Ruth Arlene Kanouse Obituary (1929 - 2016)

Ruth Arlene Kanouse, age 86, of Rockford, passed away Monday, February 1, 2016 at Metro Health Hospital in Wyoming. The daughter of Martin & Lorna (Kage) Witt, she was born on July 8, 1929 in Reed City, where she was raised on the family farm -- which was first homesteaded by her grandparents when they immigrated to the United States from Germany. Her family will long remember her achievement of being the "best tractor driver in Osceola County". Ruth graduated from Reed City High School, had worked as a bookkeeper, but was happiest with the titles of Mom, Grandma, and Great Grandma. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Jim Kanouse; and five brothers and sisters, Carl, Madeline, Gene, Ivy, and Bernard. Surviving are her son and daughter-in-law, Bill & Deb Kanouse of Rockford; a brother, Earl Witt; ten grandchildren, Brandon Kanouse, Ryan & Tiffany Kanouse, Stephanie & Adam DeVries, Amy Kanouse, Jamie & Phillip Chapin, Shannon Kanouse, Shauna Kanouse, Colrain Kanouse, Jenica Kanouse, and James & Angie Kanouse; sixteen great grandchildren, Koletin Mannisto, Lilly Kanouse, Brendan Underhill, Adie DeVries, Dietrich DeVries, Robert Deyoung, Sylvester Deyoung, Shanodin Deyoung, Jacon Chapin, Ryan Chapin, Hailey Little, Seth Little, Nathan Kanouse, Rylee Kanouse, and Sheyenne Kanouse; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation is from 4-6 p.m. on Friday at Christiansen Cremation & Funeral Care, 511 S. Franklin Street, Greenville, where funeral services will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.