SN 1-8-2022

Page 4/The Sun and News, Saturday, January 8, 2022

Vicki J. Near Kaechele

Marsh, age 76, of

Middleville, Mich. was wel-

comed into her heavenly

home on December 23, 2021,

while visiting her grandchil-

dren in Tulsa, OK.

She is preceded in death

by her parents, Robert and

Helen Near; husband, Carl

Kaechele; and brother,

Kenneth Near.

She is lovingly survived by

her children (grandchildren):

Betsy Marsh Strader

(Robbie, Drew and Sam),

Jeff and Kelly Marsh

(Cameron, Clayton and

Hudson), Dr. Robb and Amy

Marsh (Jaedon, Ava, and

Ainsley), Scott Marsh

(Emerson and Sullivan); sis-

ters, Mary and Rex Weaver

and Betty Near; many nieces

and nephews, great nieces

and nephews; and special

friend, Joan Tabor.

Vicki’s family was her

crowning glory, and she was

always on the go. It didn’t

matter where her children

and grandchildren lived, she

was always eager to see them

whether that meant driving

back and forth to Hamilton

or Indianapolis, or flying to

Tulsa, or Seattle.

Vicki was a strong woman

of faith, and her relationship

with Jesus was always her

rock. God was the reason

Vicki became a teacher and

she spent a lifetime praising

Him, and blessing others

through music.

Vicki graduated from

Western Michigan University

with a bachelor’s degree in

music education in 1967.

She taught elementary music

for the Caledonia School

System for five years. She

served as the pianist for

Peace Reformed Church

(now Peace Church), when

services were held in the

Caledonia High School in

1965.

Vicki loved choirs and was

the choir director at Peace

until her husband, Carl

Kaechele, passed away sud-

denly in 1972. Vicki remar-

ried and moved to

Indianapolis where she con-

tinued her ministry by serv-

ing as the music director for

the Southminster

Presbyterian church.

She returned to Michigan

in 1996, worked at

Thornapple Kellogg High

School, and also served as

the music director for the

Middleville Methodist

Church. Vicki was the direc-

tor of the hand bell choir,

traveling throughout the West

Michigan area touching the

hearts of many, especially

those in local nursing homes.

She served in this capacity

until the time of her passing.

Vicki followed in her

mother’s footsteps and loved

making quilts and mittens for

others. Even as she was

declining in health, God’s

spirit was shown through her

continued devotion to touch-

ing the lives of others.

A Celebration of Life ser-

vice will be held at 11 a.m.

on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 at

Peace Church, 6950 Cherry

Valley Ave, Middleville, MI

49333. A private burial will
       be at Lakeside Cemetery.
       In lieu of flowers the fami-
       ly suggests donations in
       Vicki’s honor be sent to the
       American Diabetes
       Association or the American
       Autism Association.
       Condolences for the family
       may be offered online at
       http://www.mkdfuneralhome.com

Michael Terrance

Thomas, age 61, of

Caledonia, Mich. passed

away on Thursday, Dec. 30,

2021.

He will be lovingly

remembered by his parents,

Joseph C. and Patricia

Belka Thomas; siblings,

Gary, twin Michele (Gary)

Hutchins, Kenneth (Jana)

Thomas; nieces and neph-

ews, and a great niece;

numerous aunts, uncles, and

cousins.

Mike was a long-term

employee of Keebler/

Kellogg’s. He loved cheer-

ing for the Detroit Tigers.

He was an animal lover,

especially hound dogs, and

enjoyed competing in field

trials with his Dad.

Mike also enjoyed watch-

ing his nephews race moto-

cross. He was gentle and

generous to a fault.

Mass of Christian Burial

was held Thursday, Jan. 6,

2022 at Holy Family

Church, 9669 Kraft SE,

Caledonia with Rev. Phil

Shangraw Celebrant. Burial

St. Joseph Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, those

who wish may make memo-

rial contributions to a chari-

ty of your choice.

Condolences may be sent

online at http://www.mkdfuneral-

home.com.

Area ObituariesArea Obituaries

Vicki J. Near Kaechele Marsh

Michael

Terrance

Thomas

Watch our services from our website (see above)

Sunday Services:

9:30 AM – Worship

11:00 AM – Sunday School

6:00 PM – Adult Bible Study

6:00 PM – Student Ministries

Dr. Brian F. Harrison, Pastor

Our mission is to worship God and equip

committed followers of Jesus Christ who will

reach our community with the Gospel

7240 68th Street SE

Caledonia, MI 49316

616-698-

http://www.alaskabaptist.org

CALEDONIA:

9185 Cherry Valley Ave SE

MIDDLEVILLE:

1664 M-

LEARN MORE!

thejchurch.com

616-217-

@thejchurch

ONE CHURCH - TWO LOCATIONS

Church ad_B&W_2.5 X 2_072320.indd 1Church ad_B&W_2.5 X 2_072320.indd 1 7/23/2020 4:16:21 PM7/23/2020 4:16:21 PM

Pastor Tony Shumaker

Worship Services:

10:30 AM

Yankee Springs Bible Church

8900 Duffy Road

Middleville, MI 49333

"Shining Forth God's Light"

Sunday Morning Worship ........................10:00 a.m.

Community Group ..................................11:00 a.m.

James L. Collison, Pastor

http://www.yankeespringsbiblechurch.org

Good Shepherd

Lutheran Church

908 W. Main Street, Middleville

(Missouri Synod)

Sunday Worship ................9:30 a.m.

Pastor: Rev. Peter Berg

http://goodshepherdlcms.googlepages.com

Church: (269) 795-

SERVICE TIME:

Sunday at 10:00am

20 State Street, Middleville, MI / http://www.tvcweb.com

Local Church

Directory

Saturday Evening Mass ...................5:00 p.m.

Sunday Masses ...........9:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

@ St. Paul Lutheran Church

& Preschool

8436 Kraft Ave., Caledonia, MI 49316

Office 616-891-8688 • Preschool (616) 891-

http://www.stpaulcaledonia.org

NOW OPEN TO PUBLIC

Sunday Worship:

8:30 a.m. & 11 a.m.

Fellowship

9:45 to 10:00 a.m.

Sunday School

10 to 10:45 a.m.

Whitneyville

Fellowship Church (^)
4935 Whitneyville Ave, between 52nd & 48 th^
(^)
Praising God through
Hymns  Reading God’s Word  Special Music
Worship Services Prayer Meeting & Bible Study
Sunday 10 am & 6 pm Wed nesday 6:30 pm & 7 pm (^)
Pastor Ed Carpenter - 616-868- 0621
Sermons online: WhitneyvilleFellowship.org
Delores Ann Eichenauer, age
75, of Middleville, went to be
with her Lord and Savior on
Friday, Dec. 31, 2021.
Delores was born on March
17, 1945 in Kalamazoo to
Maylord and Virginia
(Swagger) Alger. She was a
good Christian woman who
enjoyed reading her Bible and
being active in her church.
Delores was a longtime
member of First Baptist Church
of Middleville and also attend-
ed Peace Church. She was a
prayer warrior for family,
friends, and people in the com-
munity. She also enjoyed help-
ing put together shoeboxes for
Operation Christmas Child.
Always on the hunt for a
good bargain, Delores loved
going to garage sales and flea
markets. Most important to
Delores was her family who
will miss her dearly.
She is survived by her loving
husband, Howard; daughter,
Debbra (Kent) Finkbeiner; five
grandchildren; nine great grand-
children; sister, Patty Purvis.
She was preceded in death
by her parents; son, Rusty
Eichenauer; sister, Marilyn
Sprague.
Relatives and friends may
meet with Delores’s family on
Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 from 1 to 4
p.m. at the Beeler-Gores Funeral
Home. A private burial will take
place in Mt. Hope Cemetery.
Please visit http://www.beeler-
goresfuneral.com to share a
memory or leave a condolence
message for Delores’s family.
Joan (Luyendyk) Kilmer,
age 87, of Alto, entered her
heavenly home on Sunday,
January 2, 2022.
Joan worked at D & W and
Family Fare for 45 years.
She will be lovingly remem-
bered by her daughters, Roxane
Kilmer (Steven Heintz), Robin
(Bill) Munn, Jodi (Daniel)
Rogers; eight grandchildren; 11
great grandchildren; the father of
her daughters, Gordon Kilmer;
and a special friend, Carol Cox.
There will be a memorial
service held at 11 a.m.
Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 at Alto
Faith Bible Church, 11431
Kirby St. SE. with Rev. Gary
Dougherty officiating. A lun-
cheon will follow. Interment
will be in Dutton Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be
made to Alto Faith Bible Church.
Delores Ann Eichenauer
Joan Kilmer