July 2025

Ronald L. Erickson, Sr., age 80, of Chatham died Sunday, June 22, 2025, in Marquette, Michigan. He was born on April 7, 1945, in Munising to the late Richard and Lucille “Dolly” (Passinault) Erickson. Ron graduated from William G. Mather High School in 1963. He entered the United States Army in May of 1964 and was part of the 101st Airborne. The first time Ron flew in a plane, he jumped out of it. He served in Vietnam with the 320th Artillery, where Ron was a surveyor. He was honorably discharged in May of 1967 as an SP5 (T) and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Parachute Badge and Army Commendation Medal.

Philip Maynard Palmer, 91, a retired U.S. Navy captain, died Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at Clark at Keller Lake. A resident of Grand Rapids, Michigan, he was born on May 23, 1933, in Lansing, Michigan, the son of Darrell Eugene Palmer and Lila Berniece Lavery Palmer. He graduated from Lansing Eastern High School. He then attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned Bachelor of Science degrees in chemical engineering and in naval science and received his commission through the Navy ROTC in 1955 and entered active duty on Sept. 20, 1955. In 2006, he was named one of four in the inaugural class of University of Wisconsin/NROTC Distinguished Alumni. He attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and subsequently was awarded an M.S. degree from The Ohio State University in 1965 while in the Navy.