http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, August 15, 2024 25
William “Bill”
Fredrick Norris,
79, of Dowling,
Michigan,
passed on
Thursday,
August 8, 2024,
at Woodlawn
Meadows
Memory Care in
Hastings.
Bill was born April 14, 1945, in
Battle Creek, Michigan, the first of four
sons born to William and Iola (Stone)
Norris. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy
following graduation from Battle Creek
Central High School in 1963, serving
at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and in the
North Atlantic. Bill married Nancy Ann
Ehrlich at St. Joseph
Catholic Church in
Battle Creek in 1966.
Bill was mechani-
cally gifted, hav-
ing earned a
Journeyman’s Card
in both machine
repair and millwrighting. He spent his
working life at Eaton’s, Post Cereals,
Kellogg’s and retired from Ralston’s in
2010, working both as a skilled trades-
man and supervisor over the course of
his career. Bill also farmed part-time
during this time. Bill served on the Barry
County Animal Shelter Advisory Board
and the finance board for Our Lady of
Great Oak Church in Lacey.
Bill was a voracious reader andenjoyed woodworking, having made a
walnut baby cradle for each daughter’s
first child. He loved antique cars, trucks
and tractors, history and genealogy,
working outside and cuddling the many
dogs he had over the years.
Bill is survived by his wife of 58 years,
Nancy (Ehrlich) Norris; his four daugh-
ters, Janet (Michael) Steeby of Hastings,
Joan (Shane) Miller of Battle Creek,
Jennifer (Stephen) Hayes of Hastings,
and Julianne (Michael) LaBerteaux of
Battle Creek; nine grandchildren; one
great-granddaughter; as well as brother
Paul Norris of Battle Creek.
He was preceded in death by his par-
ents; brothers Rayford and Larry; and
close friend Johnny (Jake) Collier.
The family received friends 6-7:30p.m., Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at
Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home &
Cremation Care, Battle Creek, where
the Parish Rosary was recited at 7:30
p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was
celebrated 10 a.m., Wednesday, August
14, 2024, at the Our Lady of Great Oak
Catholic Church, 6574 Lacey Road,
Bellevue, MI 49021. Interment followed
at Union Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be
directed to the Barry County Animal
Shelter, 540 N. Industrial Park Drive,
Hastings, MI 49058 or the Our Lady of
Great Oak Catholic Church.
Personal messages for the family may
be placed at http://www.farleyestesdowdle.
com.Kimberly
Renae Wilkins
was called to her
eternal home on
July 19, 2024,
in Nashville,
Tennessee, at
the age of 53.
She was born
in Carbondale,
Illinois, on
January 9, 1971, the daughter of James
Michael Edwards and the late Vicki Sue
Jefferson.
Her mother; maternal grandparents
Alex W. Wilkins and Mamie Wilkins;
paternal grandfather Willie C. Edwards;
and her brother Kenyatta Wilkins pre-
ceded her passing.
Kimberly attended both Kettering High
School and Battle Creek Central High
School. She was an active and talented
youth, participating in cheerleading,
floor hockey, the Upward Bound pro-
gram, gymnastics, volleyball, orchestra
and vocal music in high school.
Kimberly furthered her educa-
tion by earning a degree in Business
Administration and Office Management
from Detroit Business Institute,
Davenport University and Indiana
Wesleyan University.
Miss Kim, as some affectionately
called her, had an entrepreneurial spirit.
She held many managerial positions and
owned various businesses through the
years. Kim embraced the digital age as
a Facebook Live content creator and she
hosted a weekly radio podcast on 104.7,
Liberty Ministries. She was also a pub-lished author. Her passion for the Lord
God was evident in all she did.
Kimberly’s faith journey took her from
Battle Creek, Michigan, in First Salem
Missionary Baptist Church to Greater
Ecclesia Temple in Detroit, Mich., and
finally to Refuge of Kentucky Church
in Louisville, Ky. While in Louisville,
Kim held a vital leadership role as head
missionary, praying for others, feeding
the hungry and ministering to others in
need.
She is survived by her paternal grand-
parents, Joe and Jacqueline Latham;
father James Michael Edwards; five
children and two grandchildren: her
elder son, James DeShone Legion and
grandchildren Immanuel Avishai Legion
and Leah-Rose Nicole Legion; son
Michael Deon Pickett; and daughtersViktori Alleah Pickett, Unity Olivia Abigail
Pickett and Destiny Ocea Pickett all
cherish memories of her.
She will be missed by a host of other
family and friends, especially Gregory
Ocea Pickett (Cherine), who was her
devoted husband for 19 years; aunts
Bessie Hall and Debra “Ann” Lee
(Wendell), who held a special place
in her heart; and her siblings Kenya
Wilkins, Kareem Jefferson, Jamila
McIntyre, Kamilah-Whitt-Edwards,
Krystal Bolden and Jakuta (Jessica)
Williams. Kimberly is leaving a legacy
filled with compassion, faith and service.
Arrangements entrusted to Whitley
Memorial Funeral Home, 303 Balch St.,
Kalamazoo, MI 49001; (269) 488-2401;
http://www.whitleymemorialfuneralhome.com.Jacob Walter
Zuk, 41,
passed away
on November
17, 2023, in
Los Angeles,
CA. Born on
August 4, 1982,
in Fort Worth,
TX, Jacob was
known for his
compassionate and caring nature, his
wit and his resilience in the face of
adversity. Diagnosed early in his adult
life with a terminal disease, he dedicated
his final years to his passion for travel-
ing, embracing every moment with cour-
age and determination.
Jacob graduated from Harper Creek
High School in Battle Creek, MI, in 2000
and attended Aquinas College in Grand
Rapids, MI. He was employed at Pfizer
Manufacturing in Kalamazoo, MI, where
his contributions were valued by all who
worked alongside him.
Jacob enjoyed coaching and mentor-ing others, being with friends and had
a special place in his heart for animals.
His love for music and movies provided
him with immense pleasure and a won-
derful way to connect with those around
him. Traveling was a passion of his life,
allowing him to explore new places and
experiences.
Jacob is survived by his father, John
W. Zuk, and stepmother, Marian Abbey
Zuk, along with many aunts, uncles,
cousins and extended family members.
He was preceded in death by hismother, Susan Ruth Miller Zuk, and his
paternal grandparents, Walter F. and
Bernice Zuk, as well as his maternal
grandparents, Andrew and Ruth Walsh
Miller.
A private family service will be held at
Memorial Park Cemetery in Battle Creek,
MI, honoring Jacob’s life and legacy.
Jacob’s memory will continue to inspire
those who knew him as a fun, witty,
intelligent and genuinely good man. He
will be deeply missed.