Obituaries

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 …

Laura June Krick, age 79, of Sturgis, passed away early Monday morning, May 13, 2024, at her home. She was born August 4, 1944, in Sturgis, daughter of the late John and Ann (Halsey) Kelly. Laura resided most of her life in the Sturgis area except for the 21 years she lived in Goodrich, Michigan. She was a graduate of …

Vicki A. Budd of Sturgis, was called home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, following a brief but courageous battle with cancer. She faced her diagnosis with grace and dignity, the same way she lived her life. A devoted caretaker to the end, she worried less about herself and more about those she would leave behind. …

Robert (Bob) Wayne Cooper, age 62, of Battle Creek, passed away Monday May 6, 2024, surrounded by his family members at Bronson Hospital in Battle Creek. Bob’s life began October 18, 1961, in Norfolk, VA, the son of Richard Thomas and Patricia Ann (Flynn) Cooper. As a young boy, Bob grew up in Jones, MI after his family moved from …

Ann Donnelly of Fisher Lake, passed away at the age of 90 on May 5, 2024 in her home and with her family by her side. She was born in An Siléar Rosmuc, County Galway, Ireland, on June 28, 1933, the fifth of 14 children born to John Nee and Bridget Walsh. Ann Nee grew up in the Gaeltacht (Irish …

James S. Mathews, age 76, of Kalamazoo, passed away at his home on Monday, May 6, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. He was born in Chicago, the son of the late Dr. John and Wilma (Wasser) Mathews. He was raised by his grandparents James and Lena Mathews along with his father and stepmother, Shirley. At a young age he moved …

Dolores A. “Dee Dee” Wise, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away early Thursday morning, May 9, 2024 at the Center for Hospice Care Esther House in Elkhart. She was born July 20, 1935, in Battle Creek, a daughter to the late Fahm and Dorothy (Crocker) Mahmet. Dee Dee resided in Sturgis since 1978 coming from Battle Creek where she was …