Wanda J. Pope, age 70, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Wednesday afternoon, April 22, 2009, at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born April 17, 1939, in Fort Worth, Texas, a daughter of the late Marshall and Vera (Norris) Rhodes. Wanda had resided in Sturgis since 1976, coming from California. On Feb. 19, 1957, she married Stanley Pope …

Pauline C. Ash, age 101 of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers where she has resided the past 6 years.  She was born in Allegan, MI on March 22, 1908 the daughter of Emory and Bertha (Balch) Covault.  She was married to Harvey Ash on Oct. 8, 1924 in Allegan.  They …

Brad K. Ballard, age 60, Nottawa, passed away Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 at his home following a short illness.  He was born in Sturgis on February 16, 1949,  a son of Murray and Wava M. (Parsons) Ballard. Brad attended Centreville High School. From 1968 until 1970 he served in the US Army and later in the National Guard. Brad worked …

Eva May Poffenberger, age 91, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Wednesday morning, April 22, 2009 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born Feb. 9, 1918, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Archie and Letha (Strohpaul) Keagle. Mrs. Poffenberger lived nearly her whole life in Sturgis, with the exception of the five years she resided in Three Rivers. …

Elsie Grace Weaver, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday morning April 19, 2009 at the Loudon Health Center in Loudon, Tennessee. She was born August 2, 1918 in Sturgis, Michigan a daughter to the late William C. and Emma A. (Whittenburg) Studeman. Mrs. Weaver was a lifelong resident of Sturgis with the exception of the past three years when …

     The Three Rivers Lions Club wishes to thank those who stopped by during their open house this past Friday afternoon and early evening. Future informational events are in the works, so watch this column so that you can plan to attend the next one. For more information on joining the Lions, please contact Lion Dean at 273-8092. My father …

Harold W. “Hal” Birkhold, Jr. age 63, Kansas City, MO passed away Sunday, April 19th, 2009 in Excelsior Springs, MO. He was born in Three Rivers on September 30, 1945, the son of Harold W. and Ellen (Campbell) Birkhold Sr. Hal graduated from Centreville High School in 1963 and received his Bachelors Degree from Ferris State University in 1967. He …

Michael L. Davis, age 53, of Defiance, Ohio died Sunday, April 19, 2009, at the Henry County Hospital, Napoleon, Ohio. Michael was born Aug. 8, 1955, in Sturgis, Mich., to Kenneth Davis and Alice Stuck. He was a 1973 graduate of Centreville High School. Michael was a resident of Defiance, and worked for 20 years at Campbell’s Soup in Napoleon. …

Vern L. Thrams, age 80, passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2009, at St. Joseph’s Hospital of Zephyrhills, Fla. Vern was born Nov. 25, 1928, in Colon, Mich., He was married in June 1952, to Joan Moser and they made their home in Sturgis, where Vern was a tool and die maker for Sutton Tool Inc., retiring in 1994. Vern …

Todd Anthony Lung, 34, of Burr Oak, Mich., passed away unexpectedly early Monday morning, April 20, 2009, at his home. He was born Sept. 3, 1974, in Sturgis, a son to Jack A. and Joan (Krontz) Lung. Todd was a lifelong resident of Burr Oak and graduated from Burr Oak High School with the class of 1992. He was a …