Veterans Honor Roll

I previously posted information about local heroes who have died in defense of our Nation during this current Global War on Terror. There are many local heroes who have served our Nation in generations past. I want to also recognize these men and women. So here is a first installment.

BURR OAK - Sheldon W. Malone, 73, of Burr Oak, Mich., died early Sunday morning Jan. 13, 2008, at his home. He was born April 29, 1934, in Kendallville, Ind., a son to the late Elmer & Ruth (Wilcox) Malone and graduated from Fremont High School with the class of 1952.Sheldon had resided in Burr Oak since 1961. On April 24, 1960 he married Jackie Johnson in Garrett, Ind. Following many years of employment as general manager, he retired from Burr Aluminum in 1981 due to ill health. He attended the Fulton Christian Church in Fulton. Sheldon was a past member of the Burr Oak and Bronson Rotary Clubs and he enjoyed golfing, bowling and time spent with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Sheldon was proud to have served his country in the U.S. Marine Corp during the Korean Conflict earning the rank of Sergeant.
He is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Jackie; two sons, Kevin Malone of Burr Oak and Ken (Suzanne) Malone of Sturgis; two daughters, Karen Gump of Burr Oak and Kelly (Dan) Fitzgerald of Constantine; 10 grandchildren, Michael, Daniel, Megan, Tiffany, Halen, Joey, Zack, Brady, Angie and Kieran; great-grandchildren and one brother, Robert Malone of Oklahoma City, Okla.

CONSTANTINE - Arthur Johan Johansen, age 81, of Constantine, Mich., passed away Jan. 11, 2008, at home. He was born on June 21, 1926, in Waukegan, Ill., a son of Johan and Elsie (Dennison) Johansen. Art was proud to have served his country and received an honorable discharge from the United States Army. After being discharged Art moved to Constantine in 1946 with his family and they started the Johansen Dairy. On June 2, 1951, he married Alice Lucille Stahley at the Chapel in the Gardens in Angola, Ind., and have enjoyed 56 wonderful years together.
Art worked for the family dairy business, and also for the Webb Carlson Ford dealership in Constantine. He later went to work for the Kirsch Company in Sturgis, where he worked for over 30 years before retiring in 1982. Art and his family were also well known to the community as they owned and operated the Johansen Wrecker Service for many years. He was also known by many for his talents with his large orange forklift.

ANGOLA, Ind. - Lewis Elmer Boocher, 85, of Angola, Ind., and formerly of Orland, Ind., and Colon, Mich., passed away Monday, Jan. 7, 2008, in Angola. He was born July 14, 1922, in Bremen, Ind., to Elmer and Helen (Starrett) Boocher. On April 3, 1948, he married Pearl Agnes (Bailey) in Angola. She survives.
He attended Orland schools, and attended the Angola Assembly of God and the New Life Assembly of God in Colon. He enjoyed his family and friends, "Food" also enjoyed fishing, card playing and mushroom hunting. He was a World War II Army veteran and was a prisoner of war. He was a 50-year member of the Orland American Legion Post #423. He retired in 1984 after 42 years at Douglas Autotech Corp. in Bronson, Mich.He is survived by his wife, Pearl Agnes Boocher of Angola; three daughters, Anna (Ivan) O'Neal of Union City, Mich., Luanne (Howard) Beekman of Coldwater, Mich., and Rosemary (Richard) Dowidat of Angola; two sons, Michael Louis (Connie) Boocher and Chuck (Linda) Boocher Sr., both of Orland; 15 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Harold (Doris) Boocher of Orland and John (Bernice) Boocher of Burr Oak, Mich.

COLON - Raymond T. Murankus age 75 of Colon passed away Friday, Jan. 18, 2008, at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. Ray was born Aug. 31, 1932, in Silverwood, Mich., a son of the late Simmon and Pauline (Odmitis) Murankus.On May 26, 1972, he married Donna L. (Melching) Harrington in Kalamazoo, and she preceded him in death on Nov. 22, 2003. Ray had worked as a maintenance supervisor for several different companies and for the past 10 years since his retirement at Wal-Mart in Sturgis.
Ray served in the U.S. Army and had enjoyed golfing.He is survived by two daughters, Susan Henderson of Howe, Ind., and Roxanne (Donald) Schrader of Sturgis; three sons, Robert (Linda) Harrington of Centreville, Thomas (Suzy) Harrington of Sturgis and Kenneth "Skip" (Judy) Harrington of Bronson; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

STURGIS - Norman A. Nichols, age 82, passed away Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born July 15, 1925, in Edwight, W. Va., a son of the late Fred and Bessie (Patrick) Davis. Norman attended the Woodrow Wilson School in South Bend, Ind., and served as a U.S. Army Ranger from 1949 to 1952. He worked as a bean picker at Twin City Foods Lake Odessa for 14 years, retiring in 2004.
Norman also worked as a farmer in South Bend and North Liberty, Ind., and in construction in Florida. Surviving are his daughter, Cynthia Jolly, of South Bend; sons David McMurtrie and James McMurtrie, both of South Bend; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a half-brother, Ollie Nichols of North Liberty, Ind.; a half-sister, Marie Morrison of Kansas City, Mo.; and a sister-in-law, Marjorie Nichols, of Centreville.

WHITE PIGEON - Marvin F. Cornwell Sr., 77, White Pigeon, Mich., died Jan. 11, 2008 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Mich., following an extended illness. He was born Aug. 29, 1930 in Sparta, Mich., a son of Erwin L. and Corinne M. (McGuire) Cornwell. On May 27, 1951 he married Flora May Comstock in Middlebury, Ind.
He was a White Pigeon area resident most of his life, coming from Sparta, Mich. He was a 1949 graduate of White Pigeon High School and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He was employed by Americraft in Sturgis for 19 years, Federal Paper in Elkhart, Ind., Weyerhaeuser Paper Co. in Middlebury, Ind. for 20 years and at White Pigeon Lumber Company. He was a member of the American Legion Post #0225, the Mottville Planning Board, a past member of the Loyal Order of the Moose. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and cooking.

Charles L. Rathburn, 78, of Battle Creek, passed away Saturday, January 19, 2008 at Lifespan Good Samaritan Hospice Residence. He was born on November 1, 1929 in Sherwood Township to Russell and Alice (Llewellyn) Rathburn.Charles was a longtime resident of Sherwood, MI. He graduated from Athens High School in 1947 and attended Michigan State College. Charles served in the U.S. Air Force from August 1950 until his honorable discharge in September of 1953.

William H. "Bill" Shupp, 70, of Augusta, died Saturday, January 19, 2008 at the Battle Creek Health System. He was born on July 20, 1937 the son of Donald and Dorothy Shupp. Bill served his country as a Sergeant in the United States Army in Korean War. Bill married Donna Sherman at Lake Doster on August 24, 2002; she survives. He is also survived by his three daughters, Kim (Matthew) Mitchell-Shupp of Hickory Corners, Kris (Tony) Morlan and Katherine Chadwick, both of Oklahoma; eight grandchildren; Donna's two children, Arlene Chapman of Galesburg and her son, John (Debi) Chapman of Grand Rapids and Russell Sherman of Plainwell; a brother, Dave (Charles) Shupp of Florida; and two sisters, Judy Latzel and Jan (William) Coleman, both of Arizona.A true outdoorsman and lover of nature, Bill enjoyed fishing and birds. He was a great handyman and enjoyed working on houses. Bill was a homebody and loved children and spending time with his family, but especially time with his loving wife, Donna.

Arthur E. Bennison passed away January 18, 2008 at Mercy Pavilion in Battle Creek. Arthur was born August 27, 1924 in Ryerson County, Ontario, Canada the son of Charles and Della Bennison. He was one of nine children: 3 brothers survive. His wife of 56 years, Opal M. (Priddy) Bennison, survives along with their six children: Linda (Tim) Cook of Battle Creek, James (Mary) Bennison of Kalamazoo, John (Tong) Bennison of Kalamazoo, Bruce Bennison of Battle Creek, Debra Contreras of Indiana and Steve Bennison of Tekonsha. Also surviving are nine grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.Arthur and Opal were members of the Rayborn Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church in Coldwater. Arthur was a veteran of World War II serving in the Canadian Armed Forces from December 1942 to April 1946. He received the Italy Star Defense Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, and the Canadian War Medal. Arthur became a United States Citizen on June 11, 1984 and has resided in the USA most of his adult life.

Andrew Nicholas Yunger Kalamazoo; died at home under hospice care on Monday, December 17, 2007. Andrew was born in Chicago, IL on October 4, 1926 to Frank Anton and Anna (Till) Yunger. The family moved to Bangor in 1938, where Andrew attended upper elementary, junior high, and high school. In 1944 he enlisted in the United States Army and served with the 42 Infantry Rainbow Division. Stationed in Austria, he attended Zell-am-See and Salzburg Specialist School for Military Administration. Upon graduation, he worked in the Austrian War Crimes Trials, and in repatriating artwork to rightful owners throughout Europe. Following discharge, Andrew graduated from Bangor High School, then Western Michigan University with a Bachelor's degree in Education. He taught in Cooper Township Schools, Lakeview (Battle Creek), as well as Worms and Augsburg in Germany. In June 1962 Andrew married Kay Jenkins in South Bend, IN and completed his Master's degree in Education at Western Michigan University. They moved to Augsburg, Germany and taught for the Department of Defense. Returning to the United States, Andrew taught in the Kalamazoo Schools for 31 years. He was a member and representative in the Kalamazoo Education Association and Michigan Education Association, and a member of the Retired Teachers Association.