http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, July 11, 2024 15
Raymond
Oscar Kilbourn,
“Poppy,” 88, of
Olivet, died July
5, 2024. He was
born December
19, 1935, in
Battle Creek,
Mich., to George
Sr. and Velma
(Miller) Kilbourn.
He married the
love of his life,
Carolyn Jane
Brownell, on May 23, 1964. They just cel-
ebrated 60 wonderful years together.
Ray worked for Clark Equipment in
Battle Creek for 21 years, then worked at
Alro Steel of Lansing until his retirement
in 1996. Ray and his wife, Jane, owned
Bellevue Dry Cleaners and Laundromat
for 13 years.
He was an avid sportsman, who loved
fishing and hunting, bagging his last deer
at age 75. Ray served in the United States
Army at the end of the Korean War, from
September 1954 to January 1962.
Ray is survived by his wife, Jane;
daughter Pam Bess; son Randy (Dale
Klahn) Kilbourn; grandchildren Gerry
(Brittany) Bess, Alicia (Ken) Horton,Joanna (Derek) Smith; great-grandchildren
James, Brooke, Jackson, Robby, Emma
and Peyton; son-in-law Ken (Grace) Bess;
special friends Steve and Kathy Penny;
siblings Janette Robertson, Leon, Mary
Jane (Paul) Niemela, Al, Leola Kilbourn,
and Bill O’Neal.
Ray was preceded in death by his par-
ents and siblings Daniel, Rosa O’Neal,
George Jr., Gary Lee, Bruce Robertson
and Ruth Kilbourn.
Friends may call on Saturday from 10
a.m. to noon at Kempf’s of Bellevue, with
the funeral service at noon, with Steve
Penny officiating. Interment will be in
Riverside Cemetery in Bellevue.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contribu-
tions may be made to Oaklawn Hospice,
Marshall, Mich.
Arrangements have been entrusted
to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation
Services.
Visit https://www.kempffuneralhome.com
to view the
online obitu-
ary, sign the
online guest-
book or leave
the family
condolences.Lucille Bertha
Dubay, 90, of
Grand Ledge, MI,
died at her home
on Thursday, July
4, 2024. She
was born January
7, 1934, one of
twin daughters to
Lillie (Moore) and
Adolph Gehrcke
in Saginaw,
Michigan.
She attended
Saginaw schools and graduated from
Arthur Hill High School in 1952. She
worked for Saginaw Savings and Loan
until her marriage to Laverne Dubay on
June 28, 1958. After her marriage, she
created a loving home for their three
daughters while working alongside her
husband for Dubay Custom Cabinets,
designing kitchens and typing up job pro-
posals. She finished her working career at
Reimers Appraisal Services alongside her
twin sister until she and Laverne retired
and moved to their home on Wixom Lake,
where they always had a cottage.
Lucille enjoyed bowling, fishing, watching
sports, especially her Detroit Tigers, sew-
ing and volunteering with her church quilt-
ing group. When her children were young,
she enjoyed volunteering at school, was
a Brownie leader and Sunday School and
VBS teacher. She enjoyed spending timewith her children, grandchildren and great-
grandchildren and all of her family. Family
meant everything to her.
Surviving are Laverne, her loving
husband of 66 years; daughters Susan
(Kimball) Wilson, Karen (Michael)
Rhoades, all of Battle Creek, MI, Laurie
(Eldon) Langworthy of Grand Ledge, six
grandchildren and six great-grandchildren,
with a seventh due in October. She is
also survived by her twin sister, Lillie May
Reimers, as well as numerous nieces and
nephews.
She was preceded in death by her
parents; brothers Adolph Jr. and Charles
(Bud) Gehrcke; and one sister, Betty
Doyle.
Funeral services will take place on July
13 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, located
at 1079 Riverside Drive, Battle Creek, MI- Visitation with the family will begin
at 11 a.m., with the service to follow at
noon. After cremation, internment will take
place at Christ the King Lutheran Church
in Gladwin, MI, at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made in
her name to St. Peter Lutheran Church,
Christ
the King
Lutheran
Church.
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130 East Columbia Ave., Battle Creek, MI 49015
Duane A.
Rock, Augusta,
Michigan. Rock
left us peace-
fully on July 5,
2024, at the age
of 86. He was
born in Portland,
Michigan, on
January 15,
1938, to Justin
and Moneita
Rock. He gradu-
ated from St.
Patrick School, Portland, Michigan. He
proudly served as an A1C in the United
States Air Force Security Service, was a
member of VFW Post 7956 and American
Legion Post 298.
On May 26, 1962, he married the “Love
of His Life,” Delores “Dee” Dunithan, and
they were married for 40 years. Duane
became a journeyman in the sheet metal
trade and was a member of the Sheet
Metal Workers International Association
while working for various area companies.
He also was a partner in Dillion & Rock
Sheet Metal for a number of years. He
finished his career delivering travel trailers
and seeing the beautiful USA.
Duane enjoyed time with his grandchil-
dren/family/friends/neighbors, boating on
Lake Michigan, fishing, casino trips, and
he took great pride in his yard.He was preceded
in death by his
wife, Dee; his son,
Michael; son-in-law
Tom Lee; parents
Justin and Moneita
Rock; brother
Ronald Rock; and
sister Betty Sharp.
Surviving are
his daughter, Janis (Tim) Emmendorfer;
grandson Judd; granddaughter Lara (fian-
cé Mike Lehner); sisters and brothers-in-
law Patricia Rhustorfer, Wanda Hartman,
Garry (Mary) Dunithan, Vicki (Mark) Lewis
and Randy (Linda) Dunithan; along with
many nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends 5-8 p.m.,
Thursday, July 18, 2024, at Farley Estes
Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care,
Augusta Chapel. A Mass of Christian
Burial will be held 10 a.m. Friday, July
19, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church,
Battle Creek, celebrated by Rev. Fr. Chris
Ankley. Interment with full military hon-
ors will follow at Fort Custer National
Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations
may be made to Centrica Care Navigators
(hospice).
Personal messages for the family and
favorite memories of Duane may be
placed at http://www.farleyestesdowdle.com.Maryellen
Wilkey, 84, of
Battle Creek,
Michigan, went
home to be with
the Lord on Friday,
July 5, 2024, at The
Oaks at NorthPointe
Woods. She was
born August 18,
1939, the daughter
of Walter C. Roy
and Audrey R.
(Drake) Roy.
Maryellen graduated from Battle Creek
Central High School with the Class of 1957.
She worked for the VA Medical Center in Battle
Creek and relocated to Wyoming in 1980. She
retired from the VA after 35 years of service in
1994 and opened her own store, The Chocolate
Tree. She returned back to Battle Creek in 1996
to take care of her mother, who was in failing
health.
Maryellen married Walter L. Wilkey on
May 24, 1958, and from this union they had
five children, but later this marriage ended
in divorce. Maryellen faithfully
attended the Seventh Day Baptist
Church for many years and
whole-heartedly served the Lord
by helping those in need.
Maryellen is survived by her
children, Caron George, Ronda
(Sam) Giese, Mark (Beverly)
Wilkey, Paul Wilkey; seven
grandchildren; and nine great-
grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents;
her daughter Teresa Davis; siblings Nancy
Lehman, Jack Roy, Jim Roy; and granddaugh-
ter Harlee Davis.
Maryellen’s main passion in life was listen-
ing to and singing hymns and other Christian
music, hearing, reading and searching God’s
Word and looked forward to her weekly
Sabbaths and Bible studies. She enjoyed jig-
saw puzzles with her cat and completed many
throughout her years. In Wyoming, she enjoyed
hiking, camping and fishing in the Big Horn
Mountains. Maryellen enjoyed spending time
with her family and friends making precious
memories.
Visitation will be held at Baxter Funeral and
Cremation Service on Friday, July 12, 2024,
from 1-2 p.m., with the funeral service to fol-
low at 2 p.m.
A private family interment will follow.
Memorial donations may be made to
the Seventh Day Baptist Church, 200 N.
Washington Ave., Battle Creek, MI 49037.
Arrangements entrusted to Baxter Funeral
and Cremation Service, 269-788-9800/www.
baxterfuneral.com.