Obituaries

Wayne E. Martinka, age 68, of Leonidas, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, November 23, 2022 at his home. Wayne was born on May 25, 1954, a son to the late Joseph J. and Lorraine E. (Kaiser) Martinka. Wayne was a graduate of Three Rivers High School with the class of 1972. On September 21, 1994, Wayne married Veronica Denton-Puckett in …

Marty S. Ureche, age 64, of Three Rivers, died on November 19, 2022, after a battle with dementia. He was born on July 25, 1958 in Flint, the son of Thomas, Sr. and Elizabeth (Hahn) Ureche. Marty was a 1976 graduate of Swartz Creek High School. He was a forklift operator for General Motors, and happily retired after 30 years. …

Peggy Jean Schuler, age 71, of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday evening, November 23, 2022 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born November 26, 1950 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Francis and Pauline Elizabeth (Kennedy) Kane. Peggy resided in Sturgis most of her life. Her early life was lived in Burr Oak where she was a graduate …

Linda S Poplar, age 62, died on November 15, 2022. Arrangements by Farrand Funeral Home.

Richard William Walker, age 71, of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday evening, November 22, 2022 at his home following a hard fought battle with cancer. He was born October 25, 1951 in Greenville, Michigan, son of the late Arthur C. and Faye J. (Snow) Walker. Richard resided in Sturgis since 1954 and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with …

Beryl E. Rigel, age 84, of Three Rivers, died peacefully at home on Monday, November 21, 2022. He was born January 14, 1938 in Dundee, the son of Merl E. and Aura (Lerch) Rigel. He graduated from Dundee High School lettering in football and the high school band. He was also active in scouting, achieving the rank of Eagle Scout …

Dustan Lee Fields, age 45, of Colon, passed away after years of poor health on Friday, November 18, 2022 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. Dustan was born on May 19, 1977 in Sturgis, a son to Don and Susan (Johnson) Fields. Dustan was a graduate of Sturgis High School. Surviving Dustan are his children: Kodie Fields of Colon, and …

Shirley A Nottoli, age 89, of White Pigeon, died Sunday, Nov. 20, 2022 at her home. She was born on July 8, 1933 in Sturgis, the Daughter of Paul and Rosanna (Gouker) Irelan. White Pigeon area resident all of her life and Graduate of White Pigeon High School in 1951. Employed by Adams and Westlake in Elkhart and Owens-Illinois in …

Lonney “Lon” L. Sommers, age 82, of Three Rivers, died Friday, November 18, 2022 at his home. He was born February 22, 1940 in Battle Creek, a son of Leo and Dortha (Maugherman) Sommers. Lon attended Battle Creek schools and served in the US Army from 1963 to 1965. On December 7, 1968 he married Valarie Propst at St. Joseph’s …

James Joseph Hokanson, age 60, of Marcellus, passed away Thursday, November 17, 2022 in Kalamazoo. James was born in Chicago on December 3, 1961 the son of Eugene Carl Hokanson and Opal Lula (Barker) Hokanson. James coached youth football with the Orland Park Pioneers in Orland Park, IL for 25 years, and was married for 25 years to Lora Pauls …