Obituaries

Betty Lou Whitney, age 92, of Kalamazoo, passed away Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at Friendship Village of Kalamazoo. Betty was born in Athens, Michigan on October 27, 1928 the daughter of Leo Oscar Wood and Minnie E. Vedder, and the fourth of eight children. On June 28, 1947, in LaGrange, she married Glenn Kenneth Whitney, who preceded her in death …

Katherine “Kathy” D. Alexander, age 61, of Centreville, passed away on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at home surrounded by her loving family. Kathy was born in Kalamazoo on August 29, 1959, a daughter of Robert and Bertha (Baird) Jeffries. She graduated from Mendon High School in 1977.  On September 18, 1977, she married Michael Alexander.  Kathy retired from IAC in …

Rodney E. Irwin, age 62, of Three Rivers passed away Saturday morning, May 1, 2021 at his home. Rodney was born February 24, 1959 in Three Rivers, the son of Eldon and Martha (VanKirk) Irwin. He had been employed with Meijer for the past several years in the deli and was an avid bowler and Notre Dame fan. Rodney is …

Juan Jose Cavazos, age 59, of Elkhart, passed away Friday morning May 7, 2021 at Goshen Hospital. Juan was born on January 2, 1962 in Alice, Texas son of Armando and Maria Ruth (Garcia) Cavazos. His early years were spent in Lansing, moving to LaBelle, Florida in his teenage years. Juan resided in LaBelle, until relocating to Elkhart, 6 months …

Samuel R. Currier, age 85, of Burr Oak, passed away at his home on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 with the love of his life, Cooky (Barbara Offenbecher) Currier, by his side. They were married for 68 years and were rarely apart for long. Born on June 4, 1935 in Burr Oak Township, the 3rd son of Leo V. and Elizabeth …

Beverly J. Johnson, age 79, of Burr Oak, passed away early Wednesday morning, May 5, 2021 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born December 6, 1941 in Chicago, daughter of the late Herman Gustoff and Mary Anne (Evans) Roebke. Beverly resided in Burr Oak since 1999 coming from Chicago. On May 27, 1958 she married Randoll Duke Johnson …

Marlene Freeman, age 83, passed away on Thursday, April 30, 2021 surrounded by family at her home in Three Rivers. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Sarah Aldrich, brother Marvin Aldrich, husband Jim Freeman, Grandson Erik Swerske-Barton, brother-in-law Jim Shay, and Doug and Phyllis Barton. Marlene is survived by her daughters, Barb Barton, Diann (Garry) King, …

Dorothy Marie Breden, age 87, of Elkhart, passed away on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at Elkhart Meadows.  She was born April 9, 1934 in South Bend,  to the late Charles and Bernice (Foy) Frazier.   On July 22, 1949, she married the love of her life, Ralph Breden Jr.  They celebrated 59 years of marriage before his passing in 2008. She …

Randy W. Caruthers, age 49, of Sturgis, passed away on Tuesday, May 4, 2021 after sustaining injuries from an automobile accident. Randy was born in Three Rivers on April 1, 1972, a son of Herschel and Frances (Hodge) Caruthers.  Randy attended Constantine and Dowagiac Schools and previously worked for Barletta Boats in Bristol.  He enjoyed gardening, collecting old things, antiquing, …

Theresa Lynn Leonard, age 49, of Howe, Indiana passed away Tuesday evening, May 4, 2021 at Parkview Regional Hospital in Fort Wayne. She was born February 2, 1972 in Sturgis, daughter of William and Bessie (Pierce) Clouse. Theresa resided most of her life in Sturgis where she was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1991. On …