Marsha L. (Ripley) Wheater

Marsha L. (Ripley) Wheater, 82, of Fremont, died on Sunday, January 14 at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial after suffering a major stroke four days earlier.
She was born on Dec. 5, 1935 to Duward W. and Jessie Opal (James) Ripley of Kalamazoo. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1954. She married Paul Wheater on June 21, 1957 in Kalamazoo and they remained married for 60 years, raising five sons together.  She was a championship pitcher for fast-pitch softball teams in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids, and she was known for her love of word play and gospel music, and for her love for her family. She was also noted for her lively sense of humor, which she maintained throughout her life and despite the advance of Alzheimer’s Disease in recent years.  She was a founding member of Country Bible Church and was active in many aspects of the ministry there and as a volunteer who spent much of her time helping people in her community.  She is survived by her husband Paul J. Wheater of Fremont, sons Richard (LouAnne) Wheater Sr. of Fremont, Donald Wheater of Grand Rapids, Dean (Debra) Wheater of Fremont and Douglas (Ramona) Wheater of Fremont, her brother Robert Ripley Sr. of Finksburg, Maryland; her grandchildren Patricia Wheater, Richard Wheater Jr., Heidi (Branden) Wagenmaker, Rebecca (Nick) DeWeerd, Theresa Wheater, Samantha Wheater, Joseph Wheater, Chaz Wheater and Tayzha Wheater; seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.  She was preceeded in death by her parents, by her son Dale Wheater in 1993, and by her sisters Lillian Hope (Ripley) Wellevere of Battle Creek and  Suzanne (Ripley) Jones of Hickory Corners, both in 2008.  Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. at Country Bible Church at 3145 W. 24th Street northeast of Fremont. Visitation will be on Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home in Fremont.  For memorials, the family suggests her church, Country Bible Church, or the Dale Wheater and Riley Klingel Memorial Fund at the Fremont Area Community Foundation.  You can sign the online guest book at www.kroeze-wolffis.com.  Arrangements are by Kroeze-Wolffis Funeral Home, Inc. of Fremont.

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