Obituaries

W.A. ‘Dub’ Vaughn of Plainwell, MI passed away Friday, September 3, 2010 at his home. Mr. Vaughn was born July 11, 1942 in Earle, AR, the son of William Earl and Minnie Lou (Ingle) Vaughn. Dub enjoyed making birdhouses and watching bullriding. He was a member of Operating Engineers Local 324. He started at Reith – Riley Construction in Grand...

Eleanor B. Cassette of Otsego, MI, passed away, Thursday, September 2, 2010 in Kalamazoo. Eleanor was born February 9, 1922 in Maidsville, WV, the daughter of Stephen and Rose (Tackage) Bildershein. She served during WWII in the Army Nurses Corps. On July 18, 1945 in Indianapolis, she married Roy Cassette, who preceded her in death on May 28, 1973. After...

Donna Walters ofOtsego passed awaySaturday, September 18, 2010. Donna was bornJuly 15, 1931in Allegan, the daughter of Ivan and Elsie (Morris) Cronkhite. She was employed with Ot-Well-Egan Country Club, Plainwell Ice Cream and Minnie Sophrona’s. Donna enjoyed raising her family, being with her grandchildren and cooking for those she loved. Surviving are 4 children, Tim (Diane) Walters, of Otsego, Sid...

Hugh A. Taylor of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, September 28, 2010. Mr. Taylor was born August 5, 1921, in Trowbridge Township to Milo and Zelpha (Martin) Taylor and was a lifelong resident of the area. During WWII he served his country in the United State Navy. For 43 years he was employed at the MacSimBar Paper Mill in Otsego....

Catherine ‘Kay’ McLeod of Otsego, Michgian, born onAugust 14, 1919inAllegan,Michiganthe daughter of Anthony Class Lobretto and Francis (Maggio) Lobretto. Catherine had a long and eventful life. She was the third child in a family of eight. Both her father and her oldest sister passed away when she was 15 moving her into the spot of being the oldest daughter. She...

Lolita Helen Parkhurst of Pullman, Michigan, passed away Thursday morning, August 26, 2010, at her home. Lolita was born January 22, 1926 in Chicago, IL to Peter and Julia (Wegmann) Kitcheos. In 1950 she earned her Bachelor degree from Valparaiso University and moved to Michigan, residing in Pullman since 1972. In 1967 she earned her Masters degree from Western Michigan...

Marian Stipcak of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Thursday, August 26, 2010 at her home. Marian was born February 24, 1920 in Otsego, the daughter of Jay and Rose (Wise) Nichols. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Otsego and the Otsego Moose Lodge. Marian was an artist and enjoyed reading and singing. Surviving are 2 sisters, Pearl...

Evelyn M. Walters of Battle Creek (formerly of Otsego and Kalamazoo) passed away Wednesday, August 18, 2010, in Battle Creek. She was born in Allegan, Michigan on May 16, 1918 to parents Eve and Charles Querbach. Evelyn was a member of the Otsego United Methodist Church for over 30 years and attended the Parchment Methodist Church after moving to Kalamazoo....

Thomas A. Kling of Paw Paw, Michigan, passed awaySunday, August 15, 2010, at his home. Tom was bornAugust 30, 1960inOceansideCalifornia, the son of Richard and Ann (White) Kling. He was a graduate ofOtsegoHigh Schooland had attendedITTTechnical Institute. Tom was employed with Stryker Corp through On Staff. In his leisure time he enjoyed spending time with his family, taking long walks...

Helen Dorothea Thompson of Carrboro, NC (fornerly of Otsego) passed awaySaturday, August 14, 2010, inCarrboroNC. Helen was born in 1922 to Benjamin and Helen (Winter) Heinichen of Chicago IL. In October 1945, Helen married Richard P. Thompson in Allegan. She retired from Parker Brass in 1975 to enjoy her family, friends and cottage atGunLake. A committed congregant and choir member...

Floyd Ryan. age 47, of Plainwell, passed away Friday, August 13, 2010 in Plainwell. He was born April 18, 1963 in Marshall, the son of Fred and Ardith (Palmer) Ryan. Floyd was a good son and helped his mother when she needed it. He was there for her when no one else was. He loved to draw and was a...

Thomas E. Bent of Otsego, Michigan, passed awayFriday, August 13, 2010, at his home. Mr. Bent was bornJuly 2, 1931, inKalamazootoForestand Dorothy (Reedman) Bent and was a lifelong resident of the area. In 1949 he graduated fromOtsegoHigh School. Tom served his country in the Unites States Navy during the Korean War. Less than a month after his discharge he started...

Charles Irvin Pritchard ofAllegan,Michigan passed awayAugust 11, 2010in Allegan. Mr. Pritchard was bornMay 3, 1930in Gaylord to Isaac and Myrtle (Trowbridge) Pritchard. He had been a resident of Otsego for over 50 years. For many years he was employed as a drywall finisher. Charles enjoyed music and played lead guitar in country music bands in the area. He also enjoyed...

Betty Lou (Belden) Hurst passed awaySunday, August 8, 2010, inKalamazoo. Betty was bornNovember 27, 1939, inWellsville,Ohioto Henry and Willa (Staten) Means. For many years she was employed at the Olympia Restaurant and Truck Stop and then worked 25 years as Activity assistant at Alamo Nursing Home. Betty was a member of First Baptist Church of Otsego where she served inJuniorChurch....

Joseph Shaw McFall ofPlainwell passed awayThursday, August 5, 2010in Plainwell. Mr. McFall was born onJune 6, 1921, inBelfast,Irelandto Joseph B. and Emily E. (Tensley) McFall. He had a full life and was loved by family and friends. He immigrated toDetroitin 1923 with his parents. Joseph attended Public schools inDetroitand graduated fromCooleyHigh Schoolin 1938. He joined the war effort by joining...

Paula Marie Youtzy ofPlainwell, Michigan passed away August 2, 2010. Paula was born September 6, 1942 in Plainwell, Michigan to Howard and Agnes Thomas. On September 26, 1959 Paula was united in marriage to Cecil Youtzy. Paula recently retired from Perrigo Company in Allegan. Paula loved to spend time with her family. She and Cecil enjoyed traveling especially to Kentucky,...

Franklin G. Katje ofEvansville, Indiana passed away Monday, August 2, 2010, in Evansville, IN. Mr. Katje was born on September 10, 1945, in Plainwell to George and Margaret Marie Katje. Frank began his career in Chicago at Morton Chemical and later worked at Watervliet Paper Company. He had worked in the research and development department for Whirlpool from 1972 until...

Florence I. Lappin ofAlamoTownship passed away Saturday, July 24, 2010 in Alamo. Mrs. Lappin was born August 19, 1914 in Cheshire Township, Allegan Co. to John and Bertha (Ketchum) Black. Florence was busy on the farm, was affiliated with the Alamo Congregational Church and was devoted to her family. She was the founder of the Northwest Alamo 4-H club and...

George L. McKibbin of Alamo Township, Michigan passed away Wednesday, July 21, 2010, in Kalamazoo. Mr. McKibbin was born September 10, 1936, in Kalamazoo to Lyle and Gladys (Null) McKibbin and was a lifelong resident of the area. George served his country in the United States Navy and for many years he was employed as a painter. Survivng are a...

Carol Ann Staley of Otsego, Michigan, passed awayTuesday, July 20, 2010, at her home. Carol was bornDecember 2, 1953, in Plainwell to Paul Sr. and Maxine (Adams) Staley and was a lifelong resident of the area. She was a graduate ofMartinHigh Schooland for many years she was employed as a unit clerk withBronsonMethodistHospital. In her leisure time Carol enjoyed sewing,...