Obituaries

Sep 1, 2021

Erma Marie Backenstose passed away at The Brook surrounded by her family on Wednesday, September 1, 2021.  She was 91.

Erma was born in East Detroit on December 10, 1929 to Edward and Irene (Hildenbrand) Luscomb.  She grew up in St. Claire Shores, Michigan where she attended primary school, and Romeo Michigan where she graduated high school...

Sep 1, 2021

Matthew Brian Duran, age 54, is now fully alive in heaven after an intense fight with pancreatic Cancer.

Matt was born September 3, 1966 to Jerry and Carolyn Duran. Their family (Joel, Julie, Phil and Sara) made their home in Petoskey and have continued to build a legacy in the area, both in community and local business....

Aug 30, 2021

James E. Holborn, 84 of Vanderbilt, passed away at home surrounded by his family on Monday, August 30, 2021.

Born in Gaylord on June 14, 1937, he was the son of Charles and Ila (Montgomery) Holborn.

A lifelong area resident, Jim worked for 37 years at H&H Tube in Vanderbilt.  He also worked as a...

Aug 26, 2021

Alberta Mae Robinson, 91 of Gaylord, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at Medilodge of Frankenmuth.

Born in Elkton, Michigan, she was the daughter of Frederick and Harriet (Farver) Siegwart.

Alberta’s family will remember her love of family and her strength.  Always content with her life, she rarely complained...

Aug 24, 2021

William Carl Watkins, 80 of Frederic, passed away at home on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. Born on October 9, 1940 in Waters, he was the son of William Paul and Lucy (Cassidy) Watkins.

Carl proudly served his country in the United States Army. For 37 years he worked for Georgia Pacific as a Boiler Operator, retiring in...

Aug 23, 2021

Jeffrey James Bourdlaies, 43 of Gaylord, passed away Monday, August 23, 2021 in Traverse City.

Born in Bay City, Michigan on July 19, 1978, Jeff is the son of James and Carole (Rueff) Bourdlaies.  He attended Bangor Township Schools before moving with his family to Gaylord in 1992, and graduated from Gaylord High School in 1998.

Aug 22, 2021

Ronald Vananda, 64 of Cheboygan, passed away Sunday, August 22, 2021 at home.  His family has chosen to remember him privately.

Aug 22, 2021

Deborah Taylor Wilson, 63 of Wolverine, passed away Sunday, August 22, 2021 at home.  Arrangements for services in Maryland are pending.

Aug 20, 2021

Barbara Jo Davidge, 71 of Gaylord, passed away Friday, August 20, 2021 at Covenant Health in Saginaw.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on October 5, 1949, she was the daughter of Alvin and Ruth (Marlow) Bowman.

Barbara and her husband, Douglas Davidge, had lived in Woodhaven before moving up north to Atlanta.   After her husband’s death...

Aug 20, 2021

Morley E. Durston, 95 of Indian River, passed away on Friday, August 20, 2021 at Pineview Cottage in Harbor Springs.

The family has chosen to remember him privately.

Please share your memories and personal messages with the family on his tribute wall.

Aug 16, 2021

Linda Kay Bunker, 76 of Wolverine, passed away Monday, August 16, 2021 at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.

Born in Wolverine on May 5, 1945 to Harold and Minnie (Stokes) Glover, Linda was a lifelong resident and a graduate of Wolverine High School.

On October 27, 1962 she was married to Mitchell N. Bunker. ...

Aug 13, 2021

With profound sadness we announce the passing of Laura M. Derkatz, a loving and devoted wife, mother, daughter and grandmother, on August 13, 2021. She left us while surrounded by her family.

Laura was born on July 20, 1967 in Petoskey.  She was the daughter of Jonathan and Judith (Bonnett) Morrow.

Raised primarily in Wolverine,...

Aug 13, 2021

David K. Rittley of Atlanta, Michigan, passed away Friday, August 13, 2021, at his daughter's home in Gaylord. He was born in Garden City, Michigan, to Thomas and Lena (Myers) Rittley on January 10, 1963.

The family moved to Johannesburg, Michigan in 1980, where David graduated from Johannesburg-Lewiston High School in 1981. Upon graduation, he proudly served...

Aug 12, 2021

Mary Jo Leach, 79 of Wolverine, passed away on Thursday, August 12, 2021 at home.

The family has chosen to remember her privately.

Aug 8, 2021

Ronald Grant Powers Sr, 83 of Boyne City, passed away at home on Sunday, August 8, 2021.  His family will remember him at a celebration of his life.  Arrangements are pending.

Aug 7, 2021

Donald Dale Freeman, 71 of Gaylord, passed away at home on Saturday, August 7, 2021.

Born in Holly, Michigan on February 28, 1950, he was the son of Donald F. and Mary (Gazlay) Freeman.  Dale lived in Lewiston for several years before moving to Vanderbilt and later to Gaylord.

Having been together for 13 years,...

Jul 30, 2021

Robert Leo Wingo, 70 of Elmira, passed away Friday, July 30, 2021 at Munson Healthcare Otsego Memorial Hospital.  The family is planning a private family memorial.

Jul 26, 2021

Carleton LeRoy Fix was born in Kankakee, Illinois June 10, 1941 to Carleton LaVern Fix and Lillian Marie Scharrer Fix.  He spent his childhood in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio.

He moved in 1955 to Birmingham, MI. where he attended Birmingham High School and married his high school sweetheart Diana L Halpin on December 31, 1958.

...

Jul 23, 2021

Roger Hoyt Kraemer, 67 of Gaylord, passed away at home on Friday, July 23, 2021.

Born in Detroit on May 17, 1954, he was the son of Arthur H. and Jane E. (Ford) Kraemer.  His family later moved to Grand Rapids where Roger attended high school, graduating from Ottawa Hills High School in 1972.

In...

Jul 21, 2021

Kathryn L. Chiodini, 74 of Elmira, passed away on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 at McLaren Northern Michigan.

The family will have private service celebrating Katherines life.

Please share your memories and personal messages on her tribute wall.