Charles Rambo

Charles “Pat” Rambo was a reserved and somewhat private man. A very salt of the earth kind of man, he understood the value of hard work and knew how to persevere through difficult circumstances.

With the end of World War II, American industry expanded to meet peacetime needs. Americans began buying goods not available during the war, which created corporate expansion and jobs. In fact, there was growth everywhere, including families - the Baby Boom was underway. Charles and Ida Rambo of Plainwell, Michigan were among the expecting parents. Although Christmas was a few days past, the couple received a wonderful gift on December 28, 1952, with the birth of their first child, Charles at the William Crispe Hospital in Plainwell. Charles, or Pat as he was later called, was joined by three other siblings, Kathy, Tony, Doug and Mike.

Pat enjoyed a typical childhood growing up in Plainwell, and received his education in the Plainwell Public Schools. He left school, however, shortly before graduating to marry his sweetheart, Shari Masters in 1971 at the age of 18. Shortly after saying “I do.” the young couple moved to Battle Creek and made their home there for nine years. During this time, Pat went back to school and earned his GED. The couple also welcomed the births of their two children, Nicole and Tony. Eventually, Pat and Shari’s marriage ended in divorce and he moved back to Plainwell. In 1984, Pat married Lorraine Tuinier. They were together until they divorced in the early 1990’s. Later, Pat attended Kalamazoo Valley Community College and not only earned his Associates in Arts Degree in Marketing, but made the Dean’s list as well, maintaining a 3.9 GPA. He also became certified in Standard First Aid and Adult CPR through the American Red Cross.

In 1992, Pat became a grandfather for the first time. This distinction was repeated five more times. Three of his grandchildren were from his daughter Nicole- Brianna, Brennen and Brylee and the other three from his son Charles “Tony”-Luke, Jacen and Michael.

During this early part of Pat’s life, he came to enjoy music, a passion that stayed with him all of his life. Pat especially liked classic rock and the blues. One of his favorite groups was Led Zepplin. Pat also took up the guitar and when he was younger, made an attempt at forming a band and singing. For someone like Pat with a creative side leaning towards music, he also found a talent of expressing himself through poetry. Over the years he wrote hundreds of poems to sweethearts, family, friends or just to express his feelings about his life. As playing the guitar became less important later in life to Pat, he enjoyed spending quiet time doing crossword puzzles. Beyond that, he enjoyed the scary thrill of a horror movie on television or at the theatre. Pat was also known to never say no to his favorite cuisine, Chinese food.

Pat had a very extensive work career. He worked for several years at Bay Valley Foods in Shipping and Receiving. For a while, he also tended bar at the M-89 Sports Bar in Otsego. Additionally over the years, Pat worked at Sam’s Joint in Plainwell, Tom’s Bar & Grill and Ozzie’s Bar & Grill both in Otsego. Beyond that, he worked for B&G Custom Works in Otsego, Flexible Furniture in Plainwell, the Hair Shoppe and Barker & Son’s Metal Finishing, both in Otsego as well as Cadillac Plastics in Kalamazoo and Refuse Service Inc. in Battle Creek. In 2005, Pat suffered a severe stroke that left him slightly disabled and caused him to stop working.

Although Pat was never very close with his children, he did attempt to stay in contact with them when he felt he could. He was fortunate enough to form a bond and become involved with some of the grandchildren as well. At Christmas, he always made sure to send them each some money as his gift to them.

Maybe the pressures of life, the loss of his parents, his health, or the sorrow of what might have been with relationships with friends and family……whatever it was, there was something that led Pat to take his own life at his home sometime around Tuesday, November 10, 2009. He wasn’t found until Friday, November 13th. No one will probably ever know the true reason that caused Pat to make this decision but there is something that those who knew him will remember. Pat was a good friend, coworker and did the best he thought he could to be remembered as a loving father, papa, son, brother and friend and for that he will be truly missed.

Visitation for Pat will take place on Wednesday, November 18, from 1-2 p.m. followed by a service at 2 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, 120 S. Woodhams Street, Plainwell, MI (685-5881). Please visit Pat’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory or photo and sign his online guest book before coming to the funeral home.