Honestly, waking up and checking the local death notices is just a part of the morning ritual for a lot of us here in Muskegon. It isn't about being morbid. It’s about community. You want to see if a former teacher, a neighbor from three houses down, or that guy who always ran the bait shop has passed on. When you’re looking for mlive muskegon obituaries past 3 days, you’re usually trying to make sure you didn't miss a visitation or a chance to drop off a casserole for a grieving family.
The last 72 hours have been heavy for the Port City. We've lost some real staples of the community—people who spent decades working at the foundries, teaching in our public schools, or just making the Muskegon Chronicle's comment section a bit more lively.
Who We've Lost: Recent Names from the Chronicle
If you haven't had a chance to scroll through the digital pages of MLive or the physical paper lately, there are a few names that have surfaced between January 14 and January 17, 2026.
Take Mark Allen Bayer, for instance. He was 70 and passed away right at home on Wednesday, January 14. If you’ve lived here a while, you might recognize him from his years driving trucks and installing for Harborfront Interiors. He was a guy who took immense pride in his home, and he’d been married to his wife, Roxanne, for over 26 years. That’s a whole lot of history in one household.
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Then there's Chad Allen Bielinski, who was only 57. He passed the same day, January 14. His family is planning a memorial gathering at Clock Funeral Home on January 22. It’s those younger losses that always seem to rattle the community a bit more, remind everyone how fleeting things are.
Community Staples and Long Lives
Muskegon has always been a town built on long-term residents. You don't just live here; you grow roots here.
- Anthony Junior Krol: "Tony" passed on January 13 at the age of 89. A Muskegon Heights grad, he was a fixture in this area his entire life.
- Gayle R. Ingersoll: He was 68 and worked for Frigidaire for a quarter of a century. He passed away at Trinity Health – Muskegon.
- Landon James Fekken: This is a heartbreaking one. Only 16 years old. He passed on January 10, but his obituary was widely shared and published in the Chronicle this past Wednesday. He was a Whitehall kid, and the outpouring of support for his family has been massive.
It’s not just about the names, though. It’s about the stories. When you look at Jacob LeRoy "Jake" Wabindato, who was 76, you're looking at a man who spent his final days at Harbor Hospice’s Poppen House. Anyone who has had a family member there knows what a sacred, quiet place that is for our community.
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Navigating the MLive Obituary Search
Finding the mlive muskegon obituaries past 3 days can be a bit of a pain if you aren't used to their interface. Usually, people just Google it and hope for the best, but MLive’s partnership with Legacy.com means the "Sort by: Most Recent" button is your best friend.
Sometimes there’s a delay between a passing and the actual publication. A person might pass on a Sunday, but because of the way funeral homes coordinate with the paper, the obituary might not "hit" until Tuesday or Wednesday. If you're looking for someone specifically and don't see them, check back around 10:00 AM each day; that's usually when the new batch of digital entries goes live.
Why the Local Obituaries Still Matter
In a world where everything is global and "viral," the local obituaries keep us grounded in Muskegon. They tell us that Claude James Christiansen, 86, was a veteran who lived in Rothbury and Norton Shores. They tell us that Carolyn M. Sturrus, 92, worked for Muskegon County for years before going to be with her "Heavenly Father."
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These aren't just data points. They are the people who built the schools we went to and the roads we drive on.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed
If you're trying to stay on top of local passings without constantly refreshing a webpage, here is what actually works:
- Set a Google Alert: Use the phrase "Muskegon Chronicle obituaries" as your keyword. You’ll get an email whenever new content matches.
- Check the Funeral Home Sites Directly: Often, places like Sytsema, Clock, or Ever Rest will post the full tribute on their own websites 12 to 24 hours before it appears on MLive.
- The "Memories" Section: Don't just read the bio. Scroll down to the Guest Book. In a tight-knit place like Muskegon, you’ll often find out about the funeral luncheon or a specific charity the family wants donations for (like the Muskegon Rescue Mission or local animal shelters).
Staying connected to the mlive muskegon obituaries past 3 days is a small way to honor the people who made this city what it is. Whether you're looking for a specific service time or just paying your respects silently, these records are the final word on a life well-lived in West Michigan.