Freddie K. “Fred” Neubert, age 83, of White Pigeon, went to be with our Lord on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart. He was born November 5, 1936 in Esserville, VA, a son of William and Lelia (Wells) Neubert. Fred graduated from Constantine High School. He served in the US Marines Reserve and active US …

John N. Hassinger, age 89, of Constantine, passed away at his home on Friday, May 1, 2020. John, the second child of Merritt and Cleo (Avery) Hassinger, was born on August 20, 1930 at the old homestead out on Millers Mill Road in Constantine. He is survived by his special friend Barbara Adcock of Elkhart, Indiana and her family. He …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Friday that Michigan’s stay-at-home order remains in effect through May 15 despite Republicans’ refusal to extend her underlying coronavirus emergency declaration, as she amended it to allow construction, real estate and more outdoor work to resume in person next week. The Democratic governor, who may be sued by the GOP-led Legislature, addressed reporters the same day …

Mayne E. Smith, age 98, formerly of Colon and Scotts, passed away Thursday, April 30, 2020 at Medilodge of Kalamazoo. Mayne was born Feb. 15, 1922, in Kalamazoo, a daughter of the late Benjamin and Princess (Lewis) McClish. She grew up in rural Colon, graduating from Colon High School as salutatorian of the class of 1939. In November 1940, she married …

Gary C. Schneider (Guppy), age 69, of Marquette, passed away Monday afternoon, April 27, 2020, at home, surrounded by family and friends, after a courageous battle with colon cancer. Born Oct. 11, 1950 in South Bend, to Charles and Jane Ann (Hartman) Schneider, Gary grew up on Baldwin Lake in Union, enjoying barefoot water skiing and spearing pike. He was …

A 16-year-old boy has died after going into cardiac arrest while being restrained by staff at a southwestern Michigan facility for teens with behavioral problems. The Kalamazoo Public Safety office says the teen died Friday at a hospital. Officers found him unresponsive Wednesday afternoon at Lakeside Academy in Kalamazoo. Police say he was taken to a hospital and investigators later …

Alice L. Ankney Verspelt, age 85, of Sturgis, and a former longtime Burr Oak resident, passed away Wednesday evening, April 29, 2020, at Life Care Center of LaGrange in LaGrange, Ind. She was born May 1, 1934, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Clarence and Pauline (Maxwell) Maystead. Alice resided in Sturgis since 2006, with most of her life …

Jamie Lee Palmer, age 46, of Centreville, lost his battle to Glioblastoma April 21, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born September 21, 1973 in Marshall, the son of Lula (Goodman) Cross and the late Jackie Palmer. Jamie grew up in Burlington, where he made numerous friends and memories that were sure to make you laugh. …

The Republican-led Michigan Legislature refused Thursday to extend the state’s coronavirus emergency declaration and voted to authorize a lawsuit challenging Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s authority and actions to combat the pandemic. The governor, unfazed, responded with orders stating under one law that an emergency still exists, while under another law declaring new 28-day states of emergency and disaster. The latter …

Diane Kay Reece, age 80, of Kalamazoo, died Monday, April 27, 2020, at Friendship Village, where she had resided since September 2018.  She was born and raised on the family farm in Fulton, Michigan, on September 4, 1939, the daughter of Forrest and Ruth (Harrison) Snyder.  Diane was a 1958 graduate of Vicksburg High School.  On June 21, 1959, she …