Cathy Jo Hayes, age 68, of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday morning, June 25, 2024, at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. She was born July 27, 1955 in Logansport, Indiana, the daughter of Andy and Barbara J. (Secrest) Ammerman. Cathy Jo resided most of her life in Sturgis and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of …

Blanche Elaine Augerbright, age 92, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, June 24, 2024, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born September 3, 1931. Blanche worked at Arch Workshop in Sturgis and had a true love of cats. She is survived by her many friends, including Mary (Rick) Oman and Virginia (Brad) Jordan both of Sturgis, and all …

Ella (Stage) Pierucki, age 94, of Sturgis, dispensed her last bit of wisdom surrounded by countless numbers of family and friends on Monday, June 24, 2024. Ella was born on September 19, 1929, in the midst of the great depression in the boom town (iron ore was discovered there in the 1870s) of Ironwood, Michigan located in the Upper Peninsula. …

The Annual Three Rivers Water Festival seems to get better every year. We didn’t get as involved as we normally do with the many activities this year, so next year we want to try and make more time for this annual event. I did help this year with the Soap Box Derby on Friday afternoon. The volunteers did a great …

Twenty-two Sturgis residents are a step closer to becoming U.S. citizens after completing a two-month class through Centro Vida. A ceremony was held June 11 to acknowledge successful completion of a weekly citizenship preparatory course. Group members are now better prepared for the 100-question assessment required as part of the U.S. citizenship process, according to Centro Vida’s Nancy Barajas. She …

Organizers behind St. Joseph County’s monthly fresh-food distribution are issuing an appeal to the public for support to ensure continuation of the program. Cynthia Pennington said the organization urgently needs donations to continue monthly distribution of 150 fresh-food boxes, each costing $2, for a total of $300 per month. The program operates strictly on donations and its funding will be …

St. Joseph County United Way has established a catastrophic fund for the family of Olivia Wright. All proceeds donated to this specially designated fund will benefit Wright’s husband, Cameron, and daughter, Haven. Questions, concerns or donations can be directed to the Centreville-based agency at 467-9099.

Edna L. Smith of Sturgis, entered into everlasting rest at Birch Meadows on Friday, June 21, 2024, with family at her side. She was the daughter of Emmie and Chester Barton of Mendon. She graduated from Mendon High School with the Class of 1958, and attended Parsons Business School. She was married to Hayward Smith of Colon and later divorced. …

Michael Charles Kaiser, age 76, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Sturgis on October 10, 1947, the son of Walter and Mary T. Kaiser, and grew up on Corey Lake where his parents ran the Kaiser Pulver Resort. Mike attended Three Rivers schools, graduating in …

Gerald (Jerry) Iveson Butler, age 85, a resident of Strawberry, Arkansas, peacefully departed this life on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at his residence that he always referred to as “Butler Mountain,” surrounded by his loving family. He was born March 27, 1938 to the late Clarence Wesley and Pynie Malone Butler in Rivervale, Arkansas. In 1954 he moved to Michigan. …