Joseph Lee "Joe" Kaywood

Joseph Lee "Joe" Kaywood of Richland, MI

Joe, age 76, died Monday afternoon, December 3, 2018 at Pipp Hospital, Plainwell, MI, following a lengthy illness.

Joe, the son of Joseph Thomas and Gladys Lillian (Held) Kaywood, was born in Grand Rapids, MI on March 14, 1942; was a 1960 graduate of Grand Rapids Central High School and moved to the Richland/Kalamazoo area in 1965. He served his Country honorably and nobly in the United States Army as a Private during the Vietnam War and continued serving in the Michigan Army National Guard. Joe retired after 40 years of faithful service to General Motors Corporation in eight different facilities in Western Michigan in Human Resources. He was a member of St. Ann Catholic Church of Augusta, MI since 1967; he served with the Richland Township Fire Department for 37 years and served as its Captain; he had been a Richland Township Trustee for 12 years; the Richland Zoning Board of Appeals for 18 years; the Richland Planning Commission for 9 years; a past Richland Village Assessor; a life member of the Richland/Gull Lake Area Lions Club since for over 33 years; Past President of the Gull Lake High School Sports Boosters; past Coordinator of the Richland Youth Baseball Program; coached youth sports - baseball, football, soccer and basketball; past Board member of Gateway Services; member of the B.P.O. Elks since 1986 and volunteered at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. Joe spent most of his married life enjoying being very active in the community. Ann and Joe did find time to travel having been in 48 states, only missing Alaska and Oregon!

Joe was united in marriage to the former Sylvia Ann Lumie in Royal Oak, MI on October 7, 1967. Surviving is his wife of 51 years, Ann; two sons, Todd L. (Jennifer) Kaywood of Fort Collins, CO and Andrew M. Kaywood of St. Petersburg, FL; daughter-in-law, Michelle A. Kaywood of Heyworth, IL; three precious grandchildren, Anya E. Kaywood and Mateus A. Kaywood, both of Fort Collins, CO and Cruz Joseph Kaywood of Heyworth, IL. Joe was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Joseph George Kaywood, just this year on March 23rd and his brother, Thomas L. Kaywood in 2009.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, December 28th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ann Catholic Church, 12648 East D Avenue, Augusta, MI 49012 with Father Francis A. Marotti, Celebrant and Deacon Michael A. Carl, Assisting. Joe's family will greet friends on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until Mass time and after Mass with a luncheon in the Church Social Hall. Memorial contributions in Joe's honor may be directed to the Richland Township Fire Department Association, 7401 North 32nd Street, Richland, MI 49083 or the Richland/Gull Lake Area Lions Club, 8480 North 32nd Street, Unit #70, Richland, MI 49083. The Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland Chapel is assisting Joe's family.