Obituaries
Paul A. Dills
Paul A. Dills, 93, longtime resident of Eaton County passed peacefully on Friday June 2, 2023.
He was born June 24, 1929, in Pigeon, MI to Ernie Dills and Agnes Bauer. He was married to his wife Lois Dills for 68 years. They resided on the family farm in Benton Township for most of their years together until her death in 2018.
As well as farming, Paul started Paul’s Gun Shop in the basement of their home in the 1960’s and Farmers Machine Shop together with his father and Dills Excavating with his sons for many years.
He served on the board of the one-room Doane School with other neighbors. And he also served on the Benton Township Fire Board for sixteen years.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lois; his sister, Gayla; and his sister Marilyn.
He is survived by sons, Ned (Kimberly) Dills, Ted Dills; and daughter Nancy (Paul) Hicks; five grandchildren; several great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life visitation will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Mills Funeral Home, 301 E. Jefferson St., Grand Ledge, MI 48837.
If desired, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The National Rifle Association or to ProMedica Hospice. Online condolences can be shared at www.millsfuneral.com.
Hershel Copeland
On May 21, 2023, we lost a great man. Hershel Copeland was born on January 30, 1951, in Martin, KY to Walter and Avene (Mullins) Copeland.
Left behind to mourn him are his loving wife of 40 years, Connie; sons, Scott, Mike (Missy), Joe (Dawn), Jesse (Cathy), and Cody; grandchildren: Isabelle, Dylan, Tom, Mike, Lindsey Beaulieu, Tristian Roc, Shylo, Austin, Riley, Zoey and Ava; and great-granddaughter, Lakelynn Roc. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters, Danny (Sharon), Fred (April), Vivian, Vechel (Jim), Vicki; and sister-in-law, Sue. Hershel was preceded in death by his parents; son, Donnie; brother, Dwayne; and sister, Violet.
He left us far too soon, but we all feel incredibly grateful and blessed to have had him for as long as we did. He loved his wife, sons, and grandchildren with everything he had and then some, and we all knew it. We love you Daddy, Dad, Grandpa and Papa.
Mark Dwayne Dawson
Mark Dwayne Dawson of Eaton Rapids, MI passed away on June 2, 2023. Graveside service was held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, June 9 at Forest Lawn Dimondale. Arrangements are being handled by Pray Funeral Home.
Raejean Carol Babcock
Raejean Carol Babcock, age 65, of Potterville, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Friday, June 2, 2023. She was born December 9, 1957, in Charlotte, the daughter of Harold and Shirley (Ross) Moon. Raejean graduated from Maple Valley High School with the class of 1976. Raejean was a devoted mother and grandmother. Her grandchildren held a special place in her heart. She was a wonderful gardener and enjoyed spending time working in her flower gardens. Raejean enjoyed cooking and baking and always looked forward to baking Christmas cookies with her grandchildren.
Raejean is survived by her daughter, Nicole (Matt) Sims; mother, Shirley Moon; grandchildren: Braxton Sims, Maci Martins, Trevor Babcock, Chloe (Tyler) Jackson; great grandchildren: Miller, Matthew, and Memphis Jackson; siblings: Linda Pfeiffer, Kim (Dan) Thornton, Colleen (Ted) Lampel, Vicki (Jimmy) Stigall, David (Karen) Moon; and ex-husband, Mike Babcock.
She was preceded in death by her father and son, Matt Babcock.
In keeping with Raejean’s wishes cremation has taken place and no services will be held.
Those desiring may make contributions in Raejean’s memory to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org. To view Raejean’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com. The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.
Kenneth Gene Kowalk
Kenneth Gene Kowalk of Eaton Rapids, passed away May 30, 2023, at the age of 78. He was born in Lansing, MI, December 9, 1944. Ken retired from GM in 2004 after 37 years, and was a master of all trades, including building houses and restoring cars. He was a member of the Falcon Club of America and the Fairlane Club of America.
Ken is survived by his wife, Dorothea Kowalk; son, Kenneth Kowalk of Waldorf, MD; siblings, Gretchen (Roy) Kunkel of Eaton Rapids, Brian Miller of Eaton Rapids, James (Carol) Miller of Eaton Rapids, Deborah Miller of Charlotte, Kurt Miller of Springport, Barrie (Stan) Latoski of Eaton Rapids, Yolanda Anicola of AL; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Jean Anicola and stepfather, Clare Miller.
Funeral services were held Tuesday June 6, 2023, at the Mills Funeral Home, Shelly-Odell Chapel, 518 S. Main St. Eaton Rapids, MI 48827. Burial of cremated remains with full Military Honors will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Eaton Community Palliative Care, 2675 S. Cochran Rd., Charlotte, MI 48813. To leave condolences for the family, please visit our website, www.millsfuvneral.com.