Obituaries

Feb 29, 2020

Gary LeRoy Lucas, 83 of Gaylord, passed away Saturday, February 29, 2020 at Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital. Born in Mancelona on December 22, 1936, he was the son of James and Ruth (Moore) Lucas. For many years, Gary lived in Mancelona before moving to Gaylord. He worked for DTE Energy (Michcon) until retiring in 1996. Gary and his...

Feb 27, 2020

Roberta (Bobbi) G. Lawnichak, 87, a lifelong resident of Sparr, passed away February 27, 2020. Bobbi was born May 30, 1932 in Mackinaw City, she was the daughter of Orlo and Dorothy (Darling) Robinson.

Bobbi and her husband, Jim, built their life in Sparr and were astute business owners of the Dairy Queen and Our Place Steak and...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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;...

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...

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.

Feb 11, 2020

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

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.

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...

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.

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.

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...

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.

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...

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.

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...

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...