale, MI on April 20, 1933, Victor was the son of Charles and Pearl (Wolfgang) Horton.  After graduating from nearby Vestaburg High School, he began his college education at Western Michigan University.

College had to be put on...

Irene A. Duda

Irene A. Duda

Feb 20, 2020

Irene A. Duda, 87 of Gaylord, passed away on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at her granddaughter’s home in Gaylord.

Born in Gaylord on December 10, 1932, Irene was the daughter of Alexander Blanzy and Sophia Wiewiorski.

Irene met her future husband, Leo Grzybowski in Gaylord and the two later moved to Harbor Beach where they...

Leon R. Switalski

Leon R. Switalski

Feb 19, 2020

Leon R. Switalski, 94 of Gaylord, passed away on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at home. Born on May 15, 1925 in Gaylord, Leo was the son of Walter and Sophia (Krzyzak) Switalski.

Leo attended Red School, St. Mary High School and Alpena College.

He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Alex and Vera Switalski;...

Bernard C. "Bernie" Swartz

Bernard C. "Bernie" Swartz

Feb 18, 2020

Bernard C. Swartz, 82, of Gaylord and formerly of Sturgis, passed away February 18, 2020 at Munson Healthcare Grayling Hospital. Born on December 23, 1937 in Plainwell, MI., he was the son of Carl and Donna (Lent) Swartz.

He graduated from Otsego High School in 1956 and earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees...

Richard E. Vanleen

Richard E. Vanleen

Feb 15, 2020

Richard E. Vanleen, 89 of Lewiston, passed away Saturday, February 15, 2020 at Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital.  Richard retired from the Detroit Police Department in 1988 and moved to Lewiston.  Arrangements for graveside services at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Detroit are pending and will follow soon.  Complete obituary information will also follow.

Dorothy A. Durston

Dorothy A. Durston

Feb 11, 2020

Dorothy A. Durston, 91 of Indian River, passed away on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.  Additional information will follow soon.

Joan M. Knecht

Joan M. Knecht

Feb 11, 2020

Joan M. Knecht, 91 of Petoskey and formerly of Charlevoix, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at The Villa at the Bay in Petoskey.

The family has chosen to remember her privately.

Dolores P. "Phyllis" Winiarski

Dolores P. "Phyllis" Winiarski

Feb 10, 2020

Dolores P. “Phyllis” Winiarski, 91 of Lewiston and Fraser, passed away on Monday, February 10, 2020 at Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital in Gaylord.

Born on February 19, 1928 in Detroit, Dolores was the daughter of Frank and Clara (Haska) Klimmer.  On February 18, 1950 she married Benjamin “Bill” Winiarski in Detroit.  They lived in St. Clair...

Nicholas J. Micoff

Nicholas J. Micoff

Feb 10, 2020

Nicholas J. Micoff, 41 of Petoskey, passed away on Monday, February 10, 2020 at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids.

Born in Petoskey on February 4, 1979, Nick was the son of Dennis Lee and Lois Jean (Bonnett) Micoff.  Nick grew up in Ingram, Texas and Indian River and graduated from Inland Lakes High School in 1997.

...

Joesphine Lynn Brawley

Joesphine Lynn Brawley

Feb 5, 2020

Joesphine Lynn Brawley, 57 of Gould City, passed away Wednesday, February 5, 2020 at McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey.  Memorial gathering arrangements are pending.

David J. Alkire

David J. Alkire

Feb 4, 2020

David James Alkire, 57 of Burt Lake caught the A-Train on February 4, 2020 to another baseball event.

Lived to love, love to live, and inspired others.

Donations can be made to your local food pantry, The Jimmy Fund or The Mark Fydrich Foundation.

A private family remembrance service will take place at...

Tina M. Bishop

Tina M. Bishop

Jan 30, 2020

Tina M. Bishop, 48 of Harbor Springs and previously of Las Vegas, NV., passed away Thursday, January 30, 2020 at Emmet County Medical Care Facility.

Memorial service arrangements are incomplete at this time and will be updated.

Debra Ann Barber

Debra Ann Barber

Jan 29, 2020

Debra Ann Barber, 68 of Gaylord, passed away Wednesday, January 29, 2020 at McLaren Northern Michigan in Petoskey.

Born in Grayling, Michigan on June 25, 1951, Debra was the daughter of Claude and Lillian (Haskill) Dipzinski.  She grew up in Gaylord and was a 1969 graduate of Gaylord High School.

On April 12, 1975, she...

Brian L. Starr

Brian L. Starr

Jan 28, 2020

Brian Lee Anthony Starr, 34 of Harbor Springs, passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2020.

The family will have a celebration of life.

Anne E. O'Connor

Anne E. O'Connor

Jan 28, 2020

Anne Elizabeth O’Connor died on January 28, 2020. Anne was born December 1, 1931 in Fairfield, Connecticut to Marion and Harold Savard.

Anne married Dalton A. (Tony) in Fairfield on November 15, 1952. They settled in Ft Wayne, Indiana and raised Ashley (Louisville, CO), Dalton (Aspen, CO), Richard (Seattle, WA) and Michael (Chicago, IL). The family vacationed...

Darrell A. Slagle

Darrell A. Slagle

Jan 26, 2020

Darrell Adam Slagle, 82 of Vanderbilt, passed away at home on Sunday, January 26, 2020 surrounded by his family.

Born in Elmira Township on May 2, 1937, Darrell was the son of Joseph and Violet (Frazee) Slagle.  He lived for a number of years in Saginaw before moving to Albuquerque, later returning to Michigan and settling in...

William "Bill" Kalbfleisch

William "Bill" Kalbfleisch

Jan 26, 2020

William J.R. “Bill” Kalbfleisch, 81 of Petoskey, passed away at Hiland Cottage in Petoskey on Sunday, January 26, 2020.

Born in Petoskey, Bill was the son of Ralph C. and Eva Mae (Zink) Kalbfleisch.  He served in the U.S Army from 1961-1964.  Following a long career as a truck driver traveling weekly from Chicago to the east...

Ruth Ann "Frankie" Arsenault

Ruth Ann "Frankie" Arsenault

Jan 26, 2020

Ruth Ann “Frankie” Arsenault, 68 of Alanson, formerly of Houghton, passed away Sunday, January 26, 2020 at Hiland Cottage in Petoskey.

Born in Marquette, Michigan on June 9, 1951, Frankie was the daughter of Peter and Nancy (Wood) Arsenault.  She grew up in Munising and Marquette, graduating from Marquette High School in 1969.  In 1970 she moved...