Ralph E. Parham, age 96, of Venice, Fla., and a former longtime resident of Howe, Ind., passed away Saturday morning, Sept. 14, 2019, at Venice Hospice House in Venice. He was born July 11, 1923, in Billings, Mont., a son of the late Lyle H. and Nora E. (Brown) Parham. Ralph resided in Florida since 2015. Prior to moving to …

Sally Lou Stevens, age 77, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday morning, August 24, 2019 at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born April 15, 1942 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Owen Henry and Maxine Pearl (VanDyke) Powers. Sally was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1960. On October …

Cottontail rabbit, snowshoe hare, ruffed grouse and other animals will be in hunters’ sights as Michigan’s small game season gets underway Sunday. The Department of Natural Resources says a Michigan base license is required for small game hunters. The cost for residents is $11. The base license allows hunting of rabbit, hare, squirrel, pheasant, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, woodchuck, woodcock, …

Ruby Mildred Estes, age 96, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, September 12, 2019 at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born June 2, 1923 in Cumberland Gap, TN a daughter to the late Theo and Louise (Greer) Estes. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands: Charles Estes and Rex Willis; son: David Estes; …

Wanda Ucille Stauder, age 98, of Three Rivers, died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 at Thurston Woods Villa. She was born in Otsego, MI on March 26, 1921, the daughter of Leo Fowler and Anna Fowler. She graduated from Cedar Lake Academy, Glen Oaks Community College and attended Western Michigan University. Wanda was married to George D. Stauder on January 22, …

James A. Walker Sr. age 86, of Kalamazoo, and formerly of Centreville, passed away at home Wednesday, Sept., 11, 2019, with his family at his side. Jim was born April 28, 1933, in Kalamazoo, a son of the late George “Chi” and Elizabeth (Ballinger) Walker. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany during …

Robert James “Bobby” Schwartz, age 57, of Leonidas, passed away Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, in Portage. He was born Jan. 25, 1962 in Sturgis, a son of Eli and Clara (Mast) Schwartz. Robert graduated from Colon High School with the class of 1980 and had lived in Fort Wayne, and Florida for a few years before moving back to St. …

Shirley A. Lesniak, age 80, of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday morning, Sept. 11, 2019, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born July 17, 1939, in Detroit, a daughter of the late Anthony and Helen (Mentkowski) Krasniewski. Shirley resided in Sturgis since 1972, coming from Detroit. On June 27, 1959, she married Walter John Lesniak in Detroit. He died Nov. 25, …

Margaret Helen Shultz, age 68, of Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2019 in Kalamazoo. She was born on December 11, 1950 in Lansing, the daughter of Malcolm and Mary Helen (Benson) McNeil. Margaret graduated from Monsignor John Gabriel’s Catholic School, class of 1969 and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1973. On June …

Edith “Sarah”  Hooker was born on July 6, 1923, to the late Edith Mary and Earl Logan Lambert in Dakota, Illinois. While attending Carthage College she met her future husband, Robert L. Hooker, also a student. Upon Bob’s ordination as a Lutheran pastor, the then married couple moved to San Francisco. It was the beginning of an adult life full …