Charles 'Chuck' Comer obituary

Chuck Comer, a retired faculty member and former assistant football coach at Western Michigan University, died Dec. 13. He was 79.

Comer joined the WMU faculty in 1968 and retired in 1997 as an assistant professor emeritus of health, physical education and recreation after 29 years of service to the University.

In addition to teaching, he was as an assistant football coach for seven years, then served as an assistant coach in the same sport at Kalamazoo College from 1974 to 1984.

Comer was well known locally as well as around the country and abroad as a skilled freelance sports photographer. He partially honed his skills photographing WMU athletics, especially football, for many years.

Among the many highlights of that side career was being praised by a host of professional athletes for his work and being invited to spend a month at the 1996 summer Olympics in Atlanta helping to officially document these Games.

Comer earned a bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University and a master's degree from WMU.

Memorial service

A public memorial service is set for 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Centerpoint Church, 2345 N. 10th St. in Kalamazoo.

A public celebration of Comer's life will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 4, in the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, 314 S. Park St. in Kalamazoo. To share stories and pictures of Comer for inclusion in the celebration, email them to: rememberchuckcomer@gmail.com. Those unable to attend the celebration may email a video clip that will be played during the event.

Remembrances

Obituaries and message books are available at obits.mlive.com/obituaries/kalamazoo and lifestorynet.com.