Obituaries

Tina Marie Barnett, age 52, of Sturgis, passed away early Friday evening, September 24, 2021 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born September 16, 1969 in Sturgis. Her parents were Gale Lynn (McDonald) Ashbrook and Robert Swan. Tina resided most of her life in Sturgis. She was currently employed by Morgan Olson in Sturgis and had also worked …

Kenneth Gene Hargett, Jr., age 57, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday evening September 23, 2021 at his home with his mother at his side. He was born July 30, 1964 in Richmond, Indiana son of Kenneth Gene and Ruthann (Pierce) Hargett. Kenneth resided in Sturgis since 1968. Most of his working life was involved in the restaurant industry. He had …

Gerald (Jerry) Lee Peeke, age 90, of LaGrande, Oregon and a longtime former Sturgis resident, passed away peacefully Thursday, September 23, 2021 at Grande Ronde Retirement Residence in La Grande, after suffering a short battle with pneumonia and COVID-19. Jerry was born on July 15, 1931 in Sturgis, the first child of John and Roma (Ziglear) Peeke. He attended Sturgis …

Loretta A. Bowlby, age 78, of Mendon, passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior,  on Friday, September 24, 2021 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. She was born in Vicksburg on July 17, 1943. She was the fifth child of seven born to Ivan and Louise (Cook) Evans. On September 3, 1966 she was united in marriage …

Roger D. Knepple, Sr., age 87, died on Friday, September 24, 2021 at Life Care Center in Ft. Wayne. He was born on October 3, 1933 in Nappanee, a son of Keith and Ethel (Killian) Knepple. Roger attended school in Cassopolis. He married Gatha Caseman on March 28, 1953 in Constantine. She preceded him in death on May 15, 2011. …

Melody Dawn Rohrer, age 64, originally of Three Rivers, passed away following a tragic accident Monday, September 20, 2021. She was born August 22, 1957 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Durwood & Betty (Ash) Bertch. She graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1975. Melody (Mel) married Richard (Rick) Rohrer on June 12, 1976. After retirement they became full …

Randall R. Painter passed away on Monday, September 20, 2021, at his home in Gilbert, Arizona. Randall was born on September 22, 1929 in Mineola, NY to Chester and Edith Randall Painter, and over the years has called many different places “home,” the most significant being Three Rivers. When Randall was a freshman at Lafayette College in 1947, he decided …

Mary Catherine (Miller) Hurley, age 86, of White Pigeon, died on Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at Borgess Medical Center following a short illness. She was born on February 25, 1935 in Rensselear, Indiana the daughter of Albert W and Mildred E (Moelhman) Miller. Mary was a White Pigeon resident since 1974 coming from Rensselear. She was employed by White Pigeon …

Jake M. Haylett passed away on Friday, September 17, 2021 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis at the age of 93. He was born on March 8, 1928 in Bethel Township to Forrest and Gladys (Peppiatt) Haylett.  He graduated from Coldwater High School in 1945 and served in the U.S. Army (1946-1948). Jake married Cora Jean (Leatherman) on October 30, …

Long time distance runner Tom Soper broke from the starting line for his ultimate run on Saturday, April 17, 2021. That the course is an out-and-back, a loop, or a point-to-point is not known at this time. However, Tom told his support crew captained by his wife (and girlfriend forever) Lucy Ann Zimmerman that he had trained to stay course. …