Madeline Harvey

As a loving wife and mother, Madeline Harvey spent most of her life devoted to caring for other people. She was a strong and courageous woman, yet she was kind and considerate, making her truly fit to be the matron of her family. With her husband Marshal by her side, Madeline successfully ran the home and kept the books for the family business, all while raising two boys, which by itself is no small feat. It didn't matter, however, how many things were on her plate, she loved people and always had time for them. More than anything Madeline valued the time she had with her family and friends, and kept every cherished memory she had with them close to her heart.

Long before southwestern Michigan was dissected by highways and subdivisions and shopping malls covered the landscape, was a time when prairie grass grew far and wide and oak trees outnumbered people. At the dawn of the twentieth century, farming was the mainstay of the rural communities that began springing up across these fertile grasslands in southern Lower Michigan. In the 1920s, one of the largest farms in Prairieville Township, located in southern Barry County, belonged to Clement and Katherine (DeBruyn) DeKoster, and in the late summer of 1925, just as the harvest was at its peak, Katherine was anxiously awaiting the birth of their child. Just as autumn arrived that year, on September 20th Clement and Katherine welcomed a baby girl they named Madeline.

Madeline was her parent's only daughter in a family that included two boys, Robert and Albert. She spent most of her early childhood on the farm in Prairieville Township, until it was decided that she would go to stay with relatives living in nearby Illinois in order to attend school. Madeline's relatives, who owned the Lite Soap Co., had no children of their own, and therefore they had plenty of room for her. Upon her high school graduation, however, she promptly returned to her home on the farm in Michigan.

At one time in American history, front porches were an important part of family life as well as neighborhoods, making them the inspiration for several books still to this day. As it just so happened, it was on the front porch at her house where Madeline met Marshal Harvey, the man she would one day marry. After a courtship, the two set a date for March 25, 1944, when they would take their vows in a ceremony in nearby Delton. Early on in their marriage Madeline worked at Angel Steel and at a local greenhouse, but after realizing how well she and Marshal worked together as a team, they decided to go into business together. In 1957 they moved their family to Allegan, and they took over as owners of the Pallett Business & Lumber Yard in Allegan, which was later named Harvco, where Madeline over saw the clerical side of the operation, as the bookkeeper.

In addition to running a successful business, Madeline and Marshal were also raising a family. Madeline divided her time between the day to day duties of the lumber yard, and caring for her two young sons, M.J. and Mark. Madeline cherished the time she had with her boys while they were growing up, and one of her most favorite activities was taking them to the Deer Forest and bird sanctuary. She also enjoyed cooking for the three men in her life and with all of her recipes safely stored in her head she never had to mess with cookbooks or even measure the ingredients.

As the boys grew older and set out on their own, Madeline and Marshal also set out together on their own, traveling to places like Washington, Tennessee, and Northern Michigan, where they could see some of America 's finest scenery and natural areas. At home, Madeline also had her very own piece of nature, her garden, which she was quite protective of and rightfully so. Working together as a team, Marshal would dig the holes while she came along behind him putting in the flowers. With the time she spent taking care of her garden, it was no wonder that she yelled at anyone who walked through it and not around it. After 38 years of running a business, Madeline and Marshal were finally enjoying life's more simple pleasures.

When Madeline became a grandmother, and later a great-grandmother, she was thrilled. She was always happy when they came around, and helped care for them from time to time. Whenever she watched one of her grandchildren she always made sure that the time they spent together was memorable, often taking them somewhere special. For a time, Madeline became a full-time caretaker all over again when her son M.J. became ill. For 16 years, up until the time he passed away, she attended to his needs. Family was always very important to her, and she protected each and every memory and heirloom she had, including her families' farm, which she and Marshal eventually returned to.

As a dedicated member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church for 54 years, Madeline also valued her faith, attending Saturday morning service in primarily in Delton, but also in Allegan and Gobles. At church she developed her relationship with the Lord and with her fellow parishioners. Madeline and her family were especially close with the Stuck family, in part because they had children very close in age, and getting together with them for lunch after service was always a treat. No matter what, Madeline was always generous with the time she had for people. Throughout her life she was a very strong woman, yet she was kind and considerate, earning her the love and admiration of her family and friends and, with her passing, the fond memories of all who knew her.

Madeline Harvey died at her home on May 2, 2006 at the age of 80 following a courageous battle with liver cancer. Learn more about Madeline, view her Life Story Film, and visit with her family on Thursday from 4-7 PM at Rupert, Durham, Marshall & Gren Life Story Funeral Homes -Plainwell, 120 S. Woodhams, where her service will be held on Friday at 11 AM, officiated by Pastor Scott Manly. Madeline's family includes her husband Marshal Harvey, Sr.; son, Mark Harvey of Plainwell; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Mildred DeKoster of Plainwell; and several nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, M.J. Harvey and brothers, Robert DeKoster and Albert DeKoster, Sr. Please visit Madeline's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read her life story, archive a favorite memory, or make a memorial donation to a charity of your choice.