18 Thursday, September 5, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
Lester L.
Packham
passed away
peacefully on
Aug. 20, 2024,
surrounded by
his family. He
was born Sept.
4, 1948, to
Jack and Irene
Packham in
Jackson, Mich.
Lester graduated with the Class
of 1967 from Springfield High
School in Battle Creek, Mich. He
proudly served his country in the
United States Air Force from 1967
to 1971. Two of those years he was
in Kaiserslautern and Weilerbach,
Germany, and then in Mountain
Home, Idaho. He returned to Battle
Creek and went to work at the
Eaton Corporation until they closed,
then for Barker Manufacturing Co.,
and finally at FireKeepers Casino as
a table games dealer.
He is survived by his wife, Sally;daughter Deborah (John) Cowles;
grandchildren Jesse, Jarrad and
Jaiden Cowles of Battle Creek,
Renee Grandstaff of Chicago,
Illinois, and Tiffany (Thomas Mears)
Lee of Battle Creek; great-grand-
children Ashton and Emma-Lee of
Battle Creek; stepchildren James
Lee and Tracy Lee.
Lester was preceded in death by
his parents, and daughter DeAnna
Packham.
Lester played golf at Riverside
Country Club for many years, then
at Binder Park Golf Club for many
more years. He enjoyed watching
football and going to the casinos.
Visitation was held at Baxter
Funeral & Cremation Service on
Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2024, from 12:30-
2:30 p.m. Interment followed the
visitation at Fort Custer National
Cemetery, with full military honors,
at 3 p.m.
Arrangements entrusted to Baxter
Funeral & Cremation Service, 269-
788-9800. http://www.baxterfuneral.comGeorge
Nicholas
“Nick”
Hentges Jr.,
69, of Battle
Creek, MI,
passed away
peacefully at
his home on
Wednesday,
August 28,
2024, sur-
rounded by his loving family, after
a brief but courageous battle with
cancer.
Nick was born December 14,
1954, in Battle Creek, MI, to
George Nicholas Hentges Sr. and
Emilia Helena Augusta Sachau. On
December 19, 1986, he married the
love of his life, Alice Jean Sykes, at
the Seventh Day Baptist Church in
Battle Creek. Together, they shared
37 beautiful years of marriage, filled
with love, laughter and countless
memories.
A lifelong resident of Michigan,
Nick’s roots ran deep in Battle
Creek, where he was raised and
attended Battle Creek Central High
School. Though he spent some
time in Kalamazoo and Grand
Rapids, his heart always led him
back home. In 1976, Nick began a
long and dedicated career at Keyes-
Davis Company in Springfield, MI,
where he worked for 44 years until
his retirement in 2020. In 1982, he
completed his apprenticeship as a
tool and die maker through Kellogg
Community College, a milestone
that marked his advancement to
company foreman — a role in which
he excelled.
Nick was a man who lived life with
a sense of adventure and a heart
full of kindness. He found pure joy
in the open road, especially on his
beloved motorcycle. The unmistak-
able rumble of his Harley-Davidson
was a familiar sound to his children,
who would race down the drive-
way, eager for a ride with their dad.
Sometimes one child would sit up
front while another held on from the
back, sharing in the thrill together.
Those rides etched memories into
their hearts that they will carry with
them forever.
Known by many as a “big teddy
bear,” Nick’s imposing presence was
softened by his gentle spirit. He was
the kind of person who would go
out of his way to help a stranger,
pull someone out of a ditch, or
lend a hand to friends and family
whenever they needed him. His
selflessness and generosity knew
no bounds, and his warmth touched
the lives of everyone he met.
Nick is survived by his devoted
wife, Alice; his sons, Chris Hentges
and Michael (Brittaney) Hentges
of Battle Creek; his daughters,
Nicole (Michael) Eaton of DeWitt,
MI, Heather (Ben) Ploehn of Battle
Creek, and Samantha Hentges
of DeWitt, MI; and his beloved
grandchildren, Preston Boarts and
Mackenzie Eaton. He is also sur-
vived by his brother, Gary Hentges
of Battle Creek, and many nieces
and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his
parents; his sister Susan Sayles;
and his brother-in-law, David
Stewart.
There will be a meet-up
September 12 at 11:30 a.m. at
Urbandale Plaza for a memorial
ride to the cemetery in honor of
Nick’s love for motorcycles. Funeral
services will be held September
12 at noon at Floral Lawn Memorial
Gardens, followed by a celebration
of Nick’s life at the Eagles at 2 p.m.
Nick’s legacy of kindness, love
and devotion will live on in the
hearts of all who knew him. His
family and friends will forever
remember the joy he brought into
their lives and the impact he made
on those around him.Wilma L.
“Billie, Aunt
Bea” Hughes
passed away
August 29,
2024, in
Battle Creek,
Michigan. She
was born in
Battle Creek,
to Norma J.
Dolph and Ruby A. (Gifford) Dolph
on September 2, 1942.
She grew up on Goguac Lake,
where she learned to swim and fish.
Wilma graduated from Lakeview
High School in 1960 and worked
at the former Tip Top Restaurant,
where she met Ralph. They mar-
ried in March 1963. They started
their family shortly after, allowing
Wilma to stay at home for several
years. As the children grew older,
Wilma began working at Mahr’s
Dairy Queen and later she started
her career at the Michigan State
Recreation Area in Fort Custer as
a park ranger. An opportunity arose
for her to transfer to the Fayette
Historical State Park in the Upper
Peninsula, which was fortunatelyclose to their family vacation home.
Wilma and Ralph moved to the
Upper Peninsula in 1955, where
Wilma retired from Fayette Historical
State Park in 2002, and then moved
back to Battle Creek in 2007 to be
near her family. She loved her fam-
ily dearly, loved to cook, enjoyed
family functions and watching her
grandnieces and grandnephews
play sports.
Wilma was preceded in death by
her parents; husband of 42 years,
Ralph; son Robert; daughter Julie;
sisters Barbara Bradford, Joyce Hill,
Marion DuBois; and brother Durrell
Dolph.
She is survived by brother Dale
(Kathy) Dolph; many nieces and
nephews; special grandnieces
Sami, Brooke; special grandneph-
ews Bryce, Blake; great-grand-
nephew Bryson; and special friends
Carol Fisher and Henry Williams.
A graveside service will be held
at 10 a.m. September 10, 2024, at
Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens in
Battle Creek, MI.
Arrangements entrusted to Baxter
Funeral & Cremation Service, 269-
788-9800/www.baxterfuneral.com.Obituary PolicyThe Battle Creek Shopper News accepts obituaries from licensed funeral
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