Obituaries

Patricia passed away, Sunday, July 2, 2017 at Metro Health Hospital in Wyoming.She was born May 11, 1933 in Bensonville, Illinois, the daughter of George and Isabelle (Kidrowski) Bartz. Patricia was a member of Cooper Congregation Church and was active in the choir for many years. In her spare time she enjoyed baking, cooking, housekeeping and spending time with her...

Kay passed away Thursday, June 29, 2017 at Stanford Lodge in Plainwell.She was born February 27, 1938 in Otsego the daughter of Elmer and Cleora (Frost) Brenner. Kay was an Otsego High School graduate and was a lifelong resident of the area. For many years she owned and operated the campground on Swan Lake with her husband Frank.Surviving are her...

Connie passed away Friday, June 30, 2017 at her home in Otsego.She was born November 25, 1948 in Hastings the daughter of Ron and Marilyn (Tebo) Rivers. She had worked as a bookkeeper for Learn & Play Preschool and had also worked at Parker Hannifin, was a hospice worker and nurse’s aide. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening, camping,...

Grace Joyce Ann Howard passed away Wednesday, June 28, 2017 at Rose Arbor Hospice surrounded by her family.She was born Sunday, May 5, 1935 at the home of her great aunt in Buffalo, NY, the daughter of Rev. Dr. John R. and Elsie B. (Byers) Graf. She was referred to by her dad as “a gift of God”. Grace had...

Linda passed away Monday, June 26, 2017 at her home in Plainwell.She was born January 11, 1947 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Garold and Verland (Gregersen) Dean. For many years she had worked at Kalamazoo Savings and Loan and at ECCU. In her spare time she enjoyed crocheting and had attended a crocheting group at the Otsego District Public Library.Surviving...

Vern passed away Sunday, June 25, 2017 at Golden Orchards in Fennville.He was born March 8, 1929 in Kalamazoo, the son of Roy and Flora (Oullett) Hazard. Vern served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. He had worked at Wilkins-Wheaton Engineering for 50 years until his retirement. Vern had also served on the Vicksburg Fire Department...

Thomas Lynn Kievit was brought into this world on September 20th, 1954, and without doubt instantly made it a better place.  The youngest son of Clarence and Naomi (Meeker) Kievit, Tom graduated from Parchment High School in 1972 before joining the United States Army.  Always looking for adventure, Tom found his niche in the 509thAirborne as a Paratrooper until called...

Tom passed away Thursday, June 22, 2017 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit.He was born February 23, 1953 in Detroit the son of Clarence and Mildred (Mullins) Potter. Tom was a 1971 graduate of Otsego High School and served his country in the Army Reserves. As a young man he had worked at Harding’s in Otsego and at Gibson Guitar....

Ronald B. Pierce, age 74, passed away Tuesday, June 20, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center of complications from lung disease.Ron was the son of Dale K. and Laura (Holliday) Pierce. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Sara L. Pierce; his daughters, Susana R. Pierce and her husband, Adam Townsend and Jenifer L. Blitz and her husband, Christopher;...

Phyllis passed away Wednesday, June 21, 2017, at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.She was born January 30, 1955, in Plainwell the daughter of Charles and Bernice (Stricklin) Hummel. On March 25, 1977, at the Plainwell United Methodist Church, she married Renny Ransbottom who passed away in 2015. Phyllis was generous and enjoyed volunteering for several organizations while her children were in...

Wanda passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 18, 2017 at her home in Otsego with her family at her side.She was born March 20, 1927 in Otsego to Spencer and Millicent (Smith) Sherwood. Wanda had worked at Alamo Nursing Home before opening Collins AFC Home in 1970 and had retired in 2012, In her spare time she enjoyed embroidery, traveling,...

Bill passed away Thursday, June 15, 2017 at his home in Martin.He was born July 31, 1943 in Ypsilanti, Michigan, the son of Dayton and Frances (Curtis) Hoard. Bill owned and operated Midwest Upholstery in Kalamazoo until 1975 and Bill’s Restoration restoring antique Triumph motorcycles for over 50 years. Bill was an amateur and professional motorcycle hill climber and enjoyed...

Betty passed away Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at Vicinia Gardens in Otsego.She was born June 17, 1929 in Ionia, Michigan, the daughter of Norman and Gladys (Kilts) Bennett. For many years Betty was a beautician until her retirement in 1977.She was an avid crafter and in her spare time enjoyed bowling and snowmobiling. On May 17, 1947, in Kalamazoo, she...

Josh passed away Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at his home in Plainwell.He was born August 16, 1985 in Kalamazoo the son of Fred and Janine (Brugh) Cochran.Josh enjoyed pizza, bowling, playing video games, music, especially Def Leopard and was a huge Walking Dead fan.  He loved being an uncle, swimming and singing. He was active with the Special Olympics and...

Anne-Marie passed away Friday, June 9, 2017 at Bronson Hospital.She was born May 30, 1959 in Smooth Rock Falls, Ontario, Canada, the daughter of Henri and Anita (Lavoie) Touchette. Along with her family, Anne-Marie had owned and operated Chadwicks Kwagama Lake Lodge in Canada for many years. She was an accomplished chef and loved to cook. In her spare time...

Freda passed away Thursday, June 8, 2017 at the Wings Home in Allegan.She was born October 28.1938 in Climax, the daughter of Frederick and Maxine (Goulette) Caffrey. Freda was a 1956 Otsego High School graduated and lifelong resident of the area. For 26 years she had worked at Parker Hannifin until her retirement. In her spare time she enjoyed taking...

Robin passed away Saturday, June 3, 2017 at Allegan General Hospital.He was born December 15, 1954 in Plainwell the son of Robert and Martha (Winans) Caswell. For 35 years Robin worked at Parker Hannifin until his retirement. In his spare time he enjoyed going to the casino, playing Wii bowling and yahtzee, fishing, hunting, following NASCAR, especially Tony Stewart, woodworking,...

John E. DeBoer of Kalamazoo passed away Thursday, June 1, 2017 following a tragic accident. John was doing what he loved, working on his sailboat. He was born March 18, 1946 in Kalamazoo to John and Eleanor (DeLong) Deboer. John loved sailing and working on his boat but his true passion was farming.On March 11, 1968 he married Patricia Leedy...

William ‘Bill’ Groth of Martin passed away Monday, May 22, 2017 in Allegan. Bill was born August 9, 1941 in Hartford, MI the son of Henry A. and Cecile (Hilderley) Groth. Bill drove a feed truck for Wolverine Feed for 12 years before going to work at Plainwell Paper where he worked for over 23 years until they closed. In...

Mary Ann was born on January 18, 1935 in Owensboro, Kentucky. She was so small she fit in a shoe box. When she was 2 weeks old she moved to Michigan with her parents, Anson and Velma (Gossmer) Reed. She grew up in Otsego and as a teenager had worked at the movie theater in town.She was married at the...