Obituaries

Gerald R. ‘Jerry’ Ziegler of Martin, Michigan, passed awayMonday, December 28, 2009at his home. Mr. Ziegler was bornOctober 29, 1935, inHastingsto Theodore and Ella (Manning) Ziegler and was a lifelong resident of the area. For 16 years he was employed with Lockshore Farms, then 12 years with Pet Corp., then 4 years with Deans Foods and then 12 years with...

Sally L. Smecka of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Sunday, December 20, 2009 at her home. Sally was born February 6, 1944 in Plainwell, the daughter of Emery and Lottie Pauline Cole-Bennett. Sally’s father died in WWII. She grew up on a farm in Alamo and was active in 4H. Sally graduated from Otsego High School in 1962, then was a...

Benjamin ‘Ben’ Hummel ofOtsego, MI passed away Thursday December 17, 2009 at Dussia House in Otsego. Ben was born November 21, 1918 in Kalamazoo, the son of Herman and Fannie (Engel) Hummel. He was an Army Veteran of World War II, where he earned the Bronze Star. Ben was co-owner of McNamara Motor Express. On January 11, 1947 in Kalamazoo,...

Nadene M. Shaffer ofOtsego, Michigan passed away Tuesday, December 15, 2009, in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Shaffer was born March 24, 1924 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Howard and Marguerite (Higgins) Ladd. Nadene was a 1944 graduate of Otsego High School. In her early years she was a good swimmer and diver and worked at the Coating Mill and at Coburn’s Drug...

Julia Mae Tandy ofPlainwell (formerly of Martin) passed awaySunday, December 6, 2009with her family by her side. Julia was bornJanuary 11, 1904in Martin, the daughter of William Madison and Georgia (Hooper) Brown. Later, Georgia H. married Clyde Patterson. Julia had two half sisters Betty Brown and Agnes Patterson and two half brothers, Charles Brown and Thomas Patterson, who all preceded...

Malcom J. ‘Mac’ Barton of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Saturday December 5, 2009 at his home with his family by his side. Mac was born April 1, 1924 in Otsego, the son of Milo and Esther (Martin) Barton. He graduated from Otsego High School and was an Army veteran of World War II. When he was young, he obtained his...

Lawrence E. ‘Larry’ Sallady of Martin, Michigan, passed awayMonday, November 30, 2009, at his home surrounded by his family. Larry was bornMarch 5, 1948inSan Rafael,CA, to Wayne and Joyce (Bryant) Davis. He began his career at the Otsego Creamery and then worked 20 years at the Kalamazoo Creamery and retired after 8 years with Dean’s Foods. He had been a...

Devota R. Hill of Gobles, Michigan, passed awayMonday, November 30, 2009, inKalamazoo. Devota was bornJuly 16, 1949inFlint, the daughter of Merton and Ruth (West) Cottrell. She taught 3rdgrade at Decatur Public Schools for over 20 years. Devota loved her family and her cats. She enjoyed camping atLake Michiganand collecting beach glass and Petosky stones. She also liked to go antique...

Maureen Herbig Nulty, wife ofGreg Nulty, mother of Jacque Drobny-Commissaris (Jim Commissaris), Dan (Mary) Nulty, Terri (Bert) Cooper. Grandmother of Chad (Sally) Drobny, Marni Drobny (Mike) Owens, Matthew (Kelli) Drobny; Dana Nulty (Mike) Beals, Nicole Nulty (Keith) Vale, Tara Nulty (Andy) Callaghan, TG (Corin) Nulty; Kristen Cooper (Michael) Haines, Kathleen Cooper (Steven) Verduzco, Elizabeth Cooper (Benjamin) Simon; Great Grandmother of...

Bonnie “Bon Bon” Buzzell of Otsego, Michigan, passed away November 9, 2009 in Otsego. She was born on January 29, 1938 in Bradley, MI the daughter of Randy and Beatrice (Woodward) Shook. Bonnie was a homemaker and had also worked at Bittersweet and Joe’s Pizza. On September 23, 1955 in Otsego she married Darl Buzzell who survives. Also surviving are...

Marjorie L. Hendricks of Otsego, Michigan, passed to her heavenly Father on November 8, 2009. She was born in Vestaburg on April 22, 1922, the daughter of the Reverend Alson D. and Helen (Irwin) Hendricks. Marge was a gifted musician, and after World War II formed a dance band with her brother Irwin, playing many venues along Lake Michigan. She...

Erica Lynn Mitchell of Otsego, Michigan, eleven year cancer survivor and Warrior Princess, age 29, of Otsego, Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Port Jefferson, New York, passed into the arms of her creator Wednesday, November 4th at 1: 45 p.m. Erica was born May 21, 1980 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, where she died on Wednesday of pneumonia.Erica was a...

Deborah L. Fuller of Gobles, Michigan, passed away Friday evening, October 30, 2009 in Kalamazoo surrounded by her family. Deb was born July 26, 1953 in Otsego, the daughter of William and Martha (Thompson) Fuller. For the last 6 years Deb had been a fitness instructor and owner of Curves in Gobles and a member of the Gobles Business Association....

Raymond L. Foote of Otsego passed away Friday, October 30, 2009 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Ray was born April 3, 1930 in Grand Rapids, the son of Ray and Beatrice (Hatfield) Foote. He was an Army Veteran and had worked as a crane operator for Southwest Gravel and Lapham Excavating for over 30 years, retiring in...

Paul J. Ballay, Jr., of Otsego Township, passed away Thursday, October 22, 2009 at his home. Paul was born January 15, 1932 in Dorr, the son of Paul Sr. and Stephania (Dzurnik) Ballay. In 1950, he graduated from Martin High School, where he was a 3 sport athlete. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving as an Army...

Corolee ‘Corky” Fritz ofOtsego,Michigan passed away onThursday, October 22, 2009, Corolee went home to be with her Lord and Savior. She was bornMay 4, 1934in Allegan, the daughter of Howard and Enola (Dailey) Fritz. Corky was a 1952 graduate ofOtsegoHigh Schooland was employed over 40 years at Mead Paper Co. inKalamazoo. She was an active member of theOtsegoFirstBaptistChurch, where she...

Eddie “Joe” King ofPawPaw,Michigan passed awayTuesday, October 20, 2009inKalamazoo. Mr. King was bornMarch 5, 1942inMorley,TNthe son of Fred and Dora (Siler) King. Joe graduated fromJellicoHigh SchoolinJellico,TNand he worked in assembly at General Motors for about 35 years. Joe enjoyed fishing, spending time with his animals especially Shawna “Bear” his dog and going to church. He was married to the former...

Norman LJacobs ofOtsego passed awayTuesday, October 20, 2009in Allegan. Mr. Jacobs was bornFebruary 2, 1931inChicago,IL, the son of George and Josephine (Dvorak) Jacobs.Normanwas employed with Ford Motor Company and then A-1 Disposal. During these years, he also operated Jacobs Well Drilling Service. During his free time, he enjoyed tinkering in the garage with machinery, vacationing and deer hunting. OnMay 16,...

Ronald G. Clawson of Otsego passed away Friday, October 16, 2009 at his home. Ron was born November 4, 1916, in Monterey Twp., the son of George and Laura (Punches) Clawson and had grown up on farms in the Allegan County area. Ron was a kind and gentle man with a wit that could sneak up on you. He was...

Anna M.Gavan ofTrowbridge Twp. passed awayFriday October 16, 2009inKalamazoo. Anna was bornMarch 26, 1949in Plainwell the daughter of Amos and Beverly (Holden) Watson. Anna enjoyed doing crafts of all kinds, vegetable and flower gardening and especially enjoyed being around little children. She was a member ofTrowbridgeUnitedMethodistChurch. OnOctober 26, 1968she married Michael Gavan who survives. Also surviving is her mother, Beverly...