William A. Beppler III, age 73, of Sturgis, passed away on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. He was born March 4, 1948 in Ann Arbor, a son to the late William A. and Eleanor (McDonald) Beppler Jr. William graduated from Constantine High School and also from Ferris State University with a degree …

Pfizer is expected to start building a new pharmaceutical production facility in Kalamazoo County. The drugmaker broke ground Wednesday on the multi-story, 420,000-square-foot building on Pfizer’s global manufacturing campus in Portage, MLive.com reported. It is expected to bring 450 new jobs to the area. The $465 million facility is expected to be in operation in 2025, according to Pfizer. The …

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Wednesday doubled Michigan’s daily COVID-19 vaccination goal to 100,000 shots. She cited continuous week-over-week increases in vaccine allotments the state is receiving and an expanded number of providers who can administer doses. She called vaccinations safe, effective and essential to getting the country back to normal. “These new, higher vaccine targets are a testament to what …

Mary F. Chaffee, age 89, of Union, died Monday, March 29, 2021. She was married to Robert Chaffee, who preceded her in death. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 2, 2012, at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Cremation will follow. Donations may be directed to the family.

Patricia Sziede, age 80, of Marcellus, passed away Monday, March 29, 2021 at home surrounded by her loving family. Patricia was born in Kalamazoo on October 10, 1940, the daughter of Ralph Edward Rhodes and Iva Bertine McNutt. On March 27, 1981 in Paw Paw, Patricia married David Allan Sziede, who survives her in death. Patricia was a seamstress, working …

Marion L. “Bud” Leonard, age 77, of White Pigeon, passed away Monday, March 29, 2021, at his home. He was born March 4, 1944, in Kendallville, a son of the late Marion C. and Thelma (Balk) Leonard. On Oct. 3, 1969, he married Brenda Palmer in Centreville. Marion was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving two tours in Vietnam …

Elizabeth A. “Betty” Birch, age 75, of Leonidas, died Sunday, March 28, 2021 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born in Three Rivers on Jan. 19, 1946 the daughter of the late Earl and Jean (Yearling) Avery and was a lifetime resident of St. Joseph County. She graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1964. She …

Carolyn Delores Wilcox, age 87, of Mendon, died Friday, March 26, 2021 at Three Rivers Health. She was born in Geneva, Indiana on Nov. 10, 1933 the daughter of Charles F. and Genevieve J. (Derickson) Blowers, and attended school in Indiana. She had been employed briefly as a waitress at the St. Joe House, and later The Bucket. She also …

Dennis E. Gates, age 74, of Centreville, passed away Sunday afternoon, March 28, 2021, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born June 14, 1946, in Coldwater, a son of the late Harold E. and Sarah (Thompson) Gates. Denny resided in Centreville since 1997, coming from Sturgis, and his early life was spent in Coldwater. On May 6, 1981, …

Damon Lowell Hughes, age 55, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday morning March 27, 2021 at his home. He was born August 11, 1965 in San Antonio, Texas son of Larry D. and Gertrude (Smith) Hughes. Damon resided in Sturgis for the past 13 years coming from Colorado and his early life was spent in Texas. On February 14, 1997 he …