LifeStoryNet.com

Life Story Funeral Homes®
The exclusive providers of the Life Story Experience

 

Life Story Funeral Homes®
The exclusive providers of the Life Story Experience

Jay Petter

February 26, 2008
Pentwater, MI

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/obituary-default.jpg

Obituary


Print

Mr. Jay C. Petter, age 81, of Pentwater, died at home on February 26, 2008. Jay was born in East Grand Rapids, MI on June 7, 1926 and was preceded in death by his parents, Jay H. and Dixie Petter, his first wife, Carol Ten Broek Petter, also from Grand Rapids, and his second wife, Rebetta Petter of Holland. He is survived by three daughters from his wife, Carol, Jamie (Phil) Michael of Richland, MI; Mindy (Tim) Pierson and their three children, Traver, Cameron and Megan of Farmville, VA; and Stephanie (Rick) Garrett of Burgaw, NC; stepchildren, Arthur (Linda) Swanson and their children of Burlington, VT; Victoria Fish and her children of Lindsay, OK; and Dwight (Lynn) Swanson of Hart, MI. Jay graduated from the University of Michigan with an engineering degree. He worked with his father at Buss Machine Works in Holland until purchasing Pentwater Wire Products in the mid 60's. His work was his passion until he officially retired upon his death. Jay loved working, designing and creating, and had many patents to his credit over the years. He cherished his friends and dearly loved his children, always encouraging them to follow their dreams, to seek adventure by taking the road less traveled, to explore their creative side and think "outside the box". He had a lust for life, an eclectic personality and a great sense of humor (that sometimes only he understood!). Jay was always his own man and lived life his way, not worrying about what others thought. He was very generous (although a "frugal Dutchman" at heart), as well as unpredictable, eccentric, direct, and greatly appreciative of the element of surprise. Jay also loved the theater and played Elwood P. Dowd in the play Harvey, as well as acting in many other plays over the years. He loved fishing, boating, playing tennis and golf, and was an avid reader. He embraced his passion for bronze statuary by co-founding the Pentwater-based "Lost and Foundry" with good friend, Paul O'Grady. Jay was a long-time member of the Pentwater Yacht Club, an active member of the Service Club in Pentwater, the Pentwater Tennis Club, the Colonial Golf Club, and was a founding member of the Artisan Learning Center in Pentwater. A memorial service to celebrate Jay's life will be held at the Tate-King Funeral Home in Hart on Saturday, March 15th at 11:00 a.m., with visitation one hour prior to the service. Friends are also invited to meet with the family at the Pentwater Friendship Center (at the corner of Rush and Park) following the service. Friends and family are encouraged to share their best "Jay story" at the gathering. To read more of Jay's life, share a memory with the family or sign the online register book, please visit www.tatekingfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Pentwater Library or the Artisan Learning Center in Pentwater. Tate-King Funeral Home Hart