Obituaries

Joyce Elaine Walters, age 80, of Schoolcraft, passed away on Monday, May 17th in Cape Coral, Florida. She was born in Allegan on August 15th, 1940 to Edward Bernard Clark and Phyllis Larie Page. On August 15, 1956 Joyce married her best friend and love of her life, Edward Earl Walters. Joyce and Ed had 64 wonderful years of marriage …

Daniel Edmund Martin died on Friday, May 21, 2021 at the Cleveland Clinic following surgery for a double lung transplant. He was born on April 5, 1949 in DeKalb, IL to the late Edmund and Millie Martin. On November 26, 1971 he married Deborah Heinemann, who survives. Also surviving are: daughter, Kirstin M.(Jordan) Pierson, daughter Meghan E.(Matthew) Deemer, beloved grandchildren …

Hope Pauline Keeslar, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, May 6, 2021 at her home. She was born Dec. 9, 1932 in Leavenworth, Kansas to Ray Champagne and Velda Swoveland. Hope was raised by her Aunt Pauline Penn and in 2002 when Aunt Pauline was 93 years old, she officially adopted Hope and it was a special day in …

Bruce Ryan Swinburne passed away peacefully on May 22, 2021. He was born at home in Delhi, Iowa, on Children’s Day, June 12, 1932 while his two older brothers sat on the porch steps waiting to go to Sunday School! He graduated from Delhi High School and Northern Iowa University, formerly Iowa State Teachers College. He attended Marine Corps Advanced …

Gary Junior Hobson, age 58, of Hephzibah, Georgia; formerly of Marcellus, passed away Thursday, May 20, 2021 at Augusta Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia. Gary was born in Portsmouth, Ohio on November 26, 1962 the son of Phillip Gary Hobson and Kathryn King. On August 17, 1986 in Vanceburg, Kentucky Gary married the love of his life Cathryn (Sights) Young, …

Philip James Stevens, age 48, of rural Vicksburg, died Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born in Kalamazoo on Aug. 12, 1972 the son of Ronald W. and Suzanne (Papierz) Stevens. He graduated from Comstock High School with the class of 1990, and later attended the Fire Academy. Philip was a firefighter, and first …

Robert “Rob” Leon Norton, age 55, of Sturgis, and formerly of LaPorte, IN passed away Saturday evening, May 22, 2021 at Sturgis Hospital. He was born March 14, 1966 in LaPorte, a son to James Norton and Jean (Smith) Cannan Rob was a 1984 graduate of LaPorte High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business and Marketing from Indiana …

Jerry Ray Melchi, age 72, of Kalamazoo, passed away Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at his home. He was born Aug. 31, 1948 in White Pigeon to Chester and Lilian (Whisler) Melchi. Jerry graduated from White Pigeon High School and received his Tool & Die certification from Glen Oaks Community College. He had been a resident of the Sturgis area most …

Donald L. Houser, age 84, of Sturgis, moved on peacefully to his eternal home on Friday, May 21, 2021, surrounded by his family. He was born October 7, 1936, in Buhl, Idaho to Jay and Florence (Roth) Houser. He grew up in Filer and Twin Falls, ID. He served in Volunteer Service at Heston College in Heston, Kansas for 2 …

Jean Marie Klein, age 52, of rural Mendon, died Monday, May 17, 2021 at her home. She was born in Battle Creek on Dec. 14, 1968 the youngest of fourteen children born to Vincent E. and Henrietta C. (Pluester) Klein. Born with special needs, God carefully chose a wonderful, loving family to raise her. She attended the Pathfinder Educational Center …