Kenneth John Kessler
May 28, 2016
Kenneth John Kessler, 77, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Big Rapids on Saturday, May 28, 2016. He was born on May 25, 1939 in Wyman, MI, the son of Albert and Philomena (Andres) Kessler. A graduate of Big Rapids High School (1957), Ken went on to honorably serve in the U.S. Army before graduating from Ferris State College...
Marjorie Evelyn Ariss
May 27, 2016
Marjorie Evelyn Ariss, 100 years old, passed away on May 27, 2016, leaving her daughter Mary Kay (Dr. Craig) Bethune, granddaughter Corinne Noelle (Dr. John) Sprague, and her great granddaughter Lydia Marie to cherish the memories of a life well lived. Marjorie was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Raymond in 1996; her parents,...
Bonnie R. Stirn
May 25, 2016
Bonnie R. Stirn, age 85 of Big Rapids, passed away Wednesday, May 25, 2016. She was born May 7, 1931 in Salem, Indiana the daughter of Howard and Frances (Stephens) Cauble. Bonnie graduated from Rushville High School and shortly after married Charles E. Stirn on August 7, 1948. They made their home in Rushville, IN, and Ironton, OH. In 1969,...
John P. Gilman
May 24, 2016
John P. Gilman, age 64 of Morley, passed away Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at his home. He was born September 4, 1951 in Grand Rapids, the son of Robert and Pauline (Stoye) Gilman. John was raised in Jenison and graduated from Grandville High School. He was employed by GM before he began his truck driving career with Landstar Ranger. John...
Arthur "Art" Niles Swan
May 19, 2016
Arthur Niles Swan, 59, passed away on Thursday, May 19, 2016 at his home in Barryton, MI. He was born in Lansing on October 10, 1956 to the late Clifford and Virginia (Foster) Swan. Art graduated from Lansing Eastern High School in 1974. For the last 16 years, Art has made many wonderful memories and friends, while doing road construction...
John D. Covert
May 17, 2016
John D. Covert, age 85, of Sears/Barryton, formerly of Owosso, passed away on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at home. He was born on November 23, 1930, in Barryton, Michigan to the late, Carl F. and Zelma (Burnham) Covert. John attended Linden High School before entering into United States Marine Corps in...
Marion R. Motry
May 14, 2016
Marion R. Motry, age 93 of Big Rapids, passed away Saturday, May 14, 2016 at her home. She was born January 6, 1923 in Cloquet, Minnesota, the ninth child of Ben and Cevilla (McMahon) Bell. Marion was a graduate of South Haven High School. She married Hubert L. "Bud" Motry in 1944. They moved to Big Rapids when Bud accepted...
Dallas G. Bishop
May 14, 2016
Dallas Glen Bishop, age 20, passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at his home in Big Rapids. He was just shy of his 21st birthday which he hoped he could celebrate with his parents, Carol (Jody Randall) Batchelder; three sisters, Tiffany (Matthew) Maczynski, Brittany (Josh Blackmer) Smith and Kirstin (Jason) Hanford; beloved nephew, Kyrian and his best buddy, his...
Ruth A. Mccaman
May 12, 2016
Ruth A. McCaman age 95, of Evart (Barryton), went to be with her Lord, Thursday, May 12, 2016 at Metron of Big Rapids where she has resided for the last few years. She was born August 27, 1920 to the late Alfred and Hazel (Gardner) Wilson in Fork Twp., MI. Ruth graduated from Barryton Rural Agricultural High School. She married...
Nancy L. Toogood Sharp
May 12, 2016
Nancy L. Toogood Sharp, age 80 of Big Rapids, passed away Thursday, May 12, 2016. She was born July 25, 1935 in Big Rapids, the daughter of William and Florence (Purcey) Totten. Nancy was a graduate of Big Rapids High School in the class of 1954. She made her home in the Big Rapids area her entire life. As a...
Jesse Ray Vansyckle Ii
May 11, 2016
Jesse Ray VanSyckle II, 62, passed away on Wednesday, May 11, 2016 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was born in Lakeview on July 10, 1953 to the late Jesse R. and Eula A. (Truxton) VanSyckle. Jesse graduated from Chippewa Hills High School in 1972 and was a direct support person for McBride AFC Homes in Barryton. Jesse was honorably discharged...
Robert L. "Bob" Moore
May 10, 2016
Robert L. Moore, age 77 of Big Rapids, passed away Tuesday, May 10, 2016 peacefully with his family by his side. He was born August 24, 1938 in Big Rapids, the son of Arthur and Mae (Petersen) Moore. Bob graduated from Big Rapids High School in 1956. He married Patricia Gawne on June 15, 1957 in Reed City. Bob worked...
Steven P. Young
May 6, 2016
Steven P. Young, age 55, formerly of Big Rapids, passed away on Friday, May 6, 2016, at his home in Evart. He was born on January 28, 1961 in Hillsdale, MI to Don and Harriet (Maynard) Young. Steve was previously employed at Hayworth and was a "shoe elf" at Wolverine World Wide. He enjoyed fishing, football, especially the Lions, and...
Tammy Sue Fegenbush
May 5, 2016
Tammy Sue Fegenbush, age 48 of Morley, passed away Thursday, May 5, 2016 at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. She was born December 27, 1967 at the Stanwood Hospital, the daughter of John Anderson and Linda Fessler. Tammy graduated from Morley Stanwood High School. She worked as a real estate agent and later was employed by MOARC in the housing department....
Gladys M. Myers
May 3, 2016
Gladys M. Myers, age 69, of Barryton passed away on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 at her daughters home in Morley where she has resided the last...
Geraldine M. Armstrong
May 2, 2016
Geraldine Mae "Gerry" Armstrong, age 91 of Morley, passed away Monday, May 2, 2016 at home surrounded by family and friends. Gerry was born August 25, 1924 in Mio, MI, the daughter of the late Stanley and Nellie (Kennedy) Hager. Gerry married Robert (Bob) Armstrong in Detroit on August 12, 1944. They moved to the Morley area in late 1947...
Emily Beth Kantar
Apr 29, 2016
Emily Beth Kantar, 26, of Big Rapids passed away unexpectedly on Friday, April 29. She was born on August 10, 1989, in Big Rapids the daughter of Andy and Fran (Keleher) Kantar. Emily celebrated her Bat Mitzvah in 2000 at Temple Benjamin in Mt. Pleasant and was a graduate of Big Rapids High School and attended Northwestern Michigan College where...
Kenneth R. Biller
Apr 29, 2016
Kenneth R. Biller, age 91 of Paris, passed away Friday, April 29, 2016 at Hendricks AFC Home in Reed City. He was born August 26, 1924 in Hersey, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth "Belle" (Bush) Biller. Ken attended Hersey School until he quit the 11th grade to cut in the woods with his grandfather. He then enlisted into the...
Richard A. "Dick" Maneke
Apr 24, 2016
Richard A. "Dick" Maneke, age 72 of Lakeview formerly of Big Rapids, passed away Sunday, April 24, 2016 at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. He was born November 4, 1943 in Big Rapids, the son of Arthur and Marion (Malett) Maneke. Dick was a Big Rapids High School graduate. After high school he joined the United States Army National Guard and...
Helen Cusimano
Apr 23, 2016
Helen Elaine Cusimano, age 75, of Stanwood died Saturday April 23, 2016 at her home. She passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving husband of 57 years, James Anthony, daughter Constance, son Stephen and grandson Nicholas. She was born October 3, 1940 in Connecticut. Helen was a devoted and loving wife to her husband James and an outstanding mother to...
