Obituaries

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 …

Kathryn L. “Kate” Monahan, age 64, of Fish Lake, Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, May 17, 2024, at her home. She was born September 8, 1959 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Lucille “Tootie” (Emboden) Scott. Kate lived her entire life on Fish Lake in Sturgis and was a graduate of Centreville High School with the class of 1977. On …

Leonard R. Burnham, age 90, of Mendon, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Edgewood Health and Rehabilitation in Three Rivers. Leonard was born on November 6, 1933, in Vicksburg, a son to the late Rex and Bertha (Bower) Burnham. On April 4, 1954, Leonard married his wife of 70 years, Marlene J. Wood at the Colon United Methodist …

Ernest “Bud” O’Conner was born on August 22, 1940 in Monongalia, West Virginia to May O’Conner and Alonzo Mayle.  He passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the age of 83 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.  Ernest worked with his dad on a dam in West Virginia until Ernest and his grandmother Laura moved to Michigan and went to …

Leon “Stub” Truckey, age 79, of Leonidas, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Medilodge Nursing Home in Kalamazoo.  He was born in Leonidas on December 26, 1944 the son of Robert “Bob” and Vera (Stolp) Truckey.  On September 2, 1986 he married Karon Morley in Manton, MI.  Stub was a man of many talents and was known for …

Richard E. Jones, age 77, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Richard was born on March 19, 1947, in Sturgis, a son to the late Robert and Flora Mae (Kime) Jones. Richard was a graduate of Colon High School as a member of the class of 1965. After school Richard enlisted and served …

Olen A. “Jr.” Rifenberg, age 88, of Jones, a lifetime Newberg Township resident, passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born November 23, 1935, the son of Olin A. and Mary (Cunningham) Rifenberg. While a freshman at Cassopolis High School he was struck with polio but fought through a six-month hospital …