William “Bill” M. Smithers Jr., age 57, of Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2013 at Heartland Health Care surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Willits, CA., on October 17, 1955 the son of William E. and Christine (Traverse) Smithers. Bill made Three Rivers his home in 1965 moving …

Thomas Wayne “Tom” Vernon, age 66, of Mendon, died Monday Sep. 16, 2013 at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Kalamazoo surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Owosso, MI on Jan. 17, 1947 the son of Bruce and Barbara (Moore) Vernon. The family later moved to Sturgis where Tom graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of …

Gertrude Ireen Geark, 91, of Three Rivers, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013 at her home surrounded by her loving sons. She was born July 13, 1922 in Schoolcraft the daughter of the late Ellis and Billie (Cobb) Butler. Mrs. Geark has been a lifetime resident of this area. She was formerly employed in sales at Gilmore’s and also …

Allen “Spoon” Witherspoon, Jr., 84, of Three Rivers, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Barbara June Sobie, age 73, of Coldwater, passed away Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, at The Laurels of Coldwater. She was born June 4, 1940, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Marion and Cecilia (Harmon) Lawniczak. Barbara graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1958. She had resided in the Coldwater and Sturgis area all her life, working …

Turner T. Powell Jr., age 75, of White Pigeon, passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, at home. He was born Nov. 23, 1937, in Hartford, a son of the late Turner T. and Hattie (Poplin) Powell. Turner had been a resident of White Pigeon since 2004 and he resided with his caregiver and adopted mother, Stella Powell, since 1968. …

I mentioned last month that I would let everyone know about an open house for the “Five Fabulous Females and Their Art”. The open house is scheduled for this Saturday, September 21, from noon to 2PM, at the Three Rivers Community Center, 103 South Douglas Avenue, in Three Rivers. This is your opportunity to meet Roxanne Barry, Christine Hartzell, Karen …

The Mendon Kiwanis Club is seeking additional participants interested in being a part of the 57th Mendon Kiwanis Showboat fundraiser event in November. “The Not So Wild West” is this year’s theme, and will feature songs and skits from the old west. Kiwanis members would like to extend an invitation to all voices in St. Joseph County to be included …

Dianna Sue Pliska, age 61, of Constantine, passed away Sunday, September 15th, 2013 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born on October 5, 1951, a daughter of Ethel Robinson and Charlie Cheeks. Sue graduated from Constantine High School in 1968. On July 4, 1988 she married Frank Pliska in Constantine. Sue worked as a Tax Assessor for Jamie …

Roger Alan Kisseberth, 77, passed away Friday, September 13, 2013. He was born Aug. 19, 1936, in Sturgis, to Milo and Martha (Mieras) Kisseberth. He married Marcella Daub Nov. 21, 1992 in Goshen. She survives along with a son, Mark T. (Jann Groom) Kisseberth, Winter Garden, Fla.; two step-daughters, Pamela (Mark Morton) Fisher, and Juli (Mitch) Kaylor, both of Goshen, …