RACETTE, Felix A.
Age 82
Of Lawton
Formerly of Paw Paw
Fil passed away Friday afternoon January 2, 2009 at White Oaks in Lawton. He was born May 30, 1926 in Paw Paw, the son of Felix A. and Kathryn (More) Racette. Fil was class President and a graduate of Paw Paw High School of 1944. He enlisted in the U.S Army Air Corps, where he served as the youngest Sergeant-Major in the European Theater. After graduation from Michigan State University in1949, with a degree in journalism, he went to work for both the Hartford Day Spring and the Battle Creek Enquirer before becoming State Editor for the Kalamazoo Gazette. In 1957, he purchased The Courier-Northerner, since incorporated as the Vineyard Press. He had been editor of The Courier-Leader until his retirement in 2006. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, honorary member of the Paw Paw Fire Department, named best columnist in Michigan in 1974 by the Michigan Press Association for which he served as President in 1978; served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Michigan Press Foundation, served on the Van Buren Intermediate School Board for six years and was chairman of the Building Study Committee for former Paw Paw High School and Black River Schools. In 1999, Fil was inducted into the Paw Paw High School Hall of Fame. On June 19, 1949, Fil was united in marriage to Louise Woodman, who preceded him in death on October 27, 1981. He was also preceded in death by his parents, an infant son, Albert, brother-in-law, Warren Sundstrand, and a son-in-law, Tony Griffin. Surviving are four children, Kathryn Racette (Thomas McLewee) of Chester Springs, PA, Robin Griffin of Mattawan, Steven (Karen) Racette of Lawton and Mindy (Patrick) Brennan of Paw Paw; grandchildren, Chloe McLewee, Kallie Griffin, Ashley (Bob) Moore, Melissa (Alex) Stull, Sean, Phelan, Trey, Ryan and Truman Brennan; sister, Patsy Sundstrand of Kalamazoo, many nieces, nephews and cousins. Family will receive friends Wednesday, 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the Adams Funeral Home, Paw Paw. Funeral services will be held Thursday, 11 AM at the First Presbyterian Church, Paw Paw with Rev. Tom Abbott officiating. Interment will follow in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Paw Paw with military honors. Memorial contributions may be made to the Paw Paw Educational Fund for a scholarship or Hospice of Southwest Michigan. Share a memory or condolence on line at: www.timeformemory.com/adams
Published in the Kalamazoo Gazette on 1/4/2009 (Posted by a VOLUNTEER-NO family connection)