Virginia C. Guiter

Virginia Guiter was a remarkable woman with an unquenchable energy and an immense love for life. Whether she was working, raising her daughters, practicing her faith or spoiling her grandchildren, Virginia put her heart into all that she did.

The year was 1923 and America was in the midst of great change. The cities thrived with the booming sounds of the industry, as the fires of World War I smoldered in the east. Not everyone in America took part in the industrial revolution - many tended farms and avoided the hectic pace of the manufacturing sector. This was the life of Daniel Coleman and his wife, Clarisa (Manon), of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Daniel was a third generation farmer of the Centennial Farm in Oshtemo on 4th Street. While he minded the farm, Clarisa split her time with working in the fields with her husband and taking care of their three daughters, Marjorie, Ruth and Phyllis. In the summer of 1923, Daniel and Clarisa welcomed the birth of their fourth daughter, Virginia, who was born at Bronson Hospital on July 19th. After the arrival of their youngest daughter, Barbara, the Coleman family was complete with five girls.

Virginia and her sisters were tomboys growing up, though this wasn't surprising considering they spent the majority of their time working on the farm. Virginia enjoyed all aspects of farm life and used much of what she learned later on in her married life. Shortly after graduating from Mattawan High School, Virginia married her high school sweetheart, Kenneth Guiter. They had met at a school dance and dated about a year before exchanging vows in front of a Justice of the Peace in August of 1941. A year later, the couple delighted in the birth of their daughter, Barbara, and in 1949, their second daughter, Karen, was born.

Like her mother, Virginia was a farmer's wife and faithfully worked along side her husband tending their grape vineyards and dairy cows. She was not one to shy away from work, and was always on the run. No matter how busy she was though, Virginia always had three meals on the table every day for her family. Aside from housework and farm chores, Virginia also maintained a rather large garden, the bounty of which fed her family, was canned for later use and sold at a produce stand in front of their home. She used the extra income to buy clothes for her girls. How Virginia found the time and energy to do what she did is a testament to her commitment to her family.

Although the family moved quite a bit at first, they finally settled on a farm in Mattawan on Q Avenue, where Virginia and Ken raised their girls. Over the years, the couple developed a love for horses, though Virginia had a real soft spot for her donkey named "Duz." When Ken became a member of the Sheriff Posse, they enjoyed traveling throughout the area for Sunday shows and dinners. Later on, they acquired three matching sets of "pulling ponies" and became members of the National Pony Pulling Association. They enjoyed working with the ponies and taking them to local "stone bolts" pulling events, in which the teams won several trophies for the longest pull.

In 1959, Virginia went to work outside the farm at Bresson's Bakery in Kalamazoo, which was owned by some of her family members. She started as a waitress in their Southland Mall store and worked her way up to manager. In the late 1960s, she and Ken decided to give up farming and moved to Hudsonville, where Ken took a job as store manager of the Farm and Fleet. Sadly, Ken died a few years later in 1974. After his passing, Virginia moved back to Kalamazoo and settled in a home at 1330 Bretton Drive. Not one to be idle, she soon began working one of several jobs at the Maple Hill Mall, in clothing stores, which included Beverly's and Sciferts, where she was a manager until retiring in 1985.

Virginia wasn't happy unless she was busy. She was very meticulous in her cleaning, both on the farm or in her home, not to mention an excellent cook. Some of her family's favorites included her roast beef dinners and lasagna. Every Sunday Virginia looked forward to her family coming over to spend the day together, relaxing, eating and enjoying each other's company. When Virginia took the time to relax herself, she enjoyed bird watching or indulging in one of her other hobbies, like refinishing woodwork or making crafts and Christmas decorations. She also enjoyed doing word puzzles and was quite the "Queen Bee." Some of her favorite TV programs included Gun Smoke, Bonanza, Little House on the Prairie and Walker Texas Ranger, or anything that pertained to horses and country living.

Virginia wasn't consumed by the material gains in life, but instead enjoyed the simple pleasures, like having indoor plumbing. She actually threw a party to celebrate the first tub and toilet installed in their home. But more importantly than that, Virginia loved her family and would do anything for them. Her three grandchildren, who affectionately called her "Gram", were the shining beacon in her life and she enjoyed spoiling them unconditionally. For a time, Virginia's daughter Barbara and grandson, Barry, lived with her, until Barbara died in 2000. During this time, Virginia and Barry fostered a very close bond and were a great comfort to each other during this tragic time.

Although Virginia was known to be obstinate at times and wanted things done her own way, it is her loving, kind heart that her family will remember the most. Her family was the center of her world and she always put their needs before her own. She was a good listener and made the time to be there for her family, never asking for anything in return. Amusingly, she had a magnet on her refrigerator that read "Broom Parking - 1 hour", but Virginia considered herself a nice "witch" with good intuition. In fact, she was a spiritual woman, but it wasn't necessary for her to tell others of her faith, for it was always evident in the way she lived her life. Although raised in the Baptist faith, Virginia attended the Methodist church with her husband.

A little more than a year ago, Virginia's health began to wan and she suffered several ailments, including Congestive Heart Failure. She then went to live at the Springs at Bronson Place where she received continual care until her passing.

Virginia C. Guiter, age 82, of Kalamazoo, MI, died April 27, 2006, at the Springs at Bronson Place. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth, her daughter, Barbara Guiter, in 2000, and four sisters: Marjorie Bresson, Ruth Hubbard, Phyllis Randall and Barbara Knobloch. Surviving is her daughter, Karen Doll of Lehigh Acres, FL; three grandchildren: Barry Guiter of Kalamazoo, Scott Sutton of Kalamazoo, and Gary Sutton of Leigh Acres, FL; two great grandchildren: Kelcie and Caleb Sutton; several nieces and nephews.

Learn more about Virginia, view her Life Story Film, and visit with her family on Tuesday, May 2, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. A service to honor and celebrate her life will also be held on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home - Betzler, 6080 Stadium Drive in Kalamazoo (375-2900). Please visit Virginia's personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can view the Life Story Digital Film, sign the guestbook, leave a personal memory of your own to share with others or make a memorial contribution to the charity of your choice.