Obituaries

Areitta “Rita” Jacobs of Otsego, Michigan passed away Sunday, October 20, 2013 at Plainwell Pines. Mrs. Jacobs was born June 26, 1937 in Kalamazoo to Lloyd and Blanche (Leversee) Conner and was a lifelong resident of the area.Rita was a devoted homemaker. In her leisure time she loved watching hummingbirds, enjoyed her cats and especially loved her family.On May 16,...

Mr. Sherley E. Noyes of Plainwell passed away Friday, October 18, 2013 in Plainwell. Mr. Noyes was born March 22, 1917 in Merson the son of Samuel and Gertrude (Miller) Noyes. He attended the Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music. Sherley was a charter member of Lighthouse Baptist Church where he led Bible studies and preached on occasion. He...

Hazel “Jean” James of Portage, Michigan passed away Friday, October 18, 2013 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. Mrs. James was born March 27, 1945, in Grand Haven to Nolan and Neatice (Cowell) Parker. She was a graduate of Plainwell High School, had driven bus for Plainwell schools for 8 years and also worked in the ER Registration Dept. at...

Spencer “Skip” Sherwood of Otsego, passed away Wednesday, October 16, 2013, in Plainwell. Skip was born June 29, 1939 in Otsego, the son of Spencer and Millicent (Smith) Sherwood. He worked for Parker Brass for 40 years before his retirement in 2002. On December 3, 1960 he married Romaine Ellis in Otsego.Skip was a member of the Otsego Fire Department....

Stephen Rex of Otsego passed away Wednesday, October 16, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Steve was born September 18, 1959 in Kalamazoo, the son of Howard and Thelma (Sheflea) Rex. Steve was a graduate of Otsego High School. He was an avid NHRA dragster race fan, attending many events at the Martin drag strip. Steve also enjoyed fishing and had participated in...

James Severe ‘Jim’ Forcier of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, October 15, 2013 in Battle Creek. Mr. Forcier was born December 8, 1931 in St. Paul, MN to Benjamin and Blanche (Jones) Forcier.He graduated from Wilson High School, St. Paul, and earned his Bachelor Degree from the University of Minnesota. During the Korean War he served his country for two...

Jack V. Nichols of Otsego, Michigan, went to be with his Lord on October 10, 2013 in Alamo. Mr. Nichols was born December 10, 1931, in Otsego to Robert and Bertha (Finger) Nichols.Jack served his country in the U.S. Navy. For over 35 years he worked for Menasha Corp. until his retirement. He also served on the Otsego Fire Dept....

Ellen F. Latta of Cooper Township, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at her home surrounded by her family. Ellen was born January 25, 1964, in Kalamazoo the daughter of George and Helen (Ellison) Cobb. For many years she was employed as a health care supervisor.On February 14, 1995 in Allegan, MI she married Jerry Latta who survives....

Linda DeBoer of Plainwell passed away Thursday October 3, 2013 at Life Care Center of Plainwell. Linda was born February 28, 1947 in Fort Payne, AL to Walter and Dorothy (Hartwell) Burroughs.She was a very compassionate, giving woman with a great sense of humor. Linda worked at Ely Manor and an area adult foster care home as an LPN for...

Frances Hiemstra age 95 of Alamo Twp. passed away peacefully at home with her family in attendance, Tuesday October 1, 2013. Frances was born January 31, 1918, in Prairieville Twp. the daughter of Alfred and Bernice (Hughes) Anson. Frances was a 1936 graduate of Plainwell High School. In her early years she was a homemaker, later working 20 years for...

Leslie Bronson of Allegan, Michigan passed away Sunday, September 29, 2013 at Wings Home in Allegan with his family by his side. Leslie was born January 17, 1948 in Plainwell, MI, the son of James and Helen (Hagenbuch) Bronson. He enjoyed playing guitar, riding his Harley Davidson, collecting Harley Davidson memorabilia and he loved spending time with his family and...

David James Bronson of Kalamazoo, Michigan passed away Thursday, September 26, 2013. Dave was born January 12, 1963 in Plainwell, the son of James and Helen (Hagenbuch) Bronson. He served his country in the US Navy. Dave worked for 18 years at Molson Co. doing plastic injection molding. He loved the LST-325, the World War II ship his father served...

Nelson C. Norton of Otsego passed away Wednesday, September 25, 2013 in Allegan. Nelson was born April 1, 1935 in Leoma, TN to Carl and Dollie Norton. He served his country in the Air Force. Nelson worked for GM for 28½ years retiring in 1993. In his leisure time he enjoyed building model airplanes and had an interest in anything...

Tyler Edward “Burd Man” Burd of Otsego, Michigan passed away Monday, September 23, 2013. Tyler was born September 16, 1996 in Plainwell. He enjoyed building BMX bikes, small engine work, fishing, and deer hunting, inspiring his intention to become a DNR officer. Tyler was a very hard worker who had a huge heart, often clearing snow and mowing yards for...

Ruby Jewel (Ferguson) Swinehart of Otsego, MI passed away Sunday, September 22, 2013 at her home. Ruby was born July 7, 1938 in Russell, AR the daughter of Oscar and Birdie (Udie) Ferguson. Ruby worked for Bronson Methodist Hospital for over 20 years. She enjoyed attending and working flea markets and she loved spending time with her grandchildren, especially having...

Michael Haessig of Otsego, Michigan passed away Saturday, September 14, 2013 in Allegan. Mr. Haessig was born October 28, 1923 in Kalamazoo, the son of Eugene and Melinda (Porter) Haessig. He was a Navy veteran of WW II. Michael worked at KVP, then Brown, then James River from 1941-1986, retiring as a foreman. He was a life member of the...

Donna (Reed) Westfield was born at home on December 8, 1921 to Walter and Florence (Julian) Reed. After dealing with the aftermath of a stroke for several months she joined the love of her life, Fred, in heaven on Sunday, September 15, 2013. While in high school Donna worked at Clyde Berry’s Grocery Store (later Dick’s Grocery) in Otsego. She...

Dorothy L. Digby of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, September 11, 2013, in Allegan. Mrs. Digby was born June 30, 1940, in Chicago to Larus and Ethel (Rumpf) Gislason.She was employed with Angle Steel, then the AFC Home in Plainwell and then as a driver for the Allegan County Mental Health van. Her favorite leisure activity was horseback riding. She...

Dorothy J. Martin passed away Saturday, September 7, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Dorothy was born December 7, 1921 in Duncombe, Iowa the daughter of Lawrence and Geneva (McClain) Crouse. She had worked for Plainwell Paper for 30 years and in her leisure time enjoyed reading, gardening, homemaking and traveling. Dorothy was a member of the Otsego Church of God and enjoyed...

Donald C. Himelrick, Sr. of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, September 4, 2013, in Allegan. Mr. Himelrick was born August 4, 1930, to Earl and Lillian (Chalmers) Himelrick.Don graduated from Northeastern University and Burdett College, both in Massachusetts. For many years he was employed as comptroller/treasurer, first with Cabot, Cabot and Forbes in Boston, MA, and later with Meyer C....