Obituaries
Jerrold L. Gilding
Jerrold Lynn Gilding, age 68, of Charlotte died April 16, 2020. He was a line worker at General Motors. Services will be held at a later date.
Judith A. Peters
Judith Ann Peters, age 81, of Charlotte passed away Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. She was born December 17, 1938 in Charlotte, the daughter of Val and Alice (Fhaner) Becktel. Judy graduated from Charlotte High School with the class of 1957. On October 12, 1957, she married Ronald Peters. Together they raised their family on the farm in Walton Township. Judy spent countless hours helping her husband milking cows and working in the fields. Judy was an avid gardener who loved spending time tending to her many beautiful flowers. She cherished each and every moment she was able to spend with her family. She also loved when her many friends and neighbors would stop by for a visit.
Judy is survived by her children: Jeffrey Peters of Milan, Tenn., Diana (Pat) Ruthruff of Charlotte; grandchildren: Jessica Ruthruff, Michelle (Albert) Nagel; great-grandchildren: Andrew Seedorff and Sylas Nagel.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ronald; sister Janice Neal; and great-granddaughter, Jasmine Seedorff.
A graveside service will take place at Bosworth Cemetery when the current restrictions on public gatherings are lifted. Those desiring, may make contributions in Judy’s honor to the American Cancer Society. To view Judy’s obituary online, or to leave a condolence for the family, visit burkhead-greenfuneralhome.com. The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.
Joan K. Franks
Joan K. Franks, age 59, of Bellevue died on Tuesday, April 14, 2020 at her home surrounded by her family following a short illness.
Joan was born on August 17, 1960 in Charlotte to James and Laura (Everette) Shaw. She graduated from Bellevue High School in 1978. On December 16, 1988 she married Charles E. Franks in Olivet. Joan had been working as a steward for Firekeepers Casino and Hotel in Battle Creek for the past seven years until her illness in January of this year. She also cared for the elderly, and she was a custodian at Bellevue and Charlotte schools for several years. Joan was a former member of the Marshall Women of the Moose. She enjoyed collecting tea pots, going to garage sales and watching children. Joan loved the outdoors, going camping on the Manistee River, hunting for mushrooms and reading. She also enjoyed cooking and playing scratch-off lottery tickets.
She is survived by her husband Charles of Bellevue; children, Bobbie Jo (Leon Kemp) Hanke of Bellevue, James (Danielle) Hanke of Bellevue, and Travis (Lisa) Franks of Potterville; grandchildren, Jordyn Franks, Kyle Franks, Ashley Bujarski, Alexis Hanke, Hunter Hanke, Madison Hanke, Dominic Moore, and Krista Moore; great-grandchild Blakely Roosa; siblings, Jannette Shaw-Groom of Bellevue, Katherine (Leo) Cider of Rolla, Missouri, and Terry Shaw of Bellevue; sister-in-law Angela Shaw-Duke of Bellevue and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother Joe Shaw; a nephew Trenton Shaw; and a brother-in-law Martin Groom.
Due to COVID-19, there will be a memorial service held at a later date. Interment of her cremated remains will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Bellevue. Family requests memorial contributions to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, 222 N. Kalamazoo Mall #100, Kalamazoo MI 49007. Leave a personal message for the family and sign the online guestbook at kempffuneralhome.com. Mrs. Franks and her family are being cared for by the Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services.
Lane A. Bishop
Lane Alan Bishop, age 55, of Olivet passed away Monday, April 13, 2020, at Oak Lawn Hospital in Marshall. He was born October 25, 1964, in Battle Creek, the son of Alan and Rachel (Strong) Bishop. Lane graduated from Olivet High School with the class of 1983. After graduating, he worked at GM, then as a mason tender for many years. He later moved to Tennessee where he studied to be an electrician. Lane was a jokester and prankster, who enjoyed making others laugh. He had a big heart and was always concerned for others. Lane enjoyed trips to the casino, rock concerts, spending time outdoors and all animals.
Lane is survived by his mother, Rachel Bishop; children: Dustin Bishop, Amber Bishop; grandchildren: Blaine, Keagan, Odin; siblings: Sharon and Jack Irons, Ann and Bill Lundy, Harry and Tracy Reynolds, Mike and Linda Reynolds, Todd Bishop (Carri), Sheila McLean; aunts and uncles: Ron and Diane Bishop, Ted and Judy Bishop, John and Donna Bishop, Bill and Bev Strong, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; grandparents; father and step mother, Alan and Joan Bishop; and sister Mary Reynolds.
In keeping with Lanes wishes, cremation has taken place, and no services are planned at this time.
Those desiring, may make contributions in Lane’s honor to the Calhoun County Humane Society, 2500 Watkins Rd., Battle Creek MI 49015.
To view Lane’s obituary online, or to leave a condolence for the family, visit burkhead-greenfuneralhome.com. The family is being served by the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home.
Betty L. Jardot
Betty Lee (Stafford) Jardot, age 91, passed away Friday, April 10, 2020 at her home in Gowen, Mich. She was under hospice care for the last few months. It was her wish to be cremated, and a small family gathering will be held at a later time.
She was born in Vicksburg on December 15, 1928. On November 6, 1948 she married Bernard Jardot. They were married almost 61 years until his death on May 19, 2009. In the late 1950s, the family moved to Columbia City, Ind. Betty was well known in the area for her interior decorating and painting and worked for both private individuals and contractors. She was active in the Boy Scouts and saw both her sons receive the Eagle Scout Award. Both she and her husband were very active in the Lions club and both held many offices. In 1967, her husband received a position on the staff at Michigan State University as a 4-H youth agent, and the family moved to Caro, Mich. She was very active with the 4-H groups and accompanied her husband on many 4-H trips. They were both very active in Lions and went on many international trips, including Rome, London and China as well as Hawaii. Saturdays during football season she sat in the stands and was a proud mother, having both her sons in the Michigan State University Marching Band at the same time. In 1979-80, they moved to Gowen when her husband was transferred. She was an active member in the Rebekah Lodge and held many offices including district president and Noble Grand. She enjoyed reading and gardening, and looked forward to when her grandchildren visited, especially when they were small, helping to plant and water the garden and asking if it was time to pick the garden.
She is survived by her son, Bernard Jr. “Mike” (Donna) Jardot of Kenton, Ohio; daughter, Judy Jardot of Gowen; grandson, David (Heather) Jardot of Hilliard, Ohio; granddaughter, Michelle (the late Scott) Kunkel and great-granddaughter, Katrina Kunkel of Whitehouse, Texas; a beloved sister, Alma Weber of Lansing; brother, Bob Stafford of Kalamazoo; brother-in-law, Don Jardot of Charlotte; and several nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents and her husband, was a son Dick. In lieu of flowers, memorials made be made to the charity of your choice. Hurst Funeral Home in Greenville is coordinating arrangements, and memories and messages of condolence may be shared at hurstfh.com.