16 Thursday, October 10, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
Patricia A.
DeVoll, 93, of
Battle Creek,
passed away
peacefully after
a long and
fulfilling life on
Wednesday,
Oct. 2, 2024,
surrounded by
her family.
She was born August 16, 1931,
in Rhinelander, Wis., to Theron
Neal and Marie Rebecca (Welch)
Bailey. Her family moved to Battle
Creek when she was young, and
she graduated from Lakeview High
School in 1949. She married in
1950 and had one son, who was
the light of her life. She worked
at the Battle Creek Letter Shop,
C. DeVoll & Son Builders and the
Richard A. Henry Funeral Home.
She enjoyed the Battle Creek
Symphony, was active in the Town
Hall, volunteered at Bronson Battle
Creek and was Chair of Volunteers
for the American Red Cross for
more than 30 years. Pat enjoyed
antiquing, flower gardening, camp-
ing, walking the beaches in South
Haven and spending time with her
family and friends. She was a long-
time member of Lakeview Baptist
Church.
Pat was preceded in death by her
parents; sister Eloise Marie Ostlund;
brother Rev. Theron Bailey; and her
son, Gregory H. DeVoll.
She is survived by her daughter
in law, Roberta DeVoll, and her
three sons; two granddaughters,
Stephanie (Miles) Blair and their
children, Henry, Charles, Margaret
and Clive, and Allison (Kenneth)
Hicks and their children, Kaelyn and
Olivia; as well as several nieces
and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 10
a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, at the
Richard A. Henry Funeral Home
with entombment following at
Memorial Park Cemetery. The family
received friends at the funeral home
on Monday evening from 5-7 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the American Red Cross.
http://www.henry-
funeralhome.
orgAlfred John
“Al” “Red”
Gemrich,
88, of Delton,
passed away
peacefully
at home on
Saturday eve-
ning, Sept.
28, 2024. He
was born at
Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo on
March 30, 1936, the son of Edwin
and Lee Olia (Smith) Gemrich.
Al received his Bachelor of
Arts (magna cum laude) from
Kalamazoo College, his Juris
Doctor from Yale University and
master’s degree from Western
Michigan University. He practiced
more than 59 years as an attorney
in the Kalamazoo area, including
the last 12 years from his home. Al
loved being in nature, hunting and
living on his 235-acre farm.
Al married Jean M. Pease on
Feb. 1, 1975. He is survived by his
wife, Jean Gemrich of Delton; his
children, Alexander John (Sarah
Crittenden) Gemrich of Wisconsin,
Anna Jean (Bruce Wampold)
Gemrich of Wisconsin, and Andrew
Jordan (Kayoko Maeda) Gemrich
of Japan; stepsons Jody (Sallie)
Pease of Indiana and Adam Pease
of Delton; daughter-in-law Lisa
Pease; his ex-wife, Janet Koestner
of Hickory Corners; 17 grandchil-
dren; 12 great-grandchildren; and
one great-great-grandchild.
Al was preceded in death by his
parents; his brother, Edwin Gemrich
II.; his sisters, Clare Glaser, and
Joan Gemrich; and his stepsons
Greg Pease and Mark Pease.
A memorial service to cel-
ebrate Al’s life will be held 11
a.m., Saturday, Nov. 16, at the
Stetson Chapel on the campus of
Kalamazoo College, with a recep-
tion in the Olmstead Room of
Kalamazoo College immediately
after the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, memori-
als may be directed to Centrica
Care Navigators (Hospice) and/or
Kalamazoo College.
Arrangements by Farley Estes
Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed
Care, Richland Chapel. Personal
messages for the family and favorite
memories of Al may be placed at
http://www.farleyestesdowdle.com.Gwendolyn
Sue Patterson
(Burchard),
66, of Battle
Creek, Mich.,
passed away
Sept. 13,
2024, after a
courageous
battle with
cancer.
She was born March 11, 1958,
in Battle Creek, Mich., the daugh-
ter of William and Gladys (Pelfrey)
Burchard. Gwen attended Gull LakeHigh School, graduating in 1976.
She is survived by her son,
Abraham Patterson, and daugh-
ter Alicia Patterson, both of Battle
Creek. She leaves behind a
grandson, whom she loved dearly,
Abraham, and a host of “adopted”
children, grandchildren, and dear
friends who became family.
A celebration of life will be held at
the Bedford Area Lions Club, 22125
Bedford Road, N., Battle Creek, MI
49017 on Friday, Oct. 18, from 1-
p.m.James
“Jim” Albert
Crockatt,
81, of Battle
Creek, passed
away Sunday,
Sept. 29,
2024, at
home.
He was born
Feb. 15, 1943,
to James and Josephine (King)
Crockatt in Battle Creek, Mich.
Jim married Nina Camburn on
June 24, 1967, in Homer. Their mar-
riage ended in divorce.
He graduated from Battle Creek
Central High School in 1962. He
enrolled at Western Michigan
University and graduated with a
bachelor’s in accounting degree.
Jim started his career as the
Personal Property Administrator
for Calhoun County and then
Professional Management office
in Battle Creek, creating the retire-
ment program for seven years. He
left for Kellogg Community Credit
Union and finished his career
by becoming the Administrator
of Battle Creek City Income Tax
Department for 16 years, retiring in- After retiring, Jim worked part
time at Shaw Funeral and lastly at
Farley Estes and Dowdle Funeral
Home.
Jim was a car enthusiast, espe-
cially his current Mustang. He
enjoyed going for car rides. Jim was
a dog lover. His family did not know
a time when he did not have a dog.
Some of his favorites were his Shih
Tzus. He enjoyed watching TV,
especially soap operas and talent
shows. His favorite time of year was
Halloween. He would buy a new
scary face mask every year and
enjoyed posting pictures of himself
wearing them.
Jim is survived by his children;
Michael L. Crockatt of Battle Creek,
Mich., and Julie (Jeff) M. Marcus of
Grand Haven, Mich.; and his grand-
children, Matthew Marcus, Jacob
Marcus and Cayden Crockatt.
He was preceded in death by his
parents.
A graveside service was held
on Oct. 4, 2024, at Battle Creek
Memorial Park Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial con-
tributions may be directed to the
Parkinson Foundation.
Arrangements were entrusted
to Kempf Family Funeral and
Cremation Services, 2838 Capital
Ave. SW, Battle Creek, MI 49068.
Please visit http://www.kempffuneral-
home.com to view the online obitu-
ary, to sign the online guest book or
to leave the
family condo-
lences.