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Adams Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 502 West Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw, MI (2026)

02/04/2026

Nancy Ann Wharton

Nancy Ann (Smith) Wharton, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at her home with her family by her side.

Nancy was born April 22, 1946, in Bloomington, Indiana, to Emma Hall and Ted Smith.

Nancy married Melvin Eugene Wharton on December 26, 1981, and together they shared 44 wonderful years together. They were each other's lifelong companions and friends. Nancy was a loving mother who did an amazing job raising six sons and a stepdaughter.

Besides raising six sons, some of Nancy's previous employment includes waitress, cook, and bartender. She had worked at many area establishments and additionally worked at Lawrence AIS Home as a caregiver. She was a foster parent to some 60 boys over her lifetime, and her and Melvin were named "Foster Parents of the Year". She became a bus driver for Lawrence Public Schools. At her last employment, she was a bus driver for Van Buren Intermediate School District, in which she retired after 20 years. She was a past member of the Lawrence Quick Response Team.

Nancy enjoyed growing flowers, playing cards, traveling, fishing, and trips to the casino.

Nancy is survived by her beloved husband, Melvin Wharton; sons, Don Brown of Elizabethtown, Indiana, Dewayne Taylor of Columbus, Indiana, Terry Brown of Gobles, Michigan; stepdaughter, Ginger (Mario) Muniz of Bangor, Michigan; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by two brothers, Norman (Tammy) Smith of Columbus, Indiana, Steven (Polly) Smith of Freetown, Indiana; three sisters, Ruth (Mike) Hunter of Freetown, Indiana, Cathy (Gordy) Newby of Seymour, Indiana, Ebbie (Lenard) Burdine of Seymour, Indiana; brother in law, Gordon (Dawn) Wharton of Paw Paw, Michigan and sister in law, Sharron (Scott) Jennings of Margate, Florida.

Nancy was preceded in passing by her parents, three sons, Albert Taylor of Taylorsville, Indiana, Travis Taylor of Lawrence, Michigan and Richard Taylor of Kalamazoo, Michigan and two brothers, James and Gary Smith of Columbus, Indiana.

As per her wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no services. Nancy will be laid to rest at Hill Cemetery in Lawrence at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the Lawrence Quick Response Team, 205 N. Paw Paw Street, PO Box #445, Lawrence, MI 49064.

View Nancy Ann Wharton's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/31/2026

Billy Alvin Wendland

Billy Alvin Wendland, 66, of Lawrence, passed away suddenly on Wednesday January 28, 2026, at Bronson Lakeview Hospital in Paw Paw.

He was born February 7, 1959 in Battle Creek, Michigan, the son of Robert Wendland and Sandra (Blodgett) Diehlman.

Billy was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing, hunting and camping. He loved nature and all of its beauty. Billy had many dogs throughout his life that he adored, they were all his best friends. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends. His kind and outgoing spirit will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him.

He is survived by his loving wife, Peggy (Stenger) Wendland; daughters, Nicole (Carl) Burlingham and Mariah (Brad Taylor) Steele; sons, J.J. Little and James Steele; grandchildren, Tori (Ethan Baur) Hayward, Travis Hayward, Timithy (Crystal Crookshank) Lock, Caitlin (Andrew Paasman) Steele, Crystal (Jarod Henslee) Steele, Alice Taylor and Michael Taylor; great-grandchildren, Keagen Lyon, Mackenzie Baur, Timithy Lock Jr, Dallas Channells, Jaysun Little, Caton Henslee and Oaklyn Henslee; siblings, Tonya Diehlman, Robert (Tammy) Wendland and Tony Diehlman. Billy is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in passing by his parents.

In accordance with Billy's wishes, cremation will take place. There will be a celebration of life held at a later date. Please check back for more information.

View Billy Alvin Wendland's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/29/2026

Beverly Jean Brooks

Beverly Jean (Pompey) Brooks, age 90, of Paw Paw, Michigan went to be with her Lord and Savior on January 28th, 2026, after a sudden illness. Bev, as she was known to most everyone, was born September 11, 1935, the daughter of the late Kenneth and Gladys Pompey of Hartford.

Bev graduated from Hartford High School in 1954. She continued her education by obtaining her LPN and RN nursing degrees at Kellogg Community College and Southwestern Michigan College respectively. The majority of her nursing career was spent at Bronson Lakeview Hospital in Paw Paw, Michigan. She dedicated over 40 years to patient care in multiple capacities as an LPN, RN, Nurse Manager, and Childbirth Educator. Her primary focus being obstetrics, Bev was instrumental in the development of birthing rooms and family centered care. She received the Southwestern Michigan Perinatal Association’s Perinatal Award for Excellence in 1992 and 1999. She retired from nursing in 1999.

Bev’s hobbies included gardening and traveling, and she had an enormous love for music. She also enjoyed updating family history records and photo albums. She was a member of the Paw Paw United Methodist Church. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and attending their activities.

Bev married her high school sweetheart, Robert (Bob) Brooks, in Hartford at the Federated Church on July 3rd, 1954. Together they enjoyed traveling on many trips. Bev especially enjoyed spending the winters with her husband in their park model home on Sarasota Bay in Florida.

Bev resided in Hartford most of her school years, and after marriage, settled in Paw Paw with Bob.

After 57 years of marriage, her husband Bob passed away due to cancer on Father's Day in 2011.

She is survived by her sons, Bryan Brooks of Defiance, OH, Barry Brooks of Washington State, and Brad (Michelle) Brooks of Lawton. Bev leaves six grandchildren, Sarah, Jackie, Brandy, Seth, Brandon, and Lev; and four great-grandchildren, Robert, RyLynn, Asher, and Vivian.

Other survivors include her sister Marcia (John) Molter of Watervliet, brother-in-law Franc (Betty) Brooks of Schoolcraft, sister-in-law Wanda Story of Buchanan, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In keeping with Bev’s wishes, she will be cremated, and a memorial service will be held in the Spring at Adams Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Centrica Care Navigators.

View Beverly Jean Brooks's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/28/2026

Margaret Jane Makowski

Margaret Jane Makowski, 88, of Paw Paw, MI, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at her home in Paw Paw.

She was born September 27, 1937, in North Girard, Pennsylvania, the daughter of Charles Hazen and Gladys (Miller) Hazen.

Jane obtained her Associates Degree in Nursing and worked as a Registered Nurse her entire working life. Jane and her husband, John, moved to Paw Paw in 1972, where Jane began working at Bronson Lakeview Hospital. Jane adored her job as a nurse and wanted nothing more than to help others. Her last nursing role was taking care of a young man in his home until his death. Outside of being his nurse, she became a true friend to him, and they shared many of the same interest, including sci-fi and watching the Young and the Restless together.

Jane was an animal lover and loved all animals, with dogs and horses being her favorite, however she had many figurines and pictures of wolves and big cats around her home as well. Jane enjoyed visiting the zoo's and giving her attention to the big cat exhibits. A woman of many hobbies, she could often be found doing puzzles, knitting, crocheting or researching family genealogy. Jane watched a lot of racing and wrestling in her down time as well. She enjoyed music and sang in the Paw Paw Community Chorus since 2007 and was a faithful member of Saint Mary's Catholic Church in Paw Paw. She will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her children, Stephen Gerard, Michele (Jeff) Sivley, Melissa (Gerald) Makowski and Mike (Vicki) Makowski; grandchildren, Rachel, Melissa, Clayton (Cheyenne), Stephanie, David, Ericka, Emily (Jarod) and Ethan; great-grandchildren, Cayla, Haylie and Clayton.

Jane is preceded in passing by her parents, husband, John Paul Makowski in 2020; daughter, Stephanie Anne Makowski and brother, C. Melville Hazen.

Family and friends are invited to visit on February 28, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home, 502 W. Michigan Avenue, Paw Paw. A rosary service will be held at 7:00 p.m. A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Paw Paw Community Chorus or Defenders of Wildlife.

View Margaret Jane Makowski's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/21/2026

Debra Kay Klimach

Debra Kay (nee Dean) Klimach, age 68, of Paw Paw, passed away peacefully on January 16, 2026, surrounded by those she loved and devoted her life to most, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Deb was born on March 23, 1957, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Elmer and Vivian Dean. She moved to the Village of Paw Paw, Michigan at the age of 16, and resided there for 52 years. She graduated from Paw Paw High School in 1975 and worked at Paw Paw Shopping Center for almost 20 years.

Deb gave birth to her daughter, Shawna Gates, in February of 1976, and later met the love of her life, Jack Klimach, in 1980, whom she later married on September 30, 1990.

Deb dedicated her life to the people she loved, which included many friends and family members. She was a lover of crafts and could always be found with a camera in one hand and a glue stick for her scrapbooks in the other. Her house was always full of music, which consisted of everything from Bob Seger, Fleetwood Mac, to Garth Brooks, and there was rarely a moment around her that didn't consist of smiles or laughter.

Debra is preceded in death by her father, Elmer; her mother-in-law, Ethel; brother-in-law, Martin and sisters-in-law, Lorraine and Robin. Debra is survived by her mother, Vivian; her beloved husband, Jack; daughter, Shawna; son, Kevin; six grandchildren, Taylor, Cameron, Cayla, Alex (Macey), Liam and Makenzie; two great-grandchildren, Tatum and Caiden; two brothers, Don and David, and three sisters-in-law, Marie, Shirley, and Clara.

View Debra Kay Klimach's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/16/2026

Elizabeth Anne Williams

Elizabeth Anne Williams, 62, of Mattawan, passed away suddenly on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at her home in Mattawan.

She was born October 23, 1963, in Fort Benning, Georgia, the daughter of Nathan Stackhouse Jr. and Gerry Geraldine (Welch) Stackhouse.

Elizabeth was a woman of many talents and hobbies. She was an avid crafter and always had the best crafting equipment. She enjoyed teaching others crafts. She was also an animal lover and raised rabbits, chickens, sheep, and goats. She was incredibly active in 4H throughout the years and got her children involved in the program, as she showed rabbits for many years. Elizabeth adored her homestead and made her own soaps, bread and food, all of which were phenomenal! One of her favorite activities was attending renaissance fairs with her family. She would sew each and every costume she and her family would wear!

Above all else, her greatest joy was her children and grandchildren. She was always their #1 fan, especially when it came to Jordan's racing and Kelsey's dancing. She could always be heard in the crowd cheering her family on.

Elizabeth is survived by her loving husband, Daniel Williams; daughter, Kelsey (Chris) Cornell; sons, Jordan (Courtney) Filip and Joshua (Lindsey) Williams; grandchildren, Sawyer Cornell, Elena Cornell, Madison Williams, Jayden Williams, CJ Williams, Jaxson Williams and Landon Williams. She is also survived by her sister, Rebecca Stackhouse; mother, Gerry Stackhouse, father, Nathan Stackhouse Jr, and mother-in-law, Irene Taylor.

Elizabeth was preceded in passing by her grandson, Roman Williams and brother, Nathan Stackhouse III.

Family and friends are invited to visit and celebrate Elizabeth's life on Friday, January 23, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 412 Cedar Street, Paw Paw. A memorial service will begin at 11:00 a.m. with Rev. Leonard Brinkmoeller officiating. There will be a luncheon held at the church following the service. Elizabeth will be laid to rest at Austin Cemetery at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the National Kidney Foundation.

View Elizabeth Anne Williams's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/14/2026

Ronald Gustav Gage

Ronald Gustav Gage, 81, of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully at his home in Parkview Hills in Kalamazoo on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.

He was born February 19, 1944, at Parkview Hospital in Plymouth, Indiana, the son of Constantine Gustav Gage and Rosalie (Gego) Gage.

He attended Paw Paw High School and Western Michigan University, where he received his Master's Degree in Political Science. He then was employed by the State of Michigan Department of Labor.

After retirement, he enjoyed eating out at his favorite restaurants, working out at the Michigan Athletic Club (MAC), and going on Caribbean Cruises. He also moved from Grand Ledge, Michigan to Kalamazoo, Michigan to be closer to family.

He is survived by his sister, Eleanor (Gage) LaRue; nephew, Donald (Beth Fleetwood) LaRue; 5 great nephews and 2 great-great nephews.

Ronald was preceded in passing by his parents and niece, Pamela LaRue.

In accordance with Ron's wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at a later date, please check back.

View Ronald Gustav Gage's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/12/2026

Elizabeth Jean White

Elizabeth Jean (Maywood) White passed peacefully in her sleep on January 4, 2026. She was 79 years old. Born on April 10, 1946, to Jennie (Laskovy) and John Maywood, she grew up on the family dairy farm in Decatur, MI, before graduating from Decatur High School in 1964. Beth graduated from beauty school in Kalamazoo and married Gary White from Lawton, MI soon after, in 1968. They moved into their home on County Road 665, where they spent decades working together building their lives. Gary passed in 2018 and she downsized, staying in the rural area between Paw Paw and Lawton.

Beth enjoyed a long career managing the parts department at Welch's. She and Gary also made friends across the region as the long-time proprietors of White's Pines Christmas Trees, where they welcomed visitors from as far as Chicago from the 1980s well into the 2000s. Guests were greeted with holiday songs on the radio and a cozy bonfire for kids to roast marshmallows.

In retirement, Beth spent past winters in Bonita Springs, Florida and summers in Silver Creek, New York, where she loved spending time with her grandnieces. More recently, she was happy to have breakfasts with her two sisters, Mary Butcher and Donna Overton, then spend time with her dog and tending to her landscaping. She is survived by her sisters, many cousins, and the generations that follow all of them.

In keeping with Beth's wishes, cremation has taken place, and no services are planned at this time. Those wishing to do a memorial contribution are asked to consider the World Wildlife Fund or an Animal Rescue of your choosing.

View Elizabeth Jean White's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/12/2026

Larry Lee Allen

Lawrence (Larry) Lee Allen was born on July 3, 1942, at Pipp Community Hospital in Plainwell, Michigan to Gordon and Donna (Deaner) Allen. He went to be with his lord and savior on January 8, 2026.

He served the Lord in areas of deaconship, treasurer, song leader, usher, and on two pulpit committees at several bible believing churches. His favorite bible verse was John 3:16 and prays that anyone reading this has asked Jesus into their heart to be the Lord and Savior of their life.

He graduated high school and joined the United States Navy. He attained the rank of Sonar Man Second Class Petty Officer, aboard the Destroyer USS Jenkins. Following his four years in the Navy, he was employed at Consumers Energy for thirty-five years before retiring in 2001.

His precious wife: Roberta Anne Allen, preceded him in death in December of 2021 as well as Marilynn Riggs in 2023. He is survived by his loving wife Karen Kellogg.

Larry is survived by his sons, Chris (Kathy) Allen and Jeff Allen; grandchildren, Nichole (Brandon) Allen, Zoey (Jimmy) Sandahl and MacKenzie Allen; great-grandson, Wesley Sandahl; brother, Dennis (Gail) Allen and nieces, Pamela (Robert) and Cheryl (Robert).

In accordance with his wishes, cremation will take place. There will be a memorial service held at 12th Street Baptist Church, 3911 S. 12th Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at 12:00 Noon with a luncheon to follow.

Private interment at Fort Custer National Cemetery will be held at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made to 12th Street Baptist Church Missions.

View Larry Lee Allen's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/07/2026

Carol Etta Noid

Carol Etta Noid, 85, of Hastings and formerly of the Niles area for many years, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2025, at Maple Lake Assisted Living in Paw Paw.

Carol was born June 9, 1940, in Charlotte, Michigan, the daughter of Evert and Helen Steward.

She was a teacher for many years, graduating from Alma College then later receiving a master's degree from Michigan State University where she met her husband, Dick Noid. They were married in 1969.

Carol was a devout Christian and a member of the New Journey United Methodist Church in Niles. She was active in many community organizations throughout her life. Many would agree she was the life of the party, always up for games, telling stories, putting together costumes or songs. Alongside Dick they performed and/or directed plays or skits long remembered by others. Carol loved to travel and after Dick's passing, was not one to sit still. Her adventures took her all over the world! She also enjoyed growing beautiful gardens, reading, birdwatching and doing jigsaw puzzles.

She is survived by her two sons, Travis (Tina) Noid and Derek (Christina) Noid; grandchildren Hannah (Jonathon) Lindfors, Sophia Noid, Elliott Mueller and Christopher Mueller; great-grandson Owen Lindfors; siblings Lowell (Octavia) Steward, Norman (Jan) Steward, Margaret Hollenbeck, and Allan (Deb) Steward, sister-in-law Pat Troutner and brother-in-law AG Twitchell.

Carol was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sister Linda Twitchell.

In accordance with Carol's wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Carol's name can be made to Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve.

View Carol Etta Noid's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/07/2026

Lynne Mary Szumylo

Lynne Mary Szumylo, 78, of Paw Paw, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, January 2, 2026, at her home in Paw Paw.

She was born October 3, 1947, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, the daughter of Edward Alger and Rose (Vorick) Alger.

Lynne was a dedicated employee for the UpJohn Company for many years until her retirement. She was also a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where she was very involved with church activities and groups. Lynne was an animal lover and contributed to the ASPCA and other animal care organizations. She was an avid gardener and enjoyed working in her yard and her posies. Above all else, Lynne was a loving and caring sister and aunt. She will be deeply missed but never forgotten.

She is survived by her sister, Lana (late Fred) Allen; brother, Dennis Alger; nieces and nephews, Mark (Nancy) VandenBussche, Jeff (Sandra) VandenBussche, Steven (Jill) VandenBussche, Josh (Darcy) Alger, Casey Alger, Jody (Rachel) Alger, Diana (Justin) Kwiatkowski and Hollie Lass along with several great nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Beth Gilmore, Helene Szumylo and Liz (Mark) Westra; special and caring friends and neighbors, Mary and Mark Christman, and beloved pets, Albert, Buddy and Rosie.

Lynne was preceded in passing by her parents and husband, Albert Joseph Szumylo on February 23, 2021.

In accordance with Lynne's wishes, cremation will take place. A Memorial Mass will be held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Saint Mary Catholic Church, 209 S. Brown Street, Paw Paw.

View Lynne Mary Szumylo's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

01/05/2026

Nancy J. Lueder

Nancy J. (Caffrey) Lueder, 83, of Lawton, Michigan, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2026, after recent complications with COPD. She is survived by her husband, Alfred Lueder and children, Matthew 59, Eric (April) 56, Todd 54 and Christopher (Jeannie) 52. She was also a grandmother/great-grandmother to 11. She was preceded in death by her sister, Sharon (Caffrey) Blackwell.

Born June 9, 1942, to John J. and Gabrielle D. Caffrey, she grew up in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge, Illinois. After college, she worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company where she would meet her loving husband, Alfred. The two married on February 20, 1965, and eventually settled in Park Forest, Illinois, where she spent the first half of her life raising her four boys into men of integrity and heart. Not only raising four boys, but she also opened her home and heart to countless neighborhood kids, who still refer to her affectionately as "Mom". It was a testament to her extraordinary love, strength, patience, and a deep heart that would follow her into the second half of her life.

Following Alfred's retirement, Nancy and Alfred fulfilled their dream of retiring on a quiet lake, settling on Huzzy Lake in Lawton. Michigan. They embraced the Village of Lawton, and the local area embraced her right back. Nancy donated countless hours with local garden clubs, quilting clubs, St. Mary's Catholic Church, the library, and Bronson Lakeview Auxiliary. She was named the Paw Paw Chamber of Commerce Volunteer of the Year in 2011 and the Grand Marshall of the Lawton Summerfest parade in 2022.

Her most fulfilling achievement was the 25 years she spent with the Lawton Free Reader, a monthly local publication created and co-edited by her and Alfred. Each month, they would comment on local events, sports, and other stories, assembling the columns, creating the layout, arranging for printing, collating and even hand delivering this free publication. She worked tirelessly until publishing the last issue in December 2025.

Thank you for being a guiding light. Rest in peace knowing your kindness and love will continue to live on in the lives of whom you touched.

God's Garden

God looked around his Garden and found an empty place

He then looked down upon His earth and saw your tired face

God's Garden must be beautiful, he always takes the best

He put his arms around you and lifted you to rest.

He knew that you were suffering, He knew you were in pain

He knew that you would never get well on earth again.

He saw the road was getting rough and the hills too hard to climb

He closed your weary eyelids and whispered "Peace be Thine"

It broke our hearts to lose you

But you didn't go alone

For part of us went with you

The day God called you home.

View Nancy J. Lueder's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

Adams Funeral Home & Cremation Services

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