WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Ladd E. Carpenter, age 55 of White Pigeon, Michigan passed away Saturday July 28, 2012 in White Pigeon Township.
He was born October 30, 1956 in Sturgis, Michigan son of the late Faye and Joann (Cochran) Carpenter.
Ladd resided nearly his entire life in the White Pigeon and Sturgis area and was a graduate of Sturgis High School. He continued his education at Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek where he received an Associate Degree in Fire Science.
On August 2, 1983 he married Kimberlee Spears in Sturgis.
Ladd was a 30 year fulltime fire fighter. He began his career in 1982 with the Three Rivers Fire Department where he worked until October of 1985 when he joined the Sturgis Fire Department where he was currently serving as Assistant Chief. He had also been employed by Parker’s Ambulance Service and the Kirsch Company both in Sturgis.
He was a member of the Immanuel Christian Fellowship and the I.A.F.F. One of Ladd’s accomplishments he was proud of was the bicycle trip he made from Michigan to Arizona. He enjoyed cutting and splitting wood, running, biking, geography and foreign culture, Bluegrass music, genealogy and visiting fire stations throughout the United States. Ladd had a true love and appreciation for the outdoors.
He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Kimberlee, 4 daughters, Emilee age 24 of Tucson, Arizona, Christianna age 15 , Rebekah age 5 and Mary Caroline age 3 all at home, three sons, Samuel age 12, Ladd Jr. age 10 and John age 8 all at home, three sisters, Janet (Harlan Bontrager) Bender of Sturgis, Melissa-Pennie (Scott) Morgan of North Carolina and Cherie (Doug) Conner of Cassopolis, two brothers, Dennis (Deb Caley) Bender of Jones and Larry (Wendy) Carpenter of Three Rivers, Step-Mother, Virginia Carpenter, nieces and nephews, Jim (Tracy) Bender, Bill (Terri) Bender, Michael (Cori) Edmiston, Manda Edmiston, Matt (Christy Morsekids) Edmiston, Mark (Brittani Gibson) Edmiston, Martin (Sasha Oswald) Edmiston, Missy (Jerry Dowell, Jr.) Caley, Mindy Caley, Autumn Caley, Thomas Carpenter, Samantha Carpenter, Mitchell (Robin Snyder) Morgan, Kodey (Monica) Morgan, Torie (Brad Osbon) Conner, Jackson Conner, Brooke Carpenter and Halle Carpenter, Uncles Jack (Barbara) Carpenter and Bud (Lucia) Carpenter, Aunt, Clara (Gordon) Sikorski, Cousins, Linda (Skip) Meggison and Pamela Hacker, sister-in-law, Joyce Bender, brother-in-law, Kevin Morgan and many great nieces and nephews, too many to list but loved very dearly all the same.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, David Bender.
The family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 P.M. Thursday at the Sturgis Wesleyan Church, 907 N. Nottawa St. in Sturgis. A memorial service celebrating the life of Ladd Carpenter will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday at the church. Pastor Scot Jefferies will officiate.
The Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-2331 is entrusted with the arrangements.
Memorial donations would be appreciated to the Carpenter Family for the future needs of the children c/o: Omni Community Credit Union, 207 Broadus St., Sturgis, MI 49091.
The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
