Obituaries

MitchellMorey ofOtsego passed away suddenlyFriday, August 28, 2009in Otsego. Mitch was bornJune 1, 1980inKalamazooto Richard and Karen (Burroughs) Morey. Mitch was a 1998 graduate ofOtsegoHigh Schoolwhere he was involved with the theatre, was very artistic and enjoyed drawing and had worked at the London Grill in Plainwell for the last 9 years. He loved music, karaoke, his bongos, playing poker...

Amber D. Schiffelbein of Allegan passed awayThursday, August 27, 2009. Amber was bornMarch 27, 1982, in Garden City,Kansasto Fred and Diana (Cunningham) Schiffelbein. Amber enjoyed gardening, flowers, helping around the house, cheerleading with her children, camping, fishing and music, she was a great mother and daughter. Surviving are her parents, her children, Skyleigh & Jonathan Schiffelbein, Lillianna Marie Taber and...

Ralph D. Venen of Otsego, Michigan, passed awayMonday, August 24, 2009, inKalamazoo. Mr. Venen was bornJanuary 4, 1931in Rices Landing,Pennsylvaniato Darwin and Thelma (Davis) Venen. Ralph served his country as a radio operator in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. While stationed inGermanyhe met his future wife, Waldtraut Bauer. She moved to theUnited Statesin 1952, they reconnected in 1955...

Betty J. Holmes of Gobles, Michigan, passed awaySunday, August 23, 2009, in Kalamazoo., Mrs. Holmes was bornOctober 6, 1926, in Otsego to James and Laveva (Thaxton) Deaton and was a lifelong resident of the area. Betty enjoyed traveling, camping, vegetable gardening, fishing and especially enjoyed having the grandkids spend the night. Surviving are a son and a daughter, James (Iva)...

Arnold A. Bohjanen of Kalamazoo, MI, passed awaySaturday, August 22, 2009inKalamazoo. Mr. Bohjanen was bornJanuary 26, 1920inHancock,Michigan, son of the late Henry and Elizabeth (Takalo) Bohjanen. After graduation from high school he entered the U.S. Merchant Marine Cadet Corp. as a Cadet Engineer and was assigned to the American President Lines out ofSan Franciscofor sea training. He had been a...

Michael L. ‘Mike’ Sackett of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Friday, August 21, 2009. Mike was born March 26, 1961 in Battle Creek, the son of Kenneth and Judith (Winkler) Sackett. He enjoyed rock and roll music, video games including golf and Madden football, jigsaw puzzles, woodworking, gardening and watching scary movies. He was an avid Detroit Lions fan and had...

Thelma J. Gordon ofOtsego, Michigan passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2009 in Allegan. Mrs. Gordon was born August 31, 1922 in Otsego to Thomas and Elva (Lamoreaux) Simington and was a lifelong resident of the area. Thelma was a member of the Women of the Moose and in her leisure time enjoyed knitting. On October 12,1940 she married Harry Gordon....

Robert E. “Bob” Dalrymple of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, August 3, 2009, at his home surrounded by his family. Bob was born February 4, 1937 in Otsego, the son of Henry and Donnavieve (Adams) Dalrymple. He retired from Azon USA after 21 years. Bob enjoyed bowling, fishing, watching his grandchildren play sports, and played softball until he was 60...

Caine Tell GrabachMarch 16, 1981 – August 1, 2009Caine left us too soon. He was exuberant and fun loving, he was gentle and warm hearted; his charm and charisma drew in everyone he met. Losing him has shattered the lives of those who loved him. Caine has a strong, close family and we each know how much he cared for...

Vernon E. Metcalf of Kalamazoo, Michigan, (formerly of Otsego) passed awayThursday, July 30, 2009, at his home. Mr. Metcalf was bornOctober 25, 1922, in White Rock,South Dakota. He served his country in the U.S. Army. For many years he was employed with Perrigo Co., retiring in 1987.Vernonwas a member of St. Margaret’s Catholic Church in Otsego, the Knights of Columbus...

Lucile Leonard ofOtsego passed awayThursday, July 30, 2009, inKalamazoo. Mrs. Leonard was bornDecember 24, 1921in Allegan to Robert and Estella (Thompson) Guidebeck and was a lifelong resident of the area. She was anOtsegoHigh Schoolgraduate, Class of ’39. Lucile earned her Realtors License in the Mid 1970’s and worked in the Real Estate Market for several years. She was a member...

Marian L. Withrow ofAllegan, Michigan passed away Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at her home. Mrs. Withrow was born August 27, 1936 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Theodore and Gladys (Knapp) Parks. On November 18, 1956 she married John Withrow who survives. Also surviving are 2 daughters, Cathy (Dale) Kibby of Tampa, FL and their children, Amber, Tanden and Molly; and...

Donnie L. Rop of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home with his family after a brief illness on Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Don was born December 7, 1942 in Kalamazoo, the son of Claus and Daisy (Budzinski) Rop. He had been employed with Menasha Paper Company in Otsego retiring after 30 years of service. Don is survived by his...

Sandra M. Winkler of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Sunday, July 19, 2009 in Plainwell. Sandra was born October 31, 1946 in Kalamazoo to Richard and Virginia (Laws) Lovett and had been a lifelong resident of the area. Surviving are three children, Charles (Mary) Winkler, Jr. of Plainwell, Kimberly (Jeffrey) Shafer of Portage and Thomas Winkler of Plainwell; seven grandchildren, Michael,...

William Eric ‘Bill’ Steinke of Otsego, Michigan, went home to be with the Lord onJuly 19, 2009. Bill was bornDecember 16, 1967, inPlainwell,Michigan, to Gerald and Joyce (Niles) Steinke. He was employed with Safari Circuits. Bill loved spending time with his son, Rickey, and close friends, Brad and Seth. He also loved camping, cooking, fishing, gardening and having coffee with...

Donald J. Watters ofOtsego passed awayThursday, July 16, 2009in Cooper Twp. Don was bornNovember 28, 1936in Plainwell, the son of James and Helen (Hanson) Watters. For many years he owned and operated a milk hauling business, Don Watters Milk Hauling. Don loved model trains with an entire room filled with a track set-up. He also was an avid coin collector...

Irene M. Seekman of Otsego, MI passed away Saturday, July 11, 2009 at her daughter’s home surrounded by loving family members. Mrs. Seekman was born September 3, 1915 in Olwine, IA, the daughter of Orville John “Huck” and Verna (Kimbell) Finn. On June 25, 1937 in Goshen, IN she married Earl Seekman, who preceded her in death in 2001 after...

Roland Jay ‘Mickey’ Morey of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away suddenlyMonday, June 29, 2009. Mr. Morey was bornApril 16, 1942, inKalamazooto Max and Wiona (Spring) Morey. Mickey began his career at Menasha Corp. where he worked in many capacities including personnel director and superintendent. He was then employed for many years as a sales representative with Appleton Mills Paper Products, retiring...

Richard A. Massingill of Otsego, Michigan (formerly of Livonia) passed away Thursday, June 25, 2009 in Kalamazoo. Mr. Massingill was born August 31, 1922 in South Bend, IN the son of Harry and Lucille (Breysacher) Massingill. Richard received a Bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and Master’s and Specialist Degrees from the University of Michigan. He was the Principal at Warren...

Jack Tompkins of Otsego, MI passed away Thursday, June 25, 2009 at his home. Jack was born January 29, 1935 in Colorado, the son of John and Ruby (Baker) Tompkins. He served in the Army from 1953 to 1959 and then worked at the Otsego Falls Paper Mill for 14 years, retiring in 1975. Jack was a member of VFW...