Obituaries

Amy N. Hartman of Plainwell, MI passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2012 in Plainwell. Amy was born April 19, 1973 in Plainwell, the daughter of Roger and Ann (Rouse) Kortokrax. She was employed with Otsego Paper Co. Everyone knew her as ‘The Pumpkin Lady’. She was the life of every party and had an infectious laugh and a beautiful smile....

Michael Leo ‘Mike’ Welcher of Otsego, MI went unexpectedly to be with his Lord on Thursday morning April 12, 2012. Mike loved being outdoors. He went up north hunting every year to his uncle Gordon’s ‘Hunting Shack’ with his son, nephews and his uncle Gordon. He also went every summer to Eagle Lake, enjoying just being there with his family...

John J. ‘Jack’ Mohr of Allegan, Michigan, passed away Monday, April 9, 2012 in Allegan. Mr. Mohr was born September 23, 1915 in Naperville, IL to Jacob and Amelia (Hoffman) Mohr. During WWII he served his country in the U.S. Navy. Jack was a member of Peace Ev. Lutheran Church of Otsego.Surviving are a sister, Frieda Crabbe of Rockford, IL;...

Violet J. Mollitor of Plainwell went to be with the Lord on Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012 after a long illness. She was born on February 5, 1935 in Allegan, MI to Mary (Harrington) and Orval Evans. Violet was one of 10 children and was the only girl. Her early childhood was remembered as having plenty of family strugles. At...

Can ‘John’ Basaran of Otsego (formerly of Munich, Germany)passed away Monday, April 2, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Can(John) was born August 10, 1970 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, the son of Erol and Ingrid (Steinmann) Basaran.He earned an Associate’s Degree in wholesale and foreign trade from a German university and later received IT training. For several years, Can(John) owned and operated a...

George F. Cory of Plainwell, Michigan, went to be with his loving Savior on Friday, March 30, 2012. Born in Tiverton, RI on April 2, 1937 to Roy E. and Miriam (Armitage) Cory who preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death were his infant son (Feb. 15, 1965); his sister and brother-in-law, Anita (David) Neville, brother-in-law, Craig (Barbara)...

Brian E. Galovan of Allegan, Michigan died unexpectedly Thursday, March 22, 2012, at his home. Brian was born October 31, 1966 at Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi to Patrick and Susan (Starner) Galovan. In 1984 he graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School, attended KVCC and became a Journeyman Mechanical Engineer. For over 20 years he was employed with...

Marie E. Hayes of Bloomingdale (formerly of Kalamazoo) passed away Friday, March 23, 2012 in Bloomingdale. Mrs. Hayes was born March 30, 1922 in Otsego to Herman and Marion (Worth) Augustin, the oldest of eight children. Marie was a member of the V.F.W. Post #3030 Auxiliary. She was a devoted homemaker and enjoyed fishing for bluegills, camping, quilting, gardening, morel...

Gertrude Haessig of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, March 21, 2012 in Allegan. Mrs. Haessig was born February 2, 1924 in Marcellus to Dane and Emma (Cross) Marks.Gertrude attended Kalamazoo Central High School. She had worked as a waitress at several area restaurants and had worked locally as a nurse for over 20 years. Gertrude was a life member of...

Dennis Lee Talsma of Allegan, Michigan, passed away Monday, March 19, 2012, in Allegan. Denny was born September 28, 1950 in Allegan to Nicholas and Josie (Hoekstra) Talsma and was a lifelong resident of the area.For 15 years he was employed by Rockwell International and then for 25 years by Haworth. In his leisure time he enjoyed golfing and fishing.On...

Eugene E. ‘Gene’ Brewster of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Saturday, March 17, 2012 in Hospice care. Mr. Brewster was born May 20, 1921 in Otsego to Earl and Nettie (Meyle) Brewster.In 1939 he graduated from Otsego High School. Eugene served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1945, was a Postman for 31 years, part-time janitor for Otsego UMC for...

Charles E. Lent of Plainwell, Michigan, died Tuesday March 13, 2012 in Plainwell. Mr. Lent was born September 3, 1932 in Plainwell to Homer Arthur and Helen D. (Burroughs) Lent. In 1951 he graduated from Plainwell High School. He was a life member of V.F.W. Post #3030. For many years he served his country in the U.S. Army as a...

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;...