Obituaries

Mrs. Agnes (Hamay) Hadden of Otsego, Michigan, died March 14th, 2012 at the age of 99 years. She was born in Chicago, IL on January 6th, 1913., the fifth of seven children of Agnes (Frano) and George Hamay who both were immigrants to America from what is now the Slovak Republic.She grew up on a farm near Paw Paw, MI....

Gerald A. ‘Jerry’ Howe of Plainwell, Michigan, died Tuesday, March 13, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Jerry was born July 10, 1947 in Kalamazoo to Aaron and Esther (Johnson) Howe and was a lifelong resident of the area. He was a graduate of Otsego High School and during the Vietnam War served his country in the U.S. Marines. For many years he...

Donna M. VerMeulen of Gobles, Michigan passed away on March 14, 2012 in Allegan. Donna was born on January 12, 1937 in Plainwell, Michigan to Ray and Helen Wells.She enjoyed reading, coloring and her angel collection. Donna had been a foster mother to many children and had also worked doing day-care for children; she was also a wonderful homemaker.Surviving are...

Robert “Bob” Pelfresne of Otsego, Michigan passed away on March 12, 2012. Bob was born on November 7, 1927 in Muskegon, Michigan to Charles and Anna (Rakittke) Pelfresne. In 1950, he married his beloved wife, Catherine Sienna Fischer, who survives him. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force and maintained an extreme love of his country; always...

Ellen N. Sisson of Otsego, Michigan, died peacefully Sunday, March 4, 2012, with her loving family by her side. Mrs. Sisson was born September 7, 1921 in Otsego to Fellus and Christina (Gydesen) Higby and was a graduate of Otsego High School.Ellen’s father died when she was 10 months old and she became the most important part of her mother’s...

Lucile M. (Stoneburner) Barber of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, February 29, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Barber was born December 17, 1920 in Kalamazoo to Clinton and Ruth (Kaylor) Stoneburner, the eldest of 13 children, and was a 1939 Otsego High School graduate.Lucile was an active member of the United Methodist Church of Otsego and more than anything, enjoyed spending...

Elizabeth Hutchinson of Otsego, MI passed away Friday, February 24, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Hutchinson was born October 18, 1914 in Bostwick, NB to Walter and Edna (Morgan) McConnell. Beth and her husband Francis had owned and operated the Otsego Market for 16 years and then Hutchinson Grocery for over 10 years. Beth had also worked at the D&C store...

Joyce M. Hughes of Otsego, MI passed away Wednesday, February 22, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Hughes was born May 28, 1924 in Kalamazoo to Eugene and Ruby (Ainsworth) Sandmeyer. Following her schooling Joyce marriedNorman Hugheswho preceded her in 2011.Surviving are a daughter and a son, Susan K. (Gregory) Temple of Allegan and Norman “Chip” “Ray” Hughes of Otsego; 9 grandchildren;...

Paul J. Bradfield of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Sunday February 19th, 2012. Paul was born April 6th, 1970 in Kalamazoo. Paul is the son of David L. Bradfield and Thersia J. (Bradfield) Menne. He was a lifetime resident of the Kalamazoo and Otsego area. Paul attended KVCC and Allegan Technical Center earning a degree in precision welding and metal fabrication....

Ivan L. Blowers of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Friday, February 17, 2012 in Battle Creek. Mr. Blowers was born April 12, 1947 in Battle Creek to Ivan Sr. and Barbara (Nelson) Blowers.During the Vietnam War he served his country in the U.S. Army in South Korea. He was employed with the Mead Corp., later Rock Tenn, retiring as an electrician...

Leland T. Brazee of Alamo, Michigan, passed away Thursday, February 16, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Mr. Brazee was born November 17, 1943 in Kalamazoo to Otis and Kathryn (Fuller) Brazee.Lee was a Navy Seabees Veteran of the Vietnam War. He had been employed with Gibson Guitar and then for 32 years was employed with the Upjohn Co. For 30 years he...

Edward M. Tourangeau of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Thursday, February 16, 2012, at his home. Mr. Tourangeau was born July 14, 1927 in Detroit to Edward and Selma (Fritz) Tourangeau.Ed served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. For 35 years he was employed as a punch press operator for Bowers Machine Co. of Plainwell, retiring at...

Debra J. Kooistra of Hopkins, Michigan, (formerly of Otsego), passed away Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at her home. Debra was born July 30, 1954 in Kalamazoo to James and Beverly (Crippen) Liles and had been a lifelong resident of the area. She was a 1972 graduate of Otsego High School.On September 9, 1972 in Otsego she married Elmer “Tom” Kooistra,...

Gladys Wyatt of Plainwell (formerly of Otsego) went to be with her Lord on Monday, February 6, 2012. Gladys was born December 14, 1919 in Sturgis, the daughter of Lyndon and Clara (Baldy) Wyatt. She attended 5ththrough 12thgrades at Otsego Public Schools, graduating in 1937. Gladys obtained her Bachelor and Master degrees from Western Michigan University. In 1983 she retired...

Betty Lou Lutes of Holland, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, January 31, 2012 in Alamo. Mrs. Lutes was born March 10, 1941, in Allegan, Michigan to Guy and Elffie (Morris) Foote.Betty had been employed at Pipp Community and Allegan General Hospitals as well as many other facilities, retiring from Houghton Lake Community Health after over 30 years as a registered nurse....

James H. ‘Jim’ Ziemer of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Monday, January 30, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Mr. Ziemer was born June 24, 1948 in Gladwin, MI to Harold and Bernice (Reimer) Ziemer.For over 20 years he was employed with Perrigo Co. in machine maintenance and earlier in his life had been employed as a builder. In his leisure time he enjoyed...

Gail Gilmore of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away Friday, January 27, 2012 at her home. Gail was born October 28, 1952 in Plainwell to Kenneth and Marjorie (White) Gilmore.For many years she was employed with Angle Steel and many other jobs. In her leisure time she enjoyed sewing, traveling, painting and especially enjoyed being with family.Surviving are her children, Bob (Cheryl)...

Ardena J. “June” Zander of Otsego, Michigan, went to be with our Lord on Friday, January 27, 2012. Mrs. Zander was born May 21, 1937 in Doster, Michigan to Elmer and Wava (Ives) LaFountain and was a lifelong resident of the area.In 1971 she began working for Parker-Hannifin Corp., retiring in 1997. In her leisure time she enjoyed mushroom hunting,...

Irene “Dutch” Dendel of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Friday, January 27, 2012 at Bronson Methodist Hospital with her family by her side and went to be with her Lord.Mrs. Dendel was born June 1, 1925 in Otsego Township to James and Julia (Thorp) Boylan and was a lifelong resident of the area. For 20 years she was employed with Kal-Equip,...

Scott Thomas Kruithoff of Parker, Colorado, passed away suddenly January 4, 2012. Scott was born April 1, 1970 in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he spent his childhood and attended Plainwell schools, graduating in 1988.He was an Army combat veteran and member of the 984th Military Police Company. His service included deployments to Panama, Jordan, Guantanmo Bay and to Iraq during Operation...