Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Colwell, George William November 13, 1960
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Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net May 26, 2010, 11:11 pm

The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, Monday, November 14, 1960
George William Colwell, 71, was found in Grand River at Saranac Sunday about 
noon.  The body was apparently discovered only a short time after it had gone 
into the water.  State police and Coroner Ned Phelps said two boys discovered 
the body about 12:30 Sunday afternoon.  The boys were identified as Roger 
Phillips, 12, and Mike Phillips, 9.  They informed officers they were riding 
their bicycles across the bridge when they saw a cap floating in the river.  
Officers said the boys went underneath the bridge where they saw the body in 
the water between the first pier and abutment at the south end of the bridge.  

An autopsy performed later by Dr. Charles Black of Lansing showed Colwell died 
of drowning.  Officers were informed by at least three persons they had seen 
Colwell standing on the bridge as late as 12:15 Sunday noon.  Said to have 
seen the man were Preston Cole of Cedar Springs, Mrs. Erwin Smith and Treva 
Butcher of Saranac.  Sheriff Peter Van Vleck and Sgt. John Amthor said it is 
not known how Colwell’s body got into the water.  They have reason to believe 
he must have lost his balance and fell into the water.  They were informed 
Colwell visited a doctor as recent as Saturday and was reported in good 
spirits and condition.

Dr. Black reported in his findings Colwell had abrasions of the arm and 
forehead, apparently from the fall from the bridge.  Colwell had been retired 
for several years and lived alone at 32 West Main Street, Saranac.  

He was born February 27, 1889 in Berlin township.  He is survived by one 
daughter, Mrs. Madeline Van Cleve of Grand Rapids, three sons, William Colwell 
Klingler of Tahoe Valley, Calif, Benjamin Colwell of Traverse City, and Fred 
Colwell of Saranac, one brother, Albert Colwell of Saranac.  Funeral service 
will be Friday afternoon at 3 o’clock at Morris funeral home at Saranac.  
Burial will be in Saranac cemetery.

Subsequent Publication:  Saturday, November 19, 1960

Service for George William Colwell, 71, was held Friday afternoon at the 
Morris funeral home in Saranac.  Mr. Colwell died November 13.  Bearers were 
Verl Morrow, Gerald Adgate, Clayton Lowrey, Dan Hauter, Robert Hardy and 
Irving Taylor.  Burial was at Saranac cemetery.


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