Randal G. East
December 21, 1951 – October 8, 2024
According to the wishes of the family cremation has taken place. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan 4-H Foundation c/o the funeral home.
Obituary
Randal Gene East “The Cookie Man” 72 of Kalamazoo passed away October 8, 2024 at Bronson Methodist Hospital with his chosen daughter by his side. Randal was born December 21, 1951 in Battle Creek the son of Robert and Lavern (Valkner) East. He worked as a patient care assistant before retiring. In accordance with his wish, cremation will take place and no services are scheduled. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to: https://mi4hfdtn.org/givenow/ Interment will be in Robinson Cemetery, Gobles, MI. Arrangements by Joldersma-Klein Funeral Home. Due to his private and pragmatic nature, this is all he thought needed to be said. But he was loved, admired and respected by so many and all of those whose lives he touched could spend hours talking about how much he meant to them.
Randy was always the first to step in and lend a helping hand, teach a life skill or give unsolicited advice. He fostered community wherever he went and was known in every neighborhood he lived in as “The Cookie Man” because he loved to share his baked goods especially his famous cookies. A true jack of all trades, you could find “Papa Randy” at his sewing machine fixing princess dresses for his little Lexi, singing “King of the Road” better than Roger Miller at karaoke or building an off grid cabin completely from scratch. The world was a better place while Randy was in it and he is greatly missed.
I knew Randy for about a year. I was his USPS letter carrier. Randy was the first person to welcome me to the route. Not only did he treat me to his homemade cookies, brownies and crumble cake but he made a mean chili. But my favorite memory of Randy is how he would stand and chat with me while I delivered to the neighborhood boxes. I will miss those talks and I will miss Randy. He was truly one of a kind.
Although I only knew Randy for about 7 months, Him being present in my life made such a difference. Randy made it a point to greet me every morning and checked in through the day. He spoiled me with all his bakery specialties, often made me breakfast or lunch, and even shared his favorite ice cream with me. His caring and friendship meant the world to me, and I will miss him dearly with all my heart.
Mr.East was my neighbor of six years I enjoyed every talk every Walmart trip every Lowe’s trip every Menards trip and just hanging out in the yard with Mr East he had a very big heart everyone that came in contact with him loved him. He was very knowledgeable. Any question you had you could go to Mr East and he would have an answer for you always positive. You didn’t even have to ask for help if he seen you doing something he would always come over and help out never met somebody so kind I’m going to miss the baked cookies and the whole pans of brownies he would bring to my house for my children and I I’m so brokenhearted over his passing but I know God makes no mistakes, and I know he’s in a better place I really missing him, but I have the memories to cherish