Obituaries

Timothy Lee Raycraft ofKalamazoo, diedTuesday, February 2, 2010. Tim was bornMay 10, 1952inSaginaw,MI, the son of Robert and Muriel “Mickey” (Michael) Raycraft and has been a resident of theKalamazooarea since 1978. Tim was united in marriage to Sandra Reimers ofSt. Joseph,MIonJuly 21, 1973. He was a graduate ofWesternMichiganUniversity, where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree (Aviation Technology and Management)...

Mildred Pinks ofDelton,MI went to be with her LordSunday, January 24, 2010inKalamazoo. Mildred was bornNovember 13, 1924inSalyersville,Kentuckythe daughter of Sherdan and Rebecca (Fletcher) Marshall. She loved baking and gardening, both vegetable and her very beautiful flowers. She was able to enjoy working in her gardens this past season.In 1941 she married Wallace Pinks, Sr. who preceded her in death. She...

Paul J. Flynn ofKalamazoo,MI passed awaySunday, January 24, 2010at his home. Mr. Flynn was bornSeptember 7, 1924inWatson,MIthe son of Matthew and Catherine (MacDonald) Flynn. Paul served his country in the Navy during WWII in the Pacific. He had worked at Mead Paper Company inKalamazoo, retiring in 1986 and was a Friend of Bill’s for 53 years. OnMay 23 1990inBay Cityhe...

Sharon ‘Sherry’Councell,Otsego,Michigan passed awaySaturday, January 23, 2010in Kalamazo. Sherry was bornJune 11, 1942inKalamazooto Ronald and Katherine (Moody) Remmington. Sherry was anOtsegoHigh Schoolgraduate, had worked at Prairiewood Golf Course and 8 years at Walmart. She was a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary Post #3030 and a member of the Otsego Moose. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing cards...

ShirleyAndress ofOtsego,Michigan passed awayThursday, January 21, 2010at her home. Shirley was bornJuly 4, 1948inNashville,Kansasto Kember and Martha (Agy)Bell. Shirley enjoyed collecting bells and had an extensive collection. She especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. OnDecember 12, 1976in Plainwell she married Norman Andress who survives. Also surviving are 5 children, Tony (Julie) Pallett of Martin, Mike (Ann) Pallett of Otsego,...

Wilma D.Czerwinski ofOtsego,Michigan passed awayThursday, January 21, 2010, at her home. Mrs. Czerwinski was bornMarch 7, 1917, inFennville,Michigan, to Albert and Lois (McCarty) Sines. Wilma graduated fromKalamazooBeautySchooland received certification in 1938. However, she went to work for Dr. Lewis Brown in Otsego and she remained in his employ for 30 years. She also assisted her husband, Ted, in his heating...

Zachary Michael “Mo” Joslin ofOtsego,MI passed away unexpectedlyThursday, January 21, 2010. Zac was bornOctober 14, 1991the son of Charles V. Joslin and Jennifer L. Scheerenberg Kemp. He is survived by his mother, Jennifer Kemp; his sisters, Jamie Kemp, Ashley Kemp and Alexandra Terry and “Papa” Al Terry; grandmothers, Dayna Scheerenberg and Charlotte Joslin; grandfather, Dirk Scheerenberg, great-grandmother, Kit Smith; many...

Stephen ‘Steve’ Livingston of Plainwell, Michigan, ssed away Tuesday, January 19, 2010, in Kalamazoo. Mr. Livingston was born October 31, 1925 in Martin to Clarence and Eva (Burt) Livingston and was a lifelong resident of the area. During WWII he served his country in the United States Navy and was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. For several...

Teddy T.Navarre ofPlainwell,MI passed awayFriday, January 15, 2010inFlorida. Mr.Navarrewas bornJuly 23, 1919inToledo,Ohioto Bill and Mabel (Soncrant)Navarre. In 1939 he married Jane who preceded in death in 2002. He loved fishing and whittling. Surviving are his children, Margie Fields of WI, Joyce Conklin of FL, Dianne (Clovis) Reed of Martin, Mary (Jim) Hadley of Allegan, Sharron (Rob) Fincher of OH, Eva...

Nila J.Stratton ofPortage,Michigan(formerly of Otsego) passed awayFriday, January 15, 2010at her home. Nila was bornSeptember 21, 1927, inHopkinsto Dan andPearl(Morrison) Muche. For many years she operated the Snip-n-Stitch Shop in Otsego. Nila enjoyed reading the Bible, ministering to others and praying with them, writing poetry and crafting. OnApril 29, 1945she married Merlin Stratton who preceded her in death in 1998....

Charles F. Austin ofPlainwell, MI passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2010, in Kalamazoo. Mr. Austin was born October 25, 1945 in Allegan to Joseph and Katherine (Richards) Austin and was a lifelong resident of the area. Charles began his working career farming and then worked at Barker & Sons Finishing in Otsego before moving to to InterKal, where he was...

Elmer Walters of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, January 11, 2010, in Otsego. Mr. Walters was born August 16, 1919, in Otsego to Henry and Tena (VanDerVeer) Wolters, Sr. During WWII he served a European tour of duty in the U.S. Army. On February 21, 1941 in Bryan, Ohio, he married the former Wilma Munn. Following his return from the...

Ruth E. Casey of Plainwell, Michigan, went to be with her LordSunday, January 10, 2010. Ruth was bornDecember 5, 1926, in Otsego to James and Mildred (Rowe) Casey and was a lifelong resident of the area. In 1944 she graduated fromOtsegoHigh Schoolas Valedictorian. She graduated fromButterworthHospitalNursingSchooland joined the United States Air Force serving eight years as a nurse inEngland,Franceand stateside....

Hazel L. Holmes of Otsego passed away Thursday, January 7, 2010 in Plainwell. Mrs. Holmes was born May 19, 1919 in Marcellus to Arthur and Edith (Timm) Parker and had lived in Otsego since 1939. For 30 years she was employed with the Otsego Public Schools in the hot lunch program, retiring as Supervisor. Hazel was a member of the...

Alane Rae (Chapman) LaFountain,New London,Wisconsin(formerly ofOtsego,MI)passed away unexpectedly,Wednesday January 6, 2010. She was bornJune 22, 1962inPlainwell,Michiganto Lloyd ‘Bud’ and Ruth (McCafferty) Chapman. Alane graduated fromOtsegoHigh School(Michigan) in 1980. OnNovember 7, 1992in thetownshipofTrowbridgeinMichiganshe married Dell LaFountain and they began their life journey. While enjoying life inWisconsinshe was employed as a cook atEmmanuelLutheranSchoolfor 14 years. She leaves her husband of 17 years,...

Roxie Pauline Ellis ofOtsego, MI passed away Monday, January 4, 2010 at her home with her family by her side. Roxie was born August 14, 1919, in Otsego, the daughter of Prentice and Edna (Baumgardner) Stowell. For many years she was employed with Shakespeare and then with the Upjohn Co. Roxie had attended both the Otsego and the Allegan Churches...

Robert Orris ofMartin passed away Saturday, January 2, 2010 at home with his family by his side. Mr. Orris was born February 6, 1926 in Columbus City, Iowa, the son of Wilbur and Nancy (Eshleman) Orris. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Bob was a Purple Heart recipient, serving in Europe. He farmed most of his...

Bernard A. Livingston ofOtsego,MI pssed awayThursday, December 31, 2009inKalamazoo. Mr. Livingston was bornJuly 24, 1917, in Otsego to Donald and Amy (Brewster) Livingston. Surviving are 4 children, Dion ‘Bud’ (Charlette) Livingston of Plainwell, Gerald ‘Gary’ (Sherry) Livingston of Bertaud, CO, Bernard ‘Bernie’ (Barb) Livingston of Otsego and Theresa ‘Terry’ (Bruce) Drake of New Home, TX; 11 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; 4...

Allen Richard “Dick” McPherson ofOtsego,MI passed awayWednesday, December 30, 2009inKalamazoo. Dick was bornOctober 3, 1936in Plainwell to Eugene and Ivah (Belcher) McPherson and was a longtime resident of Otsego. For about 25 years he owned and operated McPherson TV & Appliance until his retirement. He loved hunting, fishing and shooting skeet and trap at Gun River Skeet and Trap. Dick...

Byron Eugene ‘Gene’ Fullerton, a longtime resident of Allegan, passed awayTuesday, December 29, 2009, at his home after a long illiness. Mr. Fullerton was bornApril 12, 1920inWashington,Indianato Raymond and Grace (Gilley)Fullerton. During WWII Gene served his country on the front lines in the U.S. Army, earned a Bronze Star and was discharged in 1945 as a Staff Sergeant. For 40...