By Bruce Rolfe
A life long Climax resident is being remembered for having a passion for farming and following the footsteps of his parents who were also longtime farmers in the area.
Tim Vosburg passed away unexpectedly due to a medical event July 22, shocking many in the area.
Watching and learning how his parents, Jan and Nellie Lou Vosburg, farmed made a huge impact on the Charleston Township man.
When he was young Tim paid close attention to the farming practices his father used in the field.
Tim’s sister, Laura Marlowe, said her brother was destined to be a farmer.
She remembers when Tim was in the fifth grade while their dad was traveling in Africa, Tim did morning chores before school and evening chores when he got home from school. All by himself for five weeks.
As he grew older he used many of those same farming practices. He also embraced the opportunity to continue a farming legacy his parents established many years ago.
Longtime neighbor and friend Cliff Lipscomb said both Jan and Tim were good stewards of farm land.
He said Jan Vosburg was a strong advocate for no till crop farming. Tim felt it was important to continue the practice.
“The no till, there’s some ground around here that he’s farmed that probably has not been torn up in 40 years. That’s a big thing that Jan and Tim worked hard at. Doing the no till and taking care of the ground that way. Not getting on it when it was wet. They were 1000 percent behind no till. That was probably the biggest legacy that Tim and Jan wanted,” said Lipscomb, who said he has worked with the Vosburg family since the early 1970s and has rented land to the Vosburgs to farm for a number of years.
“He knew whatever grandpa (Jan Vosburg) said was probably right because he’s still a smart man. He taught all his boys well and grandkids that were around that you did things the right way. If he said it was the right way then you believed what he said,” adds Jan’s grandson Derek Marlowe.
Tim also enjoyed the opportunity to farm the same land his father did for years.
Laura said farming was his life and his partnership with his father lasted decades. She said her father and brother farmed 1500-1800 acres at one time together.
“My parents were pleased that his intentions were to farm with my dad, Jan Vosburg, and to eventually take over the day-to-day operations when my dad wasn’t able to farm anymore,” said Laura.
Laura said her son Derek enjoyed joining his uncle and helping with chores.
Derek said he formed a special bond with his uncle, noting “he kind of took me under his wing when I was young.”
Derek said when he lived at a farm house on MN Avenue, the Vosburgs had pigs at the location. He said his parents told him when Derek was young, he would stand outside the door every morning and wait for his uncle to waive him to come out and help with chores.
“Ever since then, when we moved to Mercury Drive, I used to stand by the road and wait for him to come by with the tractor. If he saw me he would stop and pick me up and I’d be gone for the day. Just riding around doing whatever they were doing. I just wanted to be a part of it,” said Derek.
Tim’s sister Laura recalls her brother was a teaser and “could drive me crazy as a little brother in our younger days but Tim had the biggest heart.”
“He always texted me on my birthday and Mother’s Day to let me know he was thinking of me,” said Laura.
Laura said her brother loved his grandsons, Brody, Carson and Benson Vosburg. She said he had great bear hugs and loved her children Derek, Kurtis and Brianne like his own.
She adds all three of her children learned to love the farm due to Tim’s influence.
Derek said he was pleased to see Tim carry on his parents’ farming legacy.
“He did things the right way. Just like my grandfather taught all of us. I was very proud of him for that,” said Tim’s nephew.
Vosburg was also active in the community, serving as the Charleston Township Planning Commission chairperson before he died.
Charleston Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said he recognized similar leadership characteristics in Tim he saw when his father Jan served on the Charleston Township Board.
“A good family. The Vosburgs have always been involved community-wise and always been good for the township. His dad served on the township board, was a trustee for a long time. Tim continued that tradition, served his community and served his township. He always did his homework and always made all the meetings,” said Vander Roest.
Besides serving on the Charleston Township Planning Commission, Tim was the Climax United Methodist Church Sunday School superintendent at one time. A 1975 graduate of Climax-Scotts High School, Tim just missed being in the top ten of his graduating class.
He graduated from Michigan State University in 1977 with an Associate’s Degree in Agricultural Business.
Vosburg was involved with 4-H many years and he served on the Battle Creek Farm Bureau Board.
A life long Climax resident is being remembered for having a passion for farming and following the footsteps of his parents who were also longtime farmers in the area.
Tim Vosburg passed away unexpectedly due to a medical event July 22, shocking many in the area.
Watching and learning how his parents, Jan and Nellie Lou Vosburg, farmed made a huge impact on the Charleston Township man.
When he was young Tim paid close attention to the farming practices his father used in the field.
Tim’s sister, Laura Marlowe, said her brother was destined to be a farmer.
She remembers when Tim was in the fifth grade while their dad was traveling in Africa, Tim did morning chores before school and evening chores when he got home from school. All by himself for five weeks.
As he grew older he used many of those same farming practices. He also embraced the opportunity to continue a farming legacy his parents established many years ago.
Longtime neighbor and friend Cliff Lipscomb said both Jan and Tim were good stewards of farm land.
He said Jan Vosburg was a strong advocate for no till crop farming. Tim felt it was important to continue the practice.
“The no till, there’s some ground around here that he’s farmed that probably has not been torn up in 40 years. That’s a big thing that Jan and Tim worked hard at. Doing the no till and taking care of the ground that way. Not getting on it when it was wet. They were 1000 percent behind no till. That was probably the biggest legacy that Tim and Jan wanted,” said Lipscomb, who said he has worked with the Vosburg family since the early 1970s and has rented land to the Vosburgs to farm for a number of years.
“He knew whatever grandpa (Jan Vosburg) said was probably right because he’s still a smart man. He taught all his boys well and grandkids that were around that you did things the right way. If he said it was the right way then you believed what he said,” adds Jan’s grandson Derek Marlowe.
Tim also enjoyed the opportunity to farm the same land his father did for years.
Laura said farming was his life and his partnership with his father lasted decades. She said her father and brother farmed 1500-1800 acres at one time together.
“My parents were pleased that his intentions were to farm with my dad, Jan Vosburg, and to eventually take over the day-to-day operations when my dad wasn’t able to farm anymore,” said Laura.
Laura said her son Derek enjoyed joining his uncle and helping with chores.
Derek said he formed a special bond with his uncle, noting “he kind of took me under his wing when I was young.”
Derek said when he lived at a farm house on MN Avenue, the Vosburgs had pigs at the location. He said his parents told him when Derek was young, he would stand outside the door every morning and wait for his uncle to waive him to come out and help with chores.
“Ever since then, when we moved to Mercury Drive, I used to stand by the road and wait for him to come by with the tractor. If he saw me he would stop and pick me up and I’d be gone for the day. Just riding around doing whatever they were doing. I just wanted to be a part of it,” said Derek.
Tim’s sister Laura recalls her brother was a teaser and “could drive me crazy as a little brother in our younger days but Tim had the biggest heart.”
“He always texted me on my birthday and Mother’s Day to let me know he was thinking of me,” said Laura.
Laura said her brother loved his grandsons, Brody, Carson and Benson Vosburg. She said he had great bear hugs and loved her children Derek, Kurtis and Brianne like his own.
She adds all three of her children learned to love the farm due to Tim’s influence.
Derek said he was pleased to see Tim carry on his parents’ farming legacy.
“He did things the right way. Just like my grandfather taught all of us. I was very proud of him for that,” said Tim’s nephew.
Vosburg was also active in the community, serving as the Charleston Township Planning Commission chairperson before he died.
Charleston Township Supervisor Jerry Vander Roest said he recognized similar leadership characteristics in Tim he saw when his father Jan served on the Charleston Township Board.
“A good family. The Vosburgs have always been involved community-wise and always been good for the township. His dad served on the township board, was a trustee for a long time. Tim continued that tradition, served his community and served his township. He always did his homework and always made all the meetings,” said Vander Roest.
Besides serving on the Charleston Township Planning Commission, Tim was the Climax United Methodist Church Sunday School superintendent at one time. A 1975 graduate of Climax-Scotts High School, Tim just missed being in the top ten of his graduating class.
He graduated from Michigan State University in 1977 with an Associate’s Degree in Agricultural Business.
Vosburg was involved with 4-H many years and he served on the Battle Creek Farm Bureau Board.
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