20 Thursday, August 22, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
Newman
W. McNatt
passed away
at Bronson
Battle Creek
Hospital at the
age of 95 of
natural causes
on August 5,- Such a
kind man has
passed on to
be with his
family, friends
and savior that
have passed
on before him.
He outlived
most of his
family and
friends.
Newman
“Wade” McNatt worked for Michigan
Carton Company for approximately
31 years (retired December 1,
1976). He also worked for the Gas
Company as a meter reader, and
the Top Hat Restaurant in down-
town Battle Creek as a dishwasher.
He was very well known for sing-
ing country songs and playing the
guitar; not only at home, but at
several places, including the Grizzly
Bar and Gilkey Lake Tavern with
Dorrence Hoffman in Hastings and
friends that lived in Bellevue, MI.
He was formerly married to
Kathleen Malik McNatt Howard,
whom he had three children with,
Michael W. McNatt, Martha “Kay”
Bruce and Brenda Taft. He worked
very hard trying to provide for his
family, working seven days a week
without vacations to make his fam-
ily’s life better than his growing
up. He was born in Tishomingo,
Mississippi, to Ora Carrie McClung
McNatt and Newman Rector “Rex”
McNatt on November 27, 1928.
Newman could mesmerize you by
telling you so many stories about
his childhood. You could listen to
him for hours.
He had a few things you could
say about him: He liked his picture
taken most nearly every time you
visited him (for prosperity reasons!!).
He always called his daughter Kay
“Katydid” as a nickname and she
called him “daddy doodle” as he got
older. He said he loved her calling
him that. He had an ongoing joke
with his daughter Brenda, being
they both enjoyed playing pool.
So whenever they got a chance to
shoot together, he told her if shelost she had to do the dishes. Every
time Brenda would be ready to
shoot, he would say, “Don’t miss.”
He also taught his son, Michael,
how to play the guitar.
Newman finished 6th grade in
Tishomingo, MS. His hobbies were
woodworking (making gifts, bird-
houses and canes), gardening,
playing guitar and singing country
and gospel music. When he sang,
a lot of people said he sounded like
George Jones, as he sang many of
his songs. He also raised homing
pigeons and had baby goats as the
kids were growing up. He had two
special dogs, Shorty and Cocoa.
When Kay asked him what he want-
ed done when he passed some-
day down the road, he said as he
smiled, “Surprise me!” This showed
part of his personality.
His son, Mike, would call him
every Saturday night to remind
him when his bluegrass program
would be on. Newman also liked
gospel songs; one he played over
and over was “I Saw the Master
This Morning” by Bill Harrel & the
Virginians.
Newman is survived by his three
children, Mike McNatt, Martha
“Kay” Bruce and Brenda Taft;six grandchildren, Tammie (Jeff)
Drake, Michelle McNatt, Kimberly
McNatt, Shannon (Mike) Farkas,
Troy (Brittany) Moser and Faith
Ingraham; 10 great-grandchildren,
Jonah Drake, Owen Drake, Bailey
Drake, Cameron Farkas, Carson
Farkas, Kayla (Luke) Rohrig, Hayley
Ingraham, Mackenzy Ingraham,
Taylor Moser and Austin Ward; four
great-great-grandchildren; a sister,
Hilda (Bob) Torres; and a special
Buddy, Martin Heppler and his fam-
i ly.
Newman was preceded in death
by his parents; a brother, Wayne
McNatt; a sister, Augustine Dean;
and a granddaughter, Kori-Lee
Moser.
A memorial service to celebrate
Newman’s life will be 11 a.m.,
Saturday, August 24, 2024, at
Rhema Word Outreach Center,
21342 Capital Ave. NE, Battle Creek
49017, officiated by Pastor Cheryl
Jones. There will be a luncheon
immediately following.
Arrangements by Farley Estes
Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation
Care. Personal messages for the
family may be placed at http://www.far-
leyestesdowdle.com.Neal J.
VanderWaal,
87, passed
away peaceful-
ly, surrounded
by his fam-
ily, on August
14, 2024. He
was born the
son of Henry
and Eleanor
(Scheufel) VanderWaal on
November 29, 1936, in Rockford,
Illinois.
Neal graduated from Andrews
University with a bachelor’s in edu-
cation and received his master’s in
school administration from Michigan
State University.
Neal’s life was focused on people.
Whether as a guidance counselor,
school principal, or owning a num-
ber of successful businesses, his
goal was to be a blessing to others.
He was probably best known in
the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo
areas as both a commercial and
residential realtor for the past 34
years. He was a long-time member
of the Battle Creek Seventh-day
Adventist Tabernacle.
Neal is survived by his wife of
68 years, Patricia; their five chil-
dren, Greg (Kim) VanderWaal, Gail
(Jim) Micheff (VanderWaal), Curt
(Rebecca) VanderWaal, Robert
(Jennie) VanderWaal, Chris (Macie)
VanderWaal; his sister, Karen
Kothe; 15 grandchildren; and 18
great-grandchildren.
Neal was preceded in death by
his parents; his young son, Bryan;
infant grandson Matthew; and his
brother, Dennis.
Neal spent his life looking for the
good in life and in people. He will
be sorely missed by his loved ones
and the many people that called
him friend, until Jesus comes.
A private family burial will be held.
Burial will take place at Bedford
Cemetery in Bedford Township,
Michigan.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contri-
butions may be made to Camp Au
Sable and Battle Creek Academy.
Arrangements by Bachman
Hebble Funeral Service, (269) 965-
5145; http://www.bachmanhebble.com.Rachel Ann
Johnson, 79,
passed from
this life to her
eternal home
on August 13,- She was
born January
15, 1945, the
daughter of
Gerald E. and
Erna (Wagner) Johnson in Battle
Creek, Michigan.
She attended school in the
Springfield school system and grad-
uated from Springfield High School
in 1963. Her activities during school:
playing clarinet in the high school
band for three years, and was in
FHA, the library staff and volun-
teens all four years.
She attended FourFold Gospel
(Assemblies of God) Church in her
early years, then the family helped
start Springfield Assembly of God.
She was in the youth group, sang
in the church choir, and sang in a
trio with her two sisters. She was
a charter member of the Ft. Custer
Christian Church as an adult.
Rachel took a nursing course at
Kellogg Community College for
a year and then went to Central
Bible College, in Springfield,
Missouri. She worked briefly at Post
Cereals, then as a CNA, and at the
Federal Center in the Keypunch
Department. She enjoyed latch
hook and plastic canvas crafts.
She was preceded in death by her
parents.
She is survived by her two sisters,
Marilyn Livers, Jean Spano; and
brother-in-law Len Spano. She also
leaves behind nephews and nieces
Debbie Lubken, Tim Livers and
Melody Manwell; two grandnieces;
two grandnephews; and many cous-
ins.
Funeral services were held at
Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service
on Monday, August 19, 2024, at
10:30 a.m. Interment followed at
Memorial Park Cemetery in Battle
Creek.
Arrangements entrusted to Baxter
Funeral & Cremation Service, 269-
788-9800/www.baxterfuneral.com.