Obituaries

Diane Karp, age 79, of Griffith, Indiana passed away peacefully on Monday, April 17, 2023. Diane is the loving wife to the late Bernard Karp; cherished mother to Elizabeth (nee Karp) Lidster and Chris Karp; devoted grandmother to the late Joshua Lidster; fond sister to Susan Preis and the late Carol Ackerman; Aunt to many; cousin to several and special …

David Lee Kemp, age 63, of Three Rivers, passed away Sunday, April 16, 2023 at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born February 16, 1960 in Three Rivers, the son of Robert and Nancy (Cook) Kemp. David served as a mechanic and transportation director for Mendon Schools over a tenure spanning a quarter century. On September 19, 1980 …

Vickie Jo Yoder, age 71, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, April 17, 2023 at her home. She was born July 24, 1951 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Dale and Margaret (Kinsey) Allen. Vickie was a lifelong Sturgis resident. She was first married to Charles Douglas Wallace. He preceded her in death. On November 1, 1973 she married Russell Yoder …

Ruth Evita Bontrager, age 74, of Grass Lake, Michigan and a former longtime resident of St. Joseph County, passed away on March 24, 2023 in Grass Lake. She was born March 19, 1949 in Petoskey, daughter of the late Harold and Elaine (Lance) Tobias. Ruth resided most of her life in the Centreville, Sturgis and Colon area, moving to Grass …

Janet Gay Swartzentruber, age 87, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at her home. She was born December 13, 1935 in Daughter of the late Glen and Bernice (Brockway) Hesher. Mrs. Swartzentruber resided in Sturgis since 1972 coming from Arkansas. On October 8, 1955 she married David William Swartzentruber in Howe, Indiana. She retired from Ross Laboratories in …

Dolores Jeanne “Lori” Moore, age 96, of Three Rivers, passed away Saturday, April 15, 2023 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born March 24, 1927 in South Bend, the daughter of Ralph and Genevieve (Blodgett) Arndt, and earned her GED from Marcellus High School in 1969. Lori worked at Michigan Gas in the bookkeeping department, then …

Gary David Brandt, age 74, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo due to congestive heart failure. He was born July 16, 1948 in Three Rivers, son of the late Jack William and Joyce Louise (Murphy) Brandt. Gary resided in Sturgis since 1985. His early life was spent in Colon where he was …

Mildred (Millie) G. Johnson, age 71, of Colon, passed away on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at Grand Vista Assisted Living in Coldwater. She was born on March 16, 1952, in Sturgis, a daughter to the late James and Marjorie (Ecklin) Hansen. Millie attended and graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1970. On November 14, 1970 Millie married …

Pamela “Pam” Jean Walters (Lewis) of Huntsville, Alabama passed away suddenly on April 6, 2023 at the age of 63. Pam was born on November 19, 1959 to Clair and Phyllis Lewis in Lansing, Michigan. Pam graduated from Glen Oaks Community College with her RN degree and went on to excel as a nurse for a career spanning 42 years. …

Nila J. Thompson, age 72, of Burr Oak, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Sunday, April 9, 2023. She was born on June 24, 1950, in Sherwood, Michigan a daughter to the late Niles and Rose Mary (Drake) Inman. In October of 2001, Nila married Jack Thompson in Sturgis. Nila owned and operated Nila’s Goat Farm where she manufactured …