Laurel G. Miner

After a long and fulfilling life, Laurel (LG, Glad, Gladdy) joined heaven’s choir. He will be greatly missed!

Laurel was the eldest son of Laurel and Thelma Miner. He and his brothers grew up on the family farm in Watson Township and spent lots of time with their cousins who lived nearby. Some favorite memories from Laurel’s childhood include playing in the barn, games like carroms and dominoes, playing baseball in the lane while his father did the milking, and making maple syrup at his Uncle Jesse’s.

In high school, Laurel was the manager for the football team. He worked for area farmers, earning 25 cents an hour. He dated Betty Johnson, who would later become his wife. After high school, he joined the US Army. As an SPC Specialist 3rd Class, he was stationed in Texas, then New York. In recognition of his service, he participated in a Talons Out Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. in September of 2016. That trip became a favorite memory.

Laurel was also a pilot and a member of the Civil Air Patrol. He and a friend bought an airplane–a Taylorcraft Green Grasshopper. He shared his love of flying with his brother John, who credits LG with giving him a career. Years later, Laurel was incredibly excited and proud when his grandson Erich became a pilot.

Laurel was proud of his time in the service, and that experience helped him land a job with Michigan Bell Telephone. At the phone company, he was an invaluable asset because of his MacGyver-like troubleshooting and repair skills.

This job took him to the east side of the state. Laurel and his family were active in Our Shepherd Lutheran Church, and many members of that congregation became close friends. Den, Sondra, and Ann have fabulous memories of time on the family boat. They took camping trips with their cousins at Spring Valley and took trips to Gatlinburg and Florida with Campers Caravan.

In 1973, a year after Mike was born, the family moved back to the west side of Michigan to be closer to Laurel’s parents and brothers. He continued to work for Michigan Bell, then ATT, and the house phone became a help line, with Laurel brainstorming fixes for the telecommunications giant. His last position before retirement was with Upjohn.

In Kalamazoo, Laurel found his spiritual home, Zion Lutheran, and that remained his sanctuary until his passing. He was active in the choir, participated in mission trips, and did countless projects for the church and parsonage. Laurel loved his church friends and was willing to help them whenever possible with his mechanical and construction skills.

Laurel and Betty reconnected and married on April 30, 1988. They enjoyed camping, yardwork and gardening, going out to eat, and spending time with family members on both sides. They participated in Miner reunions and in 1999 traveled to England to see the ancestral birthplace of Thomas Minor.

For years, Laurel, his brothers, some cousins, and nephews cherished their annual fishing trips. On their last trip in June of 2025, Laurel was the only brother to catch a fish.

Also in recent years, Laurel loved his weekly “Zoom” meetings and in-person lunches with his brothers and other family members. He frequently met his dear friend Bruce Owen for breakfast. At every restaurant, he made sure to get the life story of the waitress and to ask for a slice of rhubarb pie.

Much of Laurel’s free time was taken up with repair projects–his own, his family’s, his friends’, the church’s. He was a jack–of-all-trades, with lawn mower repair being his special gift. He loved snowmobiling and was a founder and long-term member of Allegan County Snowmobile Association.

Laurel is survived by his wife of 37 years, Betty Miner, the Miner brothers and their wives, John (Karen), Max (Phyllis), Bruce (Bonnie), Sally, and David, his cousins Delores Kelly, Don Miner, and Jerry Masek, his children, Dennis (Shelly) Miner, Sondra (Doug) Houtkooper, Ann Smith, and Mike (Missy ) Miner, Betty’s children, Thomas (Brenda) Isenhart and Deborah Isenhart, his grandchildren, Megan (Alex) Billedeaux, Nathan Miner, Jessica Miner, Joshua Houtkooper, Amber Smith, Maddie Smith, Erich Miner, Lauren Miner, Sean (Britney) Jarchow, and Lucas (Paige) Jarchow, and his great-grandchildren, Callum Billedeaux and Henry Jarchow. He is also survived by relatives and friends, too countless to name but far too important to overlook.

Laurel was preceded in death by his parents, his dear brother Ron, his cousin Joy, and his beloved grandson Matthew. We imagine a joyous reunion for them in heaven!

We can scarcely imagine how our family, or the world in general, will be able to get by without Laurel to fix everything that breaks.