Obituaries

Kenneth D. Opperman of Otsego, formerly of Kalamazoo, passed away Wednesday, November 15, 2006 in Kalamazoo. Mr. Opperman was born June 28, 1932 in Hopkins to John and Hulda (Schafer) Opperman and was a lifelong resident of the area. For many years he had been employed with Eaton Mfg. (Fuller Transmission) and retired from Ronningen-Petter. Ken was a faithful member...

Sarah A. Perkins of Parchment, passed away after a long illness Wednesday, November 8, 2006 in Plainwell. Sarah was born November 8, 1933 in Oshtemo Township the daughter of Myron and Ruby (Baker) Alexander. She enjoyed playing Yhatzee, swimming and spending time with her grandchildren, reunions and Christmas parties. Sarah was united in marriage to Lloyd E. Perkins in 1957...

John E. Simmons Jr., of Plainwell, went home to be with the Lord Monday, November 6, 2006. John was born August 24, 1948 in Kalamazoo to John and Marilyn (Embs) Simmons, Sr. and was a lifelong resident of the area. For the past 7 years he was employed with Georgia Pacific at the Epic plant in Parchment. John enjoyed motorcycle...

Luann “Lani” Vander Ploeg of Kalamazoo diedMonday, October 30, 2006. Lani was bornMarch 19, 1958to Gary and Winona (Smith) VanderVeen. Lani was graduated fromOtsegoHigh Schooland was employed with SBC for the past 6 years doing line repair. She loved being with and helping others, working on cars, snowmobiling and motorcycling. Surviving are two sons, Scott Vander Ploeg of Paw Paw...

Marilyn F. Hinkle of Otsego passed awaySunday, October 29, 2006in Plainwell. Mrs. Hinkle was bornMarch 27, 1926inHillsdale,MIto Frank and Virgie (Palmer) Stiles. Marilyn was a member of P.E.O. Chapter ED, the First Congregational Church and the Ladies Guild, Friends of the Library and golfed on a league for many years. She also belonged to bridge and pinochle clubs; was an...

Shenia A. “Shortie” Saldana passed awayTuesday, October 24, 2006in Allegan. Shenia was born October 26, 1953in Allegan to Terrance and Alma (Hampton) Miller. She enjoyed gardening, dogs, birds and deer. She is survived by her daughters Tara and Sonya and a granddaughter Hannah; 3 brothers and a sister; Jody Miller, Wyatt Miller, Tonya (James) Stewart and Terry Miller; a niece...

Richard Tripp passed awayWednesday, October 18, 2006at his home with family by his side. Mr. Tripp was born January 12, 1927inIreton,Iowato Edward and Katherine (Hoverda) Tripp. For many years he was employed with Waanders Concrete as a crane operator, retiring in 1973. Richard was a member of theAlleganSeventhDayAdventistChurch. He enjoyed woodworking and gardening. On June 25, 1948in Grand Rapidshe married...

Charles W. Cook passed awaySaturday, October 6, 2006. Charles was bornAugust 15, 1916in Allegan, the son of Earl and Genevieve (Styles) Cook. Surviving are a son Gary Cook; a daughter, Charlene Daleiden; a granddaughter, Tracey Cook; a niece, Teresa ‘Terri’Fairfield; a nephew, Robert Goodacre. He was preceded in death by his sister, Phyllis Goodacre.A graveside service will be held Friday...

Bert Lantman of Plainwell, MI passed awaySaturday, September 30, 2006inKalamazoo. Bert was bornMay 12, 1914inKalamazoo, the son of John and Hermina (Caninga) Lantman. Bert served in the US Army and the Marine Corps during WWII. OnJune 14, 1947, he married the former Madeline Dunn, who preceded him in death in 1961.He was employed at Ruud, Rheems and retired from Checker...

Benjamin ‘Dale’ Worden of Alamo diedThursday, September 21, 2006at home surrounded by his loving family after a lengthy illness. Dale was bornSeptember 6, 1928inPontiac,Michigan. He was adopted by Benjamin and Tena (McAllister) Worden inPontiaconMarch 11, 1929. Dale attended the Pontiac Public Schools. He served in the United States Navy from 1948 to 1949 and was stationed inOrange,TX. OnJuly 27, 1954inPontiache...

Claress ‘Jane’ Bass passed awayTuesday, September 19, 2006inKalamazoo. Mrs. Bass was bornJuly 1, 1936inKalamazooto Ralph and Mildred (Esseltine) Boyd. Claress had many interests, including gardening and working crossword puzzles, and was a NASCAR and golf fan. She loved her grandchildren very much. Surviving are a daughter and a son, Shelley (Bill) Forbes of Allegan and Charles (Ronda) Bass, Jr. of...

Patrick ‘Pat’ Galovan diedMonday, September 18, 2006in Plainwell. Pat was bornApril 19, 1946inThreeRiversto Adolf “Gus” and Barbara (Houghtaling) Galovan. Pat graduated fromSt. AugustineHigh SchoolinKalamazooin 1964 and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1966-69. He was a graduate of the Kendall School of Design inGrand Rapidsand was employed by Perrigo for 21 years. He is survived by three sons;Brian Galovanof...

Susan K. Tripp passed AwaySunday, September 17, 2006at The University of Chicago Hospital. Susan Was Bornmay 25, 1953in Allegan to Jerold And Gloria (Allen) Tripp. She is Survived BY Three Children; Keith Harwood, Heidi Merchant of Allegan And Sarah Paff of Plainwell; 7 Grandchildren; Her Parents; 3 Siblings; Bruce (Anne) Tripp of Allegan; Mark (Teri) Tripp of Plainwell; Lisa (David)...

Kleo L. Cahow of Otsego passed awayThursday, September 14, 2006inKalamazoo. Mrs. Cahow was born October 28, 1934in Mendon, the daughter of Duane and Genevieve (Rogers) Yeomans. For many years she was employed with the dime store in Otsego.She enjoyed playing the organ, flower gardening and reading. Surviving are 1 son and 3 daughters, Thomas (Sherry) Manning of Otsego, Patricia (Jim)...

Mary Jean Anderson of Kalamazoo passed awayThursday, September 14, 2006inAlamo. Mrs. Anderson was bornOctober 14, 1920in Plainwell to Ruby and Frances (Gerry) Tubbs and was a life long resident of the area. During her working years she had been employed with area banks, worked at Weyerhauser Paper Co. and was a secretary for a women’s clothing store. But the job...

Robert J. Stamm Of Plainwell, Michigan, diedMonday, September 11, 2006at Rose Arbor Hospice of kidney cancer. But because of the life, death and resurrection of his Savior Jesus Christ, he was resurrected to Heaven for eternity. We picture him in his perfect body being lovingly welcomed at Heaven’s gate by his parents, Ike and Bea, grandparents, John and Stella, Carol’s...

Marjorie F. Abbot, age 95, of St. Cloud, FL (formerly of Battle Creek and Kalamazoo, MI) passed away on August 17, 2006 in St. Cloud.She was the daughter of the late James N. and Effie J. (Kent) Masterson of Otsego Township, MI.Marjorie was a Western Michigan University graduate and a retired Registered Medical Records Administrator.She is survived by her daughter,...

James “Jim” E. Monroe, 65 years old, died Saturday, April 28, 2007 at his home in Otsego. Mr. Monroe was born September 1, 1941 in Plainwell, Michigan, the son of Merwyn and Helen (Moore) Monroe. When James was 17 years old he began working with sheet metal for Bel-Air making duct work for heating and cooling systems. He remained in...