Obituaries

Edward R. Schlabach, age 52, of Sturgis, passed away at his home surrounded by his family late Monday evening, February 26, 2024 following a hard fought battle with cancer.He was born August 18, 1971 in Sarasota, Florida son of Harvey Robert and Katie E. (Yoder) Schlabach. Ed resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area his whole life and was …

Janet Darlene Hochstetler passed away, Monday, February 26, 2024 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis, a day after celebrating her 80th birthday with family. She was born February 25, 1944 at 10:30 am at Goshen Hospital to Lyle L. and Kizzie “Lavonne” (Smetzer) Rohrer. She was a graduate of Goshen High School. On June 9, 1962 at St. Mark’s United …

Pauline G. Richards, age 94, of Sturgis, passed away on Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024 at Ft. Wayne Lutheran Hospital. She was born March 5, 1929 in Chelyan, West Virginia a daughter of the late Arthur and Samantha (Jenkins) Patterson. On June 30, 1945 she married Dewey Murphy and they were married 10 months when Dewey was killed and left a …

Matthew J. Yoder, age 49, of Mendon, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on Saturday, February 24, 2024. Matthew was born on November 14, 1974, in Sturgis, a son to Orlis and Marietta (Lehman) Yoder. On May 18, 2000, Matthew married Rosellen F. Bontrager at their now home in Mendon. Surviving Matthew is his wife: Rosellen F. …

Hazel A. Hoffine, age 86, of Douglasville, Georgia, formerly of Three Rivers, died Thursday, February 22, 2024 at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, Georgia. She was born July 21,1937 in Three Rivers, a daughter of Chandler and Naomi (Freese) Shumway. Hazel graduated from Centreville High School in 1955. She then received her Registered Nurse certification at Mercy Hospital in Detroit …

Paulette Suzanne Leist, age 83, passed away Friday, February 23, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born June 6, 1940 in St. Nazaire, France a daughter to the late Paul and Yvonne (Fouquet) Marrié. On July 7, 1979 in Sturgis, she married Ronald R. Leist. He preceded her in death March 12, 1994. After Ron’s death, Paulette …

Theresa Martel, age 76, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday evening, February 22, 2024 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born July 8, 1947 in Battle Creek, daughter of the late Alfred and Beverly L. (Meese) Kozaczewski. Theresa resided in the Sturgis and Nottawa area her whole life. She was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class …

Patricia Ann Gregory, age 80, of Schoolcraft, passed away Monday, February 19, 2024 at Medilodge of Portage surrounded by her loving family. She was born November 3, 1943 in Fort Wayne, the daughter of Bert and Wilma (Knapp) Wolfe. She later moved with her mother and father to Pennsylvania where she graduated with the Class of 1961 from Reynoldsville-Winslow High …

Virginia “Ann” Ely, age 88, passed away on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at Optalis Health and Rehab in Three Rivers. She was born February 6, 1936 at home on Butler Road in Centreville, a daughter to Seth and Della (Bronstetter) Brown. Ann was a Centreville High School Graduate with the class of 1954. She married Howard Ely on July 25, …

Ivy-Elizabeth Storm Smith was born sleeping, but still born, on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 4:14 AM at Three Rivers Hospital. She was born perfect, a beautiful girl with porcelain white skin, black hair and the most perfect red lips. Weighing in at 7 pounds and 04 ounces. With a length of 20 inches. She was born to Doren Smith …