Kalamazoo Death Records and Obituary Search
Kalamazoo obituary and death records are available through the Kalamazoo County Clerk, whose online vitals database covers deaths from 1934 onward. The city also has exceptional obituary research resources, including the Kalamazoo Gazette indexed from 1837 to the present and the Southwest Michigan Obituary Index with more than 89,000 entries across five counties. This page explains where to find each of these resources.
Kalamazoo Overview
Kalamazoo County Clerk Death Records
The Kalamazoo County Clerk office is at 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007. Phone is 269-383-8840. The clerk website at kalcounty.gov includes a genealogy section with information on accessing death records. The online vitals search covers deaths from 1934 onward, which is more limited than some Michigan counties but still covers most of the 20th century.
Certified death certificate copies cost $20 for the first and $7 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Under MCL 333.2882, any person can request a Michigan death certificate without proving a family relationship. The clerk office also offers a volunteer genealogist on Fridays from 1:00 to 4:30 PM. This is a valuable and somewhat rare service that allows researchers to get in-person guidance from an experienced volunteer at no charge.
The Friday genealogy hours are worth taking advantage of if you are stuck on a Kalamazoo County record. The volunteer can help you navigate the clerk's records, point you to local resources, and suggest search strategies for hard-to-find deaths.
| Office | Kalamazoo County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007 |
| Phone | 269-383-8840 |
| Website | kalcounty.gov/857/Genealogy |
| Genealogy Volunteer | Fridays, 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM |
| Fee | $20 first copy, $7 each additional |
Kalamazoo Public Library Obituary Resources
The Kalamazoo Public Library is one of the strongest public library genealogy resources in western Michigan. The library provides indexed access to the Kalamazoo Gazette, which is Michigan's oldest newspaper and has been published since 1837. The full run from 1837 to the present is indexed and searchable, making it possible to find obituaries for Kalamazoo residents across nearly two centuries.
The screenshot below shows the Kalamazoo Public Library genealogy page, which provides access to the Kalamazoo Gazette index and an obituary lookup service.
The KPL genealogy section at kpl.gov offers the Kalamazoo Gazette index, obituary lookup service, and access to genealogy databases covering Kalamazoo County death records.
The library also offers an obituary lookup service for researchers who cannot visit in person. This lets you submit a request and have library staff search their holdings for a specific obituary. It is a practical option if you are researching remotely or if you need a quick answer on a specific name and date range.
Southwest Michigan Obituary Index
The Southwest Michigan Obituary Index is one of the largest regional obituary indexes in the state. It covers more than 89,000 entries across five counties in southwest Michigan, including Kalamazoo County. This index was built through collaborative effort and covers a wide time span. It is particularly useful for tracing families who moved between counties or whose obituaries appeared in papers outside Kalamazoo.
The screenshot below shows the Kalamazoo County Clerk genealogy page, which links to death record resources including the county vitals database starting in 1934.
The Kalamazoo County Clerk at kalcounty.gov provides death record access from 1934 onward and links to regional genealogy resources including the Southwest Michigan Obituary Index.
Public Act 73 of 2006 limits free online access to death record images less than 75 years old. For recent records, you need a certified copy from the county clerk or MDHHS. For older materials, the Kalamazoo Gazette index and the Southwest Michigan Obituary Index can often provide obituary details without a formal records request.
Western Michigan University Archives
Western Michigan University maintains archives at wmich.edu/library that include local history materials relevant to Kalamazoo death records and genealogy research. WMU's collections cover regional history and may include donated family papers, cemetery records, and other primary sources useful for tracing Kalamazoo County deaths.
The screenshot below shows the Western Michigan University library archives page, which holds regional historical materials relevant to Kalamazoo genealogy and death records.
The WMU library archives at wmich.edu/library hold regional historical collections covering Kalamazoo County history including donated family materials and local records.
For free historical death records from 1897 to 1952, the Michiganology GENDIS database is a good starting point. Public Act 194 of 1867 established statewide death registration in Michigan, and Kalamazoo County records from that period forward appear in the state system. State-level orders can be placed through MDHHS at 201 Townsend St., Lansing, MI 48913, phone 517-335-8666, or online via VitalChek for $34 plus a $12.95 service fee.
Kalamazoo County Death Records
Kalamazoo is the county seat of Kalamazoo County. All death filings for the city go through the Kalamazoo County Clerk at 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave. For full county-level details, visit the Kalamazoo County obituary and death records page.
Nearby Cities
These qualifying Michigan cities are in the greater western Michigan region near Kalamazoo.