Obituaries

Marjorie Alice (Loudenslager) Decker, age 104, passed away peacefully Friday, December 25, 2020 at The Birches AFC in Leonidas. Marge, the youngest of seven children, was born on July 31, 1916 to Floyd and Bertha (Snook) Loudenslager. She was a longtime resident of Colon, residing in the family home for 75 years before moving to the Birches in 2014. After …

Keith Allen Shultz, age 77, of Howe, Ind., passed away Tuesday evening, Dec. 22, 2020, at his home, surrounded by his family, after a hard-fought battle with bone marrow cancer. He was born Feb. 15, 1943, in Angola, a son of the late Albert and Letha (Grove) Shultz. Keith resided in the Howe and Brighton, Ind., area most of his …

Bobby Hodge, age 71, died on Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born March 16, 1949 in Holland, Missouri, a son of James and Maidress (Hardin) Hodge. Bobby graduated from Dowagiac High School and attended the Seminary to become a minister. He served as minister for the Pentacostal Church of God in many communities …

Janice Ann Pagel, age 82, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday evening, December 26, 2020 at her home. She was born September 29, 1938 in Holland, Michigan daughter of the late James and Jeanette Walters. Janice resided in Sturgis for the past 5 years coming from Rodney, Michigan where she loved the 25 years she and her husband spent at their …

Frederick J “Freddie” Herrick Jr, age 40, of Constantine, passed away on Friday, December 25, 2020 at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. He was born July 4, 1980 in Saginaw, a son of Frederick and Joan (Emmons) Herrick Sr. Freddie graduated from Constantine High School in 1999. He was a self employed tile setter working for Central Tile in …

Willard J Sutton, age 72, of White Pigeon, died on Thursday, December 24, 2020 at his home. He was born October 20, 1948 in Constantine, a son of Willard and Julia (Young) Sutton. Willard graduated from Constantine High School in 1966 and furthered his education in the tool & die industry. On February 14, 1986 he married Betty Mae Brown …

Elmer J. Detweiler, age 70, of Centreville, went to be with Jesus on Wednesday, December 23, 2020. Elmer was born on May 10, 1950 to John and Fanny (Mast) Detweiler. He was married to Clara Miller on September 18, 1970. In 1968 he moved to Paraguay with his parents, where he met Clara. This is where his passion for horses …

Robert “Bob” Eggleston, Sr., age 84, of Marcellus, passed away, Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at home surrounded by his loving family. Bob was born in Marcellus on July 29, 1936 to Frank and Nellie (White) Eggleston. On August 27, 1960 in Dowagiac, he married Rose Mary Krager, who survives him in death. Bob worked as a carpenter with his father …

Norma Jean Quirin, age 89, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday morning, December 24, 2020 at the Bowman Place in Three Rivers. She was born December 31, 1930 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Morse D. and Evealo (Bowers) Kanouse. Mrs. Quirin was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1949. On September …

Dr. Louis Joseph Blesch, Jr., DVM, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday morning, December 22, 2020 at his home. He was born October 1, 1932 in Chicago, son of the late Louis Joseph and Madeline (Steir) Blesch. Dr. Blesch resided in the Sturgis area most of his life. In May of 1956 he married Joyce Ann Beyer. She preceded …