Obituaries

William O. Gray passed away Friday, November 6, 2015.He was born January 18, 1939 in Delton the son of Orville and Lillian (Roberts) Gray. For 30 years Bill was a member of the Teamsters Local 7 in Kalamazoo. He enjoyed watersports especially taking pontoon rides on Pine Lake with his wife and friends. On October 25, 1958 in Plainwell he...

Jerome passed away suddenly, Saturday, October 31, 2015.He was born November 15, 1948 in Plainwell the son of Jerome and Anna (McLaughlin) Bellgraph.Surviving are his father, siblings, Susanne (Mike) Zantello, Barbara Little, Richard (Della) Bellgraph and Lawrence Bellgraph along with many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his mother, and sister, Stella Dailey.A private graveside service will be...

Noah passed away Friday, October 30, 2015 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.He was born September 8, 2015 in Kalamazoo to Kimberly Sharp.Surviving are his mother; siblings, Terrence, Na-taya and Skyla and his grandparents, Eddie and Cathy (Wright) Sharp.He was preceded in death by a special great-grandfather, James Sharp.Cremation has taken place and a family gathering will be held at a...

Jerry Grauman of Kalamazoo (formerly of Statesville, NC) passed away Wednesday, October 28, 2015 in Kalamazoo. Jerry was born June 27, 1943 in Kalamazoo to Clarence and Bernice (Punches) Grauman. He was a graduate of Plainwell High School and Western Michigan University. Jerry worked for Eaton Corporation for 32 years. He had only recently moved back to the area. Not...

Donald passed away Sunday, October 25, 2015 at his home in Plainwell.He was born October 30, 1932 in Kalamazoo to Darwin and Helen (DeWater) Kridler. Don served his country in the US Navy. He had worked for Farm Services Silo Co. and then for the City of Otsego’s Department of Public Works where he ran the transfer station until his...

Dorothy passed away Sunday, October 25, 2015 at Life Care Center in Plainwell.She was born October 30, 1922 in Ironton, OH to William and Catherine (VanHaften) DeHaven. Dorothy was a 1940 Plainwell High School graduate and had worked for her parents at DeHaven Soda Shop in Plainwell until the mid 1940’s. There she met Louis Beattie and on June 3,...

Sabine passed away Sunday, October 25, 2015 at the Wings Home in Allegan.She was born June 28, 1962 in Salach, Germany to Alois and Irmgart (Hartman) Panz. She had worked at Checker Motors, Parker Hannifin and the Gun Lake Casino. Sabine was a born leader who enjoyed waitressing and cooking at the VFW. In her spare time she enjoyed disco...

Jill M. Garrison, Kalamazoo, MI (formerly of Otsego, MI) passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at her home in Friendship Village in Kalamazoo, MI.She was born on October 9, 1941 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Lloyd and Helen (Bujack) Bowker. She was a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School and had worked for the James River Company for almost...

Reverend Roland Welch went home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, October 21, 2015.He was born March 2, 1927 in Raymond Center, Wisconsin to Earle and Lily (Tiegs) Welch. He served his country in the US Army during World War II. In 1947 he entered Concordia Theological Seminary at Springfield, IL. After completing his under-graduate...

Myron passed away Sunday, October 18, 2015 at his home.He was born September 9, 1930 on the family farm in Martin to Roy and Irene (Pease) Knight. Myron had delivered for Pet Milk Co. before going to work for Checker Motor Co. until his retirement. He had also done some farming. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, golfing, bowling,...

Phipps, Eddy Jack Phipps of Otsego, MI passed away Wednesday, October 14, 2015 at his home in Otsego. He was born August 20, 1929 in Taos, New Mexico to Lee and Jewell (Bonner) Phipps. For many years Eddy worked in the logging industry in the northwest states. In his spare time he enjoyed hunting, fishing, reading western novels, gem faceting,...

Ronald passed away Sunday, October 11, 2015 at Wings Home in Allegan.He was born September 4, 1949 in Benton Harbor the son of Edward and Caroline (Howard) Baes. He served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. Ron had worked for Atlas Press/ Clausing Industrial for 17 years until his retirement in 1987. After his retirement...

Mollie L. Riker passed away on Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Briarwood Assisted Living in Allegan.She was born on November 18, 1932 in Allegan, the daughter of Maxwell and Bernice (Richardson) Morris. She had lived in the area and had worked at Kal-Equip and had been active with the Moose Lodge. On August 18, 1973 she married Russell M. Riker...

James passed away Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.He was born on November 30, 1949 in Los Angeles, CA to Alfred and Bertha (Leon) Martin. Jim served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. For over 18 years he had worked for Parker Hannifin HSD, most recently as a painter. In his spare...

Ruth passed away Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at her home in Shelbyville.She was born September 28, 1936 in Dorr Township to Charles and Effie Stankey. For over 25 years Ruth was head cook for Plainwell Public Schools until her retirement in 1993. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening, cooking and most of all spending time with her family. She...

Jerry Bowen Sr. passed away Monday, September 28, 2015 at his home in Otsego. He was born September 10, 1949 in Holland, MI to Clinton and Darlene (Emmons) Bowen. Jerry had worked in his younger years in the onion fields in the area and on a pickle farm and for over 13 years he had worked at Allegan Tubular. In...

Jean passed away Saturday, September 26, 2015 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo.She was born August 26, 1932 in Otsego the daughter of Elmer and Cleora (Frost) Brenner. Jean was a 1950 Otsego High School graduate. For 30 years she was a bookkeeper for Wykstra Oil and in her spare time was a volunteer at the Martin Resource Center. Jean...

Johanna passed away Saturday, September 12, 2015 at her home in Alamo Township with her daughter by her side.She was the last of seven children born to Reinard and Lucille (Kuiper) Dekker on January 22, 1920 in Grundy Center, Iowa. Johanna was a 1937 graduate of Old Central High School and had worked at Allen Electric during WWII. In 1941...

Shirley passed away Sunday, September 6, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.She was born on March 27, 1938 in Plainwell, MI to Morris and Audrey (Edson) Stoughton. She married Thomas Campbell on December 17, 1955. Shirley was a 1956 graduate of Otsego High School. As a young lady she loved singing and having friends over for music and dancing....

Wanita passed away Saturday, September 5, 2015 at the Wings Home in Allegan.She was born October 25, 1934 in Kalamazoo Township the daughter of Myron and Ruby (Baker) Alexander. For many years she was a nurse at the Kalamazoo State Hospital. Wanita enjoyed growing flowers and traveling across the US to visit her sister. She was a member of the...