Obituaries

Jeremy Grayson Sweetland of Otsego, Michigan, passed away early Saturday, May 22, 2010 at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. Jeremy was born August 9, 1985 in Kalamazoo to Gerry and Lauren ‘Laurie’ (Moody) Sweetland. In 2004 he graduated from Otsego High School. He was a loving son and a wonderful friend and hero to many, who brought...

Beth M. Nickerson of Cross Plains, Tennessee, passed awayFriday, May 21, 2010inNashville,Tennessee. Beth was bornApril 8, 1950in Plainwell to Carmen and Eloise (Henry) Julien. She was a hard worker and had been employed for 34 years at Allegan Metal Finishing as a supervisor. Beth loved her family, especially her grandchildren. In her leisure time she enjoyed camping. OnMarch 30, 2001,...

Alanson ‘Al’ Kenyon of Plainwell, Michigan, passed awayThursday, May 20, 2010in Plainwell. Mr. Kenyon was bornApril 5, 1920inGrand Rapidsthe son of Herman and Lila (Phelps) Kenyon. Al worked at the Willow Run Ford Motor Co. inAnn Arbormaking bombers prior to being drafted in WW II. He was an Army veteran of the 10thMountain Div. where he served as a Rifleman...

James L. Clark, Sr. of Plainwell (formerly of Otsego) passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2010 in Plainwell. Mr. Clark was born February 3, 1922 in Macon, Georgia. During WWII he served his country in the U.S. Army. Until 1967 he operated the Citgo Gas Station in Plainwell and then was employed for 25 years as a service technician with Koestner...

Kevin K. Knobloch, Sr. of Otsego, Michigan, passed awayMonday, May 17, 2010at his home. Kevin was born June 21, 1954 in Plainwell to Vernon and Virginia (Stickel) Knobloch and was a lifelong resident of the area. He was a 1972 graduate ofOtsegoHigh School. For 18 years he was employed with the Plainwell Paper Co. and then operated a motel inReddington...

Mildred May Boysen of Otsego, MI passed away Saturday, May 15, 2010, in Plainwell. Mrs. Boysen was born May 19, 1914, in Trowbridge Township, the daughter of Otto and Fern (Russon) Nimtz. Mildred is survived by a daughter, Beverly (Dale) Reich of Otsego; 2 grandchildren, Robin (Rich) Bacon and Todd (Monica) Reich; 2 great-granddaughters, Angela Bacon and Natasha Reich; her...

Shirley M. Polmanteer ofOtsego passed away Friday, May 14, 2010 in Kalamazoo. Shirley was born May 11, 1935 in Watson Township to Walter and Clara (Decker) Vote. She was a 4H leader for over 31 years and for several years drove the kindergarten school bus for Martin Schools. On May 10, 1958 in Watson, she married Lloyd Polmanteer, who survives....

Audrey J. Howrigon of Otsego, Michigan, passed awayWednesday, May 12, 2010inKalamazoo. Audrey was bornFebruary 5, 1933in Plainwell to George Sr. and Nettie (DeWispelaere) Gauthier. She had worked for Plainwell paper for over 41 years and was a member of St. Margaret’s Church. Audrey enjoyed taking care of her grandkids, watching tennis and Notre Dame andMichiganfootball. Surviving are her sons, Roger...

M. IreneBostater(formerly of Otsego andLakeland,FL) passed awayThursday, May 6, 2010inKalamazoo. Mrs. Bostater was bornSeptember 10, 1917inKalamazooto Carl and Statta (Phillips) Branch. For many years she was employed as a secretary with the MacSimBar Paper Company, which had become Mead Corp. at the time of her retirement in 1982. Irene had been a member of the First Congregational Church of Otsego...

Joseph A. Ballay, Sr., of Allegan, Michigan, passed awayWednesday, May 5, 2010at his home after a short illness. Mr. Ballay was bornApril 3, 1925inChicagoto Paul J. and Stephania (Dzurnik) Ballay. Joe attendedOtsegoHigh School. During WWII he was in the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific as a diesel mechanic. For many years he was employed as a mechanic in...

Bessie Rachel (Brown) of Otsego, Michigan, passed away at her Otsego home on Tuesday, May 4, 2010, surrounded by her family along with her dog and companion, Bubba. Bess was born July 1, 1922 in Otsego to Guy and FrayAnna (Straub) Brown. Known to many as Auntie Bee, she was a lifelong resident of the community of Otsego and will...

Mary K. Guerrant of Otsego, Michigan, passed awaySunday, May 2, 2010inKalamazoo, Mrs. Guerrant was bornMay 19, 1926inKalamazooto William and Kathryn (Watson) Beaupre. For several years she was employed as an x-ray technician withBorgessMedicalCenterandWilliamCrispeHospital. Mary was a devoted homemaker who enjoyed raising her family and especially enjoyed her grandchildren. OnOctober 27, 1951she was married to Jim Guerrant, who diedJanuary 19, 1998....

Sandra L.Germain ofOtsego passed awaySunday, May 2, 2010inKalamazoo.Sandywas bornApril 5, 1946inSturgis,MIto Donald and Alice (Baker) Whisler. She was a member of both the Martin and Allegan Lioness Clubs and was a member of the Michigan State Lioness Conference Committee for over 25 years.Sandyenjoyed doing crafts, was fun loving, adored her family and enjoyed having a good time. OnJuly 5, 1975in...

Richard E. Sage ofKalamazoo,Michigan passed awaySaturday, May 1, 2010inKalamazoo. Mr. Sage was bornJanuary 5, 1931inWatsonTownshipthe son of Clifford and Henrietta (Kimball) Sage and was a lifelong resident of the area. Richard taught school in Watson before serving his country during the Korean Conflict in the United States Army. For many years he was employed as office manager with area electrical...

Virginia L. Zwart of Otsego, Michigan, passed awayFriday, April 30, 2010inKalamazoo. Mrs. Zwart was bornNovember 12, 1928inConnersville,INto Russell and Mayfrey ( (Hobbs) Samuels. For many years she was employed as a bus driver with theOtsegoPublic Schools. In her leisure timeVirginiawas an avid crocheter and all of her family members have blankets she had made for them. She also enjoyed bowling,...

Zaro Large of Plainwell passed awayFriday, April 30, 2010inKalamazoo. Zaro was bornJune 21, 1952inKalamazoo, the son of Charles and Shirley (Snow) Large. For many years he was employed as a lab technician with several ink manufacturing companies. In his leisure time Zaro enjoyed golf and cars. Surviving are his children, Marray Donaldson ofTennessee, Jeb (Sarah) Large of Plainwell; his mother,...

Barbara J. Magiera of Richland, Michigan, passed awayWednesday, April 28, 2010at her home. Barbara was bornJune 7, 1950inJarkowice,Polandto Adam and Zofia (Slotwinski) Maruniak. In the mid 1970s she earned her Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering fromWesternMichiganUniversity. In 1984 she and her husband opened their own business, Hytech Spring & Machine, in Plainwell, which they still own and operate. With the...

Sarah A. (Darvarn) Marcy, of Otsego (formerly of Dearborn) known by family and friends as Sally, died peacefully on April 24thinKalamazoo,MI. She was born inSt. John’s,MIonSeptember 16, 1931. Together with her sister, Shirley (John) Fox, and sister Susan (Robert) Vedder, Sally was raised inPewamo,MI, and later in Fowler, MI. OnJune 20, 1953, Sally was united in marriage to Lynn P....

William J. Zugel ofOtsego,Michigan passed awayFriday, April 23, 2010, inKalamazoo. Mr. Zugel was bornSeptember 26, 1923in Otsego to Anthony and Veronica (Durszia) Zugel and was a lifelong resident of the area. For 31 years he was employed with Hammond Machine and retired from St. Margaret’s School as a bus driver. Bill enjoyed coaching little league baseball, bowling, golfing and taking...

Donald L. Rhodes, Otsego, Michigan, passed awayFriday, April 23, 2010inKalamazoo. Donald was bornMay 27, 1934inJefferson Township, Mercer Co., OH, the son of Edgar and Sylvia (Stelts) Rhodes. He had been employed over 25 years with Otsego Television, retiring in 1980. He enjoyed Tinkering with clocks, carpentry, photography, painting and being with his grandchildren. Surviving are his companion of nine years,...