Obituaries

Lee Harker, age 53, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away unexpectedly Monday morning, March 9, 2009, at his home. He was born Oct. 5, 1955, in Sturgis, Mich., a son to Max and Jacqueline (Carpenter) Harker. Lee was a life long resident of Sturgis and graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1973. On July 31, 1976, he married …

Dr. Marvin E. Vercler, DO, age 76, of Constantine, passed away peacefully Monday, March 9, 2009, at his home. On May 15, 1932, he was born on a farm near Chenoa, Ill., the son of Rudolph and Mildred (Chapman) Vercler. He attended elementary in a one-room schoolhouse and graduated from Chenoa High School. Marvin studied pre-professional education for three years …

Mark A. Webb, age 46, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Monday, March 9, 2009, at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. He was born Sept. 4, 1962, in Coldwater, Mich., a son to the late Tom and Donelda (Sponsler) Webb. Mark spent his early childhood in Colon, Mich., and moved to Bronson, Mich., where he graduated from Bronson High School with …

Vernon M. (Sam) Heminger, 72, of White Pigeon, died Friday, March 6, 2009, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following a short illness. He was born Oct. 1, 1936 in Vicksburg, a son of Ralph L. and Mildred (Crotser) Heminger. He had lived in the White Pigeon and Mottville area since the age of 12 and was a graduate of White Pigeon High …

Ewell “Gene” McCurry, age 71, of Sturgis, passed away Friday, March 6, 2009, at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born Feb. 3, 1938, in LaMesa, Texas, a son to the late Rochell and Dorthy (Brown) McCurry. Gene has been a resident of Sturgis most of his life except for 20 years he spent serving in the U.S. …

Howard John “Jack” Bush, 87, of Sturgis, Mich., longtime Sturgis attorney, passed away peacefully Saturday afternoon, March 7, 2009, at his home with his wife and family at his side. He was born March 24, 1921, in Fennville, Mich., a son to the late Dr. Howard J. and Edith (Phillips) Bush. Mr. Bush had resided nearly his whole life in the …

Carol Ann Robinson, 61, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away early Sunday morning, March 8, 2009, at her home surrounded by her family. She was born July 1, 1947, in Sturgis, Mich., a daughter to William and Rose (Bonfiglio) Mecklenburg. Carol had resided in the Sturgis and Bronson area her whole life. On Aug. 17, 1996, she married Perry Robinson in …

Violet M. Jonker, 93, of White Pigeon, died March 6, 2009, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis following a three-month illness. She was born Oct. 24, 1915, in Kalamazoo, Mich., a daughter of George S. and Lina (Dollenburg) Schouten. She lived in the White Pigeon area since she was 4 years old. She was a graduate of White Pigeon High School …

Vernon M. (Sam) Hemminger, 72, of White Pigeon, died Friday, March 6, 2009, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following a short illness. He was born Oct. 1, 1936, in Vicksburg, Mich., a son of Ralph L. and Mildred (Crotser) Hemminger. He had lived in the White Pigeon and Mottville area since the age of 12 and was a graduate of White Pigeon …

Magdalena (Hochstedler) Yoder, age 85, of Burr Oak, died peacefully on March 5, 2009, at 3:25 p.m. at her home. She was born on Jan. 15, 1924, in White Cloud, Mich., to Edward B. and Amanda (Wagler) Hochstedler. Magdalena lived 85 years, one month and 20 days. On Jan. 12, 1947, she married Virgil D. Yoder; to this union were …