Leo “Bud” Troy Knachel, 87, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010 at the Rose Arbor Hospice Facility. He was born in Three Rivers on March 11, 1923 the son of Harvey and Lelah (Geark) Knachel. Leo served his country during WWII, being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army. Leo was employed at Hydramatic and later retired …

Wayne Lawrence Crippin, 73, of Oshtemo, passed away peacefully in the arms of Judy and surrounded by family on Jan. 2, 2011 at Bronson Hospital. He was born April 3, 1937 in Three Rivers, the son of Otis L. and Mary (Murphey) Crippin. He graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1955 and served in the US Army Security Agency …

Doris B. Littlejohn, age 88, formerly of Colon, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, in Topton, Pa. Doris was born April 19, 1922, in Persia, Iowa, a daughter to the late Benjamin H. and Ida B. (Davis) Nichols. Doris graduated from Battle Creek Central High School with the Class of 1941. She moved to Colon in 1943. Doris married Clayton …

Robert Kryder, age 86, of Colon, passed away Jan. 2, 2011, at Heartland Health Care of Three Rivers. Bob was born Nov. 16, 1924, in Ligonier, Ind., a son to the late Aaron (Gus) and Pearl (Grove) Kryder. Bob served in the U.S. Navy for four years, spending most of those years on Submarines. On June 15, 1946, he married …

Betty Lou Rench, age 71, of Leonidas, died Friday Dec. 31, 2010 at her home following a one-year illness. Betty was welcomed into the Ernsberger family on Nov. 17, 1939 by her parents, Alva “Jack” and Irene (Cutshall) Ernsberger. She attended school in Battle Creek before the family moved to a farm near Fulton, then attended Vicksburg schools. Betty worked …

DeVon Eldon Wyman, age 76, of Constantine, went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 29th, 2010 at his home in Constantine. He was born March 14, 1934  in White Pigeon Township to Ward and Helen (Arnold) Wyman.   He married Diana Sue Kiefer on November 23, 1966 at the Trinity Missionary Church in Constantine. DeVon graduated from Constantine …

Audra L. “Peg” Bothamley, age 95, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away early Tuesday morning, Dec. 28, 2010, at her home. She was born Aug. 26, 1915, in Hillsdale, Mich., a daughter of the late Howard and Wava (Hilton) Gay. Peg had been a lifelong Sturgis resident. On Aug. 15, 1936, she married Richard G. Bothamley in LaGrange, Ind. He died …

Mildred A. Scritchfield, age 94, formerly of Colon and Mendon, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010, after several months of failing health. Mildred was born Feb. 12, 1916, in Hopewell, Pa., a daughter to the late Edward and Etta (Livingston) Heister. She attended the Robert P. Smith Vocational School in Hopewell. On June 9, 1934, she married Ross R. Scritchfield …

George Elvis Large, 81, of Mendon, passed away Dec. 23, 2010 at Bronson Hospital. George was born March 30, 1929 in Goshen, Ind. the son of Lehman and Florence (Poff) Large. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, a lifetime member of VFW Post 4898, member of American Legion Post 0225. George enjoyed working in his garden and …

Last Tuesday, December 21, was the first day of winter. It was also the shortest day of the year. I should have mentioned this in last week’s column, but I didn’t realize this fact until last Tuesday, and by that time it was too late. Each week’s column is sitting in someone’s inbox by the Sunday before it appears. Anyway, …