The 2009 St. Joseph County Grange Fair is now in the books. From everything that I’ve heard, it was quite successful. Everyone appreciated  the fact that it started a day earlier than normal, and no one seemed to complain about the little amount of rain that fell during the week. After all, what would the fair be like if …

Richard Ronald Wood, 68, of Zephyrhills, Fla., passed away Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Richard was born Nov. 2, 1940 in Three Rivers, the son of Joseph and Clara Wood, and lived in Three Rivers for many years prior to moving to Florida. He attended Three Rivers High School. In 1959, Richard enlisted in the Marines, and served tours of duty …

Eileen E. (Abernathey) Kemp, 92, of White Pigeon, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, at her home, following an extended illness. Eileen was born on July 26, 1917, in Concord, Ill., a daughter to Earl and Ella Abernathey. Eileen was married to Charles Lawrence Kemp, who preceded her in death. She lived in Concord and Morrisonville, Ill., for many years, then …

John Howard Rieley, 90, of White Pigeon, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital, LaGrange, Ind. He was born March 8, 1919, in Beaverton, a son of Erastus Clay and Catherine (Patterson) Rieley. He was a resident of the White Pigeon and Union area the past six years, coming from Beaverton and Lake City. He worked as a fruit picker and bee …

Nelly Jacobs, 64, of Columbia, Tenn., and formerly of Constantine and White Pigeon, died Friday, Sept. 24, 2009, at Maury Regional Hospital in Columbia after a one-year illness. She was born Jan. 6, 1945, in Lede, Belgium, a daughter of Joseph and Irma (DeSmit) D’Haese. She had lived for 17 years in Columbia, Tenn., coming from Constantine. On April 30, 1966, she married …

Ms. Jeanne P. Hunt Cripe, 88, was born in Goshen, Ind., on June 17, 1921. She passed into our Lord’s arms on Sept. 21, 2009. Survivors include her daughter, Ms. Kit (Hunt) Chavis of Venice, Fla., formerly of Hickory, N.C.; sister Mrs. Bud “Norma” Large of Sturgis, Mich.; grandson, Mr. Scott Duncan of Englewood, Fla.; and two great-grandsons. She was …

Tony Marazita, age 79, of Sturgis, went to be with his savior Sunday evening Sept. 27, 2009, at  Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident that occurred Sept. 11. He was born Nov. 1, 1929 in Niles, a son of the late Frank and Josephine (Tignanelli) Marazita. Tony had resided in Sturgis since 1954, …

Betty L. Hamilton, 62, of Three Rivers, Mich., died Sept. 23, 2009 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Visitation is from 3-5 p.m. Tuesday at the Carney-Frost Funeral Home, LaGrange, Ind., where services are at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Private Burial will be held in Eden Cemetery, Topeka, Ind.

James Thomas McLaughlin, age 81, of Three Rivers, passed away on Friday, Sept. 25, 2009, at Borgess Medical Center. He was born on Oct. 2, 1927, the son of Charles R. and Mary M. (Bauer) McLaughlin. Mr. McLaughlin was born and raised in Chicago, where he attended Morgan Park High School graduating in 1945 and later received a degree from …

Helen E Cripe of Torrance, Calif., died Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, at the age of 88. She was born in Wakarusa, Ind., but raised her two children on a farm outside Sturgis, Mich., for 16 years. For 16 years, Helen taught physical education at Sturgis High School and White Pigeon High School and she coached the school’s cheerleaders, as well …