Obituaries

Sue A. Cardiff passed away Monday, April 4, 2011 at her home. Sue was born August 18, 1946 in Plainwell, the daughter of George and Dorene (Collick) Fuller and lived in the Otsego Plainwell area all of her life.She loved to fish and enjoyed all animals, including horses, birds, dogs and cats. Collecting Coca Cola memorabilia was her pastime.On September...

Joyce H. Mollitor of Plainwell, MI passed away Tuesday, April 5, 2011 after a long illness. She was born on February 20, 1929 in Detroit, Michigan. Her parents were Mabel (Blodgett) and Arthur Franks. As a child, with her family, they operated an ice cream parlor in the Detroit area. Joyce loved the times she and her family got to...

M. Blaine Edgington of Kalamazoo, Michigan, passed away Sunday, April 3, 2011, in Kalamazoo. Mr. Edgington was born June 21, 1934, to J L and Marvel (Oxenreider) Edgington in Warren County, Iowa, where he grew up.On April 12, 1957 in Indianola, Iowa he married Carol Sue Iverson.For 30 years he worked with the U.S. Army as a Procurement Analyst. He...

Linda M. Butler passed away Sunday, March 20, 2011 in Arizona.She was preceded in death by her husband Wilbur Butler. Surviving are her children, Donna (Ron) Mesbergen of Florida, Neomi (Rob) Crowley of Florida, Diana (Chuck) Charron of MI, Tom (Diana) Butler of Arizona, and Bill Butler of Florida, 12 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren.According to Linda’s wishes, cremation has...

Adam C. Massie of Holland, Michigan died Sunday March 20, 2011, at his home. Adam was born December 9, 1969 in Allegan to Larry and Judith (Oisten) Massie. He was a 1988 graduate of Otsego High School, where he was active in the National Honor Society. Adam earned a Bachelor Degree in Engineering from Western Michigan University and worked for...

Terry D. Wolfe of Martin, Michigan, passed away Thursday, March 17, 2011, at his home. Mr. Wolfe was born February 4, 1937, in Otsego to Emerson and Doris (Cotton) Wolfe and was a lifelong resident of the area.Terry served his country in the U.S. Army. For many years he was employed as a tool and die maker with Rockwell International...

Peggy Ann Riemens of Plainwell, Michigan passed away Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at her home. Peggy was born November 8, 1956 in Kalamazoo to Robert and Jacqueline (Hamilton) Stanfill. She had earned an Associate Degree in Medical Terminology from Kalamazoo Valley Community College. For many years she was employed as a retail clerk with Big Wheel, Clark Gas Station and...

Benjamin C. ‘Ben’ Selby of Plainwell, MI passed away Sunday, March 13, 2011 of injuries from a quad-runner accident.Ben was born August 18, 1995 in Grand Rapids, the son of David and Annette (Macomber) Selby. He was a sophomore at Plainwell High School and was a member of the Fennville Rod and Gun Club. Ben was an avid fisherman and...

Frieda M. Junker of Otsego, MI passed away on Saturday, March 12, 2011 in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Junker was born January 13, 1920 in Otsego, MI the daughter of Ernest and Mildred (Brewster) Rheynard. She was a graduate of Otsego High School and had attended Parson Business College. Frieda worked for Shakespeare for many years as a Billing Clerk until her...

David C. Jones of Otsego, MI, passed away unexpectedly at home on Saturday, March 5, 2011. David was born June 16, 1966 in Allegan, the son of Arnold and Marian (Porter) Jones. He was our beloved son, brother, father, uncle and grandfather.Surviving are his daughters, Dominique Jones of Grand Junction, Dannielle and Jarom Snowden of Lawton, Desirea Jones of Grand...

Timothy Wayne Tripp of New Port Ritchey, FL, died at his home, Sunday, March 6, 2011. Tim was born October 8, 1943, in Plainwell, MI, the son of the late James B. and Ethel M. Tripp.On June 14, 1963, Tim was married to Sandra Garlock. Surviving are his wife and one daughter, Tammy, of Parkland, FL. Also two brothers, Michael...

Violet E. Pittner of Plainwell, Michigan (formerly of Otsego) passed away Thursday, February 24, 2011, in Plainwell. Mrs. Pittner was born April 1, 1913 in Shelbyville to Ernest and Lula (Knowlton) Doxey and was a lifelong resident of the area.Violet had attended the Otsego United Methodist Church where she was of member of the United Methodist Women. She had also...

Timothy S. Risher of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, February 21, 2011, at his home. Tim was born October 18, 1946, in Grand Rapids to Donald and T. Elizabeth (Hoag) Risher.During the Vietnam War he served his country in the U.S. Army. For many years he was employed as a machinist with National Waterlift, retiring in October, 2009. In his...

Olive M. Digby of Plainwell, Michigan,passed away Monday, February 21, 2011, in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Digby was born October 28, 1919 in Otsego Township to Peter and Maude (Dutton) Oswald and was a lifelong resident of the area.For 16 years she was employed as an LPN with the Kalamazoo State Hospital. Together with her husband she had owned and operated the...

Raymond J. Root of Allegan, Michigan, passed away Sunday, February 20, 2011, in Ann Arbor. Ray was born November 12, 1947 in Plainwell to Cecil and Maryann (Ransbottom) Root and was a graduate of Otsego High School.During the Vietnam War he served his country in the U.S. Army. For many years he was employed as a machinist with Plainwell Paper...

Richard E. “Dick” Brenner of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Friday, February 18, 2011 at his home. Mr. Brenner was born April 16, 1928 in Shelbyville to Blinn and Jessie (Doxey) Brenner and was a lifelong resident of the area. For 38 years he was employed in the maintenance department with James River Paper Co. retiring in 1991 and then worked...

Donna M. Barker of Kalamazoo (formerly of Otsego and Gun Lake) passed away Thursday, February 17, 2011 at her home. Mrs. Barker was born April 18, 1922 in Otsego to Melvin and Hazel (Wesler) Hale.A lifelong resident of the area, she graduated from Otsego High School in 1939. For 20 years she was employed at the Dix Street Elementary School...

Eula M. Smith of Plainwell, MI passed away Friday, February 11, 2011 in Plainwell. Mrs. Smith was born May 1, 1937 in McGee, MO the daughter of Sherman and Edna (Rodgers) Barks. Eula married Clyde Smith in MO on November 5, 1955.Early in her life Eula had worked for Gibson Guitar; in 1989 she worked at Big Top in Plainwell...

James L. “Jim” Smith of Otsego, Michigan passed away Thursday, February 3, 2011. Mr. Smith was born February 24, 1917 in Delaware County, Indiana to Cecil and Letta (Besser) Smith.Farming was his passion. For 35 years he was employed with Michigan Bell Telephone Co.On August 20, 1939, in Gobles he was married to Leona Kelly. Surviving are his wife of...

John F. Van Atta, III of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, January 31, 2011, in Allegan. John was born November 13, 1942 in Kalamazoo to John and Patricia (Wilson) Van Atta II. For many years he was employed as a purchasing agent with Kal-Equip and later with Allen Test Products. He was a member of the Otsego Elks Lodge #1711...