Obituaries

Kim Marie Haack, age 66, of Arlington, Texas, and former longtime Sturgis resident and graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1975, passed away on April 26, 2024 at Medical City Arlington with her husband by her side. She was born November 6, 1957 in Sturgis to the late Paul and Laura (Ringler) Bowdish. Kim has resided in …

Our community mourns the loss of Barbara Ellen Penny of Three Rivers, MI who passed away from heart failure on May 14, 2024, at the age of 77. A resident of Three Rivers since 1969, Barb was known for her honesty, care, strength, independence, and vigor for life. She was a vocal advocate of those who faced adversity and a …

Thelma Jean Shears, age 86, of Howe, Indiana passed away Sunday, May 19, 2024 at the home of her granddaughter in Angola. She was born March 2, 1938 in Coldwater, a daughter of the late Lehman E. and Nelly E. (Yankey) Closson. On Jun 15, 1957 in Bronson, she married Ralph D. “Joe” Shears. He preceded her in death Nov. …

Daniel R. Miller, age 59, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday afternoon, May 16, 2024 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born July 4, 1964, in Sturgis. Daniel was a lifelong Sturgis resident. He married Karen (Gravit) Johnson. Daniel had been employed by several area manufacturing companies. He attended Grace Christian Fellowship Center in Sturgis and had a true …

Ruth Anderson Matazel, age 81, of Three Rivers, passed away Tuesday, May 21, 2024. She was born September 19, 1942, in Berwyn, IL, the daughter of Dwight and Gwen (Nicholas) Anderson. On July 20, 1974, she married John Matazel in Chicago and they moved to southwest Michigan to start their life together. Ruth was a long-time member of Three Rivers …

Adrienne M. Tracy, age 81, of Three Rivers, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 19, 2024 in Chicago while visiting family. She was born July 17, 1942, in Chicago, the daughter of Connie and Bernice (Obszarny) Szczublewski. Adrienne and her future husband, Ronald Tracy, grew up in the same neighborhood; in a classic case of a “good girl” meeting a …

Valetta Mae Bender, age 92, of Sturgis, passed away on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born on September 24, 1931, in Metamora, IL to George and Mabel (Morningstar) Sharick.  On September 24, 1949 in LaGrange, she married LaVern E. Bender. He died September 11, 2006. Surviving are two daughters, Cheryl Foster of South …

Mary J. Johnson, age 86, of Mottville, died on Friday, May 17, 2024 at Birch Meadows following an extended illness. She was born on August 16, 1937 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Otto F. and Marian Schuman. She lived in the Mottville area most of her life. She was a Homemaker, member of The Board Directors of the Families …

Jane Orcilla Loudenslager, age 92, of Burr Oak, passed away Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Bronson Methodist Hospital of Kalamazoo. Jane passed peacefully surrounded by family. Jane had an interesting life.  She was born in Topeka, KS on April 22, 1932, daughter of Ben and Ida (Greaser) Haney.  Born during the dust bowl and the Great Depression, Jane lived in …

Joseph A. Peoples, age 96, passed away at Fairview Nursing Home in Centreville on Saturday, May 18, 2024.  He was born on September 30, 1927 in Forsyth County, North Carolina the son of Luther and Mary (West) Peoples.  Joseph married Joan E. Griffith in 1992 in Alexandria, Virginia. Joseph traveled the world sharing his woodworking talents with high end curators …