Obituaries

Ilah Ann Sturgis, infant daughter of Jessi and Joe Sturgis of Otsego, Michigan, passed awayTuesday, November 13, 2007inGrand Rapids. She was bornOctober 23, 2007. Surviving besides her parents are her twin brother, Riley Joseph and her sister, Chloe; grandparents, Ken and Lindy Holmes of Otsego and Marcia and Terry Sturgis of Martin; great-grandparents, Mable Holmes of Otsego and Ila and...

Rose Ada Stephens of Plainwell, Michigan, diedNovember 9, 2007. Rose was bornFebruary 19, 1924. Surviving is one sister, Patricia (Lenard) Kling of Otsego; several nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place and a private memorial service will be held.Offer Condolence for the family of Rose Ada StephensLeave a CondolenceCancel replyPlease share your message of condolence with the family, It will...

Kevin W. R. C. “R.C.” “Doogie” Brainard of Otsego, Michigan diedSunday, November 4, 2007. Kevin was bornJune 26, 1976inKalamazooto Roger and Gloria (Chase) Brainard. Kevin was a graduate of theK.V.C.C.PoliceAcademyand had been employed with the Otsego Police Dept. for 1 year and then with the Plainwell Public Safety Dept. for 7 years. For 13 years he was a member of...

Richard L. ‘Rick’ Merrill, Jr. of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home,November 2, 2007, surrounded by a family that loved and adored him. Rick was bornJuly 31, 1948inKalamazooto Richard Sr. and Bernice (Kavanaugh) Merrill. He was a 1966 graduate ofOtsegoHigh School, then attendedOaklandCommunity CollegeandWayneStateUniversity. He was a plank owner on the USS John F. Kennedy Aircraft Carrier during theVietnamera....

Tom Main of Hopkins diedWednesday, October 31, 2007inKalamazoo. Tom was bornJuly 28, 1954inHastingsto (Lawrence and Barbara Main) and was a lifelong resident of the area. He had served his country in the U.S. Army. For many years he was employed as a machinist with Bill-Mac Corp. Tom was a member of the National Barrel Horse Association. OnApril 1, 1979in Otsego...

Ann H. Berner of Ft. Myers Beach, FL (formerly of Portage) diedMonday, October 29, 2007inFt.Myers, FL. Ann was bornJuly 10, 1968inSaginaw,MI, the daughter of Jerome and Dorothy (Chapman) Berner. Ann had attendedPortageCentralHigh Schooland she was employed with Kalamazoo Imports and at Publix of Ft. Myers. Ann enjoyed her cats, shopping, playing poker, walks on the beach and going to the...

Richard V. Brewer of Otsego, Michgian, diedFriday, October 26, 2007in Otsego. Dick was bornAugust 6, 1918inPlainwell,MI, the son of Richard andFlorence(Pike) Brewer. For 23 years he was employed with Parker-Hannifin Corp. as director of purchasing. He enjoyed golfing and loved to fly airplanes. Surviving are his wife, the former Blanche Leversee, whom he marriedMarch 13, 1958in Plainwell; a daughter, Sandra...

Theron ‘Butch’ Caswell of Otsego, Michigan, went to be with his Lord onThursday, October 25, 2007. Butch was bornJuly 19, 1942in Parchment. He was a 1960 graduate ofGullLakeHigh School. Butch was a Master Clock Maker and repairman.He loved being with his family, especially his grandchildren and visiting with friends. He was a peaceful, gentle man and enjoyed nature, flowers, cats...

Margery Clare Sweetland of Otsego, Michigan, passed awaySunday, October 21, 2007, inKalamazoo. Mrs. Sweetland was bornSeptember 30, 1929in Plainwell to Rube and Frances (Gerry) Tubbs and had been a lifelong resident of the area. Surviving are a daughter and three sons, Deborah Sisto of Allegan, Michael Ahlberg of Hanover Park, IL, Gerry and Lauren and grandson Jeremy Sweetland of Otsego...

John H. Latta Sr. of Paw Paw passed awayOctober 16, 2007, inKalamazoo. John was bornApril 3, 1952in Delton to Homer and Helen (Caldwell) Latta. For many years he was employed with Metal Components Inc. inWyoming, MI, and for the last few years he was a truck driver and really loved the cross country trips. Surviving are a daughter and a...

Terry L. Rowley of Otsego, MI, died unexpectedlyTuesday, October 16, 2007, at his home. Terry was bornMay 3, 1946inKalamazooto Martin and Mary (Bowman) Rowley and was a lifelong resident of the area. He was a graduate ofKalamazooCentralHigh Schooland a Vietnam Veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy. For 33 years he was employed with Parker-Hannifin Corp. in Otsego. Terry was...

Lawrence ‘Larry’ Livingston ofTrowbridge Twp. passed awayMonday, October 16, 2007. Larry was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Navy. He was employed for over 38 years with Menasha Corp. in Otsego. OnAugust 16, 1957in Otsego he married Phyllis Norene Lanphear and she preceded him in death in 1982. Surviving are 7 children, Clarence ‘Sam’ (Kitty) Livingston of...

Lawrence W. Lesman, Jr. of Martin, Michigan, passed away atBorgessMedicalCenterearly Sunday morning,October 14, 2007after a long battle with cardiovascular problems. Larry was born inKalamazoo,Michigan, to Lawrence and Jean (Janes) Lesman onNovember 12, 1944. He was a mechanic by trade, having been employed with Engle Volkswagen ofKalamazoo,LakeTireand Hiscock’s of Allegan, and Farnsworth Chevrolet, now known as Midway Chevrolet of Plainwell. Surviving...

Doris M. Moran of Otsego, Michigan, passed awayWednesday, October 10, 2007, at Life Care Center of Plainwell. Mrs. Moran was bornMay 23, 1924, in Otsego to Frank and Nora (Aurand) Holmes and was a lifelong resident of the area.Doriswas a devoted homemaker and especially enjoyed her dogs. On September 26, 1946 in Otsego she married Calvin Moran, who survives. Also...

Benny J. Baker ofPlainwell,passed awayWednesday, September 26, 2007inKalamazoo. Mr. Baker was bornJune 15, 1940in Otsego to Robert and Frances (Rolston) Baker and had been a lifelong resident of the area. For 41 ½ years he was employed with Plainwell Paper Co. Benny was a member of the Men’s Auxiliary of V.F.W. Post #3030. OnJuly 17, 1965in Plainwell he married Charlene...

Paul E. Woodstock of Otsego, Michigan, passed awayTuesday, September 25, 2007. Paul was bornFebruary 2, 1924inLake Mills,WI, the son of Archer and Mary (Coon)Woodstock. He graduated fromOtsegoPublicHigh Schoolin 1943 and served in the US Army during World War II. After 37 years, he retired in 1986 from Mead Paperboard Products in Otsego. His memberships included the Otsego Elks, Otsego Moose...

Amy L. Winter of Otsego, Michigan, entered her new life in heaven in the early morning hours ofSeptember 24, 2007, after a courageous 4 year battle with cancer and short stay at Rose Arbor Hospice inKalamazoo, MI. Amy was bornMay 10, 1957, inPlainwell,MI, daughter of Maynard Sr. and Merle Knight. Amy graduated fromOtsegoHigh Schoolin 1975, after participating in softball, tennis,...

Donald R. Valkner of Allegan, Michigan, passed awaySeptember 24, 2007, at his home. Don was bornNovember 18, 1948inKalamazooto Raymond andDoris(Kirkland) Valkner and had been a lifelong resident of the area. For many years he was a self-employed carpenter and handyman. Surviving are his wife, Charlene Valkner of Allegan; a son and a daughter, Bryan (Shannon) Bernier of Plainwell and Melissa...

Gilbert E. Noble of Gobles, Michigan, passed awayFriday, September 21, 2007, at Rose Arbor Hospice inKalamazoo. Mr. Noble was bornNovember 23, 1929, inDetroitto Earl and Margaret (Scott) Noble. Gilbert served as a Sergeant in the 101stAirborne of the United States Army and later graduated from the Lawrence Institute in 1956. For several years he was employed at Blood Brothers (Rockwell...

Marcel “Don” D’Amore of Allegan passed awaySunday, September 16, 2007, at his home. Don was bornFebruary 24, 1949inEvanston,IL. He was a Vietnam Veteran, serving in the Navy. For over 35 years, Don was employed with Checker Motors Corp. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, yard work, the out-of-doors and loved playing with his grandchildren. Surviving are his wife, Susan D’Amore; 2 sons,...