You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2011.
Mr. Robert Timmerman, age 97 of Croton, Michigan died , January 29, 2011 in Muskegon. He was born Robert Timmerman in Grand Rapids, Michigan the son of Jennie (Procter) and John Timmerman on January 26, 1914. He married Mary Stakaitis on December 2, 1939 in Elkhart, Indiana and she preceded him in death on January 2, 2004. He was a veteran having entered the US Army on March 25, 1943, serving in Europe during World War II seeing action in Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe with Company B, 311th Infantry Regiment, 78th Division, where he was awarded a Purple Heart and two Bronze Star Medals. He was discharged on January 17, 1946 as a Staff Sergeant. He was the owner of Riverview Resort in Croton until his retirement. He was a charter life member of VFW Post #4249 since 1946 and a charter life member of the Croton American Legion Post #381, he was the first president of the Croton Conservation Club, he was Croton Township Supervisor for 7 years and president of the Croton School Board for 9 years. He is survived by his son Robert Timmerman Jr.of Whitehall & son’s Fiancée Mary Rowe of Spring Lake, his grandchildren Jordan Timmerman of Adrian, Justin & Joanne Timmerman of Milwaukee, WI, Tracy & Kurt Jeffries of Whitehall, great granddaughters Kacy & Karleigh Jeffries. Memorial services will be held in the spring. For memorials please consider the Croton First Responders. -McKinley Funeral Home, Newaygo 231‑652‑5613. http:\\mckinleyfuneral.com
Mr. Gerald D. James, Age 79 of Bailey, Michigan died Thursday, January 27, 2011 in Fremont. He was born Gerald D. James in Grand Rapids, Michigan the son of Gretta (VandenBerg) and Albert James on May 25, 1931. He married Marilyn on June 11, 1960 in Casnovia, Michigan. He was a machinist for Teledyne Continental Motors until his retirement in 1995. He was a member of Casnovia Reformed Church. He is survived by his wife Marilyn James of Bailey, his children Joe & Judy James of Ravenna, Martha & Kevin Sall of Allendale, Beth & Terry Gates of Cedar Springs, Rachel & Edwin Coon of North Muskegon, 8 grandchildren, his brother Roger James of Freesoil, his sisters Ruth James of Grand Rapids, Lois James of Grand Rapids, his sister in law Ilene Gilchrist of New Era. He was preceded in death by his brother Albert James, Jr and his grandson Kyle Sall. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM from the Casnovia Reformed Church on Saturday, January 29, 2011 with Pastor Bill VanderWerp officiating. Interment in Seaman Cemetery. Visitation will be held 2‑4 & 6‑8 PM Friday at McKinley Funeral Home, Grant. For memorials please consider the Casnovia Reformed Church. ‑ McKinley Funeral Home, Grant, 231‑834‑5613 http:\\mckinleyfuneral.com
Mrs. Josephine Marie Thomsen, Age 87 of Carson City, Michigan formerly of Grant, died Wednesday, January 26, 2011 in Carson City. She was born Josephine Marie Hanes in Lyons, Michigan the daughter of Rose (Charland) and Joel Ross Hanes on November 27, 1923. She married Louis J. Osborn on October 22, 1953 in Reed City, Michigan and he preceded her in death on 1958. She then married Alfred H. Thomsen on April 4, 1970 in Sidney, Michigan and he preceded her in death on January 27, 2000. She was a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Sidney Michigan. She was a former Village of Grant Treasurer from 1959 to 1964. She is survived by her daughters Eleanor Nequist of Mt. Pleasant, TN and Lynda & Herbert Wing of Fenwick, her granddaughters Rose Marie & Sam Byrd and Holly & Scott Tipton, her grandson Chad & Dixie Wing, 5 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son Charles Prevost and grandson David Miller. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM from the McKinley Funeral Home, Grant Chapel on Friday, January 28, 2011 with Chaplain Charles Kaveger officiating. Interment in Ashland Center Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10:00 AM to the time of the service on Friday. For memorial contributions please consider the Montcalm County Commission on Aging or the Great Lakes Hospice.
‑ McKinley Funeral Home, Grant, 231‑834‑5613. http:\\mckinleyfuneral.com
Mrs. Marian Mae Hardy, Age 88 of Newaygo, died Thursday, January 13, 2011 in Fremont. She was born Marian Mae Warskow in Bainbridge, Michigan the daughter of Talitha (Krickhahn) and Carl Warskow on January 13, 1923. She married Warren B. Hardy on January 10, 1942 in Benton Harbor, Michigan and he preceded her in death on February 18, 1997. She was a book keeper for Newaygo Marine until her retirement. She was a member of Newaygo United Church of Christ. She was a member of VFW Post #4249 Auxiliary. She is survived by her son Dennis & Kathy Hardy of Newaygo, 3 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and her brother Rev. Robert & Kay Warskow of Illinois. Memorial services will be held at 10:00 am on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at Newaygo United Church of Christ with Pastor John Ridell officiating. For memorial contributions, please consider the Newaygo United Church of Christ. ‑ McKinley Funeral Home, Newaygo 231‑652‑5613. http:\\mckinleyfuneral.com
Mr. George Clare Abbott, Age 86 of Newaygo, Michigan died Wednesday, January 12, 2011 in Muskegon. He was born George Clare Abbott in Brohman, Michigan the son of Caroline (Lewis) and Aaron Abbott on June 30, 1924. He married Garnet Crandall on October 28, 1949 in Newaygo. He was a supervisor for the US Postal Service until his retirement in 1989 after 23 years of service. He was a life member of the Newaygo V.F.W. Post #4249, life member of the Croton American Legion Post #381, past commander of VFW, past State of Michigan; Outstanding Service Officer, former Veteran of; the Year of Michigan. He is survived by wife Garnet Abbott of Newaygo, his son Greg Abbott of Newaygo, his daughters Gayle Abbott‑Porter of Newaygo, Glenda Abbott of Newaygo, and his grandchildren William Porter, Jr., Gregory Porter, and Aubrey Porter. He was preceded in death by his brothers Larry, Walter, Bernard and Lewis Abbott. Funeral services will be held from the VFW Post #4249 in Newaygo on Monday, January 17, 2011 at 1:00 PM with Pastor Clint Abbott officiating. Interment in Newaygo Cemetery. Visitation will be held 2‑4 & 7‑9 PM Sunday at McKinley Funeral Home, Newaygo. For memorials, please consider donating to a charity of your choice. ‑ McKinley Funeral Home, Newaygo 231‑652‑5613. http:\\mckinleyfuneral.com
William “Bill” Shafer, 90, died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday January 8, 2011, four days before his 91st birthday. He was born in Tiffin Ohio on Jan.12, 1920 to Wm. & Gladys Shafer.
He was proud to be a WW II veteran, serving in the Army Air Corps. He was a life member of the Tiffin Elks Lodge. A family man, he was married to Alice Schleter for 51 years until he lost her to cancer. They had eight children together and he always put his family first. He loved nature and some of his favorite things were fishing, boating, hunting, and being in the woods in the spring gathering morels. He lived his first 46 years in Tiffin, Ohio where he sold potato chips for Ballreich’s. He brought his family to Michigan in 1966 because he fell in love with the many lakes and the natural beauty. He and Alice opened the original Sears Catalogue Store in Fremont, MI. He was a people person who always had a story to tell. He retired from Bolthouse Farms where he worked as a parts manager.
He will be missed by his children; Anita (Blaine) Speese of Newaygo; William A. Shafer of Newaygo; Dave (Mary) Shafer of White Cloud; John Shafer of Scottsville; Laura (Curt) Veersma of Big Rapids; Linda (Kevin) Hook of Spring Lake; grandchildren; Brian, Phil (Laura), Maggie, Sarah, Simon, Johnny Shafer, Marissa (Tom) Plouff, Joey & Josh Buttleman, Allie & Lindsey Veersma, Garrett & Ava Hook, Nicole Shafer, and Crystal (Keith) Waye, and 10 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife Alice; son Phil Shafer; and daughter Angie Buttleman.
Funeral services for Bill will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at St. Bartholomew Church, 72nd St., Newaygo, MI. Father Pete Schafer will be officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-7 PM with a vigil service at 7 PM on Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at McKinley Newaygo Chapel. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that memorials be given to St. Bartholomew Church. Please leave online condolences at mckinleyfuneral.com
Mrs. Mildred Jeanette Powles, Age 71 of Grant, Michigan died Wednesday, January 5, 2011at home. She was born Mildred Jeanette Long in Muskegon, Michigan the daughter of Lillis (Davis) and Ray Wilson on February 8, 1939. She married George H. Powles on January 28, 1956 in Newaygo, Michigan. She was a homemaker. She is survived by her husband George Powles of Grant, her children Elaine & David Brooks of Grant, Steve & Lori Powles of Newaygo, LaVerne Powles of Grant, Don Powles of Coldwater, 3 grandchildren, and 6 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sister Effie Miller in 2010. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM from the McKinley Funeral Home, Grant Chapel on Friday, January 7, 2011 with Pastor Jerry Selleck officiating. Interment will be in Bridgeton Cemetery. Visitation will be held from noon to the time of service on Friday.
‑ McKinley Funeral Home, Grant, 231‑834‑5613. http:\\mckinleyfuneral.com
Mrs. Frances Ernestine Bloomfield, Age 69 of Newaygo, Michigan died Saturday, January 1, 2011 at home. She was born Frances Ernestine Lancaster in Grant, Michigan the daughter of Adeline (Jorgensen) and Howard Ernest Lancaster on September 9, 1941. She was an assembler for Magna‑Donnelly until her retirement in 2006. She is survived by her children Becky & Tracy Johnson of Kent City, Chuck Pummel, Jr. of Newaygo, Char & Floyd Butler of Newaygo, her grandchildren Lacy & Chris Perkins of Grant, Drew Johnson of Mt. Pleasant, Whitney & Weston Butler of Newaygo, her great granddaughter Kaden Perkins of Newaygo, her brothers Kenneth Lancaster of Grant, Chet & Mary Lancaster of Grant, her sister Helene & Keith Caldwell of Cedar Springs and several nieces and nephews. Private memorial services will be held at a later date. For memorials, please consider Heartland Hospice.
‑ McKinley Funeral Home, Grant, 231‑834‑5613. http:\\mckinleyfuneral.com
