http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, November 14, 2024 19
It is with heavy
hearts that
we announce
the passing
of Jeremy
Joseph
Smithson on
Oct. 2, 2024, at
the young age
of 46.
Jeremy was
born in Middletown, Ohio, on April 9,
- He moved with his family to Battle
Creek, Mich., in 1983. Jeremy graduated
from Harper Creek High School in 1996
and went on to play baseball at UNLV.
Back in July 2024, Jeremy was diag-
nosed with choloangiocarcinoma. He
was determined to fight and battle the
cancer as hard and as long as he could.
Unfortunately, the cancer took hold and
Jeremy passed away in the early morn-
ing of Oct. 2, 2024.
He is survived by his wife of 20 years,
Nicole Smithson: his two daughters,
Riley and Kalyssa; his parents, Gail and
Marjorie Smithson; his sister, Jennifer
Hadden; nieces Kelsey and Mara; and
nephew Owen. He is also survived by
his mother-in-law, Debbie Fernandez,
who held a special place in his heart.
Jeremy, an avid Ohio State fan, was a
hard working man, who also loved his
Best Buy family. He worked for Best Buy
for 12 years. In that short time, he left
a lasting impression with all those he
worked with as a determined and sup-
portive leader.
Jeremy lived his life the best he knew
how. He enjoyed fishing with family and
friends, specifically, his annual fish-
ing trip to Canada with his father and
friends and family. Jeremy loved playing
games with his wife, kids and friends,
more notably Nicole’s best friend,
Marybeth -- Mario Party, Shrek, Fortnite
and World of Warcraft, to name a few.
His pastimes also included golfing,
bowling, billiards and softball. A truly
incredible father, he also tolerated the
many memorable trips to Disney with
his wife and kids, but would never admit
to enjoying it.
Jeremy truly touched the lives of
those he has ever been acquainted with.
Anyone who has every met him, will
never forget his infectious smile and
laughter. He will forever be loved and
missed.Linda “Lindy”
Darlene Van
Hoose went to
be with the lord
on Thursday,
Nov. 7, 2024.
She was born
March 3, 1951,
in Battle Creek,
Mich., to Harlan
and Gloria Van
Hoose.
Linda graduated from Harper Creek
High School in 1969 and then spent
a quarter of a century working at the
Kalamazoo Psychiatric Hospital. She
was a caring woman who would do
anything for anyone. Linda loved her
family and enjoyed spending time with
the apple of her eye, her granddaughter,
Reighlea Sisson. She cherished the title
of grandmother and treasured her time
with all of her grandkids.
Linda was preceded in death by her
brother Eugene Van Hoose; and parents
Harlan and Gloria Van Hoose.
She is survived by her son, Stephen
Brown; brother Terry Van Hoose; sister
Sandy Smith (Van Hoose); and several
beloved grandchildren.
Upon request, Linda has been cremat-
ed, and a celebration of life will be held
Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, from 1-3 p.m.
at Dexter Lake Church of God, Battle
Creek, Mich.
Arrangements entrusted to Baxter
Funeral & Cremation Service, 269-788-
9800, www.baxterfuneral.com.Allen Dale
Rice , 71, of
Union City,
passed away
Tuesday, Nov. 5,
2024, at Henry
Ford Hospital in
Detroit following
a lengthy illness.
A memorial
service will be
held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024,
at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation,
1276 Tate Trail, Union City, MI 49094,
with Pastor Jayme Palaszeski officiating.
Private interment will be at Riverside
Cemetery in Union City. Visitation was
held from 3-7 p.m. on Wednesday,
Nov. 13, 2024, at Lighthouse Funeral
& Cremation and again on Thursday at
the Lighthouse for one hour prior to the
service.
Allen was born Oct. 4, 1953, in
Coldwater, Mich., to Dale E. and Carolyn
D. (Duflo) Rice. He was raised in Union
City and earned his Eagle Scout Award
and God and County Award through the
Boy Scouts. He graduated from Union
City High School in 1971. He went on
to Kellogg Community College, where
he obtained an associate degree in
accounting. He married his high school
sweetheart, Kathryn E. Olds, on July 26,
1975, at the United Methodist Church in
Union City where they have been long-
time members. Allen lived in the Union
City area all of his life and he and Kathy
raised their family there.
Allen worked as a program analyst at
the Federal Center in Battle Creek for 34
years, retiring in 2016. He was known
to be patient, laid back, fun and deter-
mined. He was a problem solver and aDIY guy that could fix just about any-
thing. He had an adventurous spirit and
dabbled in many things throughout the
years, including hunting, snow skiing,
water sports, off roading with Jeeps and
motorcycles, and hang gliding. However,
his favorite pastime was sailing the
Great Lakes and the Caribbean. He and
Kathy spent the warm months on their
boat in Muskegon at Lakeshore Yacht
Harbour since 2003, and especially after
his retirement. He captained several
sailboats: the “Carpe Diem,” the “Hot
Fudge” and the “Dragonfly” to name a
few.
Mr. Rice is survived by his wife of 49
years, Kathy Rice; his children, Matthew
(Desiree) Rice, Brent Rice and Alison
(Mark) Baklund, all of Union City; his
parents, Dale and Carolyn Rice of Union
City; his brother, Duain (Betty) Rice
of Glendale, Ariz.; his grandchildren,
Ashlyn Baklund, Collin Elkins, Caleb
Baklund, Laynie Elkins, Kayden Rice,
Brodie Rice Milly Rice and Mattie Rice;
his great-grandson, Henry Baklund; his
sisters-in-law. Paulette (Lester) Risner
of Loveland, Colo., and Pamela (Eric)
Tundevold of Sherwood; his brothers-
in-law, Raymond (Tangi) Olds of Athens
and Jeffrey (Tammy) Olds of Fremont,
Ind.; and his beloved basset hound,
Captain Morgan.
He was preceded in death by his in-
laws, Paul and Donna (Voss) Olds.
Memorial contributions may be direct-
ed to Union City Senior Center, 101 S.
Broadway St., Union City, MI 49094,
payable to Village of Union City, memo
line “Senior Center-Allen Rice.”
Please visit http://www.lighthousefuneral.
com to share memories, pictures and
videos with the family.OBITUARY POLICY
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