This past weekend was a mixture of sadness and celebration. Saturday the funeral for Three Rivers Fire Lt. Erika Bloomfield was held. She fought the bravest battle with cancer, but finally succumbed last week. I’ve heard more than once that she had “spunk”, and during my brief time of working with her, I found that to be true. She didn’t …

Ernest G. Bradley, age 63, of Sturgis and formerly of Willard, Ohio, passed away Friday, Sept. 9, 2011, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born Oct. 13, 1947, in Lexington, Ky., to the late Eli and Dollie (Castle) Bradley, and had been a Sturgis resident since 1988. Mr. Bradley was a certified welder, having retired from Grumman-Olson Manufacturing …

Michial David Berchiatti, 69, of White Pigeon, died unexpectedly Friday, Sept. 9, 2001, in Auburn, Ind. He was born March 7, 1942, in White Pigeon Township, a son of John and Rosemary (Davidson) Berchiatti. He had been a resident of White Pigeon and Auburn, Ind., most of his life, and had been employed by Kirsch Company in Sturgis for many years. He enjoyed …

Fred K. Mumford, 88, of Marcellus, passed away Friday afternoon, Sept. 9, 2011 at his son’s residence near Constantine. Fred was born July 23, 1923 near Paw Paw, the son of Fred C. and Harriet Rose (Hazen) Mumford. On Aug. 30, 1944 in Paw Paw he married Barbara J. Smith who preceded him in death on Feb. 18, 2009. He …

Anna Mae Hooley, 81, of Goshen, Ind., formerly of Three Rivers, died at 5 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, at Greencroft Health Care Center, Goshen, Ind. She was born on Jan. 13, 1930, in Haven, Kan., to Daniel C. and Ida (Troyer) Miller. On Sept. 27, 1947, in Shipshewana, Ind. she married Ralph E. Hooley, he died Jan. 14, 1999. …

Dema Matteson, 79, formerly of Three Rivers, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus, Friday, Sept. 2, 2011. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. She worked at General Telephone Company, was the store manager at Kirlin’s Hallmark, was an avid Detroit Tigers fan, and loved kitties. Dema is survived by her husband …

Clifford J. Stefanski, 90, of Bronson, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Mary of Assumption Church in Bronson, with the Rev. Fr. Richard Fritz officiating. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Sunday, with the …

Ernie W. Merritt,  age 90, of Constantine, died  Thursday, September 8th, 2011 at his home. He was born in Constantine, MI on January 6, 1921, a son of  Frank and Cora (Sawyer) Merritt. Ernie graduated from Constantine High School in 1939 and served the US Army from 1942 to 1945.  On May 25, 1952 he married Zelma Jackson in LaGrange. …

Audrey L. Miller, 83, of Clermont, Fla., and formerly of Sturgis, passed away Sept. 3, 2011, at the Hospice House in Clermont, Fla. Cremation has taken place. She was born June 4, 1928, in Sturgis, a daughter of Myrtle Brenneman and Harry Maxwell. Audrey lived most of her life on Omena Lake, until retiring to Clermont, Fla., with her husband …

Max Melchi, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, teacher and friend, passed away in the loving arms of his wife and children on Monday, Sept. 5, 2011. He will be remembered for his talents as an artist, and for the kindness and humor he generously shared with everyone he met. Max enjoyed travel, exercise, music, golf, fishing, the Detroit Tigers and an …