Obituaries

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;...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Kathleen L. “Kathy” Misner of Otsego, MI passed away Sunday, May 21, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center. She was born October 11, 1948 in Plainwell the daughter of Lyle and Helen (Wilkins) Barton. Kathy was a lifelong resident of the area and enjoyed serving the community. For 26 years she had served as an Otsego City Commissioner, had been part...

Carolyn M. Wright of Dorr, MI passed away Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born May 7, 1941 in Plainwell the daughter of Raymond and Beatrice Stough. Carolyn had enjoyed collecting stuffed animals and playing bingo. Survivors include her children, Henry Wright, Gary Girke, Doug Girke, David Girke, Janet Girke, Tony Wright and Sharon...

O.D. passed away, Thursday, May 18, 2017 surrounded by his loving family at his home in Plainwell.He was born August 14, 1942 in Mountain Home, Arkansas the son of George and Julia (Barker) Sites. O.D. had worked as a potato farmer for most of his life and had retired from Denniston Farms in Plainwell after over 40 years. In his...

Donna passed away Friday, May 12, 2017 at Stanford Lodge in Plainwell.She was born March 26, 1926 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Michael and Grace (Fink) Whitton. Donna enjoyed attending family gatherings, spending time with her grandchildren and lifelong friends, playing all sorts of card games and reading. On January 11, 1947 in Allegan she married Dan Crowle who passed...

Shirley passed away Friday, May 12, 2017 at her home in Otsego.She was born November 24, 1945 in Plainwell the daughter of Homer and Margaret (Jones) Cameron. For many years she had worked at Dick Ulrich Onion Farms. On June 17, 1989 she married Donald Edwards who survives.Also surviving are her children, Anthony Tank, Herman Tank and Antoinette Nash, 4...

John passed away Tuesday, May 9, 2017 surrounded by his family at his home in Wayland.He was born November 19, 1933 in Hopkins the son of John and Halda (Schafer) Opperman. John proudly served his country in the US Army during the Korean War. He had worked for Pet Milk and at Dean Foods for 47 years until his retirement....

Nada passed away Thursday, May 11, 2017 at her home in Otsego.She was born January 28, 1946 in Elwood, Indiana, the daughter of Vern and Betty (Davis) Osting. Nada was born and raised in Indiana and had also lived in the U.P. and moved to Otsego in 1990. For 13 years she had been a bookkeeper at Toyota of Marquette...

Randy passed away Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at his home in Otsego.He was born January 26, 1949 in Kalamazoo the son of Edith (Henry) and Herman Weaver. Randy served his country the US Navy during the Vietnam Crisis. He had worked at Gibson Guitar and for over 25 years had worked for Mead and Rock Tenn. In his spare time...

Larry passed away Thursday, May 11, 2017 at his home in Plainwell.He was born March 30, 1951 in Plainwell the son of Lawrence and Marie (Meacham) Middlestadt. Larry served his country in the US Air Force. He had worked at the Big Top Grocery in Plainwell and at Checker Motor Company. On December 24, 1973 in Thailand he married Somkoun...