Leon P. Cutler, 85, of Portage, passed away Nov. 25, 2010 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Leon was born Aug. 20, 1925 in Centreville, the son of Leon and Laura (Schrader) Cutler. He was an Army veteran of WWII. Leon was employed by H. J. Cooper Co. for many years and retired from Upjohn Co. in 1990. He married Ruth McCrary …

Donald “Don” Tuttle of Kalamazoo, and formerly of Sturgis, died Nov. 24, 2010, at his home. Don was born Oct. 24, 1924 in Toledo, Ohio, a son of Ralph and Lorraine Brown, and was raised in Sturgis by his adoptive parents, Fred and Inez Tuttle. He honorably served in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II. Prior to Don’s …

Timothy Eugene Blough, 53, of Jones, went to be with the Lord on Nov. 15, 2010. His father and mother (Harold and Glenice Blough) welcomed him with open arms as he went through the gates of Heaven. His two brothers, Danny (Kaye) of Dowagiac and Tom (Linda) of Franklin, Tenn. will one day join Tim and their parents. Tim was …

Jessica Ann Zickafoose, 19, of Sturgis,  passed away Sunday morning, Nov. 21, 2010, in Burr Oak Township due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. She was born Nov. 24, 1990, in Statesville, NC, the only daughter of Randy and Kimberly (Vanzant) Zickafoose. Jessica had resided in Sturgis most of her life and graduated from Sturgis High School with the …

Barbara J. Cannell, 82, of Carrollton, Texas, passed away Nov. 20, 2010. She was born Feb. 7, 1928 in Three Rivers to Aaron and Florence Hagenbuch. She was married to George Cannell for 19 years. He has preceded her in death. She is survived by her three children, Patricia, Paul and Steve. She also has one son, David Cannell, who …

Dorothy Upp, age 66, of Colon, went peacefully, to be with her heavenly father, Monday, Nov. 22, 2010, at her home after an extended illness. Dorothy was born Jan. 3, 1944, in Sturgis, a daughter to the late Alton M. and Margaret A. (Snow) Barton. Dorothy lived all her life in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the Class …

Kristine Dee Milliman, age 51, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Sunday morning, Nov. 21, 2010, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Mich. She was born May 1, 1959, in Sturgis, Mich., a daughter of Keith and Joan (Rippey) Milliman. Kris had resided her whole life in Sturgis and graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1977. She continued …

This is Thanksgiving week. I’ve already stated my feelings about how I feel about sharing this special holiday, so I won’t mention much more about it. Thanksgiving is the beginning of each year’s big holiday season. In my mind, the commercialism of Christmas has gotten way out of hand. I’ve seen Christmas decorations in one way or another since Halloween. …

Thelma Grace (nee: Swartz) Howard, age 94, of Three Rivers, and Zephyrhills, Fla., passed away on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, at Three Rivers Health following a brief illness. She was born in Three Rivers, on May 17, 1916, the daughter of Harley and Effie (Buck) Swartz. Thelma has been a long time resident of the Three Rivers area. She was …

Ruth R. Lewis, age 100, of Centreville, passed away Friday, November 19, 2010 a the Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre in Centreville. She was born in Cook County, IL on December 14, 1909,  the only child of Walter A. and Velma D. (Dunnington) Hall Ruth grew up on a farm near Centreville and graduated from Centreville High School in 1928. …