http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, July 18, 2024 19
Michael Lewis
Vogts, 71, of
Albion, Michigan,
passed away July
4, 2024, in Battle
Creek, Michigan.
Mike was born
July 22, 1953, to
Lewis C. Vogts
and Claudia M.
Vogts in Albion,
Michigan.
He attended
school in
Marshall, Michigan, and graduated from
Montague High School on June 4, 1971.
He joined the Albion Fire Department in
Albion, Michigan, in 1975 and later enlist-
ed in the armed forces.
He enjoyed deer hunting and fishing
with his father and later with his brother-
in-law Gary. He could sit for hours and
usually had a funny story to tell when
he returned. For many years he enjoyed
planting and caring for a large vegetable
garden and having a dog. His favorite
vacation for many years was to go camp-
ing in Ludington, Michigan. He loved the
sun, the sand and swimming in Lake
Michigan whether it was ice cold or not.
Those memories and trips to that special
place are continuing to be made by his
son Eric and his family.
Mike is survived by his son Eric
(Brittany) Vogts of Parma, Michigan; sister
Vicki Geisen of Albion, Michigan; sister
Linda (Gary) Neal of Albion, Michigan;
numerous nieces and nephews; and his
beloved little dog, Lucy.
He was preceded in death by his
parents, Lewis and Claudia Vogts; son
Michael D. Vogts; and a brother in-law,
William J. Geisen.
Per Mike’s wishes, cremation has taken
place. A graveside service will be held at
Rice Creek Cemetery, Marshall, Michigan.
Date and time will be announced at a later
date.
Arrangements by Baxter Funeral &
Cremation Service. 269-788-9800/www.
baxterfuneral.comLucille Marie
Simon, 75, of
Battle Creek,
passed away July
11, 2024, at her
residence, with her
loving husband at
her side. She was
born November
29, 1948, in
Albion, Michigan,
the daughter
of Wilbur and
Margarie (Haskins)
King. Lucy gradu-
ated in 1966 from
Washington-
Gardner High
School in Albion.
She previously
was employed
at Holiday Inn, A
& W Restaurant,
Murphy’s Dime
store, Elias
Brothers BigBoy Restaurant, and 29 years at Continental
Pastries & Deli.
Lucille was a member of St. Jospeh Catholic
Church and the American Legion Auxiliary in
Albion, Michigan, for over 35 years and was
one of the original charter members. She
was an avid University of Michigan football
fan, attending games with her husband for 46
years. Lucy also enjoyed going to craft shows,
horse races and playing bingo.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Surviving are her husband of over 50 years,
Harold E. Simon; brothers Alan and Mike King;
and sisters Cookie and Margaret King.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday,
July 23, 2024, from 10-11 a.m. at Richard A.
Henry Funeral Home & Cremation Services,
where a memorial service will follow at the
funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to C.S.
Mott Children’s Hospital.
Memories and
condolences may
be left for the fam-
ily at http://www.henryfu-
neralhome.org.Linda Faye
Tundevold, born
August 28, 1948, to
Einar B. and Faye E.
Tundevold, passed
away May 3, 2024,
surrounded by her
loving family, after
a recurrence of
cancer.
Linda was a
proud member of
the Lakeview High
School class of 1966 and later served as the
office manager at Fire Extinguisher Service
before retiring and relocating to Florida in
2017.
Beyond her professional life, Linda was a
passionate dancer, skilled in various styles, and
had a green thumb that she proudly displayedin her gardens. An avid bookworm, she also
had a soft heart, often helping homeless indi-
viduals and advocating for her political beliefs
as a staunch Democrat. At the age of 74, she
even mowed her neighbor’s yard when he
couldn’t.
Linda was preceded in death by her parents
and sister Carole Storvick, but her legacy lives
on through her surviving family members: her
brother, Harry Tundevold; sister Janet Dillon;
daughters Tracey (Michael) Johnson, Christi
(Ted) Adams, and Kimberly (Quinton) Zuke; as
well as her beloved grandchildren, Kimberly
and Logan Ross, Taylor and Ellery Adams,
Dylan Blum, and Dakota and Kennedy Ellis.
As per her wishes, her ashes were scattered
in the Gulf of Mexico.
To share a memory, go online to moss-
feaster.com.Peter James
“Jim” Baum,
87, proud lifelong
resident of Battle
Creek, Michigan,
died Wednesday,
July 10, 2024, at
Bronson Battle
Creek Hospital.
Jim resided at
The Oaks of
Battle Creek
at NorthPointe
Woods in Battle
Creek, Michigan.
Jim was born May 10, 1937, to Joseph
Edward “Ed” Baum and Helen Grace
(Olson) Baum. Jim graduated from St.
Philip Catholic Central High School with
the class of 1955 and was a Fighting
Tiger through and through. Jim attended
Michigan State University and then the
Insurance Institute of New York to obtain
his Insurance Licensing in Personal,
Commercial and Life lines. He worked for
his father at Baum Insurance Agency from
1957 until 1973, when he then bought the
agency. Jim owned the agency until 1985
when he sold the business and went brief-
ly into the travel business before deciding
to sell real estate for the next 20 years. He
spent most of his real estate career with
the wonderful people at ReMax Perrett
Realty where he forged many meaningful
relationships that he cherished deeply. In
2010 he retired from real estate and re-
entered the insurance world, working with
his son at the Baum-Johnson Insurance
Agency, where he worked until the end of
2023.
Jim was a true steward of giving
throughout his entire life as he was a
founding member of the Cereal City Lions
Club (65 years), the Battle Creek Ski Club
(60+ years), Alcoholics Anonymous (40+
years), American Red Cross (30+ gallon
donor), and Ft. Custer National Cemetery
Honor Guard Member (40+ years). He
held many positions within each club and
didn’t wait to be asked to lead and serve;
he just stepped in and was ready to help.
In addition to being a devout Catholic,
Jim was a loyal lifelong Detroit Tiger fan,golfer and skier. He’d made many trips
to Detroit to root on his Tiger team and
even made it to three opening day games.
His history of skiing was legendary and
all you had to do was ask him. He’d skied
in Europe, Canada and all over Michigan
and the U.S. until the young age of 80.
He also made it his mission to teach his
children to ski and expose skiing to the
visually impaired and blind through the
Lions Club.
Jim was married to Judy (Wagman)
Baum for 35 years and together they
raised four children. Surviving Jim are his
former wife, Judy Baum of Portage; his
children, Deborah Harsha (Steve Thomas)
of Vicksburg, Peter (Carrie) Baum of Battle
Creek, Anna (Eric) Lyons of Kalamazoo,
and Stephanie (Dennis) French of
Portage. Also surviving are 10 grandchil-
dren; three bonus grandchildren; and one
great-grandchild. He is also survived by
siblings Edward (Ana) Baum of Huntington
Beach, California, Helen Casper of
Madison, Wisconsin, MaryAnn (Gene)
Haakonson of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Jack
(Jackie) Baum of Aiken, South Carolina,
and step-sister Merle Nielson of Texas;
along with many nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his
mother, Helen (Olson) Baum; his father,
Edward Baum; his step-mother, Zelma
(Nielsen) Baum; and step-brother Kenneth
Nielsen.
The family will receive friends 5-7 p.m.,
Friday, July 19, 2024, at Farley Estes
Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care,
Battle Creek. A Lions Club presentation,
time of sharing and the Rosary will begin
at 7 p.m. Friday. A Mass of Christian
Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m., Saturday,
July 20, 2024, at the St. Philip Roman
Catholic Church. Interment will follow at
Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Cereal
City Lions Club, P.O. Box 790, Battle
Creek, MI 49016 or The Alano Club of
Battle Creek, 1125 W. Territorial Rd., Battle
Creek, MI 49015.
Personal messages for the family and
favorite memories of Jim may be placed at
http://www.farleyestesdowdle.com.Billie Joan
Willavize, 70,
of Battle Creek,
MI, passed away
on Sunday,
July 7, 2024, at
her home, sur-
rounded by her
family. She was
born September
22, 1953, in
Battle Creek, MI,
the daughter of
William O. and
June G. (Prentice) Kissinger.
Billie married James Willavize on July
28, 1972, in Battle Creek, MI. She retired
from TRMI after 25-plus years of service.
Billie was an avid reader and loved doing
puzzles. She enjoyed spending time with
her family and friends.
She is survived by her husband, Jim;
children Julie Willavize, Jonie Sexton,
Jamie Willavize, Jackie Willavize and
Jimmy Willavize II; three grandchildren;
great-grandchildren; sisters Betty Grafft
and Kathy (Greg) Santora; and many
nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her
parents; two grandchildren; and sisters
Sharon Walker, Marilyn Taylor and Beverly
Parker.
Visitation was held at Bachman Hebble
Funeral Service on Monday, July 15, 2024,
from 4-6 p.m. Funeral services were held
Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Bachman Hebble
Funeral Service. Burial was at Floral
Lawn Memorial Gardens in Battle Creek,
MI.
Arrangements by Bachman Hebble
Funeral Service. (269) 965-5145/www.
bachmanhebble.com