Arthur Cooper
Dec 29, 2018
Our beloved husband, father and friend, Arthur Earl Cooper, passed away on Saturday, December 29, 2018, at home in Barryton, at the age of 73. He was born in Scarborough, England on April 3, 1945 to Leo and Dorothy (Randall) Cooper. Arthur and his family moved to the United States when he was one year old. Art married Kathryn A....
William Dean "Bill" Olendorf
Dec 27, 2018
William Dean "Bill" Olendorf, age 80 of Big Rapids, passed away Wednesday, December 27, 2018 at his home. His story begins on March 31, 1938 in Hart, Michigan where he was born to Jasper and Martha (Vande Buntie) Olendorf. After graduating from high school, Bill went to college at Ferris State University where he also played basketball. He earned his...
Merie G. Almas
Dec 26, 2018
Merie G. Almas, passed away Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at Spectrum Health Big Rapids Hospital. She was born December 6, 1929 in Morley, the daughter of Howard and Louis (Wilson) Thurston. Merie married Charles Almas on August 15, 1946 in Howard City and together they raised their family in Morley. She was employed by Wolverine World Wide and retired after...
Ardith M. "Ardy" Johnson
Dec 24, 2018
Ardith M. "Ardy" Johnson, age 87 of Big Rapids, passed away Monday, December 24, 2018 at the Royal View Retirement Community. She was born May 26, 1931 in Stanwood the daughter of Henry and Lucille (Cline) Hall. Ardy was a 1949 graduate of Big Rapids High School and later worked in their cafeteria; she also worked at the Ferris State...
Weldon B. Crame
Dec 22, 2018
Weldon B. Crame, age 94 of Stanwood, MI passed away Saturday, December 22, 2018 in Jenison. He was born August 11, 1924 in Stanwood, the son of William and Clyde (Greenfield) Crame and attended Morley High School until he joined the Navy to serve abroad a patrol craft out of Guantanamo Bay during WWII. On a weekend...
Robert Stanley Davis
Dec 20, 2018
Robert Stanley Davis, age 86 of Big Rapids, passed away at home on Thursday, December 20, 2018. He was born October 10, 1932 in Battle Creek, the son of Emerson and Jesse Ruth (Stanley) Davis. Bob graduated from Battle Creek High School and entered into the United States Navy. He was honorably discharged in 1953. On June 6, 1953 Bob...
Ronald L. Truesdell
Dec 19, 2018
Ronald Lee Truesdell, age 73, of Chippewa Lake passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, December 19, 2018. He was born on June 16, 1945 to George and Vivian (Petersen) Truesdell in Greenville. Ron graduated from Greenville High School in 1964. Ron was proud to be a Navy veteran and was stationed on the U.S.S. Eugene Greene. He was honorably...
Francis Allen
Dec 18, 2018
Francis H. Allen, age 59 of Blanchard, passed away unexpectedly at home on December 18, 2018. He was born on April 14, 1959 in Edmore to Homer and Verna (Sedore) Allen. Francis graduated from Chippewa Hills High School in 1977. He was proud to have served in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged. Before moving back to the...
Carol M. Jenkins
Dec 16, 2018
Carol M. Jenkins, age 68 of Big Rapids formerly of Fort Wayne, Indiana, passed away Sunday, December 16, 2018 at her sons home. She was born January 5, 1950 in Greenville, the daughter of Charles and Claribel (Bishop) Swarts. Carol was a 1968 graduate of Cedar Lake Academy. She was an active member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Big...
James Allen Harper
Dec 13, 2018
Those, family and friends that knew James A. Harper the best never thought the day would come that he would pass away. He was always something of an icon. He seemed to always exude self-confidence and had an air about him that he could not be defeated. Jimmy left behind his earthly body at Harper Hill on Thursday, December 13,...
Ronald F. Giese Jr.
Dec 7, 2018
Ronald F. Giese Jr., 43, of Grant Center, passed away December 7, 2018 at Spectrum Health Hospital in Grand Rapids. Ronald was born August 17, 1975 to Linda (Hamilton) Hayden of Grant Center and Ronald F. Giese Sr. of Paris, MI. Ronald loved to watch football. He was an avid jokester! Ron enjoyed hunting and fishing and spending time with...
Jerry "Joe" Raymond Blodgett
Dec 5, 2018
Jerry Raymond "Joe" Blodgett, age 74 of Farwell, passed away peacefully, at home on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 with family and friends at his side. He was born October 31, 1944 in Mount Pleasant, MI, the son of Earl and Myrle (Strong) Blodgett. Joe married Sandy Battleshaw on December 9, 1988 in Farwell. He was employed at Maeder Brothers in...
John "Jack" A. White
Dec 5, 2018
Local businessman, former owner of WBRN Radio, John White, dead at age 79. John "Jack" Anthony White II, passed away peacefully in his home in The Villages, Florida on Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at the age of 79 years. He was formerly of Big Rapids, MI, and Sarasota, FL. He was born on February 28, 1939 in Grand Rapids, MI....
Raymond C. Vansyckle
Dec 3, 2018
Raymond C. VanSyckle, age 92 of Paris, passed away on Monday, December 3, 2018 with his beloved family at his side. He was born September 9, 1926 in Barryton one of 15 children born to Joseph and Edith (Adams) VanSyckle. Raymond married Lorraine M. Benkert-Thompson, October 7, 1948 and together made their home in Hersey until 1967 when they moved...
Marjean L. Kelley
Nov 28, 2018
Marjean L. Kelley, age 75 of Morley, passed away Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at her home with her family by her side. She was born March 4, 1943 in Greenville, the daughter of Louis and Marge (Hatch) Steffensen. Marjean was a 1962 graduate of Greenville High School. She married Kenneth Kelley on January 15, 1966; together they made their home...
Dale Eric Davidson
Nov 27, 2018
Dale Eric Davidson, passed away unexpectedly, at home on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at the age of 58. He was born in Ypsilanti, MI on September 13, 1960, to Clifford Arnold and Barbara (Shields) Davidson. Dale was raised in Detroit and made his home in the Evart and Barryton areas since 1990. For the last four years he could be...
Inez Rose Swanson
Nov 24, 2018
Inez Rose Swanson, age 96 of Big Rapids, passed away November 24, 2018. She was born February 6, 1922 in Martiny Township, the daughter of Raymond and Della (Willette) Miller. Inez is survived by one son, Shirl (Corinne) Swanson of Barryton, three grandsons, two great-grandsons and one great-great-gransdson.She was preceded in death by her husband Albert; one son, Sherwin and...
Max Clay Szynkowski
Nov 20, 2018
Max Clay Szynkowski, age 20 of Morley, passed away tragically Tuesday, November 20, 2018 due to injuries sustained from a car accident. He was born August 20, 1998 in Grand Rapids, the son of Robert and Lisa (Sebright) Szynkowski. Max was a 2016 graduate from Morley Stanwood High School where he participated in the drama club. Max was a devoted...
Larry Ranshaw
Nov 14, 2018
Larry A. Ranshaw, age 56 of Remus, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 with his family at his side. He was born on March 13, 1962 in Lansing to Duane and Martha (Kelly) Ranshaw. Larry graduated from Perry High School. On January 16, 1988 he married Richelle Wright in Lansing and they made...
Richard P. Spedowski
Nov 14, 2018
Richard P. Spedowski, age 76 of Big Rapids, passed away Wednesday, November 14, 2018. He was born November 4, 1942 in Austin Township, Mecosta County, the son of Joseph and Catherine (ONeil) Spedowski. Richard worked on the family farm east of Stanwood, where he was raised and where he continued his lifelong passion. He raised cattle and pigs and eventually...
