Obituaries

Betty L. Sparks of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Saturday, June 28, 2014 in Allegan. Betty was born November 21, 1935 in Allegan to Alva and Anna (Babbitt) Hayes.She had worked for Wm. Crispe Hospital for 11 years and then worked for Parker Hannifin for 31 years retiring in 1998. In her leisure time she enjoyed flower gardening, wintering in Florida...

Mark E. Clark of Kalamazoo passed away Tuesday, June 24, 2014 after a long illness. Mark was born May 31, 1970 in Kalamazoo, the son of Edward and Linda (Boutain) Clark. He was a graduate of Otsego High School and attended college. For many years, he was employed with Prab in Kalamazoo. He enjoyed race cars, motorcycles and fishing. Mark...

Barbara Cooley Michaels passed away Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at her home in Otsego. Barb was born June 16, 1932 in Otsego to Gerald and Minnie (Arendsen) Langeance.She worked for Farnsworth Chevrolet and Rock-Tenn. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Otsego, the Golden Girls, Friends of the Otsego Library, Trustee of the Otsego Area Historical Society,...

Aaron James “Jim” “AJ” Commissaris was born October 19, 1945 in Salem Township, the son of Abram and Henrietta (Kuiper) Commissaris. Jim served his country in the US Army during the Vietnam War and had worked for General Motors until his retirement in 1990.In 1987 Jim married Jacque Nulty Drobny and lived in the Allegan area. They were active members...

Jeffrey W. Town of Otsego, passed away Saturday, June 14, 2014 in Plainwell.Jeff was born July 30, 1956 in Plainwell to Milo and Irene (Speicher) Town. For more than 12 years he worked as a tool and die machinist at Crescent in Allegan. He was currently the owner and operator of SweetTown Bar in Bloomingdale. In his spare time Jeff...

Henry VanDerMeer of Otsego passed away Saturday, June 14, 2014 at the Dussia House in Otsego. Mr. VanDerMeer was born June 28, 1930 in Otsego to William and Jeanetta (Boerman) VanDerMeer. He served his country during the Korean Conflict, worked construction for a few years and then worked at James River retiring in 1991. In his leisure time he enjoyed...

Vivian Peterson of Otsego, MI passed away Wednesday, June 11, 2014 in Allegan. Vivian was born December 23, 1922 in Otsego to Owen and Maud (Pain) Sherwood. She was a 1941 graduate of Otsego High School and had been a cosmetologist for many years. Vivian attended the Otsego Baptist Church, was a member of the True Blue Class, sang in...

Wilbur A. “Bill” Pearson of Plainwell, MI passed away Monday, June 9, 2014 at Alamo Nursing Home. Bill was born October 14, 1925 in Kalamazoo to George and Hazel (Milham) Pearson. Bill proudly served his country during WW II in the European theatre where he participated in the first penetration of the Seigfried line, the Battle of the Bulge, the...

Diane Kay Reed of Martin, MI passed away Monday, June 9, 2014 in Kalamazoo. Diane was born June 1, 1947 in Toledo, OH the daughter of Theodore and Jane (LaCourse) Navarre. Diane loved her Lord; vacations with her husband and trips with her daughters and granddaughters; watching birds; her flowers and dog and collecting dolls but most important to her...

Donita K. Miller of Plainwell, MI passed away Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born September 15, 1949 in Des Moines, Iowa to Les and Marge (Latimer) Gideon. For many years she was a cashier at the Harding’s Market in Plainwell and had also worked as a hairdresser at many nursing homes in the...

Robert Allan Fry, 43 of Otsego passed away at home May 26, 2014. Robert was born June 2, 1970 in Plainwell, the son of John and Nancy (Deaton) Fry.Robert graduated from Otsego High School in 1988. He also graduated from KVCC in 1997 with an Associate Applied Science with honors. He joined the U.S. Army in 1988 and served until...

Floyd E. Slater Sr. age 76 of Otsego, passed away Friday, May 23, 2014, at Plainwell Pines.He was born November 30, 1937 in Kalamazoo to Horace and Florence (Dornan) Slater. Floyd served his country in the United States Army in 1955, serving 10 years in active duty and 10 years in the reserves until his retirement in 1985. For 26...

Verna M. Louallen of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, May 19, 2014, at her home. Verna was born February 14, 1935, in Pullman to Robert andIrene (Finn)Burrows.She had been a member of Bitely Community Church for many years. As a young girl she had helped at the Fly Inn Restaurant in Plainwell and then was employed with Plainwell Sanitarium from...

Peggy Shearer age 68 passed away Monday, May 5, 2014 unexpectedly at her home in Allegan.She was born September 12, 1945 in Plainwell to Russell and Margaret (Rice) Filkins. Peggy was a 1963 graduate of Otsego High School and had worked at Kal-Equip and at Parker Hannifin for many years until her retirement. She was a member of the Otsego...

Brent Booyinga of Allegan passed away Monday May 5, 2014 in Mishawaka, IN. Brent was born December 12, 1949 in Lansing, MI. Following graduation from high school Brent went to work for the railroads where he worked until he was no longer able. Brent enjoyed fishing and traveling, especially to FL where he had a great time visiting friends.Brent is...

Raymond Baker of Otsego, MI passed away Saturday, May 3, 2014. Raymond was born March 7, 1925 in Otsego, MI the son of Alfred and Anna (Beck) Baker. Ray worked as a farmer for several years before serving his country in the United States Army during WWII until his honorable discharge in 1943. Following his time in the service Ray...

Catherine J. Peacock of Centreville passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2014.Cathy was born in Kalamazoo, MI on March 15, 1932 to Charles and Josephine (Deurloo) Barton. Cathy graduated from Otsego High School with the class of 1950. On June 20, 1952 she was married to Donald Peacock at the Otsego United Methodist Church. She and Don continued to live in...

George Blair “Stubby” Deemer age 67 of Plainwell, passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Wings Home in Allegan.He was born November 27, 1946 in Brookville, PA to Irvin and Elizabeth (Vandervort) Deemer. For many years he owned and operated a small engine repair business. In his leisure time Stubby enjoyed bowling, going to races at M.I.S., canoeing, Camparoma, bow...

Bernice Dorothy Norton of Martin, passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2014, in Plainwell. Her unwavering faith in the God who paid for her sins has now enabled her to be received into His presence, where she will spend eternity!Bernice Dorothy Samuelson was born on November 5, 1917 to Anton and Amanda (Engdehl) Samuelson. Her 96 years were filled with service...

Hazel L. Rice of Otsego passed away Sunday, April 20, 2014 at Wings Home in Allegan.She was born August 23, 1927 in Heath Township to Otto and Josie (Boerman) Pegg. Hazel was a 1943 Otsego High School graduate. On August 28, 1948 she married John Rice who passed away in 2002. She was employed at the Allegan County Court House,...