http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, September 19, 2024 19
Robert
William
Pierce, 76,
of Marshall,
Mich., passed
away at home
on Aug. 31,
2024, after a
long illness,
surrounded by
his family. He
was the son of William and Sadie
(Hohmann) Pierce (both deceased)
of Delaware County, Penn.
Bob graduated from Chichester
High School, Boothwyn, Penn.,
where he ran track and field. On
a track scholarship, Bob attended
Ohio Wesleyan University and then
received a master’s degree in sec-
ondary education-English from West
Chester University in Pennsylvania.
Bob taught high school English in
the public schools for over 30 years.
He is survived by his wife, Frances
(Roberts) Pierce; two sons, Andrew
(Leah) of Kalamazoo, Mich., and
Joshua of Los Angeles, Calif.; three
granddaughters, Clara, Emily and
Violet Pierce of Kalamazoo; sister
Kathy (John Clark) of Glen Mills;
17 nieces and nephews; and many
grand-nieces and nephews.
Bob was an avid photographer
and birdwatcher and shared his
combined talents with many orga-
nizations through slide shows, and
with gifts of his annual wildlife cal-
endar to friends and relatives.His passion for photography
touched all facets of his life and
resulted in a legacy of photo albums
of his wife and family for every year
of their lives together from 1977
through 2023. He also accepted
the role of photographer at the wed-
dings of many friends and family
members.
Bob was a member of the
Downingtown Education
Association, PSEA-NEA Retired, the
Audubon Society of America, the
West Chester Bird Club, and several
photography and book clubs.
A memorial service was held
Sunday, Sept. 15, at 11:30 a.m. at
First Congregational United Church
of Christ, 145 N.E. Capital Ave.,
Battle Creek. A luncheon followed
in the church hall.
Memorial contributions can be
made to the Elara Caring Hospice
Foundation, 209 E. Washington
Ave., Jackson, MI 49201, or to the
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer
Center, 1500 E. Medical Center
Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.
Arrangements were entrusted
to Kempf Family Funeral and
Cremation Services.
Visit https://www.kempffuneral-
home.com to view the online obitu-
ary, sign the
guestbook or
share memo-
ries and pic-
tures with the
family.The family
of Shirley D.
Miller, 79, of
Battle Creek,
Mich., is sad-
dened to
announce that
she passed on
Sept. 9, 2024,
peacefully at
home.
Shirley was born to parents Josh
and Ardene Jenkins on Nov. 10,
1944, in Tennessee. The family
later moved to the Battle Creek
area when Shirley was a young
girl. As a former military wife,
Shirley enjoyed living in many dif-
ferent places, both domestically and
abroad, but she was always proud
to call Battle Creek home.
In 1980, Shirley married Charles
(Charley) Miller and they enjoyed
a wonderful, abundant life together
until his passing in 2020.
Family was one of the greatest
joys of Shirley’s life and she will be
fondly remembered for the traditions
she held dearly; finding just the right
book that she and her grandchildren
could enjoy together; and hosting a
Christmas Eve event that was filled
with laughter, love and family favor-
ites of seven-layer candy, fudge and
sautéed shrimp. One of the things
her family and friends loved most
about her was her sharp wit and
gracious spirit. Her love language
was giving personalized gifts and
there wasn’t a holiday or occasion
that happened that didn’t have an
overfilled treat bag waiting on the
kitchen table for her grandchildren.
Over the years, Shirley enjoyed
creating many wonderful meals
for her family; delighting in brows-
ing through her many cookbooks
or Bon Appetit magazines to find
a special recipe she wanted to try.
Her husband was always happy
to be her taste-tester, often return-
ing to the kitchen one or two more
times “just to be sure.” She was
also a self-taught master gardener,
and was often found tinkering in her
gardens well into the evening hours.
Shirley is survived by daughters
Maria (Anthony) Markos and Lori
Sunie; stepdaughters Dayna (Dan)
Embury, Christine (Jack) Behrens
and Kathleen Miller (Jim); grand-
children Nate (Janae) Wilson,
Heather Wilson, Evan Markos,
Brianne Sunie (Jereme), Areanna
Bivens, Cora Kline, Brenden Sunie,
Samantha Sunie, Danika Sunie
and special grandson Zach Eib;
five great-grandchildren; nieces
and a nephew; a treasured cousin,
Theresa; special friends Bill and
Terrie; and her favorite attorney,
John.
She was preceded in death by
her husband, Charley; son Micheal
Sunie; stepson Joel Miller; parents;
and brothers.
Shirley’s family bows in deep
appreciation to each individual who
has played a role in lifting us up as
our mom/grandma bravely and cou-
rageously fought an insidious pro-
gressive disease. There have been Susan Ann
Wingfield, 75,
of East Leroy,
Mich., passed
away Sept. 7,
2024, in East
Leroy.
Susan
was born in
Evansville,
Ind., to
George and Helen Marshall on May
3, 1949. She attended Lakeview
High School. She enjoyed making
stained glass artwork, raising and
caring for horses, and collecting
antiques and glassworks. She dedi-
cated herself to her home and rais-
ing her children. She worked as a
teacher’s assistant at Lakeview High
School and also worked at Binder
Park Zoo.
Susan is survived by her husband,Dennis Wingfield of East Leroy,
Mich.; daughter Emily Hawthorne
(Jason) of Nashville, Tenn.; daugh-
ter Stacey Demarest of Katy, Texas;
son Brady Demarest (Sarah) of
Chevy Chase, Md.; sister Pam
Tomljenovic of Grovetown, Ga.;
brother Bruce Marshall of Aiken,
S.C.; grandchildren Ian and Eliza
Hawthorne of Nashville, Tenn., and
Ellie and Anna Demarest of Chevy
Chase, Md.
She was preceded in death by
her parents, George and Helen
Marshall, and her brother Brian
Marshall, all of Grovetown, Ga.
She will be laid to rest at Memorial
Park in Battle Creek, Mich.
Funeral arrangements were
handled by
Richard A.
Henry Funeral
Home.FUNERAL ETIQUETTE
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP LATER?In the days and months to come, the family
will continue to need your support. Try to
write or call on a regular basis. Continue
to include them in your social plans, they
will let you know when they are ready to
participate. It is also nice to remember
the family on special occasions during the
first year following the death. Don’t worry
about bringing up the pain and emotion of
the loss, they are well aware of that. By
remembering such occasions as wedding
anniversaries and birthdays, you are not
remembering the death, but reaffirming
that a life was lived.
Source: Thefuneralsource.orgmany times your kindness, care
and concern have been a much-
needed lifeline.
In accordance with her wishes,
Shirley has donated her brain tis-
sue to the Brain Bank of Mayo
Clinic in the hopes it will help find a
cure for Progressive Supranuclear
Palsy. Baxter Funeral Home has
been entrusted with her cremation,
and a private Celebration of Life is
planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family would
like to suggest a donation to The
Arbor Day Foundation, South
Michigan Food Bank, S.A.F.E.
Place, Sexual Assault Services
of Bronson Battle Creek, or your
favorite local charity.