William Herth

Remembering Dutch. . . William Dutch Herth, the oldest of three children was born October 4, 1954 to Camille Lauris Herth,Sr.and Molly Herth (nee Sloan), in Grand Rapids Michigan at Blodgett Hospital. Dutch passed away Thursday,October 1, 2020 at Butterworth Hospital. He was 65 years old.Dutch was well loved,creative, easy-going, charismatic, and athletic. Whether we was singing with the Duprees (a group he started while attending West Middle), leading in 3-pointers in basketball, quarterbacking, or pitching a game at the park with his younger brothers or in high school, or winning track meets,Dutch was oftenthe one most remembered after the games. His nieces and nephews recallhis patienceand easestyle with them when they were in his care. Dutch learned how to be a gifted illustrator from his mother, herself a career artist and seamstress. In addition to his artistic creativity in dress and style, Dutch sent heads spinning by rigging his car with the firstcar phone in 1971. Yet with all these talents and keen style, Dutch will be most rememberedamong family and friends for his humility, kindness, unassuming nature and generosity. There is almost nothing he would not do for others. Dutch graduated from Central High School in Grand Rapids, MI in 1973, and later attended Grand Rapids Community College and Grand Valley State University.In 1980,he married Deborah Gregoryof Grand Rapids Michigan.Dutch is survived by his brother David John (Cheryl) and Camille Lauris (Elizabeth); hisdaughter Danielle, five grandchildren Micaela, Kelis, Nevaya, Lethaniel III, and Jacob; aunt Augustine; nieces & nephews: Greg Herth, Shelly McAdoo, Larry Alderson, James Bass, Sherry (Derrick) McAdoo-Champion, Mila Champion, Molli Herth, William Herth, Lauris Herth, Bryson Dolly Jr., David Santana Herth, Blake Camille Herth; and many many other family members.Dutch is precededin death by his parents and his older step-brother Carl Offutt of Chicago Illinois, aunt Odile Thomas, Camilian Wilcher (Joseph) Polk and his grandparents Ida (nee Wilson) and Oscar Lauris Herth.“To consider that after the death of the body the spirit perishes is like imagining that a bird in a cage will be destroyed if the cage is broken, though the bird has nothing to fear from the destruction of the cage. Our body is like the cage, and the spirit is like the bird. . . if the cage becomes broken, the bird will continue and exist. Its feelings will be evenmore powerful, its perceptions greater, and its happiness increased”~Bahá’í Writings

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