Obituaries

Bruce passed away Monday Nov 21, 2016 at his home in Otsego.He was born July 9, 1947, in Benton Harbor the son of Ray and Francis (Peppler) Summerer. He attended Michigan State University where he received a Master’s degree in Engineering. An engineer for Caterpillar Equipment of Peoria, IL, after school, he married Linda Morgan, on September, 10, 1971 in...

Dorla N. Curry passed away Friday, November 18, 2016 in Martin.She was born November 19, 1935 in Hopkins the daughter of Hollis and Mary (Munn) Kent. Dorla had been a teacher in a one room school house in Hopkins in the 1960’s. She then graduated from the Nazareth School of Nursing and had worked at Borgess Medical Center until her...

Leo Melvin Smith Jr. of Otsego passed away Wednesday, November 16, 2016 in Battle Creek.Leo was born June 16, 1944 in Detroit. He served his country honorably during the Viet Nam war in the Army and spent another 20 years with the National Guard. Leo was a loving and caring family man. On May 13, 1978 in St. Louis, MI...

Erika passed away Monday, November 14, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.She was born January 20, 1928 in Frankfurt, Germany. Erika loved attending the Otsego Seventh Day Adventist Church, flower gardening, having coffee and cake and visiting with her friends. On May 21, 1948 in Otsego she married Wesley Snook who preceded her in death in 2008.Surviving are her...

Ernie passed away Thursday, November 10, 2016 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.He was born January 6, 1918 in Stephens County, Oklahoma the son of John and Mary (Patton) Nunley. Ernie served his country in the United States Army Air Force during WWII in England, France and Germany. After the war Ernie worked in Oklahoma, the Dakotas and Oregon. In the...

Ward Burton Fritz passed away Thursday, November 10, 2016 surrounded by his family at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo.He was born August 24, 1928 in Allegan the son of Howard and Enola (Dailey) Fritz. Ward had been a member of Otsego First Baptist Church and had served as choir director and deacon and enjoyed singing with the Crusaders. He was...

Mary Jeannine Gregg passed away peacefully on November 7, 2016 at Rose Arbor Hospice.She was born on April 6, 1933 in Louisville, KY, the daughter of Edward and Evelyn (Barnes) Goffinet. Jeannine was a gifted artist, an avid reader and gardener. She loved spending time with her family and her furry family.She is survived by her husband, Dr. Bill Gregg;...

Arthur Eugene Shoup “Art” age 84 passed away Wednesday November 2, 2016 in Plainwell.He was born February 12, 1932 in Kalamazoo the son of Percy and Maude Shoup. He served his country in the US Marine Corps during the Korean War where he was a machine gunner on the front lines for 8 months. Art had worked for Harding’s Market...

Colin Edward Landells age 82 passed away Friday, October 28, 2016 at his home in Otsego.He was born October 12, 1934 in Kalamazoo the son of Thomas and Marie (Cannom) Landells. Colin served his country in the United States Army. He began his career as a firefighter in Kalamazoo in the mid 1950’s, rising to the rank of Assistant Chief....

Lois Maxine Newton age 92 passed away Monday, October 24, 2016 at Alamo Nursing Home.She was born October 26, 1923 in Allegan the daughter of Thomas and Helen (McKee) Mellon. Lois was a lifelong resident of the area and had worked at Kal-Equip for many years. She enjoyed gardening, fishing, camping and doing arts and crafts. On October 19, 1941...

Linda passed away Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at Ely Manor in Allegan.She was born May 16, 1939 in Allegan the daughter of Walter and Florence (Julien) Reed. Linda enjoyed playing the piano and loved spending time with her family.Surviving are her son, Russell (Christy) Clock of Kalamazoo; 6 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; siblings, Glenda Staley and Walter (Vivian) Reed both of...

Ralph passed away Saturday, October 15, 2016 in Kalamazoo.He was born July 10, 1951 in Allegan the son of Ralph and Leona (West) Sayles. He enjoyed going to church, fishing and working on small engines. Ralph loved spending time with his family, friends and his dogs.Surviving are his siblings, Donna Fletcher and Leroy Sayles both of Allegan along with many...

Barbara Vickery of Kalamazoo, MI passed away Wednesday, October 5, 2016 at her home in Kalamazoo. She was born February 6, 1950 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Robert and Edna (Robuck) Jacobs. Barb had worked at the Olympia Truck Stop in Plainwell and continued there when the business moved to Otsego. Later Barb became a CNA and for 14 years...

Edward passed away Sunday, October 2, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.He was born July 11, 1925 in Allegan the son of John and Nora (Maher) Guider. After graduating from Hopkins High School, Ed served his country in the US Air Force as a pilot during WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam and retired with the rank of Colonel....

Betty passed away Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at her home in Kalamazoo.She was born March 9, 1933 in Marshall to Mr.& Mrs. West. Betty had worked for Gibson Guitar for 18 years and for GM for 15 years. In her spare time she enjoyed working in her flower gardens, watching the hummingbirds and shopping. Betty enjoyed staying busy and was...

Betty passed away Tuesday, September 27, 2016 at Meadow Woods Nursing Home in Bloomindale.She was born January 1, 1923 in Valparaiso, Indiana the daughter of Charles and Mabel (Catherman) Burroughs. Betty graduated from Otsego High School in 1941. Later that same year on August 10 in Allegan she married Lester Phillips. Betty had worked for the Allegan County Intermediate School...

Billy passed away September 28, 2016 surrounded by his family at his home in Plainwell.He was born May 11, 1935 in Franklin County, Alabama the son of Austin and Irene (Thomas) Swinney. Billy had worked at Coopers Foundry, Essex and had retired in 2000 from Hammond Machinery and Roto Finish. After his retirement he enjoyed doing masonry work especially chimney...

Helen I. Bloom of Otsego, MI passed away Friday, September 23, 2016 in Kalamazoo. She was born September 25, 1929 in Pearl, MI the daughter of Joseph and Goldie (Herring) Larsen. Helen enjoyed following NASCAR, knitting and cats. Most of all Helen loved her family especially her grandchildren. On November 15, 1946 in Fennville she married Albert Bloom Jr who...

Stephan ‘Steve’ Makarewich of Otsego, MI passed away Thursday, September 22, 2016 at Bronson Hospital. He was born July 1, 1948 in Hammond, IN the son of Stephen and Emma (Paloney) Makarewich. On February 11, 1984 in Hammond, IN he married Karen Call who survives. He had worked as a truck driver for Kelly Dewatering for 17 years retiring several...

Jim passed away from complications following surgery on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at Bronson Hospital.He was born September 7, 1935 in Martin Township the son of Dean and Martha (Pike) Lapham. On May 14, 1955 he married Joyce Fuss at Sacred Heart Church in Watson Township. In 1962 Jim started Lapham Heating and Plumbing and continued working until his retirement...