Obituaries

Delores Elaine “Dee Dee” Brown, age 66, of Walkerville, Michigan and a longtime former resident of Sturgis and Burr Oak, passed away Sunday, November 13, 2022 at her home. She was born March 6, 1956 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Ansel Lavern and Mildred Virginia “Ginger” (Koett) Hagen. Dee Dee resided in Walkerville since 2015 coming from Sturgis. Her …

Maxine Penar of Vicksburg, passed away on Monday, December 12, 2022, at the age of 95. She was born in Morley, MO on June 12, 1927, the daughter of Marion  and Myrtle (Dameron) Ladyman. In 1946 her love for dancing introduced her to the love of her life: Stanley Penar. The two were united in marriage on September 13, 1947, …

Donald Kent Hanfland, age 63, of Mendon, died Monday, December 12, 2022 at his home.  He was born in South Bend on May 10, 1959 the son of John F. and Barbara L. (Greider) Hanfland. He graduated from Ferndale High School and later attended Oakland Community College. He has resided in Mendon since 1988. Donald was employed as a computer …

Clarence E. Kinsman, age 78, of White Pigeon Township, died on Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at his home. He was born April 28, 1944 in Wauseon, OH a son of Theodore and Mary Ellen (Bennett) Kinsman. Clarence graduated from Wauseon High School in Ohio. On April 3, 1965 he married Agnes I. Case. She preceded him in death in 2002. …

Joanne Eichhorn, age 70, of Sturgis, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022 in Mishawaka.  She was born on Nov. 14, 1952 in Providence, RI to Neal K. And Doris (Switzer) Olsen.  She married Mark Eichhorn on Sept. 8, 2001. She is survived by her husband, Mark; her children: Ryan (Brooke) Flowers, April (Scott) Stuart and Neal Eakins; a grandson, …

Thomas Renwick Potts passed away Saturday, December 10, 2022 at the age of 81. Tom was loving, loyal, generous, and encouraging all his life, in all of his roles: as a son, brother, husband, father, and papa. He drew immense joy from his family and friends, but most importantly following and attending the many activities of his children and grandchildren. …

Ray Milliken, age 82, of Sturgis, (formerly of South Bend) passed away on Friday, December 9, 2022 after a short stay at the Robin’s Nest Assisted Living Facility in Mill Creek, Indiana. Ray was born on April 6, 1940 in South Bend to the late Albert B. Milliken and Edith R. (Dyer) McDonald. Ray owned and operated Milliken Construction and …

Dave Grabe, age 79, of Battle Creek, passed away peacefully December 2, 2022 in Panama City Beach, Florida one of his favorite places to be. Dave was born and raised in Sturgis, and left there in August of ’93 when he married Jeanne (Woods) Ledford. They were friends at Sturgis High School. Every year they came to Panama City Beach …

Carol Tuesley, age 80, of Portage and formerly of Three Rivers, passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2022. Carol was born in Battle Creek on December 5, 1942, the daughter of the late Arthur and Katherine (Shoemaker) Wetherhill. She was a graduate of Three Rivers High School and worked in the accounting departments at Clifton Engineering and Albright Oldsmobile. Carol …

Sharon Marie Snowden, age 80, of Howe, Indiana passed away Friday evening, December 9, 2022 at her home. She was born March 21, 1942 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Ervin and Elizabeth “Betty” (Harrison) Schrock. Sharon resided in Howe since 1995, coming from Sturgis. On October 31, 1981 she married Robert Snowden in Sturgis. He preceded her in death …