Obituaries

Luella Blanche (Whitmill) Hein, age 95, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Dec. 24, 2021 at home. Lou, as she was affectionately called, was born Oct. 18, 1926, in Temperance, Michigan, to Blanche (Teall) and Orin M. Whitmill. After graduation in 1944, she met and married Herman H. Hein on July 14, 1945 in Washington, D.C. They …

Kevin Mark Gillette, age 63, of Sturgis, passed away on December 21, 2021 at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital due to to complication of COVID-19. He was born January 14, 1958 in Bryan, Ohio son of Clyde and JoAnn (Collins) Gillette. Kevin was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class or 1976. In 1978 …

Sharon Ann Marks Marchand, age 55, of Sturgis, passed away on December 24, 2021 at her home. She was born April 15, 1966 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Jerry and Dianna Carol (Bauman) Marks. Sharon resided most of her life in Sturgis. On September 24, 2017 she married Scott Marchand in Sturgis. She had been employed by Thurston Woods …

David J. Farrell, age 81, of Colon, passed away on Saturday, December 25, 2021, at Three Rivers Health. David was born on February 24, 1940, in Flint, a son of the late Benjamin and Marian (McGrath) Farrell. David graduated from Flint Central High School with the class of 1958. David then earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Religious Education from the …

Barbara Arlene Weiderman, age 69, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday afternoon, December 25, 2021 at her home. She was born August 10, 1952 in Coldwater, daughter of the late Arland “Bud” and Kathryn (Latta) Markley. Barbara resided in Sturgis since 1951, coming from Bronson, where she was a graduate of Bronson High School with the class of 1970. On July …

William W. McBride, Jr., age 79, of Klinger Lake, Sturgis, passed away Saturday, December 25, 2021 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born December 18, 1942 in Chicago, son of the late William W. and Mary Alice McBride. Bill graduated from Morgan Park High School in Chicago and furthered his education at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and …

Richard “Dick” Lewis Messner, Sr., age 94, of Centreville, passed away Thursday afternoon, December 23, 2021 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born November 11, 1927 in Sturgis, son of the late Freddie and Cora Mae (Nihart) Messner. Dick resided in St. Joseph County all of his life where he attended both Sturgis and White Pigeon schools, …

Tracy D Heminger, age 55, of White Pigeon, died on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born on January 28, 1966 in South Bend, the Daughter of James L and Sharon K (Fiedler) Todd. Graduate of Mishawaka High School in 1984, employed in retail for clothing, furniture, and jewelry. Attended the Mottville Church and …

Robert A. Hartman, age 87, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday morning December 21, 2021 at Drews Place of Coldwater. He was born October 7, 1934 in LaGrange, son of the late Evert S. and Belva H. (Summey) Hartman. Bob was a longtime Sturgis resident and also lived in Norwalk, Ohio and Fort Myers Beach, Florida. He first married Betty Lou …

Richardo C. “Richard” Rodriguez, age 73, of Bronson, Michigan passed away Sunday, December 19, 2021 at Promedica Coldwater Regional Hospital in Coldwater. He was born November 17, 1948 in LaSalle County, Texas son of the late Refugio and Maria (Charo) Rodriguez. Mr. Rodriguez resided in Bronson for the past 40 years coming from Richton, Illinois. In 1966 he married Patricia …