Service April 13 for former councilman Max Barnes

Former Wayland City Councilman Max Barnes died Friday. March 29.  He was 85.

Max was born Jan. 15, 1939, in Grand Rapids, MI to Frank and Iris Barnes.

Max served in the Air Force for four years doing electrical work on airplanes.  He then became an electrician at General Motors, where he retired after 30 years.  He also served as the Skilled Trades Representative for several years before he retired. 

Max served several years on the Wayland City Planning Commission and the Wayland City Council in the late 1960s and early ’70s.

He had many hobbies he enjoyed through the years which included flying his airplane, riding motorcycles and snowmobiles, sky diving, target shooting and reloading, reading until his sight became too bad.  He had many friends he enjoyed at work and at home.

He is survived by his wife, Linda (Wright) Barnes; his sons, Curt Barnes, Eric Barnes and Jeff Barnes and their families; his siblings, brother, Ted Wickering, his sisters, Yvonne (Ron) Fischer and Catherine (David) Sampson; sister-in-law, Carolyn Abrams; and brother-in-law, Bill (Sharon) Wright.

Max was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Iris Wickering; nephew, Matthew Sampson; father and mother in-law, Logan and Marian Wright; granddaughter, Emily Barnes; brother and sister in-laws, Bill and Joyce Herb, Frank and Ruth Hazen, Barry and Diane Sebright and Mike Wright.

The family wishes to honor Max with a celebration of life gathering from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the United Church of Wayland, 411 East Superior St.

Suggested donations are to Interim Hospice, 1971 E. Beltline, NE , Suite 216, Grand Rapids, MI 49525.

Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Michigan Cremation & Funeral Care, Grand Rapids, 616-452-3006, exclusive providers of Veterans Funeral Care.