Joe A. Fisher, 63 of Cedar Springs, died Thursday, December 5, 2013 at his home surrounded by his family after battling cortical basal degeneration for many years. Joe was born April 16, 1950 in Lakeview, MI the son of Raymond and Lily (Uplinger) Fisher. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving during the Vietnam War and worked for General Motors Fisher Body for 32.7 years. He was active during his lifetime and enjoyed walking, biking, his motorcycle, fishing, hunting and golfing. Since retiring in 2005 he spent the winters in Florida with his wife and he always enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. Surviving are his wife, Jeanne (Manley) whom he married on December 5, 1969; children, William Fisher, Amy Nelson, Heather Fisher & Lyndsey Kooistra, Heidi & Jason Mosher; grandchildren, Briana, Seth, Nicole, Joleen, Baylee, Michele, Lily and Cyndi; mother, Lily Fisher; sisters, Susan & Edwin Hood, Janie & Denny Ream; brother, Edward & Angie Fisher; aunt, Audrey Earhart; several brother and sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Sunday from 7-9 pm and Monday from 6-8 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs, where services will be held Tuesday 11:00 am. Pastor Darryl Miller officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard. Interment Solon Township Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Spectrum Health Hospice, the Brain Support Network, or MW Memory Care.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

James H. Tate, 79 of Grand Rapids, died Monday, December 2, 2013 at Spectrum Health – Blodgett Campus. Jim was born December 5, 1933 in Cedar Springs, Michigan the son of Howard and Jennie (VanMale) Tate. Surviving are his sister, Pat (Floyd) Guiles of Grand Rapids; brother, Raymond (Bonnie) Tate of Beulah; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Richard, Marlyn and Jeffrey; sister, Frances. There will be no services, private burial will take place at Elmwood Cemetery, Cedar Springs.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.

Raymond B. Whitcomb, 58 of Cedar Springs, passed away suddenly, Thursday, November 28, 2013 at Spectrum Health – Butterworth Campus. Ray was born October 3, 1955 in Grand Rapids, Michigan the son of Robert and Pearl (Sturgeon) Whitcomb. He retired from Herman Miller in Zeeland. He was a wonderful husband and father and will be greatly missed. Surviving are his wife, Patricia; children, Ryan Whitcomb, Sara (Matt) Misiak, Ian Carlson, Brandi (Bradley) Blanksma; grandchildren, Kerrin, Bradon, Joey, Abby, and Sam; seven brothers and sisters, many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and one sister. Private family services will be held at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. Memorial contributions may be made to Fallen Not Forgotten, c/o Jaisun Hanson, 118 Creek End Court, Swansboro, NC 28584.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

Gladys Marie (Bays) (Stowers) Wright – age 86, of Flushing, went to be with Jesus, Tuesday, November 19, 2013, at Gentiva Hospice, Linden Road, Flint, Michigan. Special thanks to the “crew” for their tender love and care while taking such good care of her. Family will receive visitors from 5 PM to 9 PM on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at Sharp Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 6063 Fenton Rd., Flint 48507. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, November 22, 2013 at the funeral home. Special friend, Raymond Hetzer will officiate. Cremation will take place after the service. A special service will take place sometime next year in Hamlin, West Virginia. at her childhood church. Mrs. Wright was born November 29, 1926, the 11th of 12 children born in Hamlin, West Virginia, and was the daughter of the late James (Big Jim) and Rhoda Bays. Gladys graduated from Ashland High School, Ashland, Kentucky. Gladys lived a short time in Tacoma, Washington, but most of her life was spent in Flushing, Michigan. She was a stay at home mother where she raised 6 children. She was an avid seamstress, quilter, gardener, giver and a great cook. She was assistant cook for 17 years at Maybee Camp in Monroe, Michigan and Napoleon Camp in Napoleon, Michigan. In addition to her parents, preceding her in death were her 1st husband, Don D. Stowers and 2nd husband, Preston S. Wright, and son, James D. Stowers, son-in-law, Gary E. Garrison. Siblings, Rex, Claude, Crosby, James, Ima, Ruby, Minnie, Nel and Eleanor. Surviving are children, Tamera L. Garrison of Grand Blanc, Deborah L. Russell (Michael) of Joelton, Tennessee, Timothy Wright of Flushing, Jeffery Wright (Dena) of Cedar Springs, Lisa Stearns (Douglas) of Flushing. Grandchildren, Kim Garrison Toporek of Goodrich, Heidi Molyneux of Flushing, Michelle Anglea (Lee) of Joelton, Tennesse, Stephen Wright (Amy) of Richmond, Kentucky, Matthew Wright of Erlanger, Kentucky, Sarah Winebrenner (Andrew) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Nathan Wright (Lacey) of Cedar Springs, Katherine Ash (Everett) of Boca Raton, Florida, Holly Williams of Flint. Great grandchildren are: Jessica and Joseph Toporek, Lauren, Megan, Maia, Faith & Hunter Molyneux, Courtney & Catherine Anglea, Abigail, Mitchell, Haden, Boston, Tatum, Kayda & Avalon Wright. Surviving sisters are Irene Chadwick (Charles) of Ormond Beach, Florida and Judy Riffe of Flagler Beach, Florida and many nieces, nephews & cousins throughout the country. Those desiring may make contributions in Gladys’ memory to Food for the Hungry (FH.org). She was really concerned about people not having access to fresh drinking water. Donations will be used to drill a well. Matthew 25:35. Friends may share an online tribute on the obituary page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements by Sharp Funeral Homes

Leah A. Finney, 60 of Rockford, died Friday, November 15, 2013 at Spectrum Health – Butterworth Campus. Leah was born February 13, 1953 in Lansing, Michigan the daughter of Christian and Dorothy (Carter) Bentley. She was a graduate of Big Rapids High School. Surviving are her sons, Matthew Alame of Rockford, Daniel Reichert of Morley; sisters, Juanita Crooks of Morley, Lorinda Lytle of Sears, Roberta Sprague of Cedar Springs, Laura Stahle of Cedar Springs; brothers, Richard (Ruth) Bentley of Baldwin, Alan (Bunny) Bean of Hopewell, Virginia; aunt, Alice Marrs of Morley; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Sharlene Bentley, Marjorie Winston, Beverly Earnest; brothers, William and James Bentley. A memorial gathering and celebration of life will be held Saturday, November 23 from 12 – 3 pm at the American Legion in Morley.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.

Victor W. Tisdel 71 of Winter Springs, Florida passed away on October 13, 2013. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Erwin and Logretta Tisdel on February 2, 1942. Victor graduated from Cedar Springs High School in 1960 and then joined the U.S. Air Force. He served four years mostly on Okinawa Island. Victor attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where he was a member of Sigma Phi Delta. He received a degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Emby Riddle and became a professor where he was integral in the Wind Tunnel Research Program. He was granted a patent on “Airplane Landing Gear Design.” Victor went on to the Daytona Beach General Electric facilities and then completed his career at Lockheed Martin in Orlando where he specialized in Tank Simulation Technology Innovations. He enjoyed traveling, air shows and designing and flying gyrocopters. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sylvia (Rickenbacker) Tisdel; his sister, Nancy (Colen) Cole of Cedar Springs, Michigan; his adopted son, David (Deborah) Tisdel of Delton, Florida and nephew, Calvin (Carolynn) Cole of Rockford, Michigan. Services will be held Saturday, November 23 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bliss-Witters and Pike Funeral Home with Pastor Chuck Smith officiating. Relatives and friends may meet with the family one hour prior to the funeral service. Cremation has taken place.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs

Stephen Kruis, age 42, of Sparta, Michigan went to be with our Lord on November 5, 2013. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Services to be announced on a later date.

Mr. Danny Lynn Hunter, age 64, passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2013. He was born in Cedar Springs to Maurice and Audrey (Brown) Hunter. Dan was a graduate of Cedar Springs High school where he played football and wrestled; he went on to graduate from Ferris State College. He married Coleen Michele Plumb on May 30, 1975. Dan worked for Progressive Die & Automation for 28 years. In retirement he built and operated Northwoods Kennels. He belonged to the Red Flannel Rod & Gun Club for many years where he taught Hunters Safety. Dan enjoyed hunting, fishing and cheering on Notre Dame. He took the trip of a lifetime two years ago with his wife to Ireland. Dan is survived by his loving wife of 38 years Shelly; daughters, Carrie (Stan) Kukla, Kristi Rice; 9 grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Thomas; sister-in-law, Kathy Gabbert and Mike Shalander; uncle, Ray Hunter; and aunt, Carrie Zeck. Dan was preceded in death by his parents; niece, Amy Thomas; and nephew, Douglas Thomas. The funeral service was held 11 am Saturday, November 2, 2013 at the Pederson Funeral Home in Rockford. The visitation was held from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm on Friday, November 1, 2013 at the Pederson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions can be made to the Humane Society of West Michigan, 3077 Wilson Dr. NW, Grand Rapids, MI, 49534 or the Spectrum Health Foundation, Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion, 100 Michigan St. NE, MC 004, Grand Rapids, MI 49503.

Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com

(Trufant) Mrs. Sue Frost, age 46, passed away on Saturday, November 2, 2013 following a brave and courageous battle with cancer. She and her husband, Lee, did everything together; they were a Harley Biking couple and enjoyed the feeling of the fresh air and the freedom of riding. They raised beagle dogs together for hunting and show and loved the sound of their beagles chasing after rabbits. Lee was the “Rabbit Master.” Sue and Lee fished and she was very competitive and Sue was the “Bass Master.” She believed in education and while working full time, being a wife and mother, Sue went back to high school to prove to her children the importance of a high school education. Way to go girl! She is survived by her husband of more than 30 years and best friend, Lee; her children, Fawn and Jon Reedy and Timothy and Brandy Frost; her special granddaughter, Savannah; her parents, Keith and Sharon Cramer, her brothers and sister, Tom and Dee Cramer, Sherri and Mark Sias and Terry and Kitty Cramer; nieces and nephews. Honoring Sue’s request cremation has taken place. A service honoring Sue’s life will be held Friday afternoon at 1:00 o’clock, November 8, 2013 at the Pederson Funeral Home. Sue’s family will greet family and friends from 6 to 8 on Thursday evening and prior to the service on Friday at the Pederson Funeral Home.

Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home, Rockford www.pedersonfuneralhome.com

Neil E. Siegel, 82 of Cedar Springs, died Friday, October 25, 2013 at his home. Neil was born April 29, 1931 in Ensley Center, Michigan the son of Edd and Blanche (Welch) Siegel. He graduated from Sand Lake High School in 1949 and attended Michigan State University. He was a farmer, and retired from the Kent County Road Commission in 1993. He was married to Maureen (Boyle) Siegel for 27 years before she preceded him in death in 1995. He was a member of Mary Queen of Apostles and the Knights of Columbus. Neil was a great father and took his family on vacation each year, but was always glad to be back home. He now is truly home. Surviving are his daughters; Laura (Michael) Eppler of Evansville, Indiana, Kathleen Siegel of Cedar Springs; grandchildren, Noah, Mark, Luke, Mary, and Patrick; sisters, Mariel Hawley of Grant, Jeanne Forand of Florida; many nieces and nephews. He was also preceded by sisters, Dorothy Siegel and Lorraine Watson. The family received friends Monday, Oct. 28 at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs. Mass of Christian Burial was Tuesday 11:00 am at Mary Queen of Apostles, Sand Lake. Rev. Fr. Lam Le celebrant. Interment St. John’s Cemetery, Ensley Township. Memorial contributions may be made to the Knights of Columbus.

Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home