Obituaries

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...

Karen Piper of Otsego, Michigan passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2012 in Allegan. Mrs. Piper was born June 3, 1939 in Ryder, North Dakota, to Edward and Valborg (Eide) Davis.Karen was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She attended the Alamo Community Church and was an active member of the Women of the Moose. In her leisure time she enjoyed...

Pearl Gibson of Decatur, TN (formerly of Otsego) passed away Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Brookewood Nursing Center, Decatur, TN. Mrs. Gibson was born November 26, 1909, in Hopkins, MI to Jay and Rose (Wise) Nichols. She was a graduate of Otsego High School and for 86 years was a resident of Otsego. Pearl was a devoted homemaker; a loving,...

Patricia J. Baker of Plainwell, Michigan passed away Saturday, January 21, 2012 in Kalamazoo. Pat was born on April 3, 1932 in Eaton Rapids, MI to Mr. and Mrs. Murphy. She moved to the area with her family while she was still in school. Following her education Pat began working for Valley Metal as a bookkeeper. In 1961 she began...

Norma J. Campbell of Otsego, Michigan passed away Thursday, January 19, 2012 in Plainwell. Norma was born September 24, 1937 in Otsego to George and Effie (Kenyon) Edson and was a lifelong resident of the area. She was a devoted homemaker and in her leisure time enjoyed doing crafts and working puzzles.Surviving are two sons, Tim (Adrianne) Campbell of Plainwell...

Madelene Reynolds of Portage (formerly of Plainwell) went to be with her Lord January 9, 2012. Mrs. Reynolds was born July 7, 1916 in Pearl, Michigan, to Winfield and Cora Bell (Tuttle) Bunce.On March 20, 1933 she married Wm. Orville Reynolds and for many years they owned and operated a dairy farm in Kalamazoo where they raised their five children....

Daniel L. Munger of Richland, Michigan, passed away Sunday, January 8, 2012 at his home. Mr. Munger was born August 10, 1936 in Plainwell to Clyde and Mina (Gorton) Munger and was a lifelong resident of the area.Dan had served his country in the U.S. Marines. For over 20 years he was employed as a machinist with the Otsego Machine...

James M. Norris of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Sunday, January 1, 2012 at his home. Jim was born April 27, 1959 in Battle Creek to Bobbie and Shirley (Shirlaw) Norris.For 30 years he was employed with Parker-Hannifin as a machine operator. In his leisure time Jim enjoyed camping, fishing, golfing and watching NASCAR. In 1986 Jim was married to Michele...

Louella M. Stratton of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away Saturday, December 31, 2011 in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Stratton was born November 30, 1923 in Otsego to Howard and Gladys (Halstead) Kitsmiller and was a lifelong resident of the area. Louella was a graduate of Otsego High School and for many years was employed as a secretary with Western Michigan University, retiring from...

Marianne D. Miner of Allegan (formerly of Otsego) passed away Tuesday, December 27, 2011 in Allegan. Mrs. Miner was born July 25, 1941 in Kalamazoo to Virgil and Vernice (Roebuck) Burchette. Marianne loved her family and was a devoted homemaker. Her leisure time was spent reading and doing arts and crafts.Surviving are two sons and five daughters, William (Susan) Miner...

Orvil Trudelle of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, December 26, 2011 in Holland. Mr. Trudelle was born May 6, 1926 in Edam, Saskatchewan, Canada to Aubrey Busby and Christina (Blunck) Trudelle. When Orvil came to the United States he was adopted by Louis Trudelle.During WWII he served his country in the U.S. Army, where his unit was one of the...

Kenneth F. “Ken” Dee of Plainwell, Michigan, passed away Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at his home surrounded by his family. Mr. Dee was born July 3, 1939 in Vicksburg to Charles and Virginia (Moore) Dee.Ken owned and operated his own business as a wall covering installer and after retirement enjoyed wintering in Florida. In his leisure time he enjoyed fishing,...

John Charles Beare of Martin, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at his home. Mr. Beare was born April 10, 1959 on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota to Norman and Eva (Pease) Beare. John grew up in South Dakota and moved to Michigan in 1998.For many years he worked as a firefighter in South Dakota and after...