Obituaries

Lana Kay Nickels, of Traverse City, MI passed away following a brief battle with cancer on Thursday, May 7, 2026. She was three weeks shy of her 80th birthday.
Lana graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in education and began her career teaching. The first few years were with the inner city Lansing...

Matthew Michael Irish, of Traverse City, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 49 on April 30, 2026 at Munson Medical Center, with his loving family by his side. Matthew had a kind and compassionate heart, always willing to lend a helping hand. He was a beloved son, father, brother, uncle and friend, who will be...

Here on Earth, in a woodshop just north of Empire, the hammer is still and the saw hangs silent. However, up in heaven, a new pile of sawdust is emerging as faithful servant William B. "Bill" Bolton prowls the halls of heaven asking each of the angels, "What can I do for you?" So it is that Bill passed into the next...

Hope Elizabeth (Lee) Clifton, 90, of Thompsonville, passed away peacefully on April 27 2026 at home with her family by her side.

Born May 13, 1935, in Detroit, MI to Harry and Martha (Webber) Lee. After high school Hope worked for BC/BS and CNA Insurance in downtown Detroit for 10 plus years. While living in...

Richard J. Kraemer, 84, of Traverse City, Michigan, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2026.
Rich was born on March 5,1942 in Detroit to Joseph and Erma (Bennett) Kraemer. He grew up in East Jordan, Michigan, with his younger brother and sister, surrounded by many friends and family, including a score of cherished...

Matthew Donald Shoemaker, 58, passed away peacefully at home on May 6, 2026, surrounded by love, family, and good music after a courageous battle with cancer.

Matthew was born on June 5, 1967. He lived life fully and unapologetically, with a deep love for music, movies, hockey and MMA. Whether he was listening to...

Debra Ann Buchler, 70, of Traverse City, reunited with her loved ones in the Kingdom of Heaven on May 9, 2026.
Debra was born on May 28, 1955, in Alma, Michigan to Marion Fockler and Dorothy (Krapohl) Devereaux. She was raised with simple family values alongside her brothers, Jim and John, whom she loved dearly.
On...

Jeffrey William Minervini, age 61, of Traverse City, Michigan, made his final Irish goodbye on May 3, 2026. He was given a 12-month cancer prognosis, and rather than seeking treatment that might extend his life a few months, he spent his last year focused on quality time and checking items off an extensive bucket...

Lois Virginia Ludlow (née Aders), 96, passed away peacefully on May 1, 2026, in
Traverse City surrounded by the love of a family she spent a lifetime nurturing. Born on
August 25, 1929, in Montezuma Indiana, Lois lived a life as rich and varied as the many
places she called home — from Bermuda to Virginia,...

Henry Lee Bartz, 89, of Grawn, died Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at French Manor South, in Traverse City, where he was beloved by the staff who affectionately called him "Grandpa."
Henry was born and raised on the family farm in Monroe Center on August 30, 1936, to Thomas and Wilma (Taylor) Bartz. As a young man, he...

Elizabeth "Skeeter" Anderson of Traverse City, Michigan, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2026, at the age of 84. Liz was born in Traverse City, Michigan, on March 8, 1941, to parents Edward Lardie and Irma Bosma.

Liz grew up on Old Mission Peninsula, which she loved and often shared stories about—its people...

Judy Day passed away on May 3 at the age of 90 (though she did not believe she was "that old"). Judy was born on 4/15/36, in Kalamazoo, MI to the late Gil and Louise Hays.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brother/hero Bill, her husband (the love of her life), Charles Day, her daughter, Darci,...