Clarabelle Rantz

Clarabelle Rantz loved to be surrounded by her family, and loved spending her time being a wife, mother and grandmother to the people who brought her life extraordinary joy.

As the United States was celebrating a time of temporary peace and prosperity between the two world wars, Gaylord and Pearl (Pierce) Holcomb had a celebration of their own with the birth of their daughter, Clarabelle Mae, on January 6, 1925, in their home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was the third of seven Holcomb children. Along with her siblings, Clarabelle grew up on various farms in the area and received her education in the Dunwell Schools in Allegan Township.

Clarabelle met the love of her life, Clifford Rantz, at a school dance, and it wasn’t long before they became sweethearts. They were married on November 15, 1942, and were blessed with two children: Jay and Patricia. Clarabelle was a devoted wife and mother, and taught them by setting good examples. She was a great cook and made many things from scratch, including her ketchup, cakes, frosting, pies and cookies. Her husband Clifford also helped her in the kitchen by making the bread. Every Sunday the family gathered together for Clarabelle’s delicious roast beef, potatoes, noodles and gravy.

Time together as a family was always important to Clarabelle and Clifford, and they spent much time with their kids, going ice-skating, snowmobiling and camping in their camper. For many years, the couple also had a home on Gun Lake, where they enjoyed spending time in and on the water. In the 1970s, the entire family traversed the U.S. in a caravan to Alaska, which left great memories with everyone.

Besides caring for her family, Clarabelle worked outside the home. Her first job was cleaning Dr. Topp’s office, but she later went to work at the Plainwell Sanitarium, doing housekeeping and laundry. Clarabelle eventually left this job to do laundry at the William Crispe Home and Plainwell Pipp Hospital. In her leisure time, Clarabelle liked to keep her hands busy crocheting blankets for all the sweet new babies in the family. She was always very close with the Rantz side of the family, and being surrounded by family was what brought Clarabelle the greatest joy. Although quiet in nature, she was a ray of sunshine for those close enough to receive the gift of her warmth. She will be dearly missed.

Clarabelle Mae Rantz, age 82, died on Saturday, September 22, 2007, at the Life Care Center of Plainwell. Learn more about Clarabelle, view her Life Story Film, and visit with her family on Monday, September 24, from 4-7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, RDMG, 120 S. Woodhams, Plainwell. Her service will be held on Tuesday, September 25, at the New Apostolic Church in Otsego at 1 p.m. Her family includes her children: Jay Rantz of Vicksburg and Patricia & Steve Singleton of Plainwell; 5 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild; siblings: Rose & Donald Marcott of Wayland, Mildred Van Houten of Wayland, Nancy Szczepanek of Fremont, Gerald & Joyce Holcomb of Middleville, and Bernard & Doris Holcomb of Wayland. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford, and granddaughter, Sonya Rantz. Please visit Clarabelle’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you may share a favorite memory or photo with her family or sign her online guest book. Memorial contributions may be made to the In House Hospice or the West Michigan Cancer Center.