Obituaries

Bill passed away Monday, August 19, 2019 at his home in Plainwell.He was born June 14, 1945 in Newark, Ohio, the son of James and Helen (Munkachy) Bibart. Bill graduated from Newark High School and earned his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and his master’s degree from Central Michigan University. For 25 years he had taught business at Garber...

Bill passed away Tuesday, August 20, 2019 at his home in Martin.He was born February 1, 1938 in Plainwell the son of Bruce and Margaret (Mott) Fenner. Bill proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy. For many years he had worked as a truck driver. He was a member of the Teamsters Union. Bill enjoyed antique tractors, model trains...

Thelma passed away Sunday, August 18, 2019 at Wings Home in Allegan.She was born April 5, 1936 in Allegan the daughter of Hugh and Beatrice (Clawson) Taylor. Thelma had been a secretary at Tru Heat in Allegan for 10 years retiring after her marriage to Steven Smalla on January 28, 1989. She was active in the Otsego Church of God...

Geraldine (Gerry) Lila Peterson was called Home to be with her Lord and Savior on August 18, 2019. She was 92. She was born September 7, 1926, in Muskegon, MI, to Rufus Leroy and Geraldine (Bowen) Deater.Gerry attended Bob Jones University and earned a teaching degree. She taught first through fourth grades. She also performed in a women’s vocal trio...

Mya passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, August 14, 2019 at her home in Shelby.She was born December 13, 2018 in Ludington, Michigan, the daughter of Noah Griffin and Rebeca Bailey. Mya was a happy baby girl who was most often seen with a smile on her face that could light up a room. Although her time with us was much too...

Nancy passed away Thursday, August 8, 2019 at the Wings Home in Allegan.She was born December 24, 1933 in Rutherfordton, North Carolina, the daughter of Adele Hyder. Nancy had owned and operated Western Michigan Financial Services for over 20 years. After retiring she started 2 non-profit organizations, Good Hands of Plainwell and Bridges of Hope of Allegan County. Nancy also...

Pete passed away Friday, August 9, 2019 at Ely Manor in Allegan.He was born September 7, 1948 in Grand Rapids the son of James and Eva (Oliver) Bax. Pete proudly served his country in the U.S. Army and continued his service until his retirement. Pete loved cars especially Porsches and was lovingly known as Porsche Pete.In his free time he...

Maggie passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2019 at her home in Plainwell.She was born June 7, 1946 in Munising, the daughter of Paul and Henrietta (Rollain) Lukowski. Maggie had worked at Meijer’s in Holland for 15 years. In her free time she enjoyed painting, doing crafts, bowling, and decorating. Maggie loved spending time with her family and friends.Surviving are her...

Bill passed away Wednesday, July 31, 2019 in Otsego.He was born July 4, 1941 in Kalamazoo the son of William and Ethel (Shearer) Pickett. Bill proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He was a hard worker and for 30 years had worked at Consumers Energy where he was lovingly known as General Pickett until...

Frances passed away Tuesday, July 30, 2019 at Life Care Center in Plainwell.Fran was born May 26, 1925 in Cadillac, Michigan to Allen and Josephine (Mordhorst) Curry. She went back to school and graduated from Plainwell High School in 1980. She had worked at the Canning Company, Kessler’s and the K-Mart in Kalamazoo. Fran last worked at Bronson Hospital as...

Isabelle passed away July 9, 2019 at Rehoboth Oaks Assisted Living in Dorr.She was born November 17, 1929 in St. Louis County, Missouri, the daughter of Ignacio Marie and Guadalupe (Gomez) de Uriarte. Surviving are her children, Robbie Melton of Hawaii, Ann Kong of California, Dave Kong of California and Randy Kong of Iowa and her siblings Irene Ruga, Raymond...

On July 29th, 2019, Janice Lee (Wadsworth) Keith was called to heaven to be with her Lord. Janice was born January 20, 1961 in Kalamazoo.She was proceded in death by her sister LuAnn (Hamm) Dekilder and step brother Roe Johnson. Jan is survived by her husband of 42 years John Ray Keith of Plainwell; her mother, Joann (Rocky) Johnson of...

Darlene passed away Monday, July 29, 2019 at her home in Kalamazoo.She was born January 21, 1941 in Kalamazoo the daughter of William and Ida (Abraham) Mills. Darlene devoted her whole life to her family, raising 6 kids with no driver’s license and her husband on the road during the week. For over 25 years she had operated a daycare...

Marion A. Gray quietly passed away Thursday, July 25, 2019 in Kalamazoo.She was born January 2, 1926 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Ralph and Marguerite Ritsema. She attended the Washington Square Schools and graduated from Kalamazoo Central H.S. in 1944. She married Donald T. Gray on November 1, 1946, who preceded her in death in 2001.She had an active life...

Carol passed away Tuesday, July 23, 2019 at her home in Plainwell.She was born November 15, 1931 in Grand Rapids, the daughter of Thomas and Helen (Byland) Fishleigh. Graduating in l949 from Grand Rapids South High, Carol went on to earn her nursing degree from Chicago Presbyterian Hospital.Her marriage to Robert Meles on September 12, 1959 brought the blessing and...

Phyllis passed away peacefully with her family by her side, Monday, July 22, 2019 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.She was born February 1, 1937 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Clyde and Alice (Wilson) Rinehart. Phyllis was a 1954 Otsego High School graduate. She had worked at Shakespeares/Glassmaster Controls from 1969 until her retirement in 2013.In her free time Phyllis loved...

Renee Hatten Sutherland died Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.Renee was born September 30, 1953 in Allegan, Michigan to Wilbur and Alice (Holloway) Hatten. She was a cook for many years at Pine Lake Diner. Although she was a little scared of motorcycles, a friend convinced her to ride on the back of his Harley. After that...

Thomas J. Miller died Sunday, July 14, 2019 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born September 4, 1962 in Pontiac, Michigan to Dick and Peg Miller. Tom’s proficiency in math and his determination to learn how things work, led to an education at GMI where he earned his Bachelor Degree in Electrical...

Morrie passed away Friday, July 12, 2019 at his home in Otsego.He was born December 11, 1930 in Otsego, the son of Morris Sr. and Audrey (Edson) Stoughton. Morrie graduated from Otsego High School in 1949. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Morrie enjoyed hunting, fishing, woodworking, chopping wood and gardening.He had a...

Josephine passed away Monday, July 1, 2019 at Vicinia Gardens in Otsego.She was born September 6, 1921 in Knoblick, Missouri, the daughter of Jonah and Martha (Watkins) Clark. Josephine enjoyed gardening dancing, traveling and fishing. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and Kalamazoo Antique Automobile Club.Surviving are her children, Madonna (Don) Steele and Mike (Cindy)...