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18 Thursday, August 8, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com

their children Azalya and Hunter; Theresa,

her children Luke and Ruth; Suzie (Bo)

their children Montana, Westin and

Hudsen; Bob (Julie), their children; Kelly

(Jim) their kids Isaiah, Fayelynn, JoLee

and Karissa; Bobby (Larissa) their chil-

dren, Laila, Zak, Patience, JoJo, Bobby IV

and Abigail; Bradley (Holly) their kids, Ash

and Bradley; David (Kim) their children,

Tony (Jen) their kids Chelsea and Jayden;

Matt (Tera) their kids Kierston, Cole and

Maddy; Jamie (Jen), their kids Jarrett and

Jamey; Rocky (Rachel) their kids Emily,

Thor, Gunnar; Zoey, her kids Payton

and KJ; Tammi (Dave) their kids, Cody

(Shannon) their daughter Payton, Justin

(Kaitlin) their kids, Conner, Alynna, Ryder,

Dawson and Bella; Brianna (Mike) their

son Bryce; Morgan (Andrew) their son

Easton; Jon (Cristi), their children Ashton,

his kids Madyson and Bryton; Amber

(Nick) their kids Jaxon and Owen; Paige

(Joe); Raegan, her son Mariano; Tyler

(Bri) their kids, Freya, Ezria and Reigna;

Maddi (Ana), Willie (Ana), Molly, her son

Maddin; Hillary (John), their kids Anya,

Alana and McKenna. He was “Dad” to

Pam, Steve, Robin, Alicia, Brady, Tammy

and Tim, and Papa/Grandpa to countless

Bonus “kids,” several foster children and

other “adopted” family members.

He was preceded in death by his par-

ents; two sisters, Kathleen Lowe and

Betty Hicks; two brothers, Kenny and

Pete; and two previous wives, Elizabeth

and Mavis.

Guy enjoyed watching all of the family

play sports, traveling and being a stable

influence on our large extended family.

Visitation was held at the Richard A.

Henry Funeral Home, followed by a funer-

al service at the Battle Creek Friends

Church on Tuesday, August 6. He was

interred at Fort Custer National Cemetery

with full military

honors.

http://www.henryfu-

neralhome.org

Guy A. Bess,
93, of Battle
Creek, died
Thursday, August
1, 2024. He was
born to Luther
H. and Iva B.
(Duncan) Bess
in Battle Creek,
Michigan, on
October 14,
1930, and is
a confirmed
descendent of
Native American blood.
Guy graduated from Battle Creek Public
Schools and attended Kellogg Community
College. He worked for 30 years at Clark
Equipment, beginning in the experimental
department and retired as an industrial
electrician in 1980. He served from 1952-
1956 in the Air Force as a Jet Engine
Specialist/Mechanic.
On September 10, 1976, he mar-
ried Susan (Bays) Bess, who survives.
Together they blended into a family
of 10 as they each had five children.
Guy is survived by his wife, Susan, as
well as: Bill (Elliot) Bess, his daughter
Kristen and her children: Tanner (Allison)
their children: Averie, Reece, Brooklen,
Jordyn, Peyton, Gracyn, Finnley, and
Saylor; Ashton (Benjamin) their children:
Emerson and Branson; Dallen, Chase,
Kendall, and Salem; Carol (Mike), their
children, Sarah, Mike, Melissa, her chil-
dren, Danielle (Trenton), their children,
Cheyenne, Havannah and Dominic; Telle
and Gabby; Jared, and Jamie, her son
Zach; Kenny (Grace) and their children,
Jerry (Brittaney) their children, James and
Brooke; Alicia (Ken) their children, Emma
and Peyton; Joanna (Derek) their children
Jackson and Robby; Patty (Bob); Jim
(Meg), their children Hillary (Ben); Alex
(Breannah) their kids, Jaxon and Maddox;
Colleen, her children Zachariah and
Noah; Sherri, her children, Nicole (Tim)

Merrill W.

Bressette, 74, of

Coleman, MI, died

Sunday, July 28,

2024, at Coleman

Fields Assisted

Living.

Merrill was born

February 9, 1950,

in St. Albans, VT,

the son of the late

Delbert and Eleanor

(LaFar) Bressette.

He married Karen

A. Klein on June 28, 1996, in Harrison.

Merrill was a gifted woodworker and metal

worker. He had a very resourceful mind, and

starting at a young age, he designed and cre-

ated many innovative items to make tasks

more efficient and life easier. He was very

knowledgeable in most every subject and cur-

rent events, which made conversation with him

very interesting. He enjoyed gardening and the

outdoors. He loved spending time at the Salt

River that runs through his property. He espe-

cially enjoyed time at the river with his children.

Among the favorite memories of his children

are walks and bike rides on the rail trail –

always followed by ice cream – and every time

he went shopping he would always buy pop-

corn chicken so they could picnic at the park.

He was an outdoor person and recently told

his brother that the Salt River was his favorite

place in the world. He spent many days on the

river canoeing and gathering rocks, and espe-

cially loved skiing on the river in the winter.

Survivors include his wife, Karen; son Delbert

Bressette and daughter Breanna Bressette,

both of Coleman; brothers William (Sue)

Bressette of St. Albans, Allen (Bev) Bressette

of Springport, and P. Wayne Bressette of Battle

Creek; sister Jacquelyn Rupel of Battle Creek;

nieces and nephews Chris Bressette, MaryBeth

Peterson, Brian Bressette, Scott Moore, Lisa

Bressette, Jessica Rupel and Celeste Rupel.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded

in death by his brother Delbert “Skipper”

Bressette Jr.; and nieces Shelby Dzioba and

Jashell Dzioba.

Cremation has taken place. A celebration of

life will be held at a later date.

O’Laughlin Funeral Home, Inc., Coleman, is

assisting the family with arrangements.

Norman Leroy

Curtis passed

away peacefully

on July 31, 2024,

at the age of 88.

Born October

28, 1935, in

Coloma, he was

the son of Wilbur

and Dorothy

(Harrington)

Curtis.

Norman’s

journey through

life was shared with his beloved wife of

67 years, Ellen Marie (Coppock) Curtis.

Norm is also survived by his son Gerald

(Pam) Curtis, and were blessed with

grandchildren, Jason and Joshua, as well

as five great-grandchildren. He was a lov-

ing brother to Joyce Monroe and brother-

in-law to Linda Curtis and Dr. Robert

(Marion) Coppock. He also held a special

place in the hearts of several nieces and

nephews.

Norman was preceded in death by his

parents, his son Duane Curtis, and four

siblings.

He was involved in the auto body indus-

try for over 64 years, working at numer-

ous body shops, as an instructor at the

Calhoun Area Career Center, and was the

proud owner of Norm’s Body Shop. His

workmanship graced cars featured at The

Henry Ford and Gilmore Car Museum.

Norman was a devout member of the

Seventh-day Adventist Church in Delton

and Urbandale, where he served as a

Youth Sabbath School and Pathfinder

director, as well as Elder and Deacon. He

was instrumental in shaping the lives of

many young people through the years.

Always one to keep busy, Norman

enjoyed gardening, being outdoors, and

playing Santa Claus during the holidays.

He had a knack for fixing vehicles and his

house, leaving a legacy of skill and perse-

verance.

Norman’s family will receive friends

Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 3-

p.m. at Williams-Gores Funeral Home,

where his memorial service will be con-

ducted at 4 p.m.

Memorial contributions to the Battle

Creek Academy or Rose Arbor will be

appreciated.

Please visit http://www.williamsgoresfuneral.

com to share a memory or to leave a con-

dolence message for Norman’s family.

BATTLE

Obituaries CREEK

Celebration of Life

for

Bart Hollman

August 17, 2024

North Avenue

Church of God.

1079 North Ave.,

Battle Creek,

49017

Service at

Noon. Open House

luncheon

1pm - 4:30pm.