Obituaries

Charles William Gilger, age 64, of Howe, Indiana passed away Friday morning, December 2, 2022 at Skaggs Assisted Living in Burr Oak. He was born November 1, 1958 in Wilmington, Ohio son of Gordon and Maryanne (Torok) Gilger. Charles resided in Howe since 1984 coming from Texas and his early life was lived in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was a …

Corliss “Corkie” Wallen, age 72, of Colon, passed away on Friday, December 2, 2022, peacefully at her home. Corliss was born on May 25, 1950, in Sturgis, a daughter to the late Gerald and Juanita (Tiejema) Uric. On March 12, 1977, Corliss married her husband of 44 years, Jackie R. Wallen, in Sturgis at the Sturgis United Methodist Church. Jack …

Freddie Brown, age 73, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, November 17, 2022 at Edgewood Health & Rehabilitation. He was born August 9, 1949 in Hammond, Louisiana, the son of James and Zola Mae (Andrews) Brown, and lived at several locations in Louisiana before moving to Michigan with his family as an 18-year-old. A mason by trade, Freddie worked at …

Ronald John Riopel, age 89, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, November 28, 2022 at home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 14, 1933 in Chicago, the son of John August and Anna Louise (Ebert) Riopel. Ron earned his bachelor of science degree at Western Michigan University: a triple major in physics, chemistry and mathematics, and a …

Mary Lou Happel, age 93, of Leonidas, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 at the Birches in Leonidas where she had resided the past 6 ½ years. She was born in Mendon on August 7, 1929 the daughter of Allen and Cora (Thomas) Carlisle. She graduated from Watervliet High School in 1949 and worked briefly …

Ryan D Baker, age 37, of White Pigeon, died on November 24, 2022 at Sturgis Hospital. He was born on August 22, 1985 in Three Rivers, the Son of William H and Peggy L (Dunkel) Baker. He lived all of his life in White Pigeon and graduated from White Pigeon High School in 2004 where he was on the Track …

Deborah “Debbie” Tenney-DeLeu, age 56, of Vandalia, died peacefully Sunday, November 27, 2022 in the comfort of her family’s presence. Her life began December 5, 1965 in Harbour City, California, born to parents Mike Rupert and Dorothy Johnson. Deborah Ann devoted her life to being a caregiver. She graduated from the nursing program at Bethel College and went on to …

Jessie Lee Hodges, age 87, of rural Three Rivers, died Sunday, November 27, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in Shannon, Mississippi on April 17, 1935 the son of the late Early and Mariah (Cox) Hodges. He attended school in Shannon before moving to Chicago. While in Chicago he met and married Hazel F. Comstock …

Barbara Johanna Northrop, age 90, of Marcellus, died peacefully on November 5, 2022 in the comfort of her family’s presence. Her life began August 29, 1932 in Chicago, the youngest of two of children born to Richard and Eva Donovan.  She married James E. Northrop May 2, 1964 in Marcellus.  He preceded her in death March 24, 2006. Barbara was …

Anna Jane (Reed) Smith of Schoolcraft, passed away on Sunday, November 27, 2022, at the age of 94. She was born in White Pigeon on May 19, 1928, the daughter of Roland and Esther (Mecham) Reed. She grew up and graduated from White Pigeon High School in the late 1940s. In her junior year she met the love of her …