Eloise "Ellie" Yanez
May 15, 2017
Eloise "Ellie" Yanez, age 92, passed away Monday, May 15, 2017. She was born February 4, 1925 in Detroit. She was one of eleven children born to Joseph and Felicia (Pea) Yanez. Eloise was handicapped due to polio at an early age. In spite of many health challenges throughout her life, she worked full time in the insurance field in...
Wendell "Waz" Wasnich
May 15, 2017
After a lengthy battle with Parkinsons disease, Wendell Eugene "Waz" Wasnich, of Chippewa Lake, passed away on May 15, 2017 in Big Rapids at the age of 75. He was born on July 12, 1941 in Midland to Glenn and Thelma (Cunningham) Wasnich. Wendell happily married Barbara Kowalk on May 25, 1963 in Lansing. He proudly served in the United...
Fawn Elaine Daggett
May 8, 2017
Fawn Elaine Daggett, age 92 of Big Rapids, passed away Monday, May 8, 2017. She was born in Remus on May 15, 1924, the daughter of Vern R. and Rosalinda (Zielke) Crittenden. Fawn was raised in Remus where she met and married her high school sweetheart, George M. Daggett. Together they established and operated the Daggett Funeral Home in Barryton...
Larry A. White
May 7, 2017
Larry A. White, age 66 of Mecosta, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 7, 2017 at home. He was born on February 23, 1951 to Leonard and Alberta (VanSlyke) White in Grand Rapids. Larry attended Union High School in Grand Rapids. He entered the United States Marine Corps and was honorably discharged in 1972. Larry was born and raised in...
Joan R. Montague
May 5, 2017
Joan R. Montague, age 84 of Big Rapids, passed away Friday, May 5, 2017 at home with her family by her side. She was born July 6, 1932 in Reed City, the daughter of Floyd and Gail (Morris) Correll. She graduated from Reed City High School in 1950. Joan married Brian Montague on June 15, 1951 in Reed City; together...
Dale F. Simpson
May 4, 2017
Dale F. Simpson, 71, of Rodney, passed away quietly at home on May 4, 2017. He was born at Womens Hospital in Detroit on May 11, 1945, to the late Floyd D. and Jeanne G. (Cairns) Simpson. He had a quintessential childhood growing up in Dearborn Heights with a working father, stay-at-home mom, and an older brother, Wayne. After graduating...
John Herman Lunden
May 4, 2017
John Herman Lunden, 85, of Big Rapids, Michigan, passed away May 4, 2017. A celebration of Johns life will be held at noon on Monday, June 5 at Ferris State University, University Center, 805 Campus Drive, Big Rapids, Michigan. The family will greet friends beginning at 11:00am. To put yourself in a celebratory mood please wear a special/funny hat as...
Rocky A. Symon
Apr 23, 2017
Rocky A. Symon, age 63 of Stanwood, passed away Sunday, April 23, 2017 at his home. He was born June 24, 1953 in Muskegon, the son of Harry and Joyce (Lavassuer) Symon. Rocky married Yvonne Arnson on July 29, 1972 at the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Big Rapids, where they attended. Together Rocky and Yvonne raised their daughter in...
Grace E. Cushman
Apr 22, 2017
Grace E. Cushman, passed away on Saturday, April 22, 2017 in Grand Rapids at the age of 83. She was born in Detroit on September 3, 1933 to Mossum and Iva (Miller) Syer. Grace was raised in Detroit and graduated from Cooley High School in 1951. She enjoyed making stained glass windows and crocheting dog pads for the Humane Society....
Robert A. "Rob" Reuther
Apr 19, 2017
Robert A. "Rob" Reuther, age 59 of Canadian Lakes passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, April, 19, 2017. He was born August 3, 1957 in Detroit, the son of Kenneth and Barbara (Crimmins) Reuther. Rob graduated from Plymouth Canton High School in 1975 and attended Ferris State University. He was a skilled and sought after house painter and craftsman. Rob owned and...
Shirley Ann Miller
Apr 16, 2017
Shirley Ann Miller, age 72 of Big Rapids, passed away Sunday, April 16, 2017. She was born February 25, 1945 in Brighton, MI the daughter of Melvon and Janet (McCall) Krueger. Shirley had made her home in the Big Rapids Area for over 30 years. She was a devout member of The Woods Free Methodist Church in Stanwood. Shirley is...
Kathelyn "Katie" Mae Cota
Apr 14, 2017
Kathelyn M. "Katie" Cota, age 87 of Lakeview and Zephyrhills, Florida, passed away Friday, April 14, 2017 at home in Florida. She was born May 18, 1929 in Pontiac, MI the daughter of Howard and Pearl (Kelly) Schuberg. Katie graduated from Big Rapids High School in 1948. It was there she met George Cota (Class of 1947) and they were...
Georgia C. Wieland
Apr 14, 2017
Georgia C. Wieland, age 71 of Big Rapids, passed away Friday, April 14, 2017. She was born January 8, 1946 in Grand Rapids, the daughter of Arthur and Clara (Merritt) Simington. Georgia loved her family and enjoyed spending time with them. She is survived by three sons, Aaron Jesko of Kansas, Chris (Nancy) Jesko of Rockford, and Scott (Erin) Jesko...
John Rekeny
Apr 9, 2017
John Rekeny, age 91 of Big Rapids, passed away Sunday, April 9, 2017. He was born May 25, 1925 at home in Paris, Michigan the son of Thomas and Pauline (Svetlak) Rekeny. John began his working career in the oil fields and later worked for Summerville Construction installing gas pipeline. In 1965 he established Rekeny Water and Sanitation, installing wells...
Anthony E. Marzette
Apr 9, 2017
Anthony E. "Tony" Marzette, age 37 of Bloomington, Minnesota, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, April 9, 2017. He was born May 16, 1979 in Pueblo, Colorado, the son of Bural and Barbara (LaFay) Marzette. Anthony graduated from Big Rapids High School in 1997. He enlisted in the United States Air Force serving three tours in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kuwait. At the...
D. Arnold Stout
Apr 6, 2017
Durward Arnold Stout, 98, passed away on April 6, 2017 in Big Rapids. He was born on August 24, 1918 in Altona, MI to Durward H. and Effie (Peavey) Stout. He married Hilda Smith at her parents home near Horton Bay, Charlevoix County on Aug. 3, 1941. Arnold, as he was known, served as a Cpl. in Company E, 127th...
Janice R. Johnson
Apr 5, 2017
Janice R. Johnson age 77 of Stanwood, passed away Wednesday, April 5, 2017 at home with her loving family at her side. She was born December 4, 1939 in Morley the daughter of John and Marietta (Coan) Arndt. Janice lived the majority of her life in the Morley Stanwood area. She earned her nursing degree in 1977 and later was...
Charlotte Anne Bargy
Mar 28, 2017
Charlotte Anne Bargy, age 64 formerly of Holt, peacefully passed away with her family by her side on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 in Big Rapids. She was full of energy and life. She was strong willed and fought a good fight. She was a compassionate, caring, loving wife and mother. Charlotte was dependable and always...
Julie Ann Norton
Mar 27, 2017
Julie Ann Norton was born to Glenn and Arlois (Godbold) Norton on November 11, 1956. She was a lifelong resident of Big Rapids. Julie passed away unexpectedly on Monday, March 27, 2017. She attended St. Mary Catholic School and Big Rapids Public Schools where she graduated in 1975. Julie retired from the City of Big Rapids after working for Dial-A-Ride...
Alex Villegas
Mar 27, 2017
Alex Cool Villegas, the beloved little miracle of Lupe and Michelle (Cool) Villegas went home on Monday, March 27, 2017. He was born on July 27, 2016 and was a blessing to his family, bringing love to all of those close to them. He had a radiant smile and is cherished by his parents; a brother, Eddie and sister, Shelia;...
