Florence Arlene Hatch, aged 93, passed away Saturday, November 3, 2007 and Willis "Ish" Myzeal Hatch, aged 92, passed away Tuesday, November 6, 2007, of Alto/Lowell, from accidental automobile injuries. Arlene was preceded in death by her brother, Jerry Behler; Ish was preceded in death by his brother, Doyne Hatch and sister, Evelyn Bartlett. They are survived by their nephew, Michael (Deborah) Behler and their daughter, Jessica Behler of Lake Odessa; niece, Quenda (Donn) Story of Okemos and their children, Alison (Mac) Dambro, Brian (Robin) Story; sister-in-law, Virginia Behler of Haslett, MI; very close friends, Gilbert (Sandy) VanWeelden of Lowell and Steve (Joan) VanderZiel of Alto; also many cousins and friends. Arlene and Ish were married in Lake Odessa in 1950 by her father, Allen Behler (Justice of the Peace). They lived in the farmhouse that had been in Arlene's family for over a hundred years. Ish worked the 300 acre farm and raised cattle until he retired. Arlene taught in the Lowell Public Schools for 33 years until she retired. Ish was a Veteran of WWII, member of Masonic Lodge Lincoln 523 in Macy, Indiana, and the Alto Lion's Club. Arlene belonged to the Eastern Star in Macy, Indiana and Lowell Women's Club, both belonged to Alto United Methodist Church. Funeral services for Mr. and Mrs. Hatch will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 12th, 2007 at the Roth-Gerst Funeral Home, 305 North Hudson Street, Lowell, with Rev. Dean Bailey of Alto United Methodist Church officiating. Interment Lakeside Cemetery in Lake Odessa. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alto United Methodist Church.
***
Couple killed in accident leave $1.6 million to surprised friends
Willis Hatch and his wife, Arlene, lived simply but blissfully together for 57 years before dying in an auto accident in November.
Before they retired, Willis - known to his friends as "Ish" - worked their 80-acre farm just south of Lowell, and Arlene taught at Lowell Middle School.
The official cause of death for Willis "Ish" Hatch will be linked to an auto accident.
But if friends and relatives could pen the death certificate, they might enter just two words: "Broken heart."
Willis Hatch died Tuesday evening, three days after pulling his vehicle into the path of another car in an accident that claimed the life of his wife, Arlene, 93.
The couple lived most of their lives together on an 1800's-era farm near Alto. She taught in the Lowell schools for 33 years while he tended to cattle on what once was 300 acres.
Their presence in the Lowell-Alto community will be missed, friends said, because they went everywhere together, often while holding hands. Stories of their sweetness and generosity were surfacing throughout both towns in the wake of their deaths.
Said nephew Mike Behler, following his uncle's death: "They're together again."
A joint service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Roth-Gerst Funeral Home in Lowell. Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alto United Methodist Church.
***
Couple killed in accident leave $1.6 million to surprised friends
Willis Hatch and his wife, Arlene, lived simply but blissfully together for 57 years before dying in an auto accident in November.
Before they retired, Willis - known to his friends as "Ish" - worked their 80-acre farm just south of Lowell, and Arlene taught at Lowell Middle School.
The official cause of death for Willis "Ish" Hatch will be linked to an auto accident.
But if friends and relatives could pen the death certificate, they might enter just two words: "Broken heart."
Willis Hatch died Tuesday evening, three days after pulling his vehicle into the path of another car in an accident that claimed the life of his wife, Arlene, 93.
The couple lived most of their lives together on an 1800's-era farm near Alto. She taught in the Lowell schools for 33 years while he tended to cattle on what once was 300 acres.
Their presence in the Lowell-Alto community will be missed, friends said, because they went everywhere together, often while holding hands. Stories of their sweetness and generosity were surfacing throughout both towns in the wake of their deaths.
Said nephew Mike Behler, following his uncle's death: "They're together again."
A joint service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Roth-Gerst Funeral Home in Lowell. Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alto United Methodist Church.
Florence Arlene Hatch, aged 93, passed away Saturday, November 3, 2007 and Willis "Ish" Myzeal Hatch, aged 92, passed away Tuesday, November 6, 2007, of Alto/Lowell, from accidental automobile injuries. Arlene was preceded in death by her brother, Jerry Behler; Ish was preceded in death by his brother, Doyne Hatch and sister, Evelyn Bartlett. They are survived by their nephew, Michael (Deborah) Behler and their daughter, Jessica Behler of Lake Odessa; niece, Quenda (Donn) Story of Okemos and their children, Alison (Mac) Dambro, Brian (Robin) Story; sister-in-law, Virginia Behler of Haslett, MI; very close friends, Gilbert (Sandy) VanWeelden of Lowell and Steve (Joan) VanderZiel of Alto; also many cousins and friends. Arlene and Ish were married in Lake Odessa in 1950 by her father, Allen Behler (Justice of the Peace). They lived in the farmhouse that had been in Arlene's family for over a hundred years. Ish worked the 300 acre farm and raised cattle until he retired. Arlene taught in the Lowell Public Schools for 33 years until she retired. Ish was a Veteran of WWII, member of Masonic Lodge Lincoln 523 in Macy, Indiana, and the Alto Lion's Club. Arlene belonged to the Eastern Star in Macy, Indiana and Lowell Women's Club, both belonged to Alto United Methodist Church. Funeral services for Mr. and Mrs. Hatch will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 12th, 2007 at the Roth-Gerst Funeral Home, 305 North Hudson Street, Lowell, with Rev. Dean Bailey of Alto United Methodist Church officiating. Interment Lakeside Cemetery in Lake Odessa. Visitation will be Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alto United Methodist Church.
***
Couple killed in accident leave $1.6 million to surprised friends
Willis Hatch and his wife, Arlene, lived simply but blissfully together for 57 years before dying in an auto accident in November.
Before they retired, Willis - known to his friends as "Ish" - worked their 80-acre farm just south of Lowell, and Arlene taught at Lowell Middle School.
The official cause of death for Willis "Ish" Hatch will be linked to an auto accident.
But if friends and relatives could pen the death certificate, they might enter just two words: "Broken heart."
Willis Hatch died Tuesday evening, three days after pulling his vehicle into the path of another car in an accident that claimed the life of his wife, Arlene, 93.
The couple lived most of their lives together on an 1800's-era farm near Alto. She taught in the Lowell schools for 33 years while he tended to cattle on what once was 300 acres.
Their presence in the Lowell-Alto community will be missed, friends said, because they went everywhere together, often while holding hands. Stories of their sweetness and generosity were surfacing throughout both towns in the wake of their deaths.
Said nephew Mike Behler, following his uncle's death: "They're together again."
A joint service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Roth-Gerst Funeral Home in Lowell. Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alto United Methodist Church.
***
Couple killed in accident leave $1.6 million to surprised friends
Willis Hatch and his wife, Arlene, lived simply but blissfully together for 57 years before dying in an auto accident in November.
Before they retired, Willis - known to his friends as "Ish" - worked their 80-acre farm just south of Lowell, and Arlene taught at Lowell Middle School.
The official cause of death for Willis "Ish" Hatch will be linked to an auto accident.
But if friends and relatives could pen the death certificate, they might enter just two words: "Broken heart."
Willis Hatch died Tuesday evening, three days after pulling his vehicle into the path of another car in an accident that claimed the life of his wife, Arlene, 93.
The couple lived most of their lives together on an 1800's-era farm near Alto. She taught in the Lowell schools for 33 years while he tended to cattle on what once was 300 acres.
Their presence in the Lowell-Alto community will be missed, friends said, because they went everywhere together, often while holding hands. Stories of their sweetness and generosity were surfacing throughout both towns in the wake of their deaths.
Said nephew Mike Behler, following his uncle's death: "They're together again."
A joint service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Roth-Gerst Funeral Home in Lowell. Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alto United Methodist Church.
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
