Nancy Marlene Sidener, age 60, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday evening, Jan. 16, 2020, at her home, following a long, hard-fought battle with cancer. She was born July 21, 1959, in Savannah, Ga., a daughter of the late David Charles and Ann Louise (Cunningham) Nusbaum. Nancy resided in Sturgis for many years and was a member of the Sturgis High …

Last week, I listed some suggestions about what advice a man might give his son. I promised to share more advice in a future column. However, I feel that before I share more advice for sons from their fathers, I should give equal time for advice mothers might want to give their daughters. Here are some suggestions for just that: …

Marilyn J. Fisher, age 90, of Elkhart, formerly Constantine, passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at Hubbard Hill Estates in Elkhart. She was born July 29, 1929 in Sturgis, a daughter of Elmer and Helen (Fisher) Yunker. She graduated from Sturgis High School in 1947. On June 22, 1951 she married John E. Fisher in Howe, IN. He preceded …

The footstool didn’t feel right. Well, that’s what happens when someone stashes $43,170 inside and apparently forgets about it. The money was discovered Sunday inside a footstool that was donated to a Michigan resale shop in Owosso Township, northeast of Lansing. Howard Kirby was shocked when his daughter-in-law unzipped the cushion and screamed. He was entitled to the cash, but …

A judge has set aside a life sentence for a man who was convicted of killing his pregnant girlfriend when they were teenagers and burying her body in southwestern Michigan. The decision Monday by a Cass County judge means 43-year-old Robert Leamon will get a new sentence and a chance for parole. Rebecca Stowe was strangled, and her body was …

Roy R. Moore Jr., age 69, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday afternoon, Jan. 16, 2020, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born Nov. 4, 1950, in Columbus, Ohio, a son of the late Roy R. and Letha Elizabeth “Betty” (Stewart) Moore. Roy resided in Sturgis since 1978, coming from California. His early life was lived in Ohio. He …

Leah Marie (Button) Bloom, age 90, a lifelong Sturgis resident, passed away Friday, Jan. 17, 2020, at her home. She was born July 7, 1929, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Ertis and Clara (Reading) Poorman. Leah was first married to Richard Button, who preceded her in death, and later to Glenn Bloom, who also preceded her in death. …

Phyllis Jean Winston, age 78, of Colon, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. Phyllis was born June 17, 1941, in Coldwater, a daughter of the late James and Ruth (Bergman) Dery. Phyllis graduated from Coldwater High School with the class of 1959. She continued her education at Western Michigan University, where she obtained a …

Ann M. Studabaker, age 66, of Sturgis, died Dec. 11, 2019, at her home. She was born Nov. 7, 1953, in Jacksonville, Fla., a daughter of Carlos G. and Vera M. (Long) Studabaker. A Sturgis, Three Rivers and White Pigeon resident, she served in the U.S. Navy Waves. She was employed by Kirsch Company for 27 years and Walmart. She …

Martha Louise Hochstetler, age 94, passed away on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at Heartland Nursing Home. She was born October 28, 1925 in South Bend, a daughter of Martin and Hazel (Buckingham) Garrett. She had one brother, Robert, and one twin sister, Marian. She attended elementary school in Glenwood, MI and graduated from Dowagiac High in 1943. Continuing her education, …