Bowerman Funeral Home

Robin Marie Hilliard-Reeves, 62, of Dowagiac passed away on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2022 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born Aug. 17, 1959 in Dowagiac to the late John and Helen Hilliard. After finishing high school, she married the love of her life, Ronald Eugene Reeves, on June 29, 1985 at the Cass County Court House. Robin was a very dedicated worker and started her own business called R & R Upholstery, where she and Ron reupholstered cars, trucks, boats, and furniture for over 30 years. Robin also worked at JAC Custom Pouches in Dowagiac as a prototype designer; she loved it there and they were like a tight-knit little family, where she was very loved and cared...

Steimle, John, 87, of Dowagiac, died Wednesday; Bowerman Funeral Home , Eau Claire

JOHN EDWIN STEIMLE April 10, 1934 - December 8, 2021 John was a longtime resident of the Indian Lake area. He and his father, Forest Steimle, operated a 400-acre fruit farm on the west wide of Indian Lake. John attended Dowagiac High School and Michigan State College (now University) where he majored in business and was a member of the golf team for three years. John's parents, Forest and Harriet, developed the west side of Indian Lake in the 1920s and 30s. John's father founded and built the original nine holes of the Indian Lake Golf Course in the early 1920s, and John built the second nine holes in the 1960s. John married Mary Ann (Black) Steimle on August 30, 1955. He founded...

Gilbert Vernon, 65, of Cassopolis, formerly of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully at home, Nov. 21, 2021. He was born Sept. 18, 1956, to Samuel Eugene Vernon and Ora Bee Vernon (nee Burton). He graduated from Eau Claire High School in 1976. Gilbert was an avid outdoorsman; he could often be found taking photos of nature's beauty, from a seed's first sprouts to stars burning intensely above. Preferring the fruits of his own labor, he loved fishing, hunting, tending his gardens, from which he enjoyed canning and pickling the vegetables he harvested. He will be lovingly remembered by his beloved wife of 36 years, Nilda Avila Vernon; his three children: Annah, Joseph and Joel Vernon. He was...

Patsy Elaine Pullins, 80, of Eau Claire, passed away Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021 at her daughter's home on Indian Lake, where her family had been pioneers of the lake. Memorial services will be planned for a later date. Memories may be shared online at www.bowermanfuneral.com. Patsy was born Oct. 1, 1940, to Charles and Anna (Boese) Ridenour. She was a 1959 graduate of Twin City Business College. She taught accounting at Southwestern Michigan College for 17 years as an adjunct faculty member, later saying the happiest years of her working career were helping students understand and learn to love accounting. For the last 34 years of her career, she was accountant/owner of Pullins Accounting...

James "Jim" Michael Rodell, 74, of Eau Claire, passed away at his home on Dec. 2, 2020. Jim was born in Benton Harbor to the late Victor and Leota (Robinson) Rodell. He grew up in Eau Claire, graduating from Eau Claire High School in 1965. He also attended Lake Michigan College. He worked for IBM and Kodak as a customer service representative, retiring after nearly 25 years. After retirement he worked for Berrien RESA as a driver license tester, and later was shop manager at Berrien Buggy in Berrien Springs. Jim was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in April 1970 after serving in Germany and Vietnam. He enjoyed woodworking, riding motorcycles, decorating for Halloween and time spent...

Priscilla Demske, 92, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully with family by her side on June 27, 2020, at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville. Due to COVID-19, a private family gathering will take place at a future date. Online messages may be shared at www.bowermanfuneral.com. Memorial donations may be made to Hanson Hospice Center. A special thank you to all the staff at Hanson for keeping her safe and pain free. Priscilla's deep faith in God always carried her through life's troubled times. She was a kind-hearted, hard-working "farmerette". She and Art, along with daughter Kim, grew many fruits and vegetables and sold them to the patrons of the South Bend market for 48 years. She was...

Virginia Elizabeth Michael Martin, 90, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at Spectrum Health Lakeland-Niles. She was born July 15, 1929, in Eau Claire to Albert and Elizabeth ("Lizzie" Zech) Michael. As a young girl Virginia attended Maple Grove one-room school and later graduated from Eau Claire High School. After high school she went to nurses' training in Detroit and Chicago for a short time. In lieu of a nursing career, she married Henry Thomas Martin on August 8, 1948, and went to work as a secretary, spending most of her career with Packard Industries in Niles. Hank and Virginia had 59 wonderful years together until his passing in 2007. "Ginny" was never one to let...

Vicky J. Clayton, 61, of Berrien Center, died Sunday, April 12, 2020 at Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph. Private graveside services will be held, with a public Memorial Service at a later date. Online memories and messages may be left for the family at www.bowermanfuneral.com. Donations in Vicky's name may be made to the National Kidney Foundation. Vicky was born April 9, 1959 in Midland, Mich., the youngest of nine children of Robert and Aletha (Carrigan) Card. She earned a Bachelor's degree from Andrews University, and she married Mark Clayton March 9, 1986 in Eau Claire. She dedicated her life to raising their son and caring for her family. Vicky enjoyed gardening, the beach, and...

Sterling E. Bailey, 95, of Eau Claire, died Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, at Forest Glen Assisted Living in Dowagiac. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 29, at Bowerman Funeral Home, Eau Claire, where friends may visit beginning at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Caldwell Cemetery, Eau Claire. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association. Online messages www.bowermanfuneral.com. Sterling was born Sept. 6, 1924, in Keeler, Mich., the son of Sterling R. and Eda (Zech) Bailey. He graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 1944, and he married Beatrice (Stockwell) Bailey on Aug. 29, 1944. Sterling served his country with the Merchant Marines, and he owned and operated...

Gerald Lee Keesler, 76, also known as JK or Jerry to his friends, passed away Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 in South Bend. Jerry was born July 30, 1943 in Cassopolis to Lloyd and Leta (Playford) Keesler. He resided in Dowagiac and married Linda Eileen (Huston) Keesler in 1978. Jerry owned and operated JK Enterprises where he hauled livestock, which was truly a passion for him. He also enjoyed visiting the casino, riding motorcycles and visiting with friends. He was one of five children and was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, Linda; and sister, Jeanette (Keesler) Allen of Dowagiac. He is survived by siblings: Loretta (Keesler) Misicsh of Dowagiac, Mary Lou (Keesler) Toy of...

Stephen Hartman, 77, of Berrien Center, died Tuesday, June 25, 2019, at West Woods of Bridgman. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 29, at Bowerman Funeral Home in Eau Claire, where friends are invited to visit beginning at noon. Memorial donations may be made to Caring Circle Hospice, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085. Online memories may be shared at www.bowermanfuneral.com. Stephen worked as a pipefitter for AM General in Mishawaka.