Laura Ann (nee: Bippus) Lane, age 45, of Portage, formerly of Three Rivers, passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at her home. She was born on Oct. 30, 1963 in Ft. Wayne, IN. the daughter of James and Vera (Mohre) Bippus. Laura graduated from Three Rivers High School in the class of 1981. She later attended Beauty School in …

Norman A. Witte, age 92, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2009 at Heartland Health Care following a lengthy illness. He was born in Big Beaver, MI. the son of Otto O. and Emma E. (Cinader) Witte. Norman graduated from Big Beaver High school and served his country in the U.S. Army during WWII. Upon returning he …

Every so often, I am totally amazed as to how some things work out. The Wednesday before Labor Day weekend, I topped off my gas tank in my car. I also filled two containers with that liquid gold we call gasoline. Why? Because a holiday weekend was approaching and I thought I’d be smart and buy gasoline before the price …

George B. Smink, age 92, of Vicksburg, died late Monday, Sep. 14, 2009 at his home following a long illness. He was born in Kalamazoo on Feb. 6, 1917 the son of Edward Otto and Betty (Muelenkamp) Smink. He was raised in Kalamazoo and the family later moved to Fulton in 1933. He graduated from Athens High School with the …

James L. Adams, Jr., age 76, of Centreville, MI passed away  Monday, September 14th, 2009 at his home. He was born in Kalamazoo on July 20, 1933, a son of James L. and Thelma (Huber) Adams Sr. Jim graduated from Centreville High School in 1952 and attended Michigan State University.  On May 2, 1953 he married Marilyn Stumpf in Three …

Maxine Leona Camp, age 88, of Three Rivers, died Sunday, September 13, 2009 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers.  She was born in Three Rivers, MI on August 3, 1921 the daughter of Harry T. and Echo E. (Warren) Hartman. Maxine graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1940. She was married to Rolland Thomas Camp on October …

Kenneth J. Norton, age 64, of Colon, passed away  unexpectedly  Monday, Sept. 14, 2009, at his home. Ken was born May 29, 1945, in Coldwater, a son of the late Charles Rex and Margaret (Hawver) Norton. Ken had lived most of his life in Colon and had graduated from Bronson High School with the class of 1964. He had worked …

Thelma A. Lego, 71, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday afternoon, Sept. 12, 2009, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born Jan. 14, 1938, in Decatur, Ind., a daughter of the late William and Clarice (Gilbert) Yake. Thelma had resided her whole life in the Sturgis and Brighton, Ind., area. She was a graduate of Brighton High School with …

Daniel H. “Big Dan” Colvin, Sr., age 62, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away unexpectedly Friday afternoon Sept. 11, 2009, at the Sturgis Hospital emergency room. He was born Dec. 11, 1946, in Plainwell, a son of the late Quentin Franklin and Wanda June (Shurlow) Colvin. Dan had resided in Sturgis since 1963. His early life was spent in Augusta. On …

Joseph E. Van Camp, age 53, of Belleville, and formerly of Mendon, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Sep. 9, 2009 at his home.  He was born in Muncie, Ind., on May 15, 1956, the son of James E. and Clova H. (Porter) Van Camp.  The family moved to Mendon in 1968 where Joseph graduated from Mendon High School with the class …