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Margaret Secory Smith
Owned a bed and breakfast in Albion
Margaret Secory Smith, 77, of Albion died Wednesday, July 24, 2002 at Battle Creek Health Systems.
She was born May 14, 1925 in Mason City, Iowa to Lewis and Gertrude Secory. She married Milton J. Smith on June 10, 1944. He preceded her in death on March 22, 1982.
Mrs. Smith was employed at Albion Volunteer Service Organization, served on the Trillium Hospital Service League, owned and operated Smith-White Bed & Breakfast in Albion, and was recently activity coordinator at Maple Grove Apartments in Albion. She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Albion.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Beth Duhrkoss of Marshall; a son, Greg Smith of Ada; two brothers, Ralph Secory of Spring Lake and Lewis Secory of Port Huron; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and two sisters, Marion Secory and Arlene Schroeder.
Funeral services were held at St. James Episcopal Church in Albion on Saturday, July 27, 2002.
Arrangements were handled by the family.
Bernice Katt
Formerly worked for Jobbers Outlet, Meijer
Bernice Katt, 85, of Grand Haven died Saturday, July 27, 2002 at a local care facility.
She was born Jan. 26, 1917 to Carl and Dena (Weavers) Anderson in Grand Haven and married John J. Katt on Nov. 30, 1938 in Grand Haven. He preceded her in death on June 11, 1985.
Mrs. Katt had been a lifelong area resident and formerly worked for Jobbers Outlet and Meijer, Inc. She was a charter member of Ferrysburg Christian Reformed Church and the Ladies Aide group at church.
Her interests included knitting and working crossword puzzles.
Survivors include her daughter, Nancy J. (Bill) Tysman, Grand Haven; son, Steven J. (Barbara) Katt, Cloverville; two granddaughters, Andrea and Sarah Katt; in-laws, Swannie (Ed) Ruhlig, Grand Haven; Marge (Ade) De Heer, Grand Haven; Rose Katt, Muskegon; Donald (Lois) Katt, Spring Lake; Edward Katt, Spring Lake, and also several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Arrangements are being handled by VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad of Grand Haven.
A funeral service for Mrs. Katt will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ferrysburg Church with Rev. Alvin Hoksbergen officiating. Friends may meet the family from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home in Grand Haven. Interment will be in Spring Lake Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Ferrysburg Church Memorial Fund or Hospice of North Ottawa Community.
Rhonda Dupuis
Rhonda Lynn (Hintz) Dupuis, 44, died Thursday, July 25, 2002.
She was born in Grand Haven on May 20, 1958 to Raymond and Rosemary (VanTol) Hintz.
Survivors include her two sons, Daniel of Clariton, Pa. and Drew of Mt. Vernon, Pa.; daughter, Abi of Greenville; mother, Rosemary (Bill) Goloversic of North Muskegon; father, Ray (Charlene) Hintz of Wyoming; grandmother, Clara Hintz of Grand Haven; stepfather, Alex Marcinak of Grand Haven; five sisters, Raquel (Chris) Meyers of Norton Shores; Renee (Dave) Hintz of San Diego, Calif.; Rae Lynn (Jim) Stetson of Ferrysburg; Rochelle (Jose) Maciel of Jamestown, Wis.; Robin Burdick of Ozark, Mo.; stepsister, Danielle Frifeldt of Spring Lake; three brothers, Rory (Nora) Hintz of Grand Haven; Russ (Lidia) Hintz of Grand Haven and Rodney Hintz of Holland; stepbrother, Michael (Kristeen) Hintz of Grandville and special friend, Charlie Baker of Millvale, Pa.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Clock Funeral Home of Grand Haven.
The funeral mass for Rhonda Lynn Dupuis, 44, will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Fr. Anthony Vainavicz presiding. Memorials may be made to an education fund for her children.
Olga Conant
Olga Conant, 86, of Grand Haven died Saturday, July 27, 2002.
Arrangements will be announced later by VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home of Grand Haven.
Vernon Verplank
Widely known member of a pioneer family
Vernon Verplank, a widely known member of a pioneer family, passed away peacefully Saturday morning, July 27, 2002 at the age of 95.
Mr. Verplank was born July 10, 1907 in Spring Lake to Tony and Jessie (Wills) Verplank. His grandfather, Joos Verplank, arrived in Grand Haven at the age of five in 1848.
Mr. Verplank's father, Tony Verplank, started the ice and coal business in 1908, cutting ice out of Spring Lake. Vernon and his three brothers, Sherman, Russell and Raymond, joined their father in the business during the late 20s and 30s.
As the ice and coal business declined, the Verplanks moved into the aggregate business, utilizing their Ferrysburg dock property. Today the company has widespread dock operations in the Tri-Cities, Muskegon and Holland. They also operate a fleet of trucks throughout West Michigan serving the road building and construction industries, and they transport rock salt for ice control purposes.
Mr. Verplank's entrepreneurial spirit provided a great legacy for his children and grandchildren. His sons, Midge and Gary, founded and operate many local companies, including Shape Corp., Light Corp., Track Corp., Pliant Plastics, BR Metal Products, Netshape and Biosolutions. His daughter, Joyce, also started many businesses, including the first preschool company in Western Michigan, a computerized Federal Child Care Food Program in Michigan, Illinois and Colorado and Recreation Broadcasting Company in Aspen, Colo.
Mr. Verplank was an avid fisherman in Michigan, Canada and Florida. Along with his beautiful wife, Lydia, he enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the world. Their trip to the Far East and Australia and New Zealand was one of the highlights of their long life together.
Mr. Verplank was a long time member of the Spring Lake Yacht Club and the Spring Lake Country Club. He was a founding member of the Spring Lake Rotary Club in 1957, past president and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Spring Lake Presbyterian Church. As an active member of the Spring Lake Yacht Club, he was responsible for overseeing the construction of the new SLYC clubhouse in 1953.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Lydia (Secory); his sons, Midge (Ausma) and Gary (Victoria); daughter, Joyce (Paul Eggert); daughter-in-law, Norna Verplank; and son-in-law, Julian Hatton. He is survived by 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
The funeral service for Mr. Verplank will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. from Spring Lake Presbyterian Church with Rev. Dan Anderson officiating. Friends may meet the family Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at VanZantwick, Bartels, Kammeraad in Spring Lake. Interment at Spring Lake Cemetery. Those desiring a memorial are asked to remember the Spring Lake Yacht Club Junior Sailing Association or charity of choice.
William Waltman
Retired as a major from U.S. Air Force
William S. Waltman, 84, of Spring Lake died Friday, July 26, 2002, at a local hospital.
He was born Oct. 2, 1917 to Chauncey and Myla (Smedley) Waltman in Chicago, Ill. He married Elizabeth M. Maron May 26, 1942 and she preceded him in death on Dec. 14, 1997.
Mr. Waltman married Elise S. Ditmar on Jan. 2, 2000 in Tampa, Fla.
Mr. Waltman served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a pilot of a B-29 and was shot down twice, became a prisoner of war, and was freed by advancing infantry. He was a major upon retirement from the U.S. Air Force.
He was a graduate of the University of Michigan and grew up in Grand Rapids, prior to moving to Spring Lake. He wintered in Florida and enjoyed summers in Grand Haven.
Mr. Waltman enjoyed golfing, watching Chicago Cubs games and oil painting on canvas.
Survivors include his wife Elise; three daughters, Elizabeth Waltman, Niles; Cynthia (Steven) Schember, Tampa, Fla. and Diane (Thomas) Adams, Madison, Wis., two stepsons, Dennis Noren, Fruitport and Jack (Jan) Ditmar, Spring Lake; five grandchildren; his brother, Charles (Martha Kay) Waltman, Lake Forest, Ill., two nephews and one niece.
His daughter Patricia Ann Freedman preceded him in death in 2001.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are being handled by VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad of Grand Haven.
Versil Sweet
Versil Dean Sweet, 63, of Grand Haven, died Friday, Jan. 25, 2002 at North Ottawa Community Hospital.
He was born in East Jordan on Dec. 7, 1938 to Herbert and Belle (Murphy) Sweet and married the former Betty Mihalek in January 1962.
Mr. Sweet had been employed in the quality control department at Herman Miller, Inc. since 1985. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, woodworking and gardening.
Survivors include: his wife, Betty; son, Michael Sweet of Montverde, Fla.; daughter, Lisa (Peter Impara) Sweet of Olympia, Wash.; sister, Kathleen Peck of Boyne City; two brothers, Basil (Virginia) Sweet of Petoskey amd Stanley (Verna) Sweet of Gulliver; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Sweet was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Lawrence Sweet and brother-in-law, Floyd Peck.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Clock Funeral Home of Grand Haven.
A Funeral Mass for Mr. Versil Dean Sweet will be held 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 28, 2002 at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Fr. Anthony Vainavicz officiating. Interment at Grand Haven Township Cemetery. Visitation will be 2-5 p.m. Sunday with a scripture service at 4:30 p.m. at Clock Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Mary's School Foundation for Catholic Education.
