William "Stan" Whitaker

William Stanley "Stan" Whitaker of Kalamazoo, passed away Monday, April 15, 2013 at Heritage Community. Stan was born on February 21, 1929 in Black Oak, Arkansas, the son of Marshall and Cora Whitaker. He was the owner of Whitaker Construction Company in Kalamazoo, and was an icon in the industry, with accomplishments spanning over 5 decades that are too vast to list. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Kalamazoo for over 56 years. He was devoted to his family and his employees, whom he also considered family. He enjoyed golfing, riding horses in the mountains of Wyoming, and spending time at his condo in Florida. He is survived by his wife, Tommye Wells Whitaker of Kalamazoo; 2 sons, William Stanley Whitaker, Jr. of Galesburg, Russell A.(Tracy) Whitaker of Richland; daughter, Faren Whitaker Crump of Kalamazoo; brother, Marshall (Nancy) Whitaker of Vicksburg; sisters Lefty (Ralph) Russo and Loretta Kirby of St. Joseph; grandchildren, Angela (Derrick) Schmidt, William, Nathan, Collin and Ben Whitaker; 2 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Friends will be received Sunday, April 21, 2013 from 2-4 and 6-8PM at Redmond Funeral Home, 4100 S. Westnedge Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008, (269) 343-6156. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 22, 2013 at 1PM at Third Christian Reformed Church (a church that he built in 1975), 2400 Winchell Ave., Kalamazoo, Pastor Michael Brown officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park South. Memorial contributions may be made to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission. www.redmondfuneralhomes.net