Obituaries

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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’...

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...

Sharon passed away Sunday, June 7, 2015 in Plainwell.She was born October 7, 1934 in Onida, SD the daughter of Harry and Pauline (Bohning) McGuire. Sharon had worked for many years in the cafeteria at Plainwell High School. She was a good, honest, Christian woman. Sharon enjoyed sewing, crafting, collecting Christmas pins, bird watching, card club, volunteering and spending time...

Helen Fuseek of Plainwell passed away Sunday, June 7, 2015 at her home.Helen was born July 2, 1921 in Belding, MI to Clarence and Mary (Miller) Bowen. She enjoyed nature and doing crafts such as crocheting, making dolls and painting; Helen knew her Bible well and more than anything loved her family. On June 16, 1966 in Golden, CO she...

Gloria passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2015 at her home in Otsego.She was born August 19, 1952 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Melvin and Betty (Randall) Hawley.She enjoyed watching the birds, especially hummingbirds, taking care of her chickens, cooking, keeping her house tidy and going to garage sales. Gloria lived for her family and loved spending time with and taking...

Millie passed away Friday, May 29, 2015 in Kalamazoo.She was born Decembeer 23, 1939 in Steele, MO, the daughter of Bryan and Ethel (Basden) Cooper. Millie loved to sing and she loved being with her family.Surviving are 5 children, Teddy (Catherine) Winn, Darla (Tim) Lassiter, Karen (Doug) VanderPyle, Patricia (Rick) Sheldon, Bryan Winn; 14 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; many nieces...

David L. Chappell of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Thursday, May 28, 2015 in Kalamazoo. David was born August 15, 1927 in Kalamazoo to Floyd McNair and Margaret Marie (Kelly) Chappell. He graduated from St. Augustine High School and attended Western Michigan University. David was an Army Veteran of WWII serving as a radio operator in the occupational force in Japan....

John F. Avery of Kalamazoo, MI passed away suddenly on Wednesday, May 14, 2015 at his home in Kalamazoo. John was born August 18, 1948 in Kalamazoo to Willard and Goldie (Griffith) Avery and was raised by his grandparents Pauline and Forrest Griffith. John served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps during Vietnam and was honorably discharged as a...

Stephen Charles Westin was born in San Diego, California on March 18, 1944. At age 4 he moved with his grandparents to Freeport, Minnesota where he resided until age 14. Freeport is a rural farming community and this is where Steve began his love for the soil and all things connected to the Earth. One of his favorite pastimes was...

Penny went to be with her Lord and Savior suddenly on May 13, 2015.Penny was born August 29, 1954 in Kalamazoo; the daughter of Donald and Georgia Young. A 1972 graduate of Otsego High School, Penny enjoyed reading mystery novels, had a passion for sewing, working crossword puzzles and gardening. She loved her first winter in Florida riding bikes and...

Mildred M. Beldon passed away Sunday, May 10, 2015 at her home in Trowbridge Township. She was born May 31, 1931 in Allegan the daughter of DeForest and Marion (Schuler) Myers.For many years she owned and operated Millie’s Aloha Restaurant until her retirement in October 1993. In her spare time Mildred enjoyed gardening, sewing, scrapbooking to make cards, and all...