All Obituaries

Michael E. “ Mike “ Loper 70 of Belding died Thursday evening June 20, 2019 at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids. Mike was born on November 15, 1948 in Belding, the son of Marvin and Hulda (Hansbarger) Loper. He  graduated from Belding High School with the Class of 1967. While in high school Mike excelled in football, basketball and baseball. He later attended Grand Rapids Community College. He had worked many years as an operating engineer for various trenching/underground...

Albert C. Worth, age 72 passed away suddenly on Saturday, June 15, 2019 in Elk River, MN. Al was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle and great friend to many. He was born in Jackson, Michigan, son of Robert and Beulah (Babcock) Worth. Al graduated from Jackson High School in 1965 and learned his trade through Jackson and Washtenaw Community Colleges. Al had a great work ethic and spent 47 years of his career as a Senior Piping/Plant Layout Designer. His work took him to many...

Claude L. Strickling  90, of Orleans, passed away Thursday, June 13, 2019 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Claude was born on November 19, 1928 in Freeport, NY. Claude was raised by his mother Susan Strickling and J.B. Selleck. Prior to graduating high school Claude proudly served his country with the US Army at the end of WWII where he was stationed in the Philippine Islands. After the war he graduated from Ionia High School and later worked for the State of Michigan/Department of...

David E. Pierson, 69, of Belding, passed away Sunday June 9, 2019 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. David was born on June 22, 1949 in Belding, the son of Elwyn and Hilda (Hodson) Pierson. He graduated from Belding High School and later proudly served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam war from 1967-1969. David enjoyed tinkering with things, pike fishing, hunting especially deer and pheasant with his daughter.  For over 30 years he was a self-employed semi driver and recently...

Thomas A. “ Tom” Sprowls, 69, of Sheridan, died Saturday morning June 8, 2019 at Laurels of Carson City. Tom was born on October 19, 1949 in Muskegon, the son of Walter and Hazel (Sikkenga) Sprowls. Tom graduated from Fruitport High School with the Class of 1967 and later graduated from Central Michigan University in 1972. In the fall of 1972 Tom started his teaching career as an elementary art teacher with Belding Area Schools. He later would teach at the Middle School and...

Susan L. Rinehart, 95, of Greenville, passed away Tuesday morning, June 4, 2019 at Bishop Hills Elder Care in Rockford. Susan was born on January 13, 1924 in Kent County, the daughter of Sidney and Mary (Devine) Northup. She was a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Greenville. While living at Bishop Hills the past few years Susan enjoyed all the daily activities offered especially painting. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting and doing crossword puzzles. Susan married Richard...

Joan Hellen Garland, 89, of Belding passed away Sunday evening, June 2, 2019 at Green Acres Assisted Living in Ionia under the loving care of her family, the staff at Green Acres and Sparrow Hospice. Joan was born on August 8, 1929 in Muir, the daughter of Charles F. and Amelia (Mills) Johnson. She was seventh in a family of eight children. Joan graduated from Belding High School with the Class of 1946. She married Lester Garland in Orleans on August 25, 1951. She loved to travel, her and...

Eugene “Gene” W. Ingraham, 84, of rural Greenville, passed away Wednesday morning, May 29, 2019 at home under the loving care of his family and Great Lakes Caring Hospice. Gene was born on February 22, 1935 in Belding, the son of Wilbur and Ione (Hoffmaster) Ingraham. He was a long time resident of the Belding Greenville area and retired from Extruded Metals after 48 years of service. Gene enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching the deer and turkeys all around his home and time spent...

Margaret M. Lockhart, 83, of Greenville, passed away Monday morning, May 27, 2019 at home. Margaret was born on May 24, 1936 in Morley, the daughter of James and O. Marie  (Daniels) Dalrymple. She loved gardening, sewing, working on crafts, visiting with friends and family. She was a member of the Moose Lodge in Greenville. Margaret is loved and survived by her children; Lisa Bermudez of Texas, Tammy Easterling of Lansing and Jim Beetley of Gulliver, her grandchildren, nieces and...

Theodore  R. “ Ted’ Hessler 91 of Grattan Township, Belding died Saturday evening May 25, 2019 at Spectrum Health-Blodgett Campus in East Grand Rapids. Ted was born on September 12, 1927 near Belding, the son of Lyle and Fern ( Cranmer) Hessler. He graduated from Belding High School with the Class of  1946 and later attended Aquinas College. He was a member of the Belding-Ionia Masonic Lodge, served on the Belding Area Schools Board of Education,  was active with...