Obituaries

Ermajean Bernice Wheeler of Otsego, MI passed away Friday, August 24, 2012 in Allegan. Mrs. Wheeler was born June 9, 1926 in Otsego, MI the daughter of Raymond and Verla (Pillars) Laws. Erma enjoyed crocheting, holidays, making excellent fudge and cooking, traveling, bingo and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She volunteered for many years at Pipp Hospital.Surviving are...

Scott W. Hanson of Paw Paw passed away Friday, August 24, 2012 in Kalamazoo.Scott was born February 25, 1958 in Kalamazoo the son of Wesley and Joyce (Kennedy) Hanson. He loved fishing and spending time with his friends, cutting wood and being in the out-of-doors.Scott is survived by his children, Zachary (Tammi) Hanson and Mallory (Tony) Moats; 2 grandchildren, Faith...

Harold ‘Butch’ Carlyle of Plainwell, Michigan surrendered to his battles with his physical wellbeing and pain by ending his life on Thursday, August 23, 2012 in Plainwell. Butch was born on August 25, 1945 in Plainwell to Harold and Ruth Carlyle. Butch was a past member and Deacon of the First Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo and was currently faithfully worshipping...

Wayne ‘Ritchey’ Ray passed away Saturday, August 18, 2012 in Plainwell.Mr. Ray was born January 2, 1921 in Rensselaer, IN to Verna and Marie (Ritchey) Ray. Ritchey served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Ritchey was a heavy equipment operator with the Operating Engineers Union Local 324 retiring after 30 years. He was a member of...

Shirley A. Currie of Plainwell, MI passed away Thursday, August 23, 2012 in Allegan. Mrs. Currie was born June 10, 1937 in Midland, MI the daughter of Roland and Florence (Blood) Herman. She had been a Clerical Aide at Gilkey School in Plainwell and had also worked at Harding’s Market. Shirley enjoyed her garden, trips up north and going to...

Joseph Jacob “Joe” Swoboda was born on August 3, 1935, to Edward Francis and Julia Marie (Klocek) Swoboda. He was raised on a farm in Northern Michigan and attended Boyne City schools. In 1958 he married his sweetheart, June Hermenitt, at St. Margaret’s Church in Otsego.He is survived by his wife of 54 years and three sons, James (Lori) and...

Gerald V. Halstead, Sr. of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Saturday, August 11, 2012, at his home. Mr. Halstead was born May 17, 1921 in Otsego to Orson and Alice (Tilley) Halstead and was a lifelong resident of the area. During WWII he served his country in the U.S. Navy. For many years he was employed as a welder with General...

Laura Agnes Holliday Pierce of Plainwell, Michigan, was born at home in Lawton, Michigan, Van Buren Co., February 5th 1923 to Nellie Gunn Holliday and Stanley Holliday and passed away peacefully at Life Care Nursing Home on August 9, 2012. Laura’s mother died when she was 5 and she was raised by her maternal aunt, Nina Gunn Simington and Elwin...

Pauline E. Deike of Plainwell (formerly of Otsego) passed away Monday, August 6, 2012 in Plainwell. Mrs. Deike was born August 10, 1914 in Watson Township to Randall and B. Sophia (Nyberg) Brooks and was a lifelong resident of the area.She was a graduate of Martin High School and for several years was employed as a bookkeeper with Otsego Sanitary...

Stephen “Steve” Magierka III of Plainwell, Michigan, died Tuesday, August 7, 2012, in Kalamazoo. Steve was born June 26, 1974 in Kalamazoo to Stephen Jr. and Pamela (Crosby) Magierka.For several years he was employed with Charter Communications and most recently with Gertsen Trucking. In his leisure time he enjoyed gardening, four wheeling and riding his motorcycle. Steve loved being with...

Harm LeRoy of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Saturday, August 4, 2012 at home. Mr. LeRoy was born June 20, 1919 in Kalamazoo County to Jacob and Nellie (Deward) LeRoy and was a lifelong resident of the area. During WWII Harm served his country in the U.S. Army. For over 28 years he was employed as a welder with General Motors,...

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...