Obituaries

Mr. Donald H. Bartels (retired Postmast of Plainwell, Michigan, ) departed this earthly plane to rejoin his heavenly father on July 5th, surrounded by his loving family in the peaceful setting of his home.BornMay 22, 1927inKalamazoo,MIto Bernice Estella & Ethan A. Bartels. Married Iris Elaine Meacham onJune 28, 1958atMillwoodMethodistChurchinKalamazoo,MI.He served in theUSMarines from 1945-1946. He worked for theKalamazooPostal Service until...

Roger A. Stull ofDouglasville,GA(formerly ofOtsego,MI) passed awayMonday, June 30, 2008with his family by his side after a short illness, Roger was born in Plainwell to Ronald and JoAnne (Miller) onFebruary 23, 1952. He enjoyed bowling, watching the Young and the Restless, cartoons with his grandkids and the Sci-Fi- Channel. In November 1975 he married Linda (Shook) and had two wonderful...

Mark Robert-William Verploegh died Thursday, June 19, 2008 in Otsego. Mark was born January 11, 1981 in Kalamazoo to Robert Verploegh and Angelina Walker and attended Otsego High School. His favorite hobbies were collecting Hot Wheels and WWII memorabilia and building model cars and airplanes. He loved baseball and was an avid Red Sox fan. Surviving are his mother and...

Richard E. “Dick” Watson ofAllegan,MI passed awaySaturday, June 14, 2008in Allegan. Dick was bornJuly 19, 1925in Otsego, the son of John and Gertrude (Hosler) Watson. He played the organ and also danced and sang, he loved cards, gardening, golf and had gone toCanadafishing for many years. Dick was a member and officer of the Otsego Fire Department, and was also...

Betty J. Volker ofOtsego,MI passed away Tuesday June 10, 2008. Mom was born November 2, 1924 in Otsego, Michigan. She was the unexpected fourth daughter of John and Alda (Brunner) Turner. She was a life long resident of Otsego and a graduate of OHS class of 43. Mom worked at “The Creamery” in Otsego until, in the early 80’s, it...

Erline Turner ofOtsego,Michigan died peacefullyMonday, June 9, 2008inAlamo. Mrs. Turner was bornMay 21, 1920inMoulton,Alabamato Floyd and Essie (Harris) Turner. Erline loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them. She loved the Lord and listening to her grandson praying over dinner or at family gatherings. Erline enjoyed going to church, was a lifetime member ofSulphurSpringsBaptistChurchand enjoyed listening to the Gaithers....

Robert D. Aernie, Sr., of Plainwell, Michigan, diedSunday June 8, 2008inKalamazoo. Mr. Aernie was bornDecember 14, 1933in Oshtemo to Clarence and Dorothy (Rose) Aernie. For many years he was employed with Clausing Industrial, retiring in 2004. Bob enjoyed fishing, watching Detroit Tigers baseball and doing yard work. In 1952, he married Velma (Spencer) Wiborn and they divorced. OnMay 7, 1966inKalamazoohe...

Ellen L. Cosby ofOtsego,Michigan diedJune 5, 2008at her home. Mrs. Cosby was bornOctober 18, 1942in Allegan to Leo and Mildred (Davidson) Hall. Ellen was a graduate ofOtsegoHigh SchoolandWesternMichiganUniversity. For many years she was employed as a computer accountant with the Allegan County Road Commission, retiring in 2003. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and theMartinUnitedMethodistChurchwhere she was...

Evelyn Bullard of Cooper Township passed awayWednesday, June 4, 2008inKalamazoo. Evelyn was bornJuly 10, 1922inAlmenaTownship, the daughter of Lovell and Freda (Blower) Clark. She enjoyed golfing, bowling, sewing and flower gardening. OnFebruary 23, 1945, she married Hubert Bullard and he preceded her in death in 1992. Also preceding her in death were her son, Daniel J. Bullard, 2 brothers and...

Vincent H. Weller of Otsego Township diedMonday, June 2, 2008, at his home. Mr. Weller was bornNovember 4, 1914inVera,Saskatchewan,Canadato Louis and Lela (Baldwin) Weller. He retired from Eaton Corp. in 1977. Vince was a life member of V.F.W. Dad’s Post #56. He enjoyed gardening, bowling, traveling and hunting for rocks, cutting and polishing them. OnSeptember 28, 1996in Otsego he married...

Mary J. Forstner of Allegan, Michigan, passed away onMonday, June 2, 2008atBorgessMedicalCenterinKalamazoo. Mary was bornAugust 14, 1958inPrinceton,KY, the daughter of Johnny and Nancy (Triplett) Smith. She had worked at several area nursing homes and then at home raising her children and working with her husband on their blueberry farm. Mary was a loving and caring woman who enjoyed her family...

Robert Leon ‘Bob’ Fales of Allegan, Michigan (formerly of Otsego) passed away at home with his family by his side onMay 31, 2008after a battle with cancer. Bob was born in Paw Paw,MichiganonFebruary 23, 1943, the son of Floyd R. and Margaret R. (Counterman) Fales. Before his retirement, he worked for the City OfOtsegofor 32 years as a mechanic. He...

Edward L. Hope ofPlainwell,Michigan diedThursday, May 29, 2008, inKalamazoo. Ed was bornDecember 10, 1953inVicksburgto Lawrence and Carol (Trimner) Hope. From 1972 to 1975 he served in the U.S. Army inGermanyduring the Vietnam War. After his discharge from the service, he farmed several years inTrowbridgeTownship. For over 20 years he was employed as a paramedic. Ed was a member of the...

Willard F. Flannagin ofRichland,Michigan diedTuesday, May 27, 2008, in Otsego at the home of his daughter. Mr. Flannagin was born inLawrence,Alabama. After 30 years of service he retired from the company formerly known as Beach Products. Willard was a kind and gentle man. He was always willing to lend a hand whenever needed and enjoyed being around his children and...

Edward E. ‘Eddie’ Winter ofOtsego,Michigan diedMonday, May 26, 2008, in Plainwell. Mr. Winter was bornMay 17, 1921inChicago,Illinoisto Fredrick and Della (Voss) Winter. Ed was a graduate ofOtsegoHigh Schooland served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII. For over 40 years he was employed as a letter carrier with the Otsego Post Office, retiring in1980. After his retirement he drove...

Verla L. Warren of Otsego, Michigan diedTuesday, May 20, 2008inKalamazoo. Mrs. Warren was bornFebruary 1, 1911inHamilton,Ohioto George and Barbara (Hessey) Reichenbach. The family moved to Otsego in 1914 and she had lived in the same home for 94 years. Verla was employed as an administrative assistant with the Upjohn Co. for 23 years, the Otsego Public Schools for 14 years...

W. Earle Wallace of Clearwater, FL (formerly of Otsego) passed awaySunday, May 18, 2008at the home of his step-grandson, Steve Morse, inColquitt,Georgia. He was born in Morgan Twp.,Valparaiso,IndianaonJuly 9, 1913, to Walter and Effie (Cain) Wallace. OnMay 28, 1932, he married Irene G. Gott ofValparaisoand she preceded him in death onMay 29, 1987. OnAugust 1, 1992, he married Arlene Schribner...

Jimmie R. ‘Jim’ Mellen of Plainwell passed awayTuesday, May 13, 2008in Allegan. Jim was bornDecember 9, 1932inBattle Creek, the son of Harold and Coletta (Daisy) Mellen. Jim retired in 1994 after working many years in home construction. He served in the Navy from 1950 to 1954 and was a member of the American Legion in Plainwell and a life member...

Charlotte L. Aernie ofCooperTownship passed away peacefully onTuesday, May 13, 2008at Byron Center Manor.Charlottewas bornDecember 14, 1927inChicago,IL, the daughter of John and Mary (Bockewski) Bryja. She was the oldest of 7 children. At age 18, she married Arthur Morgan and they moved toMichiganand had 2 daughters, Gaye and Susan. OnMay 17, 1966, she married Robert Aernie, Sr. They were together...

Mildred I. Eaton of Otsego, MI passed away, Friday, May 9, 2008 at Stanford Lodge in Plainwell surrounded by her family. Mildred was born October 11, 1921 in Detroit, the daughter of Francis and Ella (Broederdorf) Brown. She was a member of the Church of God in Otsego where she sang in the choir, played the organ and piano, was...