Berneda Onnaleah Cole, age 74, 0f Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Monday, Nov. 19th, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center.  She was born on Feb. 15, 1944 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of the late Paul and Fannie (Lewis) Pirtle. Berneda and her family have peace in their hearts knowing that Berneda lived her life with compassion, courage, faith, and a …

Barbara Jean Bell, age 92, formerly of Mendon and Vicksburg, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2018 at Sue’s Loving Care Home in Kalamazoo. She was born in Three Rivers on July 10, 1926 the daughter of the late John Henry and Zella Blanchard (Avery) Fenwick. She graduated from Vicksburg High School in 1944 and attended Western Michigan University and the Bronson …

Douglas Anthony Novak, age 67, of Leonidas, died Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 at Bronson Methodist Hospital after an extended illness. He was born in Flint, MI on Aug. 1, 1951 the son of the late Harry and Lorraine (King) Novak. Doug graduated from Bentley High School in Flint and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Viet Nam war. …

Gene “Binky” LuRay Bontrager, age 53, of Constantine, passed away on Friday, November 16, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center.  Binky was born on March 20, 1965 in Kalamazoo, a son of Jacob and June (Hood) Bontrager. He attended schools in Beecher City, IL and in Three Rivers, and later received his GED while in the U.S. Army National Guard.  He served …

Ernest A. Willman, age 96, of Constantine, passed away on Friday, November 16, 2018 at home.  Ernie was born December 22, 1921 in Chesterton, IN, son of Ernest and Emma (Milbrandt) Willman.  He attended school in Three Rivers until 8th grade, when he started farming on the family farm in 1931.  Ernie was a lifelong farmer, purchasing his first farm …

Robert H. Smith, age 80, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday afternoon, Nov. 15, 2018, at the home of his son in Colon. He was born Feb. 22, 1938, in Bronson, a son of the late John and Ellen (Woodcox) Smith. Bob resided his entire life in the Sturgis area and was a graduate of Brighton High School in Brighton, Ind., …

Robert Michael Young, age 85, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, at his home. Robert was born Nov. 5, 1933, in Harvey, Ill., a son of the late James and Mary (Boyle) Young. On Oct. 15, 1966, he married Rose LaBanca in Harvey. She preceded him in death Oct. 12, 2013. He had worked as a lab …

Douglas John Teadt, age 67, of Burr Oak, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, at his home. He was born April 30, 1951, in Colon, a son of the late Clifford L. and Helen Irene (Maystead) Teadt. Doug was a lifelong Burr Oak resident and a graduate of Burr Oak High School with the class of 1969. Most of Doug’s …

Paula Doenges, age 56, of Colon, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, at her home, after several months of failing health. Arrangements will be announced at a later date by Schipper Funeral Home in Colon.

Lois Faye Foster, age 78, of Athens, and formerly of Portage, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Reed City, on Aug. 31, 1940 the daughter of the late Rev. Albert Edwin and Eleanor Lavina (Foster-McDougal) McFarland. Lois was a homemaker who also worked at Meijer, a local day-care center, and as …