Valeeda "Val" Janette Tew

Valeeda Janette (Martin) Tew was called home by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and changed her citizenship from this earth to her heavenly home, on March 27, 2024.  Valeeda (Val) was born June 2, 1940 in Athens, Michigan to Eldon (Eugene) and Bernadine (Blowers) Martin.  She attended Bellevue High School where she met Arnold E. Tew, who invited her to Youth Group Meetings at his church.  While attending these meetings, Valeeda recognized God calling her heart to surrender to Jesus Christ and she dedicated her life to Christ as a result.  Following High School graduation, she married Arnold on November 8, 1957 in Assyria Township, Michigan, and he remained her lifetime helpmate and sweetheart. 
Valeeda battled Rheumatoid Arthritis starting at the age of 20.  Despite the significant health challenges she experienced throughout her daily life, she and Arnold enjoyed working with teens in Christian Ministry in her early adulthood and she invested time in helping others in multiple ways.  Val was a Deaconess and Nursery Worker at Calvary Baptist Church of Marshall and served on the Welcoming Committee at Grace Baptist Church.  Val was a homemaker, she dearly loved to cook for others, she joyfully provided countless cookies and treats for various club meetings in the Marshall area, she made/decorated professional cakes for a short time, and she was an avid collector of recipes.  She belonged to a Machine Knitters Club where she enjoyed exercising her artistic skills by creating something new, knitting infant caps for newborns at Oaklawn Hospital, and she was an avid woodburning hobbyist until she lost her eyesight.
Valeeda is survived by her husband of 66 years Arnold; her three children: Joy Ranee’ (her dear son in love James A.) Castonguay of Hastings, Bonnie Elaine Tew of Ann Arbor, and Neal Arnold Tew of Wisconsin.  Val’s life was richly blessed with 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her sisters Leotta Spooner and Bonnie (Larry) Cochensparger.
 Cremation has taken place and Valeeda will be laid to rest at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Michigan.  A Memorial Service dedicated to bringing God glory through the celebration of Valeeda’s life will take place on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at Grace Baptist Church (500 Cosmopolitan, Marshall, Michigan 49068).   Friends may call from 10:00-11:00 a.m. with the Service immediately following. Pastor Brandon Crawford officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts to be dedicated to Grace Baptist Church.  Today, we are confident and comforted by the fact that Valeeda is beholding the face of Jesus Christ and enthusiastically singing, “Yet as for me, I KNOW that my Redeemer LIVES…” (Job 19:25)  May you who knew Valeeda reflect on the gifts and laughter God enabled her to add to your lives and may those gifts prompt you to recognize your need to surrender your hearts and lives to Jesus Christ.  Soli Deo Gloria.
Arrangements were entrusted to Kempf Family Funeral and Cremation Services 723 US Hwy 27 N Marshall, Michigan 49068. Please visit www.kempffuneralhome.com to view the online obituary, to sign the online guest book or to leave the family condolences.