Obituaries

Karen Piper of Otsego, Michigan passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2012 in Allegan. Mrs. Piper was born June 3, 1939 in Ryder, North Dakota, to Edward and Valborg (Eide) Davis.Karen was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She attended the Alamo Community Church and was an active member of the Women of the Moose. In her leisure time she enjoyed...

Pearl Gibson of Decatur, TN (formerly of Otsego) passed away Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Brookewood Nursing Center, Decatur, TN. Mrs. Gibson was born November 26, 1909, in Hopkins, MI to Jay and Rose (Wise) Nichols. She was a graduate of Otsego High School and for 86 years was a resident of Otsego. Pearl was a devoted homemaker; a loving,...

Patricia J. Baker of Plainwell, Michigan passed away Saturday, January 21, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Pat was born on April 3, 1932 in Eaton Rapids, MI to Mr. and Mrs. Murphy. She moved to the area with her family while she was still in school. Following her education Pat began working for Valley Metal as a bookkeeper. In 1961 she began...

Norma J. Campbell of Otsego, Michigan passed away Thursday, January 19, 2012 in Plainwell. Norma was born September 24, 1937 in Otsego to George and Effie (Kenyon) Edson and was a lifelong resident of the area. She was a devoted homemaker and in her leisure time enjoyed doing crafts and working puzzles.Surviving are two sons, Tim (Adrianne) Campbell of Plainwell...

Madelene Reynolds of Portage (formerly of Plainwell) went to be with her Lord January 9, 2012. Mrs. Reynolds was born July 7, 1916 in Pearl, Michigan, to Winfield and Cora Bell (Tuttle) Bunce.On March 20, 1933 she married Wm. Orville Reynolds and for many years they owned and operated a dairy farm in Kalamazoo where they raised their five children....

Daniel L. Munger of Richland, Michigan, passed away Sunday, January 8, 2012 at his home. Mr. Munger was born August 10, 1936 in Plainwell to Clyde and Mina (Gorton) Munger and was a lifelong resident of the area.Dan had served his country in the U.S. Marines. For over 20 years he was employed as a machinist with the Otsego Machine...

James M. Norris of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Sunday, January 1, 2012 at his home. Jim was born April 27, 1959 in Battle Creek to Bobbie and Shirley (Shirlaw) Norris.For 30 years he was employed with Parker-Hannifin as a machine operator. In his leisure time Jim enjoyed camping, fishing, golfing and watching NASCAR. In 1986 Jim was married to Michele...

Louella M. Stratton of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away Saturday, December 31, 2011 in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Stratton was born November 30, 1923 in Otsego to Howard and Gladys (Halstead) Kitsmiller and was a lifelong resident of the area. Louella was a graduate of Otsego High School and for many years was employed as a secretary with Western Michigan University, retiring from...

Marianne D. Miner of Allegan (formerly of Otsego) passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2011 in Allegan. Mrs. Miner was born July 25, 1941 in Kalamazoo to Virgil and Vernice (Roebuck) Burchette. Marianne loved her family and was a devoted homemaker. Her leisure time was spent reading and doing arts and crafts.Surviving are two sons and five daughters, William (Susan) Miner...

Orvil Trudelle of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, December 26, 2011 in Holland. Mr. Trudelle was born May 6, 1926 in Edam, Saskatchewan, Canada to Aubrey Busby and Christina (Blunck) Trudelle. When Orvil came to the United States he was adopted by Louis Trudelle.During WWII he served his country in the U.S. Army, where his unit was one of the...

Kenneth F. “Ken” Dee of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at his home surrounded by his family. Mr. Dee was born July 3, 1939 in Vicksburg to Charles and Virginia (Moore) Dee.Ken owned and operated his own business as a wall covering installer and after retirement enjoyed wintering in Florida. In his leisure time he enjoyed fishing,...

John Charles Beare of Martin, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at his home. Mr. Beare was born April 10, 1959 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota to Norman and Eva (Pease) Beare. John grew up in South Dakota and moved to Michigan in 1998.For many years he worked as a firefighter in South Dakota and after...

LeRoy E. Fuller of Plainwell, Michigan passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2011 in Kalamazoo. Mr. Fuller was born January 5, 1941 to Elgin and Annis Fuller. For over 30 years he was employed with Plainwell Paper Co. In his leisure time he enjoyed traveling, spending time up-north, going out to eat, Sunday drives, spending time at the beach and working...

Lois E. Story of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, December 13, 2011, in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Story was born February 22, 1921 in Allegan to Frank and Bessie (Housworth) Stevens and was a lifelong resident of the area. She graduated from Otsego High School and the American Beauty School in Kalamazoo and worked for many years as a beautician. She also...

Kathleen was a devoted Christian believer, beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother. After suffering several years with Alzheimer’s dementia, she went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior surrounded by her loving family on Monday, December 12, 2011. Kathleen was born August 6, 1923 in Plainwell to Herman and Marian Fuller. She graduated from Plainwell High School in 1941...

Cristian M. Rice of Otsego, Michigan passed away Saturday, December 10, 2011 at his home. Cristian was born on December 6, 1992. For the last 10 years he had attended Hillside Learning & Behavior Center in Allegan. Surviving are his mother, Jeanette Rice of Otsego; his brother and sister and many extended family members and friends. Cremation has taken place....

George H. “Harry” Thompson of Cooper, Michigan passed away Friday, December 9, 2011 in Plainwell. Harry was born September 13, 1912 in Mystic, Iowa to Ernest and Alice (Greenall) Thompson. On April 13, 1934 Harry married Alice Dryer in Jackson, MI. Harry owned and operated Thompson’s IGA in Cooper for many years.Surviving are his son, William (Angeline) Thompson of Kalamazoo;...

Jerry F. Zugel of Vicksburg, Michigan passed away suddenly Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at his residence. Jerry was born May 16, 1943 in Gary, IN to Frank and Georgia (Gilleo) Zugel. Following high school he served his country in the U.S. Army. For about 10 years he worked as a butcher at Kroger in Indiana and then moved to the...

Lulu L. Lewis of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, December 5, 2011, in Plainwell. Mrs. Lewis was born August 21, 1916 in Allegan to Otto and Fern (Russon) Nimtz and was a lifelong resident of the area.Lulu was a devoted homemaker and loved her family more than anything. In her younger years she and her husband were members of several...

Barbara Foster of Kalamazoo, Michigan (formerly of Plainwell), went to be with her Lord unexpectedly Sunday, December 4, 2011. Mrs. Foster was born April 1, 1928 in Plainwell to Claude and Ethel (Clements) Chesnut and was a lifelong resident of the area.Over the years, Barbara had worked as a caregiver for many people in their homes. She was very active...