Leslie “Jake” VanVorst, Jr., 71, of Bronson, passed away on Friday, January 24, 2014 at the Community Health Center of Branch County.
The funeral will be held on Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 11:00 A.M. at Dutcher-Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson with Pastor Terry Siler officiating. Interment will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Colon. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 from 4:00 P. M. to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home.
Jake was born on August 13, 1942 in Matteson Township to Leslie and Mary E. (Mosby) VanVorst. He graduated from Colon High School in 1960. After graduation he married Joyce Larabee and they had three children together. Jake began his working life delivering bread and milk to local residents. He then went to work at the local Co-Op before starting his 21 year tenure at Ross Labs in Sturgis. In addition to those jobs, his heart and soul went into working on the family farm with his two sons. He loved to collect antique John Deere tractors and tractor pulling. You could always be sure to find Jake putting around the countryside or at one of his favorite local restaurants, where he was always picking on the waitresses and socializing with good friends. Jake was a resident of Bronson all of his adult life.
Jake is survived by his mother Mary VanVorst of Colon, his sons, Bob (Mechele) VanVorst and Jim (Amy) VanVorst, both of Bronson, his daughter Karen Wogomon of Winnebago, IL, his brothers Dale (Laurie) VanVorst of Ionia and Steve VanVorst of Colon, his sisters Bev (Walt) Fenwick of Vicksburg, Cheryl VanVorst of Mendon and Vickie (Ken) Littlejohn of Union City, his grandchildren Brandon, Chase and Tara Wogomon, Curtis, Kayla, Brennan and Lauren VanVorst, Beann Sullivan, Shawn Kriser, Kristi Pelissier, six great-grandchildren and his former wife Joyce Meyers of Coldwater. He was preceded in death by his father and his brothers, Mike and Gary VanVorst.
Memorial contributions may be directed to the Autism Society of Michigan or the Alzheimer’s Association.