Cremains found in former funeral home

Published 9:23 pm Wednesday, August 11, 2010

If anyone has information regarding the following individuals or their next of kin, contact the Dowagiac Police Department or the Yazel & Clark Chapel in Dowagiac.

The cremated remains of the following persons were discovered on Wednesday during renovations of the former Groner Funeral Home in Dowagiac. These remains where apparently left in the building after the funeral home was closed and they need to be given to the proper relatives.

• John C. Gunn, 1982

• John P.  Brown, 2006

• Joseph Livingston, 2005

• Robert L. Wallace, 2001

• Lester D. McDonald, 2000

• Johnnie J. Jackson, Jr., 2005

• Frank N. Baldwin, unknown

• Sharon A. Schoetzow, unknown

Anyone with information may forward contact information to Patti Klug at the Dowagiac Police Department, (269)782-9743, or Brad Yazel at Yazel & Clark Chapel, (269) 782-2135.

Brad Yazel and Tom Starks bought the Groaner building for $34,000 at a tax foreclosure sale in December and had to wait 180 days to take possession per an agreement with the IRS.

“We are planning to use the main floor as a reception and catering venue from time to time and keeping the garage space to put all of our vehicles under cover,” Yazel said. “We have begun the cleanup process and inspections needed to get this project up and running by early fall.”