Marilyn J. Keiper

Marilyn June Keiper, age 66 of Fremont, passed away Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at her home. Marilyn was born on March 12, 1942 in Lincoln Township, Newaygo County to Dwight Allen and Grace Myrtle (Thompson) Phillips and grew up White Cloud. She met and later married John Keiper on June 24, 1961 in White Cloud and John preceded her in death on March 16, 2003. Marilyn moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1979 where she was a cook and teacher aid at a preschool for many years until she moved back to Michigan in 2003. Marilyn was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Phoenix, enjoyed reading, going out with her friends and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She is survived by her children, Mike (Stephanie) Keiper of White Cloud; Kimberly (David) Becker of Litchfield Park, Arizona; Mitch (Darlene) Keiper of Chandler, Arizona; 4 grandchildren, Sarah, James, Dana, Ryan; 2 great grandchildren, Alyssa & Nathan; her sisters and brother, Dolores (Jack) Barnhill of White Cloud; Leroy (Mary) Phillips of White Cloud; Sandra (James) Albright of Grand Haven; Gloria (Everett) Rein of Illinois; her sister-in-law, Shelby Pape of Fremont; brother-in-law, Rick Foster of White Cloud; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Annie Foster on March 14, 2008, infant sister, Mary Ann Phillips in 1939, infant brothers, Stephen in 1935, James in 1936, and her brother, Dwight Phillips in 1970.

Funeral services were held on Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at the Christ Lutheran Church in White Cloud with Rev. Richard Hoogerhyde presiding with interment in the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona. Friends may consider the National Kidney Foundation or Muscular Dystrophy Association for ALS for memorial contributions in memory of Marilyn. Friends may also send a condolence or share a memory with the Keiper family online at www.crandellfh.com Arrangements by Crandell Funeral Home – White Cloud Chapel.

Take comfort in God's promise of eternal life. My thoughts and prayers are with you all Michael, Mitchell and Kimberly and all of your families. I will never forget during one of my Spring visits to Phoenix, while I stayed with Uncle John and Aunt Marilyn, Aunt Marilyn had commented, " I know I am going to Heaven, because I am living Hell", referring to the heat of Arizona. Well, I know she is with Jesus because she is strong christian woman. I will cherish her memories forever. I love you Aunt Marilyn!

Melissa M. Albright

You are in my thoughts and prayers, just when I am accepting that Aunt Annie is gone along comes another shocker. I loved my Aunt and will always remember her laugh, it would be so contagious and make you smile, and she would always give her all to it, body shaking and tears. I will miss that very much. Take care of yourselves and keep in touch. Now’s the time to rely on the ‘rest of the family’ to help you through the hard times, remember this; it’s also time to believe that Jesus will take care of your mom-my aunt and give her a place in his kingdom. I love you all. Susan (Barnhill) Kuhns

My Thoughts and Prayers go out to Marilyn's Children and the rest of her Family. Marilyn was a Dear Friend

and Classmate. It was such fun when she moved back to Michigan and she and some of us classmates

started to meet once a month for lunch. We would all talk about old times and things we did during our

school years. I know I will miss Marilyn and her laughter and her great sense of humor. I love you Marilyn may you rest in Peace.

Alice (Thumser) Smith

Posted 4/28/2008

When you get that call from a relative that you haven’t heard from in years and they have that strained and hesitating voice, you already know what they are going to say, they don’t want to say it and you don’t want to hear it. You somehow know the uneasy silence that you both share and cling to will be the last moment you will have before your life is changed forever. That precious moment is always broken by the announcement of the death of someone you love.

We miss you Mom,

Mitch