Kalamazoo County Obituary Records

Kalamazoo County obituary and death records go back to 1867 and are supported by one of the strongest genealogy research ecosystems in southwest Michigan. The county has an online death records search portal with records from 1934 forward, a Southwest Michigan Obituary Index covering over 89,000 entries across five counties, and the fully indexed Kalamazoo Gazette archive stretching back to 1837. This page explains where to find Kalamazoo County death records, how to use the online tools, and what resources are available through the county clerk and the Kalamazoo Public Library.

Kalamazoo County Clerk

The Kalamazoo County Clerk is at 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave. and handles certified death certificates, vital records, and court filings. The fee is $20 for the first certified copy and $7 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Note that the office opens at 9:00 AM on Wednesdays. Call 269-383-8840 for information before visiting. Bring a photo ID and the full name and approximate year of death for the person you are searching.

The county also maintains a genealogy page at kalcounty.gov and a vital records ordering page at kalcounty.gov/1090. These pages explain what records the county holds, what is needed to request them, and current fees. The online death records search portal at clerkregister.kalcounty.com gives access to death records from 1934 forward. Under MCL 333.2882, certified copies are restricted to qualifying requesters. The online portal may give index-level access even when full copies require a formal request.

Southwest Michigan Obituary Index

The Southwest Michigan Obituary Index is one of the largest regional obituary databases in the state. It covers over 89,000 entries drawn from Kalamazoo and four neighboring counties. This index pulls from multiple newspaper sources, funeral home records, and other obituary publications. For anyone searching for a death in the Kalamazoo area, this index is often the fastest way to find a name and confirm a death date before going to the county clerk for a certified copy.

The Kalamazoo County MIGenWeb site supports the obituary index and provides additional genealogy materials for the county. Volunteer researchers have contributed cemetery records, transcribed death notices, and historical newspaper clippings to the site. The Kalamazoo Gazette, which has published continuously since 1837, is one of the oldest continuously published newspapers in Michigan. Its obituaries are fully indexed and cover deaths in Kalamazoo County from the early settlement era to the present. Finding a name in the Gazette index tells you the exact issue to look for, whether on microfilm or through a library database.

The county genealogy page at kalcounty.gov/857/Genealogy gives guidance on available county records. The Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society has volunteers at the county who are available on Fridays from 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. These volunteers can help with searches and point you to the right records when county staff cannot spend extended time on a single research request.

Kalamazoo Public Library Genealogy Collection

The Kalamazoo Public Library's local history and genealogy collection is one of the strongest public library genealogy collections in southwest Michigan. The library holds newspaper archives including the Kalamazoo Gazette on microfilm and through digital databases. The local history room has obituary clipping files, cemetery records, and historical materials that supplement what is available through the county clerk and online indexes. Staff in the local history department can help with research questions and navigate the collection.

The KPL genealogy collection complements the Southwest Michigan Obituary Index well. The index tells you a death existed and roughly when. The KPL's newspaper archives and clipping files give you the full obituary text and family details. For pre-1934 deaths that are not in the county's online portal, the library is often the fastest way to find a detailed obituary notice before going through the formal state or county request process.

Western Michigan University's archives are also in Kalamazoo and hold collections related to local history and organizations. For deaths connected to WMU faculty, alumni, or local institutions, the university archives may have records not found elsewhere in the county.

The FamilySearch Kalamazoo County Michigan Genealogy guide covers available collections across digital and physical repositories. FamilySearch holds Michigan death records that include Kalamazoo County entries, all free to search.

Note: The Kalamazoo Valley Genealogical Society volunteers at the county on Fridays from 1:00 to 4:30 PM can help with research questions when you need guidance on the right source to check.

State Death Records and Statewide Databases

Michigan death certificates at the state level are available through the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Order by mail, in person at the Lansing office, or through VitalChek. The state fee is $34 for the first certified copy and $16 for each additional copy in the same order. VitalChek adds a $12.95 service fee. Call 517-335-8666 for help. Kalamazoo County's own fee of $20 for the first copy may be more practical if you only need a local county record rather than a state-certified copy.

The MichiganOlogy GENDIS database is a free index of early Michigan death records. The Michiganology platform provides free death record images from 1897 to 1952. Public Act 73 of 2006 restricts online access to records less than 75 years old, and Michigan's county death records online portal at Kalamazoo covers 1934 forward, which means the two online systems together cover a continuous range from the early 1900s to the present for Kalamazoo County deaths. Statewide registration began under Public Act 194 of 1867.

Cities in Kalamazoo County

Kalamazoo is the county seat and largest city in Kalamazoo County. It is also one of Michigan's qualifying cities on this site. Other communities include Portage, Galesburg, and Richland. Residents of the city of Kalamazoo have their own city page on this site with resources specific to that city.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Kalamazoo County. The Southwest Michigan Obituary Index covers death records from several of these counties, so a single search may pull results from more than one county archive.