Herman W. Visscher

VISSCHER, Mr. Herman W.
Portage, MI Died Tuesday afternoon May 31, 2011. Herman was born December 27, 1920 in Portage, Michigan a son of Benjamin and Winifred Cooper Visscher. He was a fighter pilot during WWII and the Korean War and was Kalamazoo's first WWII Ace. Before his retirement in 1966, he was the Base Commander at Fort Custer. He had been a Portage resident for many years and following his retirement from the Air Force, he worked for Balkema Excavating and Suburban Mechanical. Herman was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Lorayne E. Nelson on May 30, 2005; his second wife, Virginia R. Sebring Visscher on July 26, 2009; and a step daughter, Karen Long. He is survived by 3 children, Judith L. Paron of Ann Arbor, MI, Susan K. Casey Lavender of Mattawan, and Janet L. Bill Lucking of Kalamazoo; a step daughter, Lynn Dennis Coy of Mattawan; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a sister, Gertrude Matthewson of Illinois; a brother, Frank Visscher of Florida; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. Graveside services will be held 1:30 Tuesday in Ft. Custer National Cemetery with full military honors. There will be no visitation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Disabled American Veteran's.