http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, September 12, 2024 23
Richard Willis
Werner, 67, of
Battle Creek
Mich., passed
away Sept.
4, 2024. He
was born in
Chicago, Ill.,
on July 15,
1957, the son
of Richard and
Theresa Werner (Newman).
A highly decorated combat vet-
eran, Rich retired in 1995 as a
Master Sergeant from the United
States Army after serving 21 years.
His tours included Ft. Polk, Hawaii,
Ft. Campbell, Germany, Ft. Riley,
Korea, Desert Shield/Storm and
ROTC at WMU. Duties consisted
of Cavalry Scout, Instructor, Drill
Sergeant and numerous positions in
the Infantry. He was a brother of the
101st Airborne Division Association
and The National Rakkasan
Association.
He served the City of Battle Creek
Transit for 23 years, retiring as
the Transit Manager in 2019. Rich
was a member of the Fraternity
of Masons, the Fraternal Order of
Elks, and The Indiana Bassmasters.
Rich is survived by his wife, Kara
Werner; daughters Kelsey Werner
and Cora England (Jeremy); grand-
daughter Ambria England; siblings
Deborah Scurrah (John), James
Werner, Cheryl Welcome (Rick),
Sharlynn O’Shea (Tim), and Lisa
Stalla (Carl); many beloved nieces
and nephews; father- and mother-in-
law Victor and Shirene Poronczuk;
brother- and sister-in-law Victor and
Judy Poronczuk.
In addition to his parents, Rich
was preceded in death by his neph-
ew Tommy Nowak.
In addition to his avid love for the
Chicago Cubs, Rich enjoyed bass
fishing with his Army brother, Dave;
bowling with his friend Chris; and 15
seasons camping at Yogi Bear with
his family and friends.
Visitation was held Tuesday, Sept.
10, 2024, from 4-8 p.m. at Baxter
Funeral & Cremation Service.
A funeral service was held on
Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024, at 11
a.m. at Chapel Hill United Methodist
Church.
Interment took place Sept. 11,
2024, at 1 p.m. at Fort Custer
National Cemetery. A luncheon
immediately followed interment
at Chapel Hill United Methodist
Church.
In lieu of flowers, please consider
a donation to Wounded Warrior
Project or Humane Society of South
Central Michigan.
Arrangements entrusted to Baxter
Funeral & Cremation Service. 269-
788-9800. http://www.baxterfuneral.comKathy Sue
(Cummins)
Williams of
Battle Creek,
Mich., passed
away Sept. 5,
2024.
Kathy was
born Dec.
8, 1947, in
Knoxville,
Tenn., the daughter of Carl
Thurman and Mary Alice (Harley)
Cummins. As a child, she grew
up in Cookville, Tenn., and at age
13 moved with her family to Battle
Creek. Kathy graduated in 1966
and was Springfield High School’s
Homecoming Queen. Kathy
graduated from the former Battle
Creek Beauty Academy and was
employed for 40 years as a hair
stylist. For 35 of those years, Kathy
and her sister Cindy Smith were
co-owners and operators of Wattles
Park Hair Salon.
Kathy married William Edward
Williams on June 5, 1992, at
the Opryland Hotel in Nashville,
Tenn. Surviving are her husband,
Ed; daughter, Shannon (Joseph)
Jasinski of Kingwood, Texas; son,
Jason (Nicole) Brown of Battle
Creek; stepdaughter, Stacey
(Robert) Jacobson of McKinney,
Texas; nine grandchildren, Zach
(Kristen) Lawrence, Bailee Brown,Brooklyn Brown, Tyler Brown,
Victoria (Austin) Fernandez,
Kristina Jasinski, Ryan Jasinski,
Harley Jasinski, Nicole Jacobson;
siblings Joe (Emilie) Cummins,
Gary (Shirley) Cummins, Molly
Mendenhall, Cindy (Roy) Smith; and
numerous nieces, nephews, cous-
ins and their families.
Kathy was preceded in death by
her parents, Carl and Mary Alice.
Kathy and Ed were members of
Dexter Lake Church of God for 25
years. She was a member of the
Calhoun County Corvette Club.
Kathy loved shopping and she also
enjoyed cardio drumming. She
loved traveling with Ed and going
on cruises, which always included
finding a beach to enjoy. Kathy
loved family gatherings, dinners and
picnics. She will be remembered as
a loving mother, sister and friend to
those who knew her.
Friends will be received from 11
a.m. to noon, Monday, Sept. 16,
2024, at Dexter Lake Church of
God, where a memorial service will
immediately follow at noon.
Memorial contributions may
be made to the Alzheimer’s
Association.
Arrangements are by Farley Estes
Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed
Care. Personal stories or messages
for Kathy’s family may be placed at
http://www.farleyestesdowdle.com.Cheryl
Ann (Green)
Hinds, born on
March 5, 1957,
passed away
peacefully on
Sept. 5, 2024,
surrounded by
the love of her
family.
Cheryl was
full of warmth and joy, always smil-
ing and providing love and fabulous
home-cooked meals to all who knew
her.
Cheryl’s greatest joy in life
came from her grandsons, Jaxton
and Greyson, whom she proudly
watched work toward their black
belts in Hap-Ki-Do. Her home was
always open, filled with the warmth
of family, friends, and the deli-
cious meals she lovingly prepared.
Cheryl’s green thumb brought her
great joy and beautified the home
she loved so much. She enjoyed
bird-watching and entertaining in
her backyard. Trips up North and to
Scotland were also fond memories.
Cheryl’s caring nature extended
beyond her family. She dedicated
her career to helping others, work-
ing at the Calhoun County Health
Department, managing the nursing
clinic, and continuing her service
at the Battle Creek Community
Foundation, the Fountain Clinic in
Marshall, and later retiring from
Grace Health. She touched count-
less lives with her compassion and
dedication to her community.
In her final days, Cheryl was
blessed to witness a moment of
pure love and joy when her son
Travis and his beloved Jess tied the
knot at her bedside in the ICU.
Cheryl was a woman of many
talents and passions. She was anexcellent pool player, card enthu-
siast and Parcheesi lover, who
enjoyed the occasional trip to the
casino. Her love of music, especially
rock and roll and the blues, brought
her great joy. And as a lifelong
Detroit Lions fan, Cheryl’s loyalty
never wavered, even during the
tough times, like enduring the infa-
mous 0-16 season.
Cheryl is survived by her devoted
husband, Robert “Bob” Hinds; her
loving mother, Jacquline Baker;
her two sons, Zachary (Stephanie)
Higgins and Travis (Jess) Higgins;
her sisters, Linda (Sheila) Oge’, and
Susan (Mike) Schoonmaker; her
brother, David Green; her cherished
grandsons, Jaxton and Greyson
Higgins; her aunt, Caroline Lang;
brother-in-law Hee Kwan Lee; and
dear friends Tammy Cicic, Gayle
Bundy and Jill Goodsell. She also
leaves behind many nieces, neph-ews, cousins and extended family
members, all of whom she loved
dearly.
Cheryl Ann Hinds will be remem-
bered for her laughter, her love and
the beauty she brought to the world.
She leaves behind a legacy of kind-
ness, joy and an all-around beautiful
spirit that will be dearly missed by
all who knew her.
A celebration of Cheryl’s life will
be held at the Elks Lodge (1200
Harmonia Road) on Wednesday,
Sept. 18, 2024, from 5-8 p.m.
Donations in her memory may be
directed to S.A.F.E. Place (https://
safeplaceshelter.org) or the Humane
Society of South Central Michigan
(https://hsscm.org).
Personal messages for Cheryl’s
family may be shared at http://www.far-
leyestesdowdle.com.