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Berry Funeral Home, 106 W Wright Avenue, Shepherd, MI (2026)

04/22/2026

Phillip “Buck” Walikangas; age 66 of St. Louis, MI passed away Sunday, April 19, 2026 with his family by his side. Buck was born July 8, 1959 and will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched. Buck loved to help others any way he could. He was a master at small engine repair. He loved fishing, old westerns, wrestling, and country music. Buck is survived by his brother’s Bill (Tammy) Hitsman of Mt. Pleasant, Sid (Laurie) Hitsman of Riverdale, Ray (Mary) Hitsman of St. Louis, Ed (Joyce) Hitsman of Riverdale, and many nieces and nephews. Buck is preceded in death by his father Wesley Wilkinson, mother Maggie Wilkinson, and sister Cheryl Wing. Cremation has taken place and there will be a graveside service Friday, May 1st at 11 A.M. at Elm Hall Cemetery. Arrangements have been entrusted to Berry Funeral Home of Shepherd.

04/19/2026

Robin Marie Burden
June 14, 1965 – February 1, 2026

On February 1, 2026, Robin Marie Burden transitioned from an angel on earth to an angel in heaven.

Robin was born on June 14, 1965, the daughter of Robert and Beverly (Stahl) Burden. She entered a busy and loving family of six children—Jean, Jamie, Jim, Jay, Jeri-Lou, and Jackie Stahl—an already full home that would soon discover just how blessed it truly was. A few years later, another blessing arrived with the birth of their brother, Rich.

Robin attended Sunny Field School, where she made many lasting friendships. She later worked at MMI in the newspaper room, but after discovering she was allergic to the ink, she was reassigned to raking leaves at Riverside Cemetery. She later told her mom she couldn’t do that anymore because she had “prima donna hands.”

Robin loved staying active. She enjoyed volleyball, cheerleading, bowling, running, and swimming—but her favorite activity, without question, was dancing. Music brought her joy, especially country music. She attended Special People Camp for many summers and participated in work camps in Kentucky and Tennessee through Shepherd United Methodist Church, where she famously sang “Hell Yes” to the kitchen staff.

God doesn’t make mistakes. Although professionals once suggested placing Robin in a state home, her mother looked at them with determination and said, “We have a group home—we’re taking her home.” The rest, as they say, is history. Robin could be a handful at times—spaghetti on her head, locking people out of their cars, and always wanting to drive—but she filled the home with laughter and love.

Robin never met a stranger. She attended Sunny Field Schools and formed deep friendships, including her best friends Jennifer S., Cheryl G., Jon S., Gary T., Gary B., Jeff, and Abby—the love of her life (although Gary T. was “too tall”).

Robin and Jeff won many dancing awards, and she would dance until she had to be carried out. Her friend Gary B. affectionately called her “Miss Hollywood,” a name that still sticks today. She vacationed in Arizona with her sister Jamie, where she thoroughly enjoyed the bars, and traveled to Texas to visit her sister Jeri-Lou and family. To say Robin was a creature of habit would be an understatement.

When her mother passed away, Robin sang “Amazing Grace” to a full church. During her time at Isabella County Medical Care Facility, she made many friends and countless memories. One day, the family received a call that Robin had been caught cheating at cards—and they couldn’t have been prouder. Her friends Deb N., Michelle B., and Tammy B. became known as the “Pepsi Girls.” Her special friends Christy and Loretta from MMI took her to the zoo, movies, parks, and the Pixie, always singing and enjoying life together.

Everyone who met Robin was changed. Strangers often commented on how one hug from her made a lasting impact. People would smile and say, “I know you—you’re Robin’s sister.” Robin forgave easily, loved freely, and was a friend forever. She was truly one of a kind—God’s special gift to a family that was too full, too poor, and too crazy, yet made better in every way because of her.

Robin is survived by her siblings: Jean Thrush of Shepherd; Jamie (Ron) Luckenbill of Durand; James Stahl of Mt. Pleasant; Jeri-Lou (Bill) PreJean of Texarkana, Texas; Jackie (Steve) Heischman of Mt. Pleasant; Richard (Heather) Burden of Mt. Pleasant; Lenette (Steve) Sova of Coldwater Lake; and Bobby Burden. She is also survived by her adopted family: Jose and Kay Stahl, Johnathon and Kelli Stahl, Donny and Cheryl Stahl, all of Texarkana, Texas, and Robert and James Stahl of Dallas, Texas; along with many beloved nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Burden and Beverly (Stahl) Burden; her brother Jay “Jaybird” Stahl; her sister Debby Stahl; and her bestest buddy “Big Jim” Thrush that was her favorite brother-in-law and partner in crime at the VFW.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 2, at 11:00 a.m. at Shepherd United Methodist Church with Dave Peters officiating. Arrangements have been entrusted to Berry Funeral Home of Shepherd.

Memorial contributions may be made in Robin’s honor to Special Olympics or Shepherd United Methodist Church. The family extends a special thank-you to the MyMichigan Alma Infusion Center for their compassionate care.

04/14/2026

David Bruce Jorgensen; age 80 of Grand Haven, formerly of Muskegon, passed away Saturday, April 4, 2026 at Schnepp Senior Care & Rehab Center. David was born September 27, 1945 the son of Robert and Martha (Bradley) Jorgensen. He had a deep love for music that shaped so much of his life. What began as enjoyment grew into a true passion, especially through his work with guitars. As a dedicated luthier, he took great pride in rebuilding old instruments, often seeking out fine woods like rosewood and carefully restoring each guitar with patience and care. For David, it wasn’t just about fixing an instrument… it was about bringing it back to life and giving it a voice once again.

He appreciated all kinds of music, but held a special place in his heart for Celtic melodies. One of his greatest joys was sharing that music with others, often playing in nursing homes where his performances brought comfort, smiles, and connection.

David also found fulfillment in teaching, generously passing along his love of music to others. Whether helping someone learn a chord or encouraging them to keep playing, he had a way of inspiring those around him.

Known as a natural storyteller and performer, David truly came alive in front of others. Whether through music or words, he had a gift for engaging people and creating moments that were both entertaining and meaningful. His passion, creativity, and the joy he shared with others will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

David is survived by his daughter Lisa (Emma) Dailey of Alma; his granddaughter Kate Dailey; his brother James (Karen) Jorgensen; special friend Christine Wistrom of Spring Lake; nephew Dane Jorgensen of Comstock Park and niece Janay (Andrew) Brower of Grand Rapids. David is preceded by both his parents.

Cremation has taken place and there will be a celebration of life at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to Berry Funeral Home of Shepherd.

04/14/2026

William Roger Shell; age 87 of Alma passed away Thursday, April 9, 2026 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Bill was born September 25, 1938 the son of Horace and Mildred (Spence) Shell. He served honorably in the Marines and later in the United States Army. Bill married Song Choi March 28, 1961. He worked as a laborer in the automotive industry for many years and later as a truck driver. He enjoyed hunting, golfing, and doing carpentry work in his shop. Bill is survived by his wife Song; his sister Brenda (Jim) Clark of Florida; nieces and nephews David (Windy) Shell of Florida, Tim (Danette) Shell of Florida, Song Yol (Sang Chang) Yu of Lansing, Mi (Doosoo Han) Yu of Chicago, Song Il (Eunjong) Yu of Alabama, and Song Ki (Jee Eun Kim) Yu of New York. Bill is preceded by both his parents; his brother Thomas W. Shell; and nephew Wayne Shell. Cremation has taken place and there will be a memorial service on Friday, April 17 at 1 P.M. at Berry Funeral Home in Shepherd with Reverend William Chu officiating.

04/07/2026

Jack Leroy Little; age 88 of Mt. Pleasant passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 7, 2026 at the Isabella County Medical Care Facility with family by his side. Jack was born February 19, 1938 the son of Lyle and Maxine (Augustine) Little. He enjoyed woodworking, bike riding, and golfing. He loved being around his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Jack married Barbara “Toni” Little February 6, 1960 and she preceded him November, 21, 2020. He worked 30 years for General Motors in Lansing, Michigan before retiring at the young age of 58. Jack is survived by his 4 children Debra Burton of Mt. Pleasant, Mark (DeAnn) Little of Shepherd, Jacquelyn Burk of Mt. Pleasant, and Matthew (Denise) Little of Mt. Pleasant; 8 grandchildren Nicholas (Candice) Little, Travis (Samantha) Little, Jerod (Rebecca) Morey, Kyle (Randee) Morey, Kelsey (Ryan) Moss, Tyler Burk, Emiy (Tyler) Wheeler, and Lauren Little; great grandchildren Grace, Luca, Clara, Bryce, Parker, Jaxson, Leah, Levi, Brooklynn, Emilee, Ryder, Audree, Natalee, Bastion, Jaiden, Makenzie, and Madilyn; his sister Patricia Smith of Haslett; and several nieces and nephews. Jack is preceded by both his parents; his wife Barb “Toni”; and brothers and sisters in laws Patrick Smith, James and Ruth Louise Theisen, Mary Catherine “Kay” and Stan Veit, Robert and Mary Lou Theisen, Nancy and Leon Roethlisberger, Bernard Theisen, and Margaret “Myrt” (Theisen) Kirkey. Services for Jack will be Saturday, April 11 at noon at Berry Funeral Home with Deacon Matt Begres officiating. There will be visitation from 11 A.M. until time of service. Memorial contributions can be made on behalf of Jack to Heartland Hospice or Isabella County Medical Care Facility.

04/06/2026

Kenneth Joseph Ehler

September 4, 1947 - December 29, 2025

Kenneth Joseph Ehler (78) from Wise Road Shepherd, passed December 29th, 2025.

Kenny was one of a kind. Where others struggle to see out of some box, for Kenny there was no box. It is not possible to capture the essence of his life, for his adventures were beyond imagination: He bought a tractor in Kansas and drove it back to Shepherd; bought a young bull elk in South Dekota, then raised it until it got dangerously stuck in rut.

He tore down his dad’s big pole barn to build four fishing ponds. One pond so large he got the oversized bulldozer stuck and had to rent a second one to get it out. He stocked the ponds with fish; all was well until the fish out grew keeping them fed.

When he returned from service in Korea, it was in the disco era, He was dynamite on the disco floor whether locally or out of state (Chicago).

After the service, Kenny worked at St. Louis Chemical and Dow Chemical until he left to continue his innovative farming. Farming on all levels has been his love, from his Salt River Produce on Wise Road, to operating the latest farm equipment for large farming corporations like the King Ranch in Texas and wheat farmers in Kansas. In Kansas you could tell it was Kenny driving the semi for the speeding semi would be engulfed in a cloud of dust.
Ken’s personal strength, work ethic, and pain tolerance, was a credit and a liability. Nothing seemed impossible for Kenny. He had more than nine lives and could personally fill the Guinness Book of Records with his adventures. His at-risk behavior caused broken bones, 3 back surgeries, neck, shoulder and ankle repair which left him in long term care the last eleven years of his life. In spite of being paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair, he never gave up trying to farm. He had 23 bags of topsoil delivered to his nursing home. He planned on growing corn and vegetables in their small, raised beds. His room looked like a greenhouse which gave the staff fits.

Kenny was preceded in death by his parents Ralph and Nellie Ehler of Shepherd, and his sister Judy Grossman (St. Louis). Kenny survives siblings; Janet Oberlieson (Ohio), Elaine Denslow Strohmier. (Lake Isabella), and Kathy Bott (Mt. Pleasant), 6 children, and 8 grandchildren.

Folks that knew Ken, can attest to his playful loving, teasing nature. He enjoyed his six children, Mike Sting (Hope), Stacey Jo Staley (Coleman), Rebecca Hamilton (Lake Isabella), Brent Ehler (Clare), Matthew Ehler (Grand Rapids) and Zackery Ehler (Brant). Mike, Matthew, and Zackery were his buddies, they joined in Ken’s impossible adventures. “He loved to torment and tease us”, especially his nephews Jeff and Steve Fisher.

Matthew stated that, “Hard work was his religion, which he passed on to his children. He loved his kids, always looked out for us, and that is why I am honored to call him my Dad.”

All are welcome to the Celebration of Life Mass to be held April 11th at 11:00 A.M. at Shepherd’s St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church followed by a luncheon. For further information you may contact (281) 827-8911. Feel free to plant something for Kenny.

04/01/2026

Kristopher D. Staff, age 50, of Edmore, passed away in his sleep at his home on March 28, 2026. Kristopher was born on February 27, 1976, in Manistee, the son o

03/30/2026

Gary Anthony Hoffman, age 83, was born on October 11, 1942, at home in Shepherd, Michigan, and passed away March 25, 20226 peacefully at home with his wife, Rita, by his side.

Gary graduated from Alma High School in 1960 and proudly served in the National Guard for six years.

Gary and Rita Merrifield Woodward shared 18 years together on their 30-acre farm outside Riverdale, Michigan. They were married at home in a private ceremony on Christmas Day in 2021.

Gary was first married to Sheila, and together they had three children: Jeffrey and his wife, Julie, who have three children, Peter, Anastasya, and Slava; Dana, who has a daughter, Jayden; and Nathan and his wife, Lacy, who have one son, Nash.

Gary was later married to Diana, with whom he had a stepson, Matthew.

Gary was a longtime electrician. Early in his career, he worked for Automatic Electric, a security company in Hemlock, and at Hemlock Semiconductor. Later, he moved to the Upper Peninsula with his young family to work as an electrician for Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company in the mines, where he was also very active in the union. After two divorces, he moved to Saginaw and worked for General Motors, first at the Saginaw Brake Plant and later at the Bay City Plant, until retiring in 2006. Gary was also a Reiki Master Practitioner, as was Rita.

Gary loved flying and owned his own Cessna airplane for several years before selling it to buy his Kubota tractor. He enjoyed gardening, though over the years his large gardens became one smaller one. Large-faced sunflowers were his favorite, and he planted them in a large circle around a bonfire pit in the upper field so family and friends could gather, enjoy the fire, and look at the stars together. He also loved hunting and working in the woods gathering firewood to heat the house, with Rita working right alongside him.

Gary is survived by his children and grandchildren: Jeffrey and Julie Hoffman and their children, Slava, Peter, and Anastasya; Dana and her daughter, Jayden; and Nathan and Lacy Hoffman and their son, Nash. He is also survived by his stepson, Aaron Lloyd, his wife, Briana, and their daughters, Sydney and Natalie.

Gary came from a large family with six siblings, many aunts and uncles, and lots of cousins. He is survived by three siblings, Hugh, Janice Bacoccini, and Nancy Hoffman, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Anthony; his mother, June Bebee Hoffman; his brothers, Patrick and Timothy; and his sister, Marilyn.

Gary was a great man who loved helping others and will be greatly missed by his family and his large circle of good friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held on April 18, 2026 from 11 to 3 P.M., at the American Legion/Hero Center, 1329 Michigan Avenue, St. Louis, MI 48880.

“Today I will shine like a candle that not only lights the darkness, but also brings joy and laughter to all who share my light.”

Arrangements have been entrusted to Berry Funeral Home of Shepherd.

03/28/2026

Monica Coreen Zelis; age 46 of Sumner passed away March 25, 2026 at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor with family by her side. Monica was born March 4, 1980 the daughter of Gerald Williamson and JoJean (Ken) Coston Eastman in Carson City, MI. She married Brandon Zelis August 25, 2007 in Riverdale. She worked for Montcalm Care Network as a Medical Assistant. Monica loved riding her motorcycle and caring for her son as well as the many other people that were in her life. Monica is survived by her husband Brandon of Sumner; son Landon Zelis of Sumner; mother JoJean (Ken) Eastman of Gowen; brothers Jeff Schreer of Missoula MT, Chad (Johneen) of Bread Rum VA, William (Justine) Eastman of Greenville. Monica is preceded by her father Gerald Williamson and infant son Sander. Cremation has taken place and there will be a celebration of life at a later date. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Berry Funeral Home of Shepherd.

03/25/2026

Richard Mike McMahon, 82, passed away on March 19, 2026 at home in Ithaca, MI. Born on 1/17/1944 in Farmington, IL, Mike proudly served in the United States Navy from 1962 to 1988, completing 2 tours in Vietnam as a Seabee with MCB 6. He retired as a Hull Maintenance Technician, having served aboard the USS Midway (CV-41) and USS Robison (DDG-12).

Mike is predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Maxine McMahon, his sister, Margo Drake, and his partner, Wanda Smith. He is survived by his sons, Patrick McKelvy-McMahon and Michael McMahon, and his step-daughters, Jodie Gittus and Julie Meyers. In lieu of services, please make a donation to Wounded Warriors. Cremation has taken place and there will be no services. Arrangements have been entrusted to Berry Funeral Home of Shepherd.

03/25/2026

Barbara Jean Bryant was born September 19, 1962 to Beverly Bryant. She passed away unexpectedly at her home on March 11, 2026. Barb was a retired slot ambassador for the Soaring Eagle Casino Mt. Pleasant where she devoted 25 years of service. She was an avid diamond artist, knitter, crafter and baker. She loved spending time with family and her beloved dog Tinkerbell. She loved with her whole being and everyone loved her and her compassion towards others. Barb is survived by her mother Beverly Bryant of Baltimore, Maryland. Her daughter Sareta (Tron) Jacobs of Blanchard, her son Carl Nisonger of Weidman. Grandchildren Brehanna (Damien) Jacobs of Remus, Aryn (Jakob) Marks of Blanchard, Eric (Jolene) Nisonger of Weidman, Shawn Nisonger of Mt. Pleasant and great grandsons Kingston and Titan Jacobs and Paxton Marks and many siblings. Barb is preceded in death by her sister Rosemary Bryant, brother Scott Sunderman, her uncle Dale, her children’s father Carl Nisonger and Kevin Kenworthy. Cremation has taken place at Berry Funeral home as Barb wished. A celebration of life will be scheduled for a later date. Flowers can be sent to 5145 Taylor Rd, Blanchard, MI 49310. Donations accepted but not needed.

03/20/2026

Nancy June Carnahan; age 68 of Gladwin passed away March 10, 2026 at MyMichigan Medical Center of Midland. Nancy was born October 13, 1957 the daughter of Silas and Patricia (Babion) Barnes. She enjoyed cooking, baking, reading, writing poems, shopping, and going for rides. She loved her puppies and her kids and grandchildren were her world. Nancy is survived by her 2 children Jeff (Nnann Klopp) Carnahan and Andrea Stephens; 4 grandchildren Allie, Dakota, Kyla, and Allen; 1 great granddaughter Elanor; her life partner Michael Stephens; her siblings Tammy and Stephanie; and several nieces and nephews. Nancy is preceded in death by her husband Ronald Carnahan; both her parents; and her great grandson Luca. Cremation has taken place and there will be a celebration of life Saturday, March 21 at the Grout Township Hall starting at noon. Arrangements have been entrusted to Berry Funeral Home of Shepherd.

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