Looking for Howard City Michigan obituaries can feel like a scavenger hunt you never signed up for. If you’ve ever sat at a kitchen table in Montcalm County trying to track down a service time or an old family record, you know the frustration. The digital age was supposed to make this easy. Instead, it’s scattered. You’ve got bits and pieces on legacy sites, some on funeral home pages, and a lot buried in old newspaper archives that haven't seen the light of day in decades.
Honestly, the way we track deaths in small-town Michigan has changed. It used to be that the Howard City Record was the undisputed king of local news. You’d open it up, and there they were—everyone from the local baker to the high school coach. But the Record stopped its original run in 1952. Since then, the trail has gone cold for many casual searchers.
Today, if you're looking for someone like Alvin John Poortenga or Joyce Maxine Habel—both of whom passed away in early 2026—you have to know exactly where to click. It isn't just about Googling a name anymore. It’s about understanding the network of funeral homes and regional hubs that keep these records alive.
The Go-To Sources for Recent Notices
If someone passed away in the last week, don't waste time on massive national databases first. They often lag. In Howard City, two names dominate the landscape: Howard City Funeral & Cremation Services and North Ridge Funeral Home.
Most families here use these local pillars. For example, James Edward Johnson’s recent passing in January 2026 was documented thoroughly through the North Ridge portal. These sites are basically the "new" town square. They don't just list the dates; they host the guestbooks. You can see who sent flowers, who shared a story about a 1970s fishing trip, and where the luncheon is being held.
The big players like MLive or Legacy.com also pull data, but they’re often "syndicated." This means if a family doesn't pay for the extra reach, the obituary might only exist on the funeral home's private site. If you can’t find a name on a search engine, go directly to the source. It saves a lot of headache.
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Why the Paper Trail Often Disappears
Microfilm. It sounds like something out of a spy movie, but it’s the reality for anyone doing genealogy in Howard City.
The Library of Michigan and the Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University hold the keys to the past. They have the Howard City Record on microfilm covering 1886 to 1952. If your great-uncle passed away in 1910, that’s where the record is. It’s not on a website. It’s on a plastic reel in a drawer in Mt. Pleasant or Lansing.
Finding Historical Records
- The Clarke Historical Library: They have the most extensive collection of Montcalm County papers.
- FamilySearch Collections: They’ve digitized some Michigan death records (1820-2006), but the "search" function is only as good as the person who transcribed the handwriting.
- The White Pine Library: Located in nearby Stanton, they often have local death indexes that aren't available online.
It’s kinda wild that in 2026, we still rely on physical archives for so much. But that’s the reality of rural Michigan history. Digital preservation is expensive. Small towns often get left behind in the rush to digitize everything.
Navigating the Montcalm County Clerk’s Office
Sometimes an obituary isn't enough. Maybe you need a death certificate for legal reasons or a deep-dive genealogy project. For deaths in Howard City, the Montcalm County Clerk is the official keeper of the flame.
Unlike obituaries, which are written by family and can be... let's say, creative with the truth, a death certificate is a legal document. It lists the actual cause of death, parental names, and birthplace. In Michigan, these records are generally open to the public unless they are very recent, though you’ll have to pay a small fee.
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In 2026, many of these requests can be started online through the county’s portal, but don't be surprised if you still have to mail in a check or a money order. Small-town bureaucracy moves at its own pace.
The Missing Link: Social Media and Unofficial Notices
There’s a trend that’s making Howard City Michigan obituaries even harder to archive: the "Facebook Funeral."
Families are increasingly skipping the $500 newspaper fee and just posting a long tribute on a personal profile or a local community group. While this is great for immediate word-of-mouth, it’s a nightmare for future historians. These posts aren't indexed by the state. They aren't saved by libraries.
If you are looking for someone who lived a quiet life and passed away recently, check the "Howard City Community" groups. Sometimes the only record of a life well-lived is a thread of 200 comments from neighbors sharing memories. It's beautiful, but it's ephemeral.
Common Misconceptions About Local Obituaries
People think that because Howard City is small, everyone’s death is recorded in the Greenville Daily News. That’s not always true. Depending on where the person worked or where their kids live, the notice might be in the Grand Rapids Press or even a paper in Big Rapids.
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Another mistake? Assuming "No Service" means "No Obituary." Even if there isn't a funeral, most families still publish a notice to settle the estate or simply to acknowledge the passing. Always check for "Cremation Services" listings, as those are often categorized differently on funeral home websites.
Vital Stats to Remember
- Alvin John Poortenga: Passed Jan 13, 2026 (Howard City Funeral and Cremation Services).
- Donna Engel: Passed Jan 11, 2026 (North Ridge Funeral Home).
- Joyce Maxine Habel: Passed Jan 06, 2026 (Howard City Funeral and Cremation Services).
How to Effectively Search Right Now
If you're stuck, try searching for the person's high school or their employer alongside the keyword. Many local obituaries are found through "Alumni" pages or union newsletters.
If you’re looking for someone from the 1800s, the GENDIS (Genealogical Death Indexing System) from the State of Michigan is your best bet. It covers 1867 to 1897 and is surprisingly thorough for that specific window.
To get the best results for modern searches, use the person’s full middle name. Howard City has a lot of families with deep roots and overlapping names. You wouldn’t believe how many "John Smiths" or "Mary Johnsons" have lived in this zip code since the timber boom.
Next Steps for Your Search
Start by visiting the website of Howard City Funeral & Cremation Services or North Ridge Funeral Home to see if the notice was posted within the last 30 days. If the death was further back, check the Michigan Genealogical Death Indexing System (GENDIS) for late 19th-century records or contact the Clarke Historical Library to request a microfilm search of the old Howard City Record. For official legal copies, submit a request through the Montcalm County Clerk’s vital records portal.