Obituaries – Page 227

Former Gun Lake man Thomas Vander Werf passes

March 5, 2015

J. Thomas Vander Werf, age 74, of Foley AL, formerly of the Gun Lake area, died Tuesday, March 3. He is survived by his brother Loren and Jan VanderWerf of Elkhart IN, sister-in-law Ruth VanderWerf of Hudsonville, and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents John...

Geneva Wykowski, 96, was longtime educator, principal

March 4, 2015

Geneva Wykowski, 96, of Wayland, died Tuesday, March 3, at her home. Mrs. Wykowski was born Feb. 7, 1919, in Byron Center, the daughter of Baltas and Katherine (Simon) Wolf. She graduated from Bryon Center High School, and later earned her teaching certificate. She taught kindergarten at both Hopkins and...

John R. Gavrun of Hopkins passes at 78

March 2, 2015

John Robert Gavrun, Sr., age 78 of Hopkins, died Friday, Feb. 27. John was born Sept. 25, 1936, in Chicago, to the late Andrew and Margaret (Sharp) Gavrun. He served in the U.S. Marines. John is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Gavrun; his children: Mary A. Pelton...

Visitation will be Sunday afternoon for Richard Williams, 58

February 28, 2015

Richard J. Williams, age 58 of Wayland, died Thursday, Feb. 26. Dick is survived by his wife, Diane Williams; his children: Nicole (Addam) Kadrovach, Jennifer (Nick) Boes, Luke (Ashley) Wolters, Devin (Brittani) Wolters, and Travis (Claire) Williams; 11.5 grandchildren; his mother Rita Williams; his father-in-law Ken Fay; and several nieces...

Memorial service will be Saturday, March 7, for Ruth Nienhuis

February 28, 2015

Ruth Nienhuis, age 72 of Wayland, died Tuesday, Feb. 24. Ruth was active at the American Disabled Veterans Bingo. She loved gardening, fishing and camping. Ruth is survived by her son, Albert Nienhuis; her grandchildren: Tony, Kendra, and MaKenna; her sister Mary Lou McGee; brother-in-law Norm Plaat; and several nieces...

Former owner of the Avalon, Andrew Chlebana, 82, dies

February 28, 2015

Andrew M. Chlebana, age 82, of Wayland,died Thursday, Feb. 26. Andrew was best known in the Gun Lake area as the owner of the Avalon. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and golfing. Andrew was well known for his outstanding homemade wine. Andrew was a U.S. Army veteran and served during the...

Traffic accident in Otsego takes life of Wayland High School grad

February 28, 2015

Wayland High School graduate Pamela S. Knowlton, 55, of Otsego, died Thursday in a tragic accident in Otsego. She was born August 23, 1959, in Plainwell, the daughter of Larry and Shirley (Vander Ploeg) Knowlton. Pam grew up in Shelbyville and was a 1977 graduate of Wayland High School. Following...

Ex-Wayland schools transportation supervisor Stan Jansen dies

February 26, 2015

Stanley James Jansen, age 90, of Dorr, died Tuesday, Feb. 24, following a brief illness. He was the owner of Stan's Body Shop in Dorr for many years. Later he was the Transportation Supervisor for Wayland Union School retiring from there in 1986. He was known as "Stan the Man"...

Grandfather of 4 famous WHS female athletes dies at 77

February 26, 2015

William “Bill” M. Merchant, 77, paternal grandfather of four of the most famous female athletes in Wayland, died Thursday after a brief illness on what coincidentally would have been his Mother’s 100th birthday. Merchant was grandfather of Nikki Cardosa and Jessica, Brittini and Macy Merchant, and he was the father...

Memorial service will be March 7 for Lynn Donovan, Gun Lake

February 25, 2015

Lynn A. Donovan, 76, of Gun Lake, died Sunday Feb. 22. Surviving are his wife, Mary; son, James of Spokane, WA and daughter, Cara Schulte of Grand Rapids; three granddaughters, Kiersten Smith of Ohio, Johanna and Lauren of Grand Rapids; great grandson, Mason of Ohio; two brothers, Dennis and Gary...

Category: Obituaries