Joseph H. "Joe" Warsop

Joseph H. "Joe" Warsop Marshall Joseph H. "Joe" Warsop, age 102, of Marshall, died on Monday, August 17, 2009 at Marshall Nursing and Rehabilitation. Joe was born on March 6, 1907 in Athens Township to Ervin H. and Ida (Allwardt) Warsop. He attended the Abscoda School. He started working at the former Wilcox-Rich Company in Battle Creek (which later became Eaton Corporation) in 1927. Joe moved to Marshall from Athens in 1936 when he transferred to the newly built Marshall plant. When transferring to the Marshall plant Joe commented later on in his life on how he "got a raise to 35 cents and hour and wasn't sure how he'd spend all that money!". He retired from there in 1968. Joe was married to Margaret E. Swalwell on February 1, 1936 in Angola, Indiana. The couple were loving partners until Margaret preceded Joe in death on March 31, 1993. He was a member of Eaton Retirees and Moose Lodge #676 where he had served as an officer. Joe was a charter member of the Wilder Creek Conservation Club and was an active participant in it's creation. He also helped establish 4-H in the Marshall area. Joe was a proud member of the United Auto Workers and helped organize the local at Eaton's. He was an avid outdoorsman, deer hunting in northern Michigan until he was 98 years of age. Joe also liked to fish. He was a familiar site behind his home on E. Michigan Avenue working in the large garden he planted and tended yearly. Surviving are his daughter, Phyllis Gresly of Marshall; and son, Gary (Carol) Warsop of Zirconia, North Carolina; 5 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his father when Joe was 13 years old; his mother, Ida Warsop Healy; his step-father, Oliver Healy; sisters, Edna Brooks and Mary Jane Monje; brothers, Raymond, Rueben and Lyle Warsop; and son-in-law, Garrett Gresly. Friends may call at Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home on Thursday 9 a.m.-9 p.m. where family will be present to greet friends and share memories from 2 p.m.-4 p.m. and 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Funeral services celebrating Joe's life will be held on Friday at 10:30 a.m. at Kempf Funeral Home with Rev. Len Schoenherr of United Methodist Church officiating. Interment will follow in Oakridge Cemetery. Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to Burnham Brook. Assistance with memorials available at Kempf Funeral Home. To sign the on line guest register and leave a personal message for the family visit www.kempffuneralhome.com.