Charles Wesley "Wes" Kimble, Jr.

Charles Wesley "Wes" Kimble, Jr., of Battle Creek, MI




Wes, age 75, died Friday morning at Bronson at Home Hospice Residence, Battle Creek, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.


Wes, son of Dr. Charles W. and Ollie F. (Feeney) Kimble, was born in Defiance, OH on July 6, 1940 and moved to this area in 1967. Wes was a graduate of Alexian Brothers School of Nursing in Chicago and received his anesthesia training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He served honorably and nobly during the Vietnam War as a captain in the United States Army. He was employed for many years at Community Hospital and Battle Creek Health Systems. He later did locum tenens anesthesia in the area, predominately at Foote Hospital in Jackson, MI and was a past president of Michigan Association of Nurse Anesthetists. Wes developed a passion for providing health care to the people of Guatemala, serving and organizing medical and work trips for over 20 years. He was an active member of the First Congregational Church of Battle Creek since 1967. He enjoyed reading, sailing on Lake Michigan, boating and kayaking on St. Mary's Lake and spending time with his family.


Wes was united in marriage to the former Connie L. Morris in Defiance, OH on August 12, 1962. Surviving is his wife of 53 years, Connie; his daughter, Julie E. (Michael) Wheaton of Kalamazoo, MI; his son, Jeffrey C. (Kellie) Kimble of Mesa, AZ; 8 precious grandchildren, Matthew, Kaitlyn and Asia Kimble, Benjamin, Adam and Emily Wheaton, Melanie (Cody) Vache and Tristan DeCarlo; three sisters, Jackie Feil of Austin, TX, Janice (Earl) LaGorin of Erie, CO and Karen (Patrick) Peroz, of Howe, IN and many nieces and nephews. Wes is preceded in death by his parents.

The memorial service to celebrate Wes' life will be held on Friday, September 4th at 10:00 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 145 Capital Avenue, NE, Battle Creek, with The Rev. Thomas J. Ott, Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow immediately following the service in Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI, with full military honors. Family and friends will return to the church for a time of fellowship and luncheon after the committal service in Fort Custer. Wes' family will greet friends on Thursday, September 3rd from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home and Cremation Care, Battle Creek. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Wes's honor may be directed to the First Congregational Church of Battle Creek; Bronson at Home Hospice Residence, 5470 Glen Cross Road, Battle Creek, MI 49015 or the Michigan Helps Medical Team at 4030 Danford Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105.