Obituaries

Cathy Jo Hayes, age 68, of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday morning, June 25, 2024, at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. She was born July 27, 1955 in Logansport, Indiana, the daughter of Andy and Barbara J. (Secrest) Ammerman. Cathy Jo resided most of her life in Sturgis and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of …

Blanche Elaine Augerbright, age 92, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, June 24, 2024, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born September 3, 1931. Blanche worked at Arch Workshop in Sturgis and had a true love of cats. She is survived by her many friends, including Mary (Rick) Oman and Virginia (Brad) Jordan both of Sturgis, and all …

Ella (Stage) Pierucki, age 94, of Sturgis, dispensed her last bit of wisdom surrounded by countless numbers of family and friends on Monday, June 24, 2024. Ella was born on September 19, 1929, in the midst of the great depression in the boom town (iron ore was discovered there in the 1870s) of Ironwood, Michigan located in the Upper Peninsula. …

Edna L. Smith of Sturgis, entered into everlasting rest at Birch Meadows on Friday, June 21, 2024, with family at her side. She was the daughter of Emmie and Chester Barton of Mendon. She graduated from Mendon High School with the Class of 1958, and attended Parsons Business School. She was married to Hayward Smith of Colon and later divorced. …

Michael Charles Kaiser, age 76, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, June 20, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Sturgis on October 10, 1947, the son of Walter and Mary T. Kaiser, and grew up on Corey Lake where his parents ran the Kaiser Pulver Resort. Mike attended Three Rivers schools, graduating in …

Gerald (Jerry) Iveson Butler, age 85, a resident of Strawberry, Arkansas, peacefully departed this life on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at his residence that he always referred to as “Butler Mountain,” surrounded by his loving family. He was born March 27, 1938 to the late Clarence Wesley and Pynie Malone Butler in Rivervale, Arkansas. In 1954 he moved to Michigan. …

Ann Victoria Sawyer, age 77, of White Pigeon died on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. She was born on November 25, 1946 in Ann Arbor, the Daughter of James V and Annetta P (Potter) Halvorsen. Graduate of Olivet And Western Michigan University with a Masters Degree in Teaching. School Teacher in Mendon and Colon  Schools for over 35 years. Member of …

Robert Lee “Bob” Copenhafer, age 76, passed away on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at his home, losing his battle with ALS that began in 2020. Bob was born on January 27, 1948 in Three Rivers, the son of George and Elberta (Balke) Copenhafer. Bob graduated from Mendon High School in 1966 and Kansas State University in 1970. While at K-State …

Carl Wayne Henegar Sr., 83 years old, of Schoolcraft, passed away Tuesday, June 18th, 2024 at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall. Carl was born January 20, 1941, in Kankakee, Illinois, the son of Carl and Verla Henegar, and graduated from Monroe High School. Carl served 2 tours in Vietnam with the rank of Sergeant First Class. He worked and retired from …

Edna Frances (Sherer) Rink, age 93, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, June 13, 2024. She was born in Jasper, Alabama on October 23, 1930 the daughter of Edward and Mattie (Burgess) Sherer. On April 15, 1950 Frances was united in marriage to Lamar Rink in Goshen, where they enjoyed 70 years of …