Obituaries

James M. ‘Pork’ Stewart of Gobles, Michigan, passed away Thursday, August 2, 2012 at his home. Pork was born July 13, 1956 in Allegan to Buddy and Catherine (Blozvich) Stewart. For many years he was employed as a roofing and siding subcontractor. In his leisure time he enjoyed riding his motorcycle and playing cards.Surviving are his wife, Tonya (Miller) Stewart;...

Lucille Larsen of Otsego, Michigan passed away Wednesday, August 1, 2012 in Otsego. Mrs. Larsen was born March 8, 1923 in Salyersville, KY to Floyd and Hortense (Bailey) Pinks. For several years she was employed with McPherson Plastics in Otsego, retiring in 1980.Surviving are two grandsons, Michael (Sherry) Kling of Sturgis and Ryan (Kelly) Kling of Boston; two great-grandsons, Mitch...

William E. ‘Bill’ Burd, Sr. of Hart, Michigan (formerly of Gull Lake) died Monday, July 30, 2012 in Hart. Bill was born August 2, 1931 in Doster, MI to Ernest and Lois (Sanders) Burd. An Otsego High School graduate, he had served his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and was a member of the American...

William J. “Bill” Brown of Allegan (formerly of Kalamazoo) died peacefully Monday, July 30, 2012, in Kalamazoo, surrounded by family. Mr. Brown was born December 26, 1922 to Howard and Louise (Noteboom) Brown and was a lifelong resident of the area.Bill, who was married to Gladys Ball for 64 years, was a farmer, operating his own farm, and also ran...

Michael G. Barton of Vicksburg (formerly of Otsego) passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, July 24, 2012. Mike was born March 23, 1947 in Plainwell to Mac and Verna (Hartlage) Barton and was a lifelong resident of the area. He was a 1965 graduate of Otsego High School and served his country in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam. After over 25 years...

Albert A. “Big Al” Wason of Otsego, MI passed away Thursday, July 19, 2012 at his home. Albert was born July 11, 1939 in Plainwell to Albert J. and Junerose (Livingston) Wason and was a lifelong resident of the area. Al served his country in the US Air Force. For 43 years he was employed with Plainwell Paper Co., retiring...

David R. Holmes of Otsego, Michigan passed away Monday, July 16, 2012, at his home. Dave was born July 21, 1944 in Toledo, OH to Grant and Ernestine (Radsick) Holmes. From 1961 to 1981 he served his country in the US Navy. He was a Life Member of V.F.W. and a member of the U.S.S. Little Rock Association. Dave retired...

Doris J. Edson of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, June 27, 2012 at her home. Mrs. Edson was born June 2, 1935 to Raymond and Helen Wells.For almost 20 years she was employed with Kal-Equip, Alan Tech, Parker-Hannifin and finally at Hoffman House, in Allegan, which she later purchased and operated until she was 75. In her leisure time she...

Jerri Sue Blood of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Saturday, June 23, 2012, in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Blood was born September 14, 1942 in Kalamazoo to Jocko and Marie (Hoeness) Blakeman and was a lifelong resident of the area. For many years she was employed with Borgess-Pipp Hospital, retiring when she turned 50.Jerri liked to watch the Detroit Tigers, Verlander was her...

James E. “Jim” Watson of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Thursday, June 21, 2012, in Kalamazoo. Mr. Watson was born November 2, 1937 in Hillsdale to Roy and Ruth (Camp) Watson and was raised by Donald and Martha VerHage.For 30 years he was employed as a truck driver, first with Phil McVean Trucking in Martin and then with Menasha Corp. in...

Norma Bentley of Otsego passed away Wednesday, June 20, 2012 in Plainwell. Norma was born November 9, 1920 to Motley and Mary (Rubert) Tefft in Otsego on the family farm. Norma graduated from Otsego High School in 1937 then worked at Mol’s Restaurant and was a bookkeeper at Otsego Sanitary Milk. Norma was a life member of the Otsego VFW...

Reta M. Pountain of Allegan, Michigan, passed away Sunday, June 17, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Pountain was born August 6, 1926 in Manton, Michigan to Roy and Edith (Porter) Brown. Reta grew up in New Buffalo, Michigan and then lived in Kalamazoo. For many years she was employed with Shakespeare Co. and later with the bakeries at W.M.U. and K-College....

Douglas Garton of Plainwell, Michigan passed away Saturday, June 16, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Doug was born November 16, 1950 in Allegan , MI the son of Earl and Marjorie (Connor) Garton. He had served in the US Army during the Viet Nam War. He lived in California for 30 years and worked as a commercial electrician and was a member...

Leland ‘Lee’ Erbe of Otsego, MI passed away Saturday, June 16, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Lee was born November 4, 1930 in Port Sanilac, MI the son of Howard and Myrtle (Pohzehl) Erbe. Following high school Lee enlisted in the Army and spent 3 years in Germany during the Korean War. Following his time in the service he met and married...

Mary Helen Baker of Plainwell, MichiganGod saw you getting tired. He did what He thought was best. He put His arms around you and said, “come and rest”. He opened up His golden gates on June 13, 2012 and with His arms around you, you gently slipped away.Mary went home to be with her Lord on June 13, 2012. Mary...

Jacqueline L. “Jackie” Newton of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Monday, June 11, 2012 at her home. Jackie was born July 14, 1948 in Allegan to James and Lois (Mellon) Newton and had been a lifelong resident of the area.A graduate of Otsego High School, she was employed for over 40 years with Parker-Hannifin Brass, retiring in 2011. Jackie was a...

Robert E. and Doris A. McKee of Tucson, AZ (formerly of Otsego)were each surrounded by their family when they went home to be with their Lord, she on July 10, 2011 and he on August 22, 2011.Doris was born July 13, 1927 in Otsego, the daughter of C. Benjamin and Signa (Gustafson) Cowles. Bob was born December 4, 1927, in...

James Langdon, of Otsego, passed away Friday, June 1, 2012 in Allegan. James was born August 13, 1946 in Kalamazoo, the son of Dale and Ruth (Castle) Langdon.Following high school, Jim served with the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War. After his time in the Navy, Jim was employed at Rockwell International for 15 years and then at Preferred Plastics...

Maxine P. McFanin of Otsego, passed away Sunday, May 27, 2012 in Otsego.Mrs. McFanin was born on October 17, 1916 in Broadwater, Nebraska, the daughter of George and Lydia (Cork) Sheldon. She was the oldest member of the Otsego First Baptist Church and had worked at Dix Street Elementary school in the kitchen for several years. She enjoyed reading, doing...

Sondra A.Shook of Otsego, passed away Saturday, May 26, 2012 at her home.Sondra was born September 3, 1938 in Otsego the daughter of Neil and Virginia (Bushee) Misner.She was a natural born homemaker and cook and enjoyed making holiday meals for her family. Sondra loved children and would often volunteer to babysit. When her son was playing hockey she was...