Obituaries

James J. Hewitt, the ‘Music Man’, who loved music and playing the trumpet which in turn was the catalyst that would affect Jim’s entire life, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 12thin the morning at Bronson Methodist Hospital.Jim was born on November 22, 1928 to James and Vera (McKinney) Hewitt in New Philadelphia, Ohio. He had an older brother Edward. Jim...

Kenneth passed away Monday, August 3, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.He was born June 16, 1936 in Kalamazoo the son of Clyde and Elma Swinehart. Kenneth served his country in the US Army. He was a skilled chef who for many years had cooked at area restaurants. In his spare time he enjoyed attending and selling items at...

Renny passed away Thursday, August 6, 2015 at his home in Plainwell.He was born March 24, 1951 in Plainwell the son of Lester and Phyllis (Madden) Ransbottom. For more than 28 years he owned and operated the Third Base Grocery in Plainwell. He was also active with the Michigan Association of School Boards, having served on the Board of Directors....

A service celebrating the life of Brenda Jean (Grauman) Powers will be held at 11:00 A.M. Monday, August 10, 2015 at the Otsego United Methodist Church, Pastor Joe Shaler officiating.Friends may meet with her family, Sunday, August 9, 2015 from 4 to 7 PM at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego.Brenda went to be with her Lord and Savior Wednesday, August...

Robert passed away Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo surrounded by his loved ones.He was born March 14, 1943 in Chicago, IL the son of Robert and Josephine (Tikalsky) Macak. For more than 18 years Bob had worked for WL Molding as an engineer. In his spare time he enjoyed spending time with his family, playing bingo,...

Merl passed away Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at his home in Otsego.He was born July 16, 1950 in Plainwell, the son of Carl and Dorraine (Denslow) Lindsey. Merl served his country in the US Army during Vietnam. For 35 years he owned and operated Lindsey Appliance Service. In his spare time he enjoyed farming especially growing corn and soybeans. More...

Robert passed away Sunday, July 12, 2015 in Kalamazoo.He was born January 16, 1981 in Kalamazoo the son of Roy and Teresa (Cherette) Pueblo. He was a 1999 Allegan High School graduate who served his country in the Army National Guard for 6 years beginning in 2001. Rob was an avid Detroit Tigers fan and enjoyed snowboarding, skateboarding, riding motorcycles,...

Charles passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at the Dussia House in Otsego.He was born September 13, 1934 in Kalamazoo, MI to Vern and Eileen (Leighton) Piper. Following graduation, Charles served his country in the U.S. Air Force for 4 years. On June 30, 1958 in Drake, North Dakota he married Karen Davis who passed away in 2012. Charles had...

Leonard passed away Sunday, July 5, 2015 at his home in Otsego.He was born January 7, 1933 in Trowbridge Township. He was the son of Curtis and Mildred (Newton) Holden. Leonard was an Otsego High School graduate who served his country in the Army during the Korean War. For 22 years he worked as a mechanic for MDOT in the...

Julia went home to be with the Lord on Monday, July 6, 2015.She was born September 17, 1924 in Comstock, MI, the daughter of Thomas and Frances DuCharme. She graduated from Scotts High School and then moved to California where she met her future husband, Harvey. They married in San Diego, CA on May 8, 1944. After WWII ended they...

Richard passed away Monday, June 29, 2015 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Dick was born August 15, 1931 in Kalamazoo, to Richard and Teresa (Farrell) Mills. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central in 1949. Soon after, he met the love of his life, Joyce (Hummel) Mills and they would have celebrated 64 years together on July 27, 2015....

Jamie Leigh Pearson of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Thursday, June 25, 2015 in Kalamazoo. She was born March 3, 1983 in Kalamazoo to David and Jenann (Robinson) Pearson and was a 2001 graduate of Plainwell High School.Jamie enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Her love of travel began with spring break trips to Navarre Beach, FL. In her...

James K. Parks, born December 15, 1932 in Grand Rapids to Richard and Berenice (Churcott) Parks, passed away on June 23, 2015. He was 82 years old. Jim kept his marvelous sense of humor right up to the end.During the Korean War Jim was stationed in Tokyo. He and a friend went duck hunting on the Sea of Japan during...

Ernest J. ‘Ernie’ Hagerman of Allegan, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at Wings Home in Allegan. He was born January 14, 1932 in Shepherd, MI to Ernest and Vera (Edmonds) Hagerman.Ernie served his country in the U.S. Army. For many years he was employed in sales, retiring in 1996. In his leisure time he enjoyed family time, playing...

Fred H. Katje of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Sunday, June 21, 2015 at his home. Mr. Katje was born September 12, 1931 in Martin to Garry and Bessie (VanderPloeg) Katje and was a lifelong resident of the area. For 38 years he was employed with Menasha Corp. in Otsego, retiring in 1994. For over 50 years he had been a...

Beverly J. Cox of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Sunday, June 21, 2015 in the arms of her family. She was born October 17, 1936 in Homer to Clinton and Bertha (Carlisle) Drinkwater. Beverly was a devoted homemaker and loved being with her family and taking care of her grandkids. In her leisure time she enjoyed playing cards and Bingo, working...

Betty White of Battle Creek (formerly of Otsego) went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 18, 2015 in Battle Creek. Betty was born March 2, 1926 in Otsego the daughter of Eber and Helen (VanFleet) Smith. She had received a teaching certificate from Allegan County Normal School.Surviving are her children, Richard Veenkant of Battle Creek, Robert ‘Bob’...

Mary Jane ‘Bunny’ Cary of Otsego passed away Saturday, June 20, 2015 in Kalamazoo. Bunny was born November 6, 1925 in Kalamazoo the daughter of Jefferson and Frances ‘Kitty’ Cummings. She graduated from Western Michigan University and taught in Dowagiac, Gobles and then for Otsego Public Schools for 35 years retiring in 1985. In her leisure time she enjoyed playing...

Marge passed away Friday, June 12, 2015 at her home in Otsego.She was born December 28, 1928, the only child of Leonard and Helen (Beale) Loomis. She grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio and attended Western Reserve University for two years. She married in 1950 and was blessed with 3 children. After completing college and a degree in Library Science,...

William Samuel “Sam” Simpson passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2015.Sam was born February 7, 1947 the most beloved son of Florence and Ray Simpson. Sam was always interested in everything and did everything well. He played the lead in Cheaper by the Dozen in high school and built rockets after school, one of the first going astray through the basement...