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Jack C. Averill age, 86, of Cedar Springs, crossed over into Heaven Sunday, July 29, 2018 at his home. Jack was born November 20, 1931 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the son of John and Beatrice (Lewitt) Averill. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the Midway from 1950 – 1954. He worked for Kelvinator for 25 years and enjoyed woodworking, music and playing the piano and fishing. He was a very kind and friendly person who loved people and his family. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Mary; children, Jeff Averill, Colleen Connolly, Michelle (Nace) Emmorey; 8 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson; brother, Ray (Pat) Averill; sister, Patricia (Vince) Jeluso. He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 grandchildren and 1 sister. Private family services will be held. Interment Coral Cemetery. Military honors by the U.S. Navy and the Honor Guard. Memorials may be made to the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard. 

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

Donald W. Reed, Sr. age 88, of Sparta, passed away peacefully at his home, on Thursday, May 18, 2017 with family at his side. He served his country during Korea, in the U.S. Army. He was a life member of the Sparta American Legion Post 107, which he served as president, service officer, commander, sergeant at arms, as well as served in the color guard. Don was a founding member of the Sparta Hunting and Fishing Club, where he served as president, was a lifetime board member, and was the master chef for the turkey shoots. He was one of the Dirty Dingus gang members and was honored in 2014 to be the Grand Marshal of the Sparta Town and Country Parade. He was a coach, trail boss, friend, dad and husband. He loved snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, camping, traveling, racing, music, being with family and friends, and going to the casino with his wife, Barb. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 35 years, Artha A. Reed; brother, Richard “Dick” and Joan Reed; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Tobey, and Donald Davis. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Barbara J. Reed; his children, Cynthia Reed, Vicki and Chuck Myers, Jacalyn Barbour, Robin Moore, Brenda and Joe Nichols, Donald “Buck” Reed, John and Ana Endres, Janice Reed; 10 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Jeanette Tobey; in laws, Lynn and Joyce Lewis, Gerri and Ron Urbanski, Jill Davis, Alan and Winnie Spencer; his best friend and hunting buddy, Robert “Bob” Anderson; many nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank God, prayer, the medical teams, Heartland Hospice, and all the friends and family who helped us through this journey. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, May 23, 12:00 p.m. at the Sparta United Methodist Church with Rev. Lou Grettenberger officiating. Military Honors by the Kent County Veterans Honor Guard. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Sparta Hunting and Fishing Club, in which he took special pride.

Arrangements by Hessel-Cheslek Funeral Home, Sparta

Mr. Gary Lee VanSchuur, of Cedar Springs, Michigan, age 66, passed away on the afternoon of Monday, March 21, 2016, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his loving family. Gary was born to Gerrit and Leona Marie (Beduhn) VanSchuur on Sunday, September 11, 1949, in Sparta, Michigan, and had been a lifelong resident of the area. As a truehearted patriot, Gary proudly and courageously served his flag and country in the United States Army, fighting in the Vietnam War. Following his honorable discharge, he worked for the Farm Bureau of Kent City and then as a supervisor for Knoll Furniture until his retirement in 2008. Gary enjoyed the simple things in life— he was a great Michigan outdoorsman who loved to go deer hunting, and as a farmer, Gary loved working the land. He was also a very talented woodworker, crafting many things with his parents in their woodshop. Family was everything to Gary. He was a loving and devoted husband, wonderful father, proud grandfather, and dear brother and friend. He cherished every family get-together, being with his grandchildren whenever he could, and he especially loved taking them for rides on the Gator. Gary is survived by his beloved wife Sharon (Fisk); loving children, MaryAnn (K.J.) Decker and Keith (Laura) Goltz, Sr.; adored grandchildren, Whitney (fiance Cory Wimmer) Decker, Hailey Decker, Devon Cole, Keith Goltz, Jr., Abby Goltz, and Kaylee Goltz; mother Marie VanSchuur; sister Janice; brother-in-law Carl; father and mother-in-law James and Shirley Fisk; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim (Annetta) and Ruth (Stan); and numerous nieces, nephews, and other beloved members of the VanSchuur and Fisk families. He was preceded in death by his father, Gerrit; and brother-in-law Steve. There will be a time of visitation from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 24, 2016, at Pederson Funeral Home, 127 N. Monroe Street NE, Rockford, MI 49341. The funeral service for Gary will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 25, 2016, at Pederson Funeral Home. Pastor Rick Miller will be officiating. Under the auspices of the Kent County Veteran’s Honor Guard and the United States Army, full military honors will be conducted. Gary will be laid to rest in Crandall Cemetery, Ensley Township, Michigan.

Arrangements by Pederson Funeral Home www.pedersonfuneralhome.com

Post photo by J. Reed.

Photo by by Craig Owens

By Judy Reed

Last Saturday, December 5, was a beautiful day to be out and about in downtown Cedar Springs, to celebrate the annual Mingle with Kris Kringle, sponsored by the Cedar Springs Area Chamber of Commerce.

According to Chamber president Perry Hopkins, the first weekend of the 2015 Cedar Springs Christmas went really well, with a lot of people turning out to make and take ornaments at both the Cedar Springs Public Library and the Cedar Springs Historical Museum, and to see Santa at the end of the day.

Photo by Donna Clark

According to Library Director Donna Clark, 70 people—old and young alike—attended the “Make and Take Ornament” morning at the library. They created an ornament for the town Christmas tree and one to take home. They created lots of pine cone ornaments filled with birdseed, so that they would be environmentally and bird friendly.

At 4:30 p.m., a mini parade made its way down Main Street from Maple to Ash, with Sgt. Kelley, of the Kent County Sheriff’s Department Cedar Springs unit leading the way, and a horse-drawn wagon carrying Santa Clause at the end.

“Having the cheerleaders in the parade again this year singing, as the mini parade escorted Santa to the tree, was great,” said Hopkins. “And the Chamber was happy to have royal courts from both the Cedar Springs Renaissance Faire and The Red Flannel Festival in our mini Christmas parade this year.”

Photo by by Craig Owens

The American Legion Post #287 Honor Guard also marched in the parade.

After the parade, the Jubilee quartet led the singing of Christmas carols, and Calvary Assembly of God put on their live nativity, assisted by the Double K Farms petting zoo. “The awesome voices of Jubilee leading the caroling added a new touch  to this year’s Christmas tree lighting,” remarked Hopkins. “As always, the petting zoo and live nativity scene were awesome.”

Mayor Jerry Hall addressed the crowd, and then it was finally time to light the tree. Afterward, children lined up to sit on Santa’s lap in the heated tent.

Hopkins said they are already making notes of ways to improve the event for next year, and they hope more businesses, organizations, and community members will be in the parade next year.

“Cedar Trails Honor Guard” participants from 3/31/15. Mr. Sartore selects different students each day to help him take down the flag at the end of the day. He chooses the students based on their character and if they are a “powerful” Red Hawk. The four students in these pictures are Kindergartners and they were very proud to help Mr. Sartore. What an honor!

Residents gathered at cemeteries and other locales Monday to remember those who died in the service of our country, and all those that have made our freedom possible.

The American Legion Glen Hill Post #287 held services at Elmwood, Solon, and East Nelson Cemeteries and the Cedar Springs Veterans Park. Assisting with the service was the American Legion  Honor Guard, the American Legion Women’s Auxiliary, the Sons of the American Legion and the Boy Scouts.

Services were also held in Algoma Township, Sand Lake and Pierson. The Cedar Springs Historical Society held their annual cemetery walk in Elmwood Cemetery on the Sunday before Memorial Day.

The family of Thomas A. Rogers would like to thank family and friends for all the nice flowers, cards, and messages. We would like to especially thank Bliss-Witters and Pike Funeral Home, Father Joe Kenshol, the ladies of Mary Queen of Apostles Church, and the Honor Guards of Kent County. We thank you so very much.

Family of Thomas Rogers