Ronald
Ronald “Sharky” Wolthuis
Ronald H. Wolthuis passed away Friday, December 13, 2013 in Plainwell.
He was born December 20, 1971 in Kalamazoo, the youngest child of Timothy and Katherine (Kiel) Wolthuis. He attended Paw Paw High School for a short time and in 1990 he graduated from Otsego High School where he also received the nickname “Sharky” from his ability to eat people up on the football field. He was a proud member of the 82
nd
Airborne Rangers and was stationed in Fort Brag, NC. After his honorable discharge from the Army he began driving a cement truck.
Ron was a man with a big heart, big personality, and a big smile. His laughter was always recognizable and will live on in our thoughts and memories. Surviving are his children, Nathan, Nicholas and Hope; his brothers Joe and Chris; his nephews Jacob and Kyle; nieces Kendylle and Kaylee; many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Friends may visit with Ron’s family Wednesday, December 18, 2013 from 6-8 P.M. at the Winkel Funeral Home Otsego, where a funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday. Burial will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta at 1:00 P.M.
Contributions in memory of Ron may be made to the Ron Wolthuis Memorial Fund set up through PNC Bank.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Ronald “Sharky” Wolthuis
Condolence Messages
Michael Booth
December 16, 2013 at 7:39 pm
Thoughts and prayers to Ronnie’s family, He will be greatly missed, I will never forget his laugh.
Reply
Bethany Burge-Foust
December 16, 2013 at 10:19 pm
Oh Ron, you were way too young. I will miss your laugh and your smile. You always had the kindest words. I always had fun hanging out with you. Going to dinner, making chili at your house, going to parties, watching fireworks in the boat, and the Grape & Wine Festival. You were an amazing friend to me. Love and miss you my dear friend!!!! XOXO
Reply
brett lehto
December 17, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Oh Sharky…..good bye brother. .I will definitely miss the phone calls just to chat, or seeking advice. I will miss that crazy sense of humor of yours. I will never forget drafting class , or art class at PPHS where we drove Ms. Bassett crazy! Even though we hadn’t talked in years, when we reconnected it was like no time had passed. I’m glad to have gotten reconnected these past years. I wish I could have helped you more through your trying times. At times I felt like I wasn’t helping enough, but didn’t know what else to do. I hope your troubled heart is finally at ease. Rest in peace my brother. I miss you already 🙁
Reply
Chip and Tina Austin
December 17, 2013 at 4:21 pm
We’re very sorry to hear about Sharky. Chip sends his best to his children, family and friends. He has many high school memories of Sharky he holds dear. May good memories fill your heart during this difficult time.
Chip and Tina
Reply
Tammy Henckel-Mitchell
December 17, 2013 at 5:12 pm
I am so saddened to hear of this! It has been years since we have seen each other but it seems as if it was yesterday that we were hanging out in high school. You were by birthday buddy as well as my “most gullible of the senior class” buddy….which I still don’t think we deserved! One thing I will never forget is your smile. RIP old friend!
Reply
Kurtis Shufflebarger
December 17, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Ron, I was truly sadden to hear of the news of your passing. I know you had a lot going on in your life and you found it hard to deal with at times, but you were always capable of hiding those problems with that smile and laugh. I will truly miss you, as a friend, and as someone that was strong and ever looking for the answers to your many questions. We will meet again my friend, not now but soon!
RIP my friend. Prayers go out to your family, you were a special person to them all I’m sure, as you were to all your friends.
Reply
Nathan Wolthuis
December 17, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Goodbye I hope I can see you in heaven where you will be better.
Reply
Lynda Blackston
December 17, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Prayers to the whole Family..God Bless you all.
Reply
Penny Grinage-Guy
December 17, 2013 at 9:03 pm
Oh Sharky…..my heart hurts.
You were one of those students that I would chew out in class but later go into the teacher’s workroom and say, “Do you know what hysterical thing Sharky said/did today?”
I will never forget your giggle……you usually were up to no good but that giggle always made me smile. 🙂
Reply
Tonia Forney (Leonard)
December 17, 2013 at 9:14 pm
I am so sorry to hear this!! You will be deeply missed by many. My heart goes out to his family and children!! R.I.P. Sharky
Reply
Pollie Gilchrist
December 17, 2013 at 10:17 pm
When I heard of this sad news I sat down and looked at photo albums filled with memories of Ron. From high school , to North Carolina room-mates, weddings, retirement parties he had filled our lives with such laughter. I feel we all “grew up” together at Ft. Bragg. I will always remember him as a guy with a huge heart, a loyal friend, and that s*&! eating “Sharky grin”. I pray his broken heart be healed and soul finally find peace. My prayers for his entire family during this difficult time.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us”. Romans 8:18
Reply
Teresa Quackenbush-Little
December 18, 2013 at 6:18 am
I am so sorry for the Wolthuis family, Ron wasa great guy, way too young for such a tragedy like this, I went to school with him and years later ran into him when we had our pole barn built, I was surprised to see he was the one who poured the cement. It was great seeing him after all those years and he was still as handsome as he was in high school. My younger sister had a secret crush on him. Rest in Peace Ron.
Reply
Randy Schmidt
December 18, 2013 at 7:06 pm
I loved working with Ronny . He was always full of it . Our thoughts go out to his family in this time of sarrow just remember all of the happy times and smiles he put on all of our faces!
Reply
Mark Bray
December 18, 2013 at 7:07 pm
My heart and prayers go out to Sharky’s family. RIP friend and may God grant his comfort.
Reply
Denise Lamberson (Parent)
December 19, 2013 at 1:15 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Reply
Richie Kiel
December 26, 2013 at 3:35 pm
Me my sister, and brothers heart’s are truly broken over this. As far back as we can remember we spent Christmas every year as kids with him Chris and Joe.
I am so sorry Aunt Kathy ,Tim, and Mike.
RIP my cousin, you will always be in our hearts.
Reply
sherri kiel
December 27, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Joe and Chris,
I am so sorry to hear about Ron. Our hearts are so broken. We had no idea, nobody contacted us. We have all thought of all of you through the years, It seems as we have gotten older and have our own families now that we have all been consumed with that.
After my dad died, (Uncle Gary) and mom (Aunt Mary) was diagnosed with dementia, it seems as though time has just passed us all by.
Would love to see you all and just wanted to let you know how sorry we are for your loss, not only of Ronnie but of your mom, My favorite Aunt Kathy. I loved her so much!
Please let Mike know we are thinking of him also. Hopefully, Rusty Richie and I can all make a trip to see you all. Life is so short and there is only us left now to carry on.
Love you all so much,
Sherri
Reply
Hope wolthuis
January 7, 2016 at 8:29 pm
Dad,
I haven’t seen you for a while, but I hope to see you in heaven one day. Everyday I get by knowing that you are looking down on me and smiling proudly.I also wanted to thank you for making me who I am and teaching me the thing I value today. Every day I am thinking of you. And I love and miss you❤
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of places, if one only remembers to turn on the light” -Albus Dumbledore
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He was born December 20, 1971 in Kalamazoo, the youngest child of Timothy and Katherine (Kiel) Wolthuis. He attended Paw Paw High School for a short time and in 1990 he graduated from Otsego High School where he also received the nickname “Sharky” from his ability to eat people up on the football field. He was a proud member of the 82
nd
Airborne Rangers and was stationed in Fort Brag, NC. After his honorable discharge from the Army he began driving a cement truck.
Ron was a man with a big heart, big personality, and a big smile. His laughter was always recognizable and will live on in our thoughts and memories. Surviving are his children, Nathan, Nicholas and Hope; his brothers Joe and Chris; his nephews Jacob and Kyle; nieces Kendylle and Kaylee; many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Friends may visit with Ron’s family Wednesday, December 18, 2013 from 6-8 P.M. at the Winkel Funeral Home Otsego, where a funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday. Burial will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta at 1:00 P.M.
Contributions in memory of Ron may be made to the Ron Wolthuis Memorial Fund set up through PNC Bank.
Messages of condolence may be posted at
www.WinkelFuneralHome.com
Offer Condolence for the family of Ronald “Sharky” Wolthuis
Condolence Messages
Michael Booth
December 16, 2013 at 7:39 pm
Thoughts and prayers to Ronnie’s family, He will be greatly missed, I will never forget his laugh.
Reply
Bethany Burge-Foust
December 16, 2013 at 10:19 pm
Oh Ron, you were way too young. I will miss your laugh and your smile. You always had the kindest words. I always had fun hanging out with you. Going to dinner, making chili at your house, going to parties, watching fireworks in the boat, and the Grape & Wine Festival. You were an amazing friend to me. Love and miss you my dear friend!!!! XOXO
Reply
brett lehto
December 17, 2013 at 2:12 pm
Oh Sharky…..good bye brother. .I will definitely miss the phone calls just to chat, or seeking advice. I will miss that crazy sense of humor of yours. I will never forget drafting class , or art class at PPHS where we drove Ms. Bassett crazy! Even though we hadn’t talked in years, when we reconnected it was like no time had passed. I’m glad to have gotten reconnected these past years. I wish I could have helped you more through your trying times. At times I felt like I wasn’t helping enough, but didn’t know what else to do. I hope your troubled heart is finally at ease. Rest in peace my brother. I miss you already 🙁
Reply
Chip and Tina Austin
December 17, 2013 at 4:21 pm
We’re very sorry to hear about Sharky. Chip sends his best to his children, family and friends. He has many high school memories of Sharky he holds dear. May good memories fill your heart during this difficult time.
Chip and Tina
Reply
Tammy Henckel-Mitchell
December 17, 2013 at 5:12 pm
I am so saddened to hear of this! It has been years since we have seen each other but it seems as if it was yesterday that we were hanging out in high school. You were by birthday buddy as well as my “most gullible of the senior class” buddy….which I still don’t think we deserved! One thing I will never forget is your smile. RIP old friend!
Reply
Kurtis Shufflebarger
December 17, 2013 at 5:46 pm
Ron, I was truly sadden to hear of the news of your passing. I know you had a lot going on in your life and you found it hard to deal with at times, but you were always capable of hiding those problems with that smile and laugh. I will truly miss you, as a friend, and as someone that was strong and ever looking for the answers to your many questions. We will meet again my friend, not now but soon!
RIP my friend. Prayers go out to your family, you were a special person to them all I’m sure, as you were to all your friends.
Reply
Nathan Wolthuis
December 17, 2013 at 5:50 pm
Goodbye I hope I can see you in heaven where you will be better.
Reply
Lynda Blackston
December 17, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Prayers to the whole Family..God Bless you all.
Reply
Penny Grinage-Guy
December 17, 2013 at 9:03 pm
Oh Sharky…..my heart hurts.
You were one of those students that I would chew out in class but later go into the teacher’s workroom and say, “Do you know what hysterical thing Sharky said/did today?”
I will never forget your giggle……you usually were up to no good but that giggle always made me smile. 🙂
Reply
Tonia Forney (Leonard)
December 17, 2013 at 9:14 pm
I am so sorry to hear this!! You will be deeply missed by many. My heart goes out to his family and children!! R.I.P. Sharky
Reply
Pollie Gilchrist
December 17, 2013 at 10:17 pm
When I heard of this sad news I sat down and looked at photo albums filled with memories of Ron. From high school , to North Carolina room-mates, weddings, retirement parties he had filled our lives with such laughter. I feel we all “grew up” together at Ft. Bragg. I will always remember him as a guy with a huge heart, a loyal friend, and that s*&! eating “Sharky grin”. I pray his broken heart be healed and soul finally find peace. My prayers for his entire family during this difficult time.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us”. Romans 8:18
Reply
Teresa Quackenbush-Little
December 18, 2013 at 6:18 am
I am so sorry for the Wolthuis family, Ron wasa great guy, way too young for such a tragedy like this, I went to school with him and years later ran into him when we had our pole barn built, I was surprised to see he was the one who poured the cement. It was great seeing him after all those years and he was still as handsome as he was in high school. My younger sister had a secret crush on him. Rest in Peace Ron.
Reply
Randy Schmidt
December 18, 2013 at 7:06 pm
I loved working with Ronny . He was always full of it . Our thoughts go out to his family in this time of sarrow just remember all of the happy times and smiles he put on all of our faces!
Reply
Mark Bray
December 18, 2013 at 7:07 pm
My heart and prayers go out to Sharky’s family. RIP friend and may God grant his comfort.
Reply
Denise Lamberson (Parent)
December 19, 2013 at 1:15 pm
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Reply
Richie Kiel
December 26, 2013 at 3:35 pm
Me my sister, and brothers heart’s are truly broken over this. As far back as we can remember we spent Christmas every year as kids with him Chris and Joe.
I am so sorry Aunt Kathy ,Tim, and Mike.
RIP my cousin, you will always be in our hearts.
Reply
sherri kiel
December 27, 2013 at 1:43 pm
Joe and Chris,
I am so sorry to hear about Ron. Our hearts are so broken. We had no idea, nobody contacted us. We have all thought of all of you through the years, It seems as we have gotten older and have our own families now that we have all been consumed with that.
After my dad died, (Uncle Gary) and mom (Aunt Mary) was diagnosed with dementia, it seems as though time has just passed us all by.
Would love to see you all and just wanted to let you know how sorry we are for your loss, not only of Ronnie but of your mom, My favorite Aunt Kathy. I loved her so much!
Please let Mike know we are thinking of him also. Hopefully, Rusty Richie and I can all make a trip to see you all. Life is so short and there is only us left now to carry on.
Love you all so much,
Sherri
Reply
Hope wolthuis
January 7, 2016 at 8:29 pm
Dad,
I haven’t seen you for a while, but I hope to see you in heaven one day. Everyday I get by knowing that you are looking down on me and smiling proudly.I also wanted to thank you for making me who I am and teaching me the thing I value today. Every day I am thinking of you. And I love and miss you❤
“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of places, if one only remembers to turn on the light” -Albus Dumbledore
Reply
Leave a Condolence
Cancel reply
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