Obituaries

Peggy Ann Riemens of Plainwell, Michigan passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at her home. Peggy was born November 8, 1956 in Kalamazoo to Robert and Jacqueline (Hamilton) Stanfill. She had earned an Associate Degree in Medical Terminology from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. For many years she was employed as a retail clerk with Big Wheel, Clark Gas Station and...

Benjamin C. ‘Ben’ Selby of Plainwell, MI passed away Sunday, March 13, 2011 of injuries from a quad-runner accident.Ben was born August 18, 1995 in Grand Rapids, the son of David and Annette (Macomber) Selby. He was a sophomore at Plainwell High School and was a member of the Fennville Rod and Gun Club. Ben was an avid fisherman and...

Frieda M. Junker of Otsego, MI passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2011 in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Junker was born January 13, 1920 in Otsego, MI the daughter of Ernest and Mildred (Brewster) Rheynard. She was a graduate of Otsego High School and had attended Parson Business College. Frieda worked for Shakespeare for many years as a Billing Clerk until her...

David C. Jones of Otsego, MI, passed away unexpectedly at home on Saturday, March 5, 2011. David was born June 16, 1966 in Allegan, the son of Arnold and Marian (Porter) Jones. He was our beloved son, brother, father, uncle and grandfather.Surviving are his daughters, Dominique Jones of Grand Junction, Dannielle and Jarom Snowden of Lawton, Desirea Jones of Grand...

Timothy Wayne Tripp of New Port Ritchey, FL, died at his home, Sunday, March 6, 2011. Tim was born October 8, 1943, in Plainwell, MI, the son of the late James B. and Ethel M. Tripp.On June 14, 1963, Tim was married to Sandra Garlock. Surviving are his wife and one daughter, Tammy, of Parkland, FL. Also two brothers, Michael...

Violet E. Pittner of Plainwell, Michigan (formerly of Otsego) passed away Thursday, February 24, 2011, in Plainwell. Mrs. Pittner was born April 1, 1913 in Shelbyville to Ernest and Lula (Knowlton) Doxey and was a lifelong resident of the area.Violet had attended the Otsego United Methodist Church where she was of member of the United Methodist Women. She had also...

Timothy S. Risher of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, February 21, 2011, at his home. Tim was born October 18, 1946, in Grand Rapids to Donald and T. Elizabeth (Hoag) Risher.During the Vietnam War he served his country in the U.S. Army. For many years he was employed as a machinist with National Waterlift, retiring in October, 2009. In his...

Olive M. Digby of Plainwell, Michigan,passed away Monday, February 21, 2011, in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Digby was born October 28, 1919 in Otsego Township to Peter and Maude (Dutton) Oswald and was a lifelong resident of the area.For 16 years she was employed as an LPN with the Kalamazoo State Hospital. Together with her husband she had owned and operated the...

Raymond J. Root of Allegan, Michigan, passed away Sunday, February 20, 2011, in Ann Arbor. Ray was born November 12, 1947 in Plainwell to Cecil and Maryann (Ransbottom) Root and was a graduate of Otsego High School.During the Vietnam War he served his country in the U.S. Army. For many years he was employed as a machinist with Plainwell Paper...

Richard E. “Dick” Brenner of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Friday, February 18, 2011 at his home. Mr. Brenner was born April 16, 1928 in Shelbyville to Blinn and Jessie (Doxey) Brenner and was a lifelong resident of the area. For 38 years he was employed in the maintenance department with James River Paper Co. retiring in 1991 and then worked...

Donna M. Barker of Kalamazoo (formerly of Otsego and Gun Lake) passed away Thursday, February 17, 2011 at her home. Mrs. Barker was born April 18, 1922 in Otsego to Melvin and Hazel (Wesler) Hale.A lifelong resident of the area, she graduated from Otsego High School in 1939. For 20 years she was employed at the Dix Street Elementary School...

Eula M. Smith of Plainwell, MI passed away Friday, February 11, 2011 in Plainwell. Mrs. Smith was born May 1, 1937 in McGee, MO the daughter of Sherman and Edna (Rodgers) Barks. Eula married Clyde Smith in MO on November 5, 1955.Early in her life Eula had worked for Gibson Guitar; in 1989 she worked at Big Top in Plainwell...

James L. “Jim” Smith of Otsego, Michigan passed away Thursday, February 3, 2011. Mr. Smith was born February 24, 1917 in Delaware County, Indiana to Cecil and Letta (Besser) Smith.Farming was his passion. For 35 years he was employed with Michigan Bell Telephone Co.On August 20, 1939, in Gobles he was married to Leona Kelly. Surviving are his wife of...

John F. Van Atta, III of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, January 31, 2011, in Allegan. John was born November 13, 1942 in Kalamazoo to John and Patricia (Wilson) Van Atta II. For many years he was employed as a purchasing agent with Kal-Equip and later with Allen Test Products. He was a member of the Otsego Elks Lodge #1711...

Passed away Wednesday, January 26, 2011 in Allegan. Mr. Decker was born July 25, 1924 in Watson Township to Roy and Ethel (McBride) Decker. He served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps during WWII in the Pacific and was a life member of the V.F.W. Post #3030.Wayne had farmed before going to work at the Plainwell Paper Co. where...

Passed away Saturday, January 22, 2011 in Nashville. Lloyd was born November 20, 1960 in Midland to Raymond and Nancy (Burt) Wendt. For many years he was employed as a Journeyman Electrician and owned his own business in California before moving back to Michigan and working for IBEW Local #275. In his leisure time he enjoyed dirt bike riding, horses...

Went to be with our Heavenly Father on Saturday, January 22nd, 2011 with the love of her life by her side. Joan was born in Allegan, MI, on January 20th, 1934, a surprise addition to Clare and Mildred (Stewart) Stegeman, as they had a three year old daughter and were only expecting a son to be born, but were blessed...

Passed away Sunday morning, January 23, 2011 in Plainwell. Ferris was born May 1, 1910 to Jason Arnet and Gertrude Louise (Laraway) Moored in Martin Township where he lived for his almost 101 years.In 1930 he graduated from Martin High School where he enjoyed playing football and baseball. He continued playing baseball on several different leagues and umpiring high school...

Passed away Thursday, January 20, 2011, in Grand Rapids. Mrs. Waber was born August 1, 1926, in Otsego to Fred and Alice (Root) Wood and was a lifelong resident of the area. She was raised on a farm where she learned to garden, cook, sew and work hard and enjoyed these activities all of her life. For many years she...

of Otsego, MichiganBirthplace: Trowbridge TownshipMarch 14, 1922 – January 17, 2011Visitation:2 to 4 and 6 to 8 P.M. Wednesday, January 19, 2011Winkel Funeral Home (directions)207 E. Allegan St.P.O. Box 165Otsego, MI 49078Ph: (269) 692-2721Services:Time: January 20, 2011 at 11:00 AMUnited Methodist Church of Otsego (directions)223 E. Allegan St.Otsego, MI 49078Ph: (269) 694-2939Frederick R. “Fred” Kelsey of Otsego, Michigan, passed away...