Geraldine Erma Hackenberg, age 88, of Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2011, at the Porter Hills Assisted Living Center, Grand Rapids. Geraldine was born on March 25, 1923, in Florida, Ohio, the daughter of Charles and Neva (Patrick) Baker. Geraldine graduated from Florida Ohio High School in 1941. On Jan. 28, 1941 she was united in marriage …

Arthur Amos “Art” Cross, age 82, of Mendon, died Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at his home, following a long illness. He was born Sept. 25, 1928, in Sherwood, a son of Irving and Loretta (Hanna) Cross, and attended school in Sherwood. Art was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Korea. On Feb. 26, 1953, he married Sarah Wolfe …

James Russell Rice, age 77 of Sturgis, was unexpectedly called home by his Lord and Savior early Tuesday morning, April 12, 2011 at his home. He was born Oct. 31, 1933, at the family farm on Fawn River Road in Sturgis, to the late Russell J. and Marguerite (Lockwood) Rice. Jim was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of …

As you travel the major highways around the county, you’ll probably notice the volunteers out picking up the litter alongside the highway. I’m pretty sure that this last weekend was the first of three times that volunteers pick up the litter each year. They are easy to identify, because they should be wearing iridescent green vests. They usually have a …

Alan I. Saxman, 83, of Springfield, died Sunday, April 10, 2011, at his home. Alan was born May 8, 1927, in Leonidas, a son of Wesley I. and Mabel E. (Troy) Saxman. He had been an area resident since 1948, coming from Leonidas, and was a graduate of Colon High School. He was a veteran serving in the U.S. Navy …

Frances L. (Wolgamood) (Mercer) Rohrbacher, age 65, of Catawba, NC  (formerly of Constantine), passed away Wednesday, April 6th, 2011 at her home following a long battle with cancer.  She was born in Three Rivers on September 1, 1945,  the daughter of  Bob and Dorothy (Hull) Wolgamood.  Frances graduated from Constantine High School in 1963 where she had been a cheerleader. …

Rachel Maxine Goble, age 83, of Portage and formerly of Mendon, died Sunday April 10, 2011 at Rose Arbor Hospice. She was born in Kalamazoo on May 24, 1927 the daughter of Edward and Elizabeth (Haas) Flach. She attended the North Star Country School and graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1945. She was married to Levern …

Blaine Alvin Rabbers, age 86, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family on Tuesday, April 5, 2011. He was born on May 5, 1924 in Kalamazoo, MI. the son of Oscar A. and Nellie H. (Jones) Rabbers. Blaine attended Western Michigan University and the University of Michigan, where he received a degree in engineering. He …

Gary R. Burch, Jr., age 47, of Constantine, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at his home. He was born in Indiana on September 11, 1963, a son of  Gary and Mary (Reynolds) Burch. He graduated from Copperas Cove High in  Copperas Cove, TX.  On May 29, 2004 he married Natasha Williams in Constantine.  Gary worked as a …

William “Biggie” Paul Schuler, age 60, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at his home. He was born June 15, 1950 in Sturgis, a son to William J. and Lois P. (Crosbie) Schuler. William had been a resident of Sturgis all his life. On Aug. 22, 1975, he married Phyllis Bowsher in Centreville. He was self-employed …