Obituaries

Harriet K. Hoyt of Allegan, MI passed away on Friday, December 7, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Harriet was born October 6, 1946 in Kalamazoo to Sheldon and Marie (Bosma) Stensland. Harriet had worked for Kal-Equip for a short time before starting with Perrigo in Allegan. After 27 years of service Harriet retired in 2006. She enjoyed visiting casinos, knitting, scrapbooking, her...

Steven C. “Steve” Stevenson of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Sunday, December 2, 2012 in Nassau County, NY, where he was assisting in recovery efforts following Hurricane Sandy. Steve was born September 8, 1960 in Plainwell to Thomas Neal and Paula Louise (Griffith) Stevenson, Sr.He was a 1978 graduate of Otsego High School, where he was on the swim team and...

Vanessa Kay Stewart of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, December 3, 2012 at her home. Vanessa was born June 21, 1985 in Allegan, the daughter of David and Diane (Fox) Stewart.Surviving are her mother and step-father, Diane and Jerry Wheeler of Otsego; 2 half-sisters and a half-brother, Donna Jean ‘Sarah” Spencer, Bonnie Spencer and Tony Spencer, all of Grand Rapids;...

Mrs. Valborg Davis of Plainwell, Michigan passed away Monday, December 3, 2012 in Plainwell. Mrs. Davis was born November 13, 1920 in Ryder, N.D. to Schjold and Ellen (Troite) Eide and had been a lifelong resident of North Dakota until moving to Michigan in 2000. Valborg had worked for Drake High School for over 5 years, was a secretary for...

Laura M. “Sis” Lewis of Shelbyville, MI passed Saturday, December 1, 2012 at home with her family at her side. Laura “Sis” was born September 27, 1940 in Plainwell to Clifton and Laura (Root) Holmes and had been a lifelong resident of the area. She had been employed at the Otsego Theatre, the Otsego Inn, Metron of Allegan and for...

Betty Ailene James, of Plainwell, MI passed away at her home, Sunday, November 25, 2012. She was born September 22, 1918, daughter of Hobart and Lucille Hale. She graduated from Richland Agricultural School in 1936, spent one year at Western State Teachers College and one year at Parsons Business College. She was employed as secretary and telephone operator in Prairieville,...

Joan Maxine DeVries of Plainwell, Michigan passed away Tuesday, November 27, 2012, in Kalamazoo. Joan was born April 24, 1946 in Kalamazoo to Reinert and June Maxine (Owen) DeVries. She was a 1965 graduate of Portage Northern High School. For 10 years she was employed with Dickerson’s Greenhouse in Bloomingdale and then was employed with the Plainwell Wal-Mart as a...

George H. “Butch’ Hatten of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Thursday, November 22, 2012 in Kalamazoo. George was born August 10, 1953 in Allegan, the son of George and Margarite (Rex) Hatten. For many years he owned and operated a tire re-selling business.On September 15, 1972 in Allegan he married Linda Metheny, who survives. Also surviving are his children, Mid Wilbur...

Rachel J. “Grandma Buddy” Cary of Otsego, Michigan passed away Monday, November 26, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Cary was born December 10, 1929 in South Haven to Orlo and Melba (Dunfield) Fletcher. For 30 years she was employed as a rural mail carrier with the U.S. Post Office and had also driven school bus for the Otsego Public Schools for...

Wilma J. Dalrymple of Watson Twp., Michigan, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Wednesday, November 21, 2012. Mrs. Dalrymple was born September 21, 1926 In Jamestown, Michigan to William and Jeanetta (Boerman) VanDerMeere. Wilma was a devoted homemaker and especially enjoyed spending time with her family. In her leisure time she enjoyed quilting and sewing.Surviving are...

Wayne Allen Jankowiak of Allegan, Michigan, passed away Monday, November 19, 2012 at his home. Wayne was born May 25, 1956, in Midland to Virgil and Bonnie (Hiliker) Jankowiak. For 4 years he served his country in the U. S. Army and for many years was employed at auto parts buffing and polishing. Wayne was good hearted and always enjoyed...

Larry L.Wason of Otsego passed away, Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at his home. Larry was born June 21, 1942 in Plainwell, the son of Albert and Junerose (Livingston) Wason and was a lifelong resident of Otsego. For 34 years he was employed with Plainwell Paper Co. until 2000. Then he worked at Schafers Bakery until 2002. In his leisure time,...

Betty Dussia of Otsego passed away Sunday, November 11, 2012 in Otsego. Betty was born October 4, 1932 Allegan, MI to Leo and Garnett (Goodacre) Witt. Betty had been employed at Kal-Equip, Premier Printing and as a manager at the Comstock VFW. She was a past President of the VFW Post 3030 Ladies Auxilliary; enjoyed golfing and bowling and was...

Lois Wedge of Allegan, Michigan went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 10, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Lois was born February 27, 1933 in Vassar, MI to Ernest and Adelia (Englehart) Bender. On March 23, 1953 she was married to Karlton E. Wedge in Vassar, MI. For many years she worked as a secretary and doing clerical...

Terry D. Boerman of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, November 5, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Terry was born July 16, 1952, in Plainwell to Robert and Henrietta (Clear) Boerman and was a lifelong resident of the area. In 1979 he joined the U.S. Army, where he worked as a tank mechanic. Following his service years he began his career in small...

Norma L. Couk of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Saturday, November 3, 2012 in Plainwell. Mrs. Couk was born January 13, 1923, in Plainwell to Harlo and Helen (Price) Perry. For 17 years she was employed as a Librarian Assistant at Parchment Schools, retiring in 1978. In her leisure time Norma enjoyed knitting, crocheting, ceramics, family history and organizing pictures and...

Jack L. Stoneburner of Alamo, Michigan, passed away Thursday, November 1, 2012 at his home. Jack was born June 2, 1936 at the family home in Alamo to Clinton and Ruth (Kaylor) Stoneburner and was a lifelong resident of the area. A graduate of Otsego High School, for many years he was employed with Eaton Corp. Jack also enjoyed keeping...

On Wednesday, October 24, 2012, on vacation in Portland, Oregon, Mike Czuk joined his Lord and Savior in heaven. Mike was a sinner, though saved by grace and redeemed to proudly carry the love of God to all he met. He was energetic, enthusiastic, and an incredibly hard worker. He tackled all of his endeavors with pride: as a paperboy...

Ruth L. Fast of Otsego, Michigan passed away Saturday, October 27, 2012 in Alamo. Ruth was born in Watson Township to William and Blanche (Wilson) Deike. Ruth was a long distance operator for Michigan Bell Telephone from 1944-1948 and was a very active member of the Otsego United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed gardening, baking, reading and writing personal views...

George C. “Cliff” Shipley II of Otsego, Michigan passed away Saturday, October 27, 2012 in Otsego. Cliff was born October 30, 1935 in Watson Township to George and Ethel (Lukins) Shipley. Cliff was a lifetime farmer and horseman; raising and breeding registered Percherons and was a member of the Allegan Draft Horse and Mule Association. Cliff’s main loves were his...