Obituaries
Dr. Quentin W. Bosworth
Dr. Quentin W. Bosworth passed away peacefully with his family by his side on March 23, 2022, at the age of 86. He was born on June 3, 1935, to Mike and Ruth Bosworth. He was known throughout the community and surrounding counties as a “top large animal Vet.” He had a work ethic second to none and he gladly passed that on to each of his children and grandchildren. He was lovingly known as Q, Quent, or Doc.
He attended country school until the age of 13. He graduated from Charlotte High School in 1953 and was the President of his class. He had no plans to attend college, but his 4-H Extension Agent applied for a scholarship on his behalf, which allowed him to then attended Michigan State University where he received a degree in Animal Science and then went on to get a degree in Veterinary Medicine. He graduated in 1960.
He married Dorothy Shepard in June of 1957 and they proudly raised five children. They celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary prior to her death in 2012. After he graduated from MSU he accepted a position with the University of Davis California in their Veterinary Science Department as an instructor. After a year he moved his family to Wisconsin and then in 1962 they decided to start their own Veterinary practice in their hometown of Charlotte.
Quentin’s love for animals was apparent at a young age. He often told stories about how he loved to raise puppies and pigs. He showed pigs in 4-H and was extremely proud that his Duroc gilt was third in the State production record contest out of 200+ sows. That same sow was also known for getting out and making her way down the road to the country school. The teacher would hear the sow in the school yard and ask Quentin to please take his sow home. He continued to be very active in 4-H and FFA throughout High School and was on the State Livestock Judging team that went to the national contest held at the International Livestock Show in Chicago.
He loved sports, especially MSU football and basketball. He claimed that recesses at country school made him a force to be reckoned with, as he was a starting guard for the Charlotte High School football team for two years.
He loved the outdoors and took an annual fishing trip to Canada with his dad until he passed away in 1978. He then continued the tradition with his daughter, son-in-law and grandsons. He also loved to hunt and went to British Columbia and Idaho several times to hunt moose, elk or caribou.
He had a passion and fascination for aviation. He got his private pilot’s license and enjoyed flying locally for several years.
Even though he was very busy with his vet practice, he still farmed alongside his dad for several years. He was very proud to own his Grandpa Wright’s farm which is now a sesquicentennial farm. He raised sheep until 2001 and still had 20 Angus cows when he passed away. He loved to see the cows and calves in the spring and always thought each calf crop was “his best one ever.”
He was extremely proud of his grandchildren and always attended their football and soccer games, dance recitals and band concerts. However, his favorite event was watching them show cattle and he was ecstatic when they finally decided to follow in his footsteps and show pigs.
Quentin is survived by his children: Quinn Bosworth, D.O., Kris Bellingar (Gene), Beth Hedrick (Curtis), Kelly Martens (Hayes); his grandchildren: Erika Williams (James), Tyler Bosworth, Chase Bosworth, Sheridan Hedrick, Mary Remington Hedrick and Quincie Martens; great grandchildren: Bryson Bosworth, Gabby, Emerson and Maddox Williams.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings, Phyllis, Phillip and Kermit Bosworth; his wife Dorothy Bosworth; daughter Melissa; and grandson Memphis Quentin Hedrick.
Quentin had numerous dogs over the years, but his last two Border Collie companions, Annie and Lucie, were the loves of his life.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 28, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Burkhead-Green-Kilgo Funeral Home with Rev. Eric Kilmer officiating. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Gresham Cemetery.
Those desiring, may make contributions in Quentin’s honor to the family to be used for local 4-H Livestock Projects.
To view Quentin’s obituary online or to leave a condolence for the family please visit www.burkhead-green-kilgo.com
John W. Gingrich
John William Gingrich, a man of many talents, died on Sunday, March 20, 2022. John 79, of Charlotte, was born July 22, 1942, at the family home in Chester Township, the son of Lee and Marie (Bottomley) Gingrich. Many will remember John for being the life of the party, his love for laughing, and for always telling a story. On April 8, 1961, he married Kay Dawn Tinkey and together spent the next 60 years creating their legacy. Kay Dawn was his lifeline. John worked for 34 years at General Motors. In his younger years John did his best to keep the local body shops in business, he had a love for drag racing around town, and on numerous occasions he tore the car up in the process. John and Kay Dawn loved traveling, they traveled to just about every state in the US. Their favorite destination was anyplace out West. His children will always cherish their fishing trips to Canada, hunting adventures, and time spent on the golf course. John enjoyed tinkering around on different projects. His biggest passion in life was his family especially his grandchildren.
John is survived by his wife, Kay Dawn; sons, Tim (Jenny) Gingrich, Todd Gingrich; grandchildren, Jesse, Heather, Trevor, Grant, Jasmine, Trent; great-grandchildren, Levi, Laci, Lakin, Evangeline, Elyse, Isaiah, and one baby boy on the way; sisters, Bonnie Simek, Ellen Dunn; many nieces, nephews and dear friends. He was predeceased by brother, Bob Gingrich; and his parents.
Friends are encouraged to support John’s family by sharing memories on his Tribute Page at www.prayfuneral.com. If desired, the family suggests memorial contributions to The Gresham United Methodist Church or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home, Charlotte.
Bernard D. Rhines
It is with great honor and extreme sadness to announce the passing of Bernard “Bud” Dale Rhines, age 80, of Twin Lake, Mich. on March 19, 2022. He was born July 6, 1941 in Eaton Rapids, Michigan to parents Bernard J. Rhines and Fern (Carpenter) Rhines. He lost his father at the young age of 13 and his mother at the age of 29, which had a huge impact on his life. Bud was also preceded in death by his sister Jackie Adams, along with his beloved Grandmother Margaret “Granny” (Hill) Rhines.
Bud was the second of seven children and leaves behind brothers Roger Rhines (Maryann) and Thomas Rhines (Stephanie); and sisters Ranae Hillard, Roxanne Rhines, and Patricia Commons.
Bud is survived by his four children: Bernard J. “B.J.” Rhines II (Marie), Erin Bierly (Jeff), Lance Rhines (Lee), and Kellie Lazusky (Mike); six grandchildren: Roger, Bernard D. II “Buddy”, Joshua, Tara, Brittany, and Dylan; sixteen great-grandchildren: Kylie, Thomas, Edward, Hunter, Graison, Dallas, Madalynn, Maci, Clover, Faith, Jaxx, Teegan, Brantley, Mark, Mazzi, and Linnea.
Bud graduated from Charlotte High School in 1959. After high school he attended Albion College where he jokingly said he majored in pinochle. Soon after starting college, he was strongly advised to volunteer his draft, and he enlisted in the Army from 1960-1962, stationed in Wheeler, Indiana. They put him to work as a clerk typist since he was the only serviceman who knew how to type. Bud was tested and chosen to attend West Point, which he declined. His discharge was delayed by several months due to pre-war unrest. Shortly after his military service ended, he went to work for the State of Michigan where he met his future wife, Bettylou Bandfield. They had four children together. Intrigued by the advent of the computer, he soon went to work for Michigan State University on their first computer system and was featured on the front page of the Lansing State Journal in 1963. Bud always envisioned owning his own business, and that dream came true in 1973 when he opened Datacenter Corporation in Muskegon, Michigan, a concierge computerized accounting/payroll company. He was a lifelong learner and remembered historical facts and figures that astounded those around him. His above average intellect served him well in the world of computers, as he was able to envision computers as the way of the future, and he taught himself computer programming and database creation from scratch. He created patents and drawings that will be analyzed posthumously.
At age 9, Bud started his first business processing maple syrup, which was featured in the Charlotte newspaper. His Mom invested in it by purchasing tree taps, buckets, and bottles, and he went to work collecting maple syrup. He employed, without payment, his siblings and cousins to assist with the harvest. He sold it door-to-door to neighbors and family members.
Bud had a great love of nature and the great outdoors, enjoying the feeling of freedom it provided. He spent as much time as possible on his boat and fishing, determined to teach his siblings, children, and grandchildren how to fish and water ski. He loved fishing with his Granny, although she refused to fish with anything but a cane pole, which amused him because it still yielded a mess o’ fish! He traveled countless miles off-road in his cherished dune buggy, making campfires, finding natural drinking springs, and sharing stories of old. His Uncle Nick taught him to hunt, and he spent many opening days of pheasant hunting on their Eaton Rapids family farm. In 1976 for the Bicentennial Celebration, the City of Roosevelt Park invited Bud and his family to drive his yellow dune buggy in the parade while decked out in Americana clothing.
Bud was an avid sports fan and loved the Detroit Tigers, and would recount a play-by-play of Game 7 in the 1968 World Series with anyone who would listen. The AM radio was always tuned to baseball. He was proud to say he personally met his idol, Ernie Harwell.
Mostly though, Bud will be best remembered for his witty personality, hilarious storytelling, sense of humor, infectious laugh, and endearing eccentricities. He was one of a kind, that is for sure.
Lawrence Niceswander
Lawrence “Larry” Niceswander of Eaton Rapids, passed away March 14, 2022, at the age of 78. Larry was born in Homer, MI, June 23, 1943, the son of Virgil and Nancy (Lucas) Niceswander. He enjoyed his maintenance work at Richmond, where he would stay until his retirement in 2004. He found great enjoyment in fishing the many different lakes in the area.
Larry is survived by his wife, Marjorie “Marge” Niceswander; children, Dean Niceswander of Lansing, Wade (April) Niceswander of MO; grandchildren, Keith, Hannah, Hali, Hunter, James and Arisa Niceswander; great grandchildren, Emma Bailey, Gavin Bailey, Elliet Niceswander; siblings, Donald and Earl Niceswander, Deloris Hurtado, Barb (Lupe) Gonzalez; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil and Nancy; brothers, Ernest, Wayne, and Virgil Niceswander; sisters, Vera Brockman and Delta Allard.
No services are planned at this time. Arrangements were entrusted to the Mills Funeral Home in Eaton Rapids. Please visit our website to leave online condolences for the family, www.millsfuneral.com.
Sandra Hammond
Sandra Sue Hammond, age 80, of Springport, Michigan, was born on April 29, 1941, and passed away on March 14, 2022. A memorial service honoring Sandra’s life will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Eaton Rapids United Methodist Church located at 600 South Main Street in Eaton Rapids, Michigan. The visitation was held Friday evening, March 18, from 5-7 p.m. at Vickers Springport Funeral Home, 121 Pearl Street in Springport, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Arrangements entrusted to Vickers Springport Funeral Home, P.O. Box 235, Springport, MI 49284. 517-857-4848.