Obituaries

Philip Theodore Casimir Kalinoski, age 47, of White Pigeon passed away Friday, March 10, 2023 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. During the last few months he recovered from several health complications. The day he was scheduled to return home, sudden fatal problems arose.  He was surrounded by family in his final days. He was born August 4, 1975 in …

George Earl Pickett, age 76, of Sturgis, passed away on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Ft Wayne. He was born in Yuba City, CA on August 30,1946 to George and Merle (Kibbe) Pickett; graduated from Marysville Union High School; and then went on to serve in a US Army Field Artillery unit of the 1st …

Terry Donald Tomlinson, age 70, of Traverse City, passed away at his home on March 2, 2023.  He was born in Sturgis on December 24, 1952 the son of Donald and Frances (Crossgrove) Tomlinson.  Terry grew up in Mendon and was part of the 1971 graduating class from Mendon High School.  After high school, Terry attended Grand Valley State University …

Raymond J. Przybysz, age 84, of Springfield, Michigan passed away on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo.  Raymond was born on September 14, 1938 in South Bend to Roman and Victoria (Grontkowski) Przybysz. He had been employed with Excel Industries for 33 years.  On April 4, 1964 he married Eileen Frazier, who preceded him in death on …

Marjorie Eleanor (Brand) McConnell, age 90, of Portage, and longtime former Sturgis resident, passed away on February 28, 2023 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Marjorie was born on January 15, 1933 in Ann Arbor to George and Eleanor (Cook) Lutz and lived a long life filled with love. She married her 7th grade sweetheart, John Brand, on June 12, …

Lloyd A. Featherstone, age 85, of Constantine, died on Friday, March 10, 2023 at his home. He was born August 16, 1937 at the family home in Florence Township, a son of Leslie and Edna (Wright) Featherstone. Lloyd attended Constantine Schools and served in the United States Army National Guard from 1955 to 1961. On March 5, 1960 he married …

Katherine “Katie” A. Whitehead, age 49, of Trenary, Michigan died on Sunday, March 5, 2023. She was born on October 30, 1973 in Kalamazoo. Katie grew up in Three Rivers and graduated in 1991 from Three Rivers High School. While in school, she played softball and continued on to play in multiple church and bar leagues. Katie attended classes at …

William Louis Eckler Sr., age 57, of Burr Oak, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 at his home. He was born July 9, 1965 in Rochester, New York. William graduated from Westview High School in Emma, Indiana with the class of 1983 and shortly after graduating move to Sturgis, and began working at Burr Oak Tool & Gauge, …

Michael W. Frays, Sr., age 66, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday morning, March 8, 2023 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born October 12, 1956 in Sturgis, son of the late William and Frances June (Ledyard) Frays. Mike resided in Sturgis since 1981 coming from Centreville, where he was a graduate of Centreville High School with the class …

Phyllis Sue Meeks, age 80, of Pampa, Texas passed away on Tuesday, March 7, 2023 at the home of her daughter, Phyllis, in Sturgis. Phyllis was born February 15, 1943 in Sayre, Oklahoma to Roy and Mary Holder. She graduated from Pampa High School with the class of 1962. Soon after high school, she married James Meeks on August 2, …