Fr. Phillip J. Witkowski
May 25, 1948 – November 9, 2025
Reverend Father Phillip J Witkowski, age 77, went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, November 9, 2025. Father Phil was born on May 25, 1948 to Richard and Jacqueline Witkowski.
Phil decided to dedicate his life to God at a young age, going to Seminary School, becoming a Priest on February 2, 1975. Phil loved all of the church communities that he served. He made many lifelong friends. He had a love for the outdoors and football. Phil helped coach many football teams in his life. From Muskegon Catholic Central, Shelby, and Engadine schools he will be remembered by many students. Phil also loved hunting in the Fall and gardening in the Spring. He always had a large garden that he tended to and loved to give away all the vegetables and gladiolus to friends and family.
Phil is survived by: his siblings, Julie (Bill) Veltman, Janie (Brian) Meier, Bev (Joe) Mieler, and Andy (Sarah) Witkowski; sister-in-law, Diane Mortensen; brother-in-law Brian Kammers; several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Phil was preceded in death by: his parents, Richard and Jacqueline Witkowski; siblings, Raymond Witkowski, Dan Witkowski, and Janice Kammers.
A Celebration of Life will be held, at a time yet to be determined, Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at St. Michaels Church, 1716 6th St, Muskegon, MI 49441.
In lieu of flowers, you can send donations to: Shelby Athletics Department, 525 North State Street Shelby, MI 49455; or Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry, 5631 West Stony Lake Road, New Era, MI 49446.
Harris Funeral Home, in Shelby, is assisting with arrangements.
Doris G. Grill
December 31, 1926 – November 27, 2025
Doris went home to be with her Savior on Thanksgiving Day. John 3:16.
Born on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 1926 to parents Alfred Edward Butz and Ora Elsie (Buck) Butz, Doris Geraldine Butz grew up on a farm in Monclova, Ohio during the Great Depression. She graduated from Monclova High School in 1944 during World War II.
Having never learned to drive a car, she mostly rode city buses and always enjoyed talking to the bus drivers and other passengers. During her younger working years she sometimes took sightseeing trips to western states by riding Greyhound buses. Doris worked mostly at diners and dry cleaners near Toledo, Ohio; in Springfield, Missouri; and in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Her latest job before retiring was at Loaf n Ladle in downtown Ft. Wayne.
Doris married John Richard Grill in 1968, and they settled in the south side of Ft. Wayne where they raised their daughter. Their faith was very important to them. Doris went to church for most of her life. Among the churches she attended were First Assembly of God and Fairhaven Mennonite Church in Ft. Wayne. Her favorite hymn was The Old Rugged Cross.
She was preceded in death by her husband (March 21, 1981), her parents, her brothers Harry, Wayne and Bobby Butz, and by her sisters Hallie Mitchell, Betty Simpson, Florence Drennan, Dorothy Bunde, and Reata Fox. She is survived by brother Marvin “Sonny” Butz; her daughter Avonna (Joseph) Crabill; and many nieces and nephews, neighbors, and church family.
Thank you to all those who helped, befriended, and watched over her through the years, and thank you to the caregivers during her later years at Cameron Woods in Angola, Indiana, and in the Newberry, Michigan area at Maple Ridge, Robin’s Nest, and Newberry Assisted Living.
Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Auburn, IN
In place of flowers, please consider donations to Fairhaven Mennonite Church on Winter St. in Ft. Wayne, IN or to MCC.org. May God’s peace be with you.
Funeral service is 12:00 pm on December 12, 2025 at D. O. McComb and Sons – Lakeside Chapel, 1140 Lake Ave. Fort Wayne, IN. Calling two hours prior.
Opal May Kalnbach
April 18, 1929 – December 4, 2025
Lifelong Lakefield Township resident, Opal May Kalnbach, 96, went to be with her Lord, Our Savior, Thursday morning, December 4, 2025 at her residence surrounded by her loving family.
Born on April 18, 1929 in Lansing, daughter of the late John & Effie E. (Rall) Teed, Opal moved to the Lakefield area in her youth. Opal was a 1948 graduate of Newberry High School and a 1952 graduate of Grand Rapids Baptist Theological Seminary and Bible Institute.
On June 28,1952, she married Gordon Kalnbach at the Lakefield Baptist Church. She wanted to marry a farmer and she did! They made their home on the Kalnbach homestead where they raised cows and had a large garden. She loved to hunt and fish in her younger years. Opal was the last charter member of the Curtis Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, Opal is preceded in death by her husband Gordon on February 8, 1994; siblings John Teed, Guy Teed, Tom Teed, Steve Teed and Dorothy Hartley; great-granddaughter Lindsay Neill.
Survivors include her loving children Jean Neill, Daryl (Deb) Kalnbach and Glenn (Lisa) Kalnbach all of McMillan; 10 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; siblings Allen Teed of Colorado, Tim (Pilar) Teed of Lakefield, Ellen Dunn of Michigan, Ruth (Frank) Finch of Virginia and Lois Ann (Davd) Teed-Gillen of Grand Rapids; sisters-in-law Sue Teed, Imogene Teed and Ruth Teed; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
A gathering of family and friends will take place Friday December 12, 2025 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Curtis Baptist Church. Funeral services celebrating the life of Opal will follow at 11:00 am at the church with Pastor Greg Carlson and Pastor Ben Roohr as celebrants. Interment will take place in the spring of 2026 at the East Lakefield Township Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation.
Condolences may be expressed at www.beaulieufuneralhome.com
Beaulieu Funeral Home in Newberry is assisting the family.
Lois Mary Buckler
November 3, 1927 – November 29, 2025
Lois Mary (Nicholson) Buckler, 98, of Kalkaska, MI, formerly of Newberry, MI, passed away on November 29th, 2025. Lois was born on November 3rd, 1927, in Hodgeville, Saskatche-wan, Canada. Lois was the oldest daughter of the late Norman and Bertha (Baker) Nicholson.
Lois graduated Morse High School in Morse, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1945, and continued her education at Business School in Calgary, Canada. She worked as a bookkeeper for the Ford Garage in Morse, Saskatchewan, Canada. Then went on to Providence Hospital Nursing School in 1947, where Lois graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1950. She worked at Moose Jaw General Hospital in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada. Lois applied for a visa in 1953 and moved to Gaylord, MI where she worked at Otsego Memorial Hospital for 3 years.
Lois married the love of her life, Billy D. Buckler on December 4th, 1954, in Gaylord, MI at the Methodist Church. They then moved to Norway, MI until moving to Marquette, MI, having three sons before moving to Newberry, MI. Lois continued work at Newberry Helen Joy Hospital until her retirement in 1987. Lois and Billy spent their winters in Zapata, Texas until 2016 before living full time in South Boardman, MI.
Lois was preceded in death by her parents, Norman and Bertha (Baker) Nicholson, husband of 67 years, Billy Buckler and a great granddaughter, Ella Gould.
Lois will be lovingly remembered by her three sons; David (Joyce) Buckler of Kalkaska, Paul (Sherry) Buckler or South Boardman, Lyle (Jen Liepa) Buckler of Alaska; grandchildren Jennifer (Ken) Gould of Belding, MI, Logan Buckler of Kalkaska, MI, Gena Buckler of South Boardman, MI, Jennifer (Scott Veltman) Lewis of Kalkaska, MI, Kristina (Kate Robinson) Mason of Midland, MI; great grandchildren Kenny and Joey Gould, Jayden Buckler, Aiden Mason, Grace and Gabby Robinson, Owen and Cole Lewis; sister Meryl Kingren; brother Lorne (Darlene) Nicholson; as well as many family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at Kalkaska Funeral Home on Monday, December 15th beginning at Noon. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at 11AM. Memorial contributions may be made to the 1st Presbyterian Church, 113 W John St, Newberry, MI 49868, Kalkaska Memorial Assisted Living, 509 S. Birch Street, Kalkaska, MI 49646, or Heartland Hospice, c/o The Gentiva Foundation, 3350 Riverwood Parkway, Suite 1400, Atlanta, GA 30339. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kalkaska Funeral Home.
