Obituaries

Jeffrey S. Binkley, age 60, of Colon, passed away on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, at Three Rivers Health. Jeff was born on June 16, 1962 in Sturgis, a son to Martin and Nancy (Chapman) Wendell, Jeff attended Colon High School and later obtained his GED. On January 23, 1982, Jeff married Kim Michelle Bertrand in Colon. She preceded him in …

Phyllis Louis Copenhafer, age 81, of Fulton, passed away Monday, May 15, 2023, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. Phyllis was born on March 23, 1942, a daughter to the late Ray and Nedra (Norris) Wolfe. She was a graduate of Colon High School and later graduated from Ferris State University with an associate degree in accounting. On August 23, …

Jo Anne Halifax, age 88, of Paw Paw, passed away Sunday, May 14, 2023 at home. She was born in Chicago on April 17, 1935 the daughter of Theodore Sandberg and Ruby Lannon. Jo Anne was a CPA, owned her own tax business, and retired in Florida. Jo Anne enjoyed playing cards twice a week playing Euchre and Cribbage, watching …

Helma Kaye Gehlbach, age 72, of Sturgis, passed away Friday, May 12, 2023 at her home. She was born August 17, 1950 in Lincoln, Illinois, daughter of the late Robert and Rose Marie (Baughman) Gehlbach. Helma’s early life was spent in Lincoln, Illinois where she was a graduate of Lincoln High School. She furthered her education at Eastern Illinois University …

Parris Donald VanNoty of Three Rivers, passed away Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at the age of 79. Parris was born March 17, 1944 in Battle Creek. Parris was a graduate of Bellevue High School. He was a jack of all trades with an artistic flair. He enjoyed good food, fishing, and NASCAR. Most of all he loved and adored his …

Randall A. Jensen, age 62, of Vicksburg, died Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.  He was born in Kalamazoo on March 15, 1961 the son of Albert and Kathleen (Reilly) Jensen.  He was a state champion wrestler at Vicksburg High School and was inducted into the Vicksburg High School Hall of Fame. After graduation, he served in …

Patrick J. Murphy, age 54, of Middlebury, passed away Wednesday, May 10, 2023. He was born October 09, 1968 in Sturgis. Pat enjoyed fishing, hunting, and sport shooting. He was a good dad and husband and loved his family dearly. He met his one true love, Sheila Fry, in 1983, and they dated for several years before losing touch. After …

Jerami Mykal-Lee Thompson, age 25, of Three Rivers, passed away Sunday, May 7, 2023 at his home. He was born June 26, 1997 in Three Rivers, the son of Lisa Thompson and Anthony Rhodes. Jerami was a devoted father to his children, Xavion (6), Oliver (4), and Theodore (2) who he shared with Kelsey Martin. His boys were his entire …

Ricky Allen Falkenstein, age 68, of Sturgis, passed away early Monday morning, May 8, 2023 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. He was born June 9, 1954 in Sturgis, son of the late Donald “Jim” and Ethelynn June (Taylor) Falkenstein. Ricky was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a talented welder by trade and had been employed by V.C.I. and Federal …

Ewalt “Walt” Shoesmith, age 97, of Three Rivers, passed away Saturday, January 14, 2023 at ProMedica Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation. He was born May 20, 1925 in Perry, the son of Wayne and Velma (Walker) Shoesmith. Walt served his country in the United States Navy during World War II and Korea, ultimately earning the rank of Boatswain’s Mate G Second …