Obituaries

Danny J. ‘Dan’ Burchett of Otsego, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, June 25, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Dan was born March 17, 1945 in Otsego to Loren and Berniece (Boerman) Burchett and was a lifelong resident of the area.From 1963 to 1966 he served his country in the U.S. Army and was a sergeant serving in Santo Domingo. For thirty years...

John M. ‘Jack’ Blanchard of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, June 24, 2013 at his home. Mr. Blanchard was born December 1, 1934 in Kalamazoo to John E. and Evelyn (Baxter) Blanchard.Jack was a 1953 graduate of Marshall High School. From 1955 to 1959 he served his country in the U.S. Marines. After his return home from the Marines he...

Harry E. Rose passed away Thursday, June 20, 2013 in Otsego. Mr. Rose was born September 16, 1917 in Bloomingdale to Homer and Beatrice (Hilliker) Rose. For many years Harry was employed with Sutherland Paper/Georgia Pacific. In his leisure time he enjoyed hunting, fishing and watching Tiger baseball. He was preceded in death by his wives, Nina Munn in 1972...

Sotero R. Gonzales of Plainwell passed away Friday, June 21, 2013 at his home. Mr. Gonzales was born December 15, 1931 in La Feria, TX to Andres and Eloisa (Longoria) Ramirez. Sotero had worked for over 30 years at Plainwell Paper Company and in his leisure time enjoyed camping, watching westerns, fishing, gardening, reading the Bible and attending church.On August...

Joyce Ann Shattuck, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away Monday, June 17, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Shattuck was born August 17, 1939 in Otsego to Robert and Pauline (Bittenbender) Griffith and had been a lifelong resident of the area.For many years she was employed with the Lake St., Kalamazoo and Plainwell Burger Chefs. She had many...

Joyce A. Berner of Kalamazoo (formerly of Otsego) passed away Sunday, June 16, 2013, in Kalamazoo. Mrs. Berner was born October 9, 1942 in Plainwell to Wayne and Louise (Mollitor) Livingston.She was a 1960 graduate of Otsego High School and had attended Western Michigan University. Joyce began her career at Kal Equip in Otsego and then stayed home to raise...

Roslyn ‘Rosie’ (Venema) Cook of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2013, in Allegan. Rosie was born April 21, 1934, in Otsego, the only child of Henry and Elizabeth (Sisson) Venema.In high school Rosie worked at Colburn’s Drug Store as a soda jerk. This is where she met the love of her life, Hadley. After graduating from Otsego High...

Craig D. Bowers of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Thursday, June 6, 2013, at his home. Craig was born November 10, 1962 in Plainwell to Ward and Vivian (Bray) Bowers and was a lifelong resident of the area.From 1992 until 2001 he was employed with Perrigo Co. as a line leader and had also worked as a car detailer. In his...

Marcia J. Modd of Otsego, Michigan, passed away on Wednesday, May 29, 2013. Marcia was born on September 20, 1940 in Grand Rapids, MI to Leo and Verna Fischer.Marcia has been preceded in death by her husbands, Ralph MacEachron who died in 1984 and Tom Modd who died in 1987; son-in-law, Tim Counterman; granddaughter, Amy Lynn; sister, Betty Michaski and...

Matthew A. ‘Matt’ Artis, Sr. of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Monday, May 27, 2013.Matt was born February 12, 1970 in Plainwell to Larry and Mary (Dumas) Artis and was a lifelong resident of the area. He was a Christian and a member of Plainwell Assembly of God. He volunteered with St. Vincent DePaul Society and had also served as president...

Richard Henry ‘Hank’ Collick, Sr. of Kalamazoo, Michigan, went to be with his Lord and Savior Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Hank was born July 9, 1927 in Allegan to Thomas John II and Rose (Hawkins) Collick .Hank had worked for Al Schanz Plumbing and Heating in Kalamazoo and served in the US Army in Korea. He was a...

Harvey ‘DuWayne’ Hicks of Trowbridge, Michigan, passed away Monday, May 20, 2013, in Kalamazoo. Mr. Hicks was born October 16, 1926 in Trowbridge Township to Theodore DuWayne ‘Ted’ and Lucy (Bolenbaugh) Hicks and was a lifelong resident of the area.He served his country in the U.S. Navy during WWII in the South Pacific on the destroyer, USS Cotton. DuWayne received...

Sharon Mahaney of Plainwell passed away Saturday, May 11, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Sharon was born August 31, 1944 in Battle Creek to Howard & Dorothy (Tungate) Mahaney. Surviving are a daughter Christina Slezak and a granddaughter Kimberly Slezak of Martin and a brother, Steve (Nancy) Mahaney of Battle Creek. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. Thursday,...

Raymond E. ‘Ray’ Brown of Otsego passed away Saturday, May 11, 2013 at his home. Mr. Brown was born April 12, 1932 in Watson Twp., Allegan Co., the son of Leonard and Hazel (Van Houten) Brown. He had worked as a veterinarian assistant for Town & Country Veterinarian Clinic in Allegan, retiring in 2004. Ray also trained harness horses and...

Marylou Holdeman of Kalamazoo, Michigan passed away Friday, May 10, 2013. She was born April 7, 1932 in Albion, IN to Ray and Fern Enos. Marylou was married to Verne Holdeman and together they have seven children. Marylou enjoyed ceramics, following NASCAR and spending time with her family.Surviving are her children, Joe (Marcia) Holdeman, Bill (Therese) Holdeman, Sandy (Dave) Hughes,...

Thomas ‘Tom’ Janes of Plainwell passed away Friday, May 10, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Tom was born August 1, 1938 in Kalamazoo to Charles and Hazel (Geal) Janes. He started his working career at Warren Barber Boat and Motor and had worked at Cloverleaf RV, Gull Lake Marina and other area pleasure craft dealers. Over the years Tom had worked as...

Thomas A. Riggs of Cooper Twp., Michigan, passed away Thursday, May 9, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Mr. Riggs was born March 20, 1945 in Detroit to Leon and Cathryn (Huey) Riggs.He had been employed with Eaton Corporation and retired from Plainwell Public Schools after many years of service. Tom loved farming, hunting, boating and camping.On June 18, 1966 in Portage he...

Edith Ilene (Werner) Chapman of Plainwell, Michigan, passed from this life in her home surrounded by her loved ones on May 3, 2013. She was born in Allegan on November 15, 1931, to George Sr. and Laura Werner.She lived for the times she could be with her family, enjoyed cooking large meals and having us all around the table to...

Eugene G. “Gene” Book of Otsego, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at his home. Mr. Book was born August 29, 1932 in Battle Creek to Gordon and Fern (Francisco) Book.For many years he was employed at the MacSimBar as a paper maker, retiring from Rock Tenn as Tower Boss Supervisor in 1994. In his leisure time Gene enjoyed...

William ‘Bill’ Miner of Otsego passed away on Tuesday, May 7, 2013 in Kalamazoo. Bill was born August 30, 1960 in Kalamazoo, the son of William and Maryann (Sivits) Miner Sr. In his leisure time Bill enjoyed shooting, hunting, fishing, vacationing with Sue, spending time with family and playing and running an online canasta league.On September 28, 1979 in Otsego,...