Curtis L. Barendreght

Curtis L. Barendreght 69 of Howard City, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at U of M Hospital, Ann Arbor. Curtis was born December 4, 1942 in Grant, MI the son of Vern and Elsie (Sage) Barendreght. He retired from General Motors in 1998 and was a lifelong, hardworking farmer and proud owner of Curt’s Quality Springers. Along with loving life on “The Farm”, he was a lifetime member of the Montcalm County Fair and a lifetime 4-H enthusiast, showing rabbits and horses, and becoming head of both groups along the way. Many great stories were told that started with either raising rabbits or showing horses. He shared this love with his daughters and their children, and delighted in both of their successes. He not only enjoyed raising crops and caring for farm animals, but equally enjoyed time spent outdoors. He spent many hours during hunting seasons pursuing the deer and turkeys that he watched and looked after during the off season. This passion he shared with his family and special friends, and was just as happy to see them bag a buck as if it was his own. Curtis was a kind man who was generous with his humor and his hugs. His smile and the twinkle in his eyes would sometimes give away the mischief of an impending practical joke. Throughout his life, he met many people who he left an indelible impression on. His family will dearly miss the man who loved them so much who they knew as their Husband, Dad and Grandpa, and his friends will miss the warmth and humor of the man they simply knew as Curt. Surviving are his wife, Maxine (Miles); children, Shelly (Ralph) Boerema of Grant, Kelly (Steve) Guentert of Freeland, Tammy (Chad) Gould of Howard City, Julie (Chris) Fennema of Wayland, Jenny (Blair) Orsatti of Land O’Lakes, FL; 10 grandchildren, Nicholas, Justin, Andrew, Rashelle Boerema, Lauren, Nathan Guentert, Trevor, Emma Gould, Averi, Ashlyn Orsatti; sisters, Donna Bordewyk, Vera (John) Paulen, Caroline Barendreght; brother, Jerry (Sharon) Barendreght; mother-in-law, Elizabeth Miles; sisters-in-law, Jacqueline Larsen, Charlotte (Bill) Wells, Ellen (Greg) Osborn; many nieces and nephews, and special friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and 2 brothers, Rodney and Roger. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at Ensley Baptist Church, 7077 – 120th, Sand Lake, where services will be held Thursday 11:00 am. (Note – no visitation on Wednesday). Pastors James Ankerberg and John Fields officiating. Interment Hillside Cemetery, Grant. In lieu of flowers the family is accepting donations to further the future of the horse area at the Montcalm County 4-H Fairgrounds to honor Curtis’ love of horses and 4-H. Checks may be made out to “Tri-County Country Horses” 17705 Almy Road, Howard City, MI 49329. Memorial contributions may also be made out to Ensley Baptist Church. Arrangements by Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs.