Obituaries

Robert Michael “Mitch” Foster, age 63, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at his home. He was born Jan. 9, 1957 in Battle Creek, a son of Gerald G. and Maxine Virginia (Reed) Foster. Mitch was a lifelong Burr Oak and Sturgis area resident and a graduate of Burr Oak High School with the class of 1975. On …

Phyllis June Shuey, age 71, of Centreville, passed away early Wednesday morning, Dec. 2, 2020, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation in Centreville. She was born April 22, 1949, in Three Rivers, a daughter of the late Henry and Jeanette M. (Bender) Shuey. Phyllis was a lifelong resident of St. Joseph County. She was a homemaker and enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, collecting …

Stephen E. Walters, age 74, of Kalamazoo, passed away on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. Steve was born in Three Rivers on December 6, 1945, a son of Earl and LaVonne (Minger) Walters. He graduated from Centreville High School in 1964 and then went on to obtain his Bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in …

Steven Lee Miller, age 71, a lifelong Sturgis resident, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020 at his home. He was born July 21, 1949 in Sturgis, a son to the late Howard and Jenny (Fox) Miller. Steven had been employed with Abbot Laboratories in Sturgis for over 38 years. He enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, bowling, and darts. Surviving are one …

Mark R. Babb, age 60, of Sturgis, died peacefully on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born in Wilmington, Ohio on January 29, 1960 to the late Robert and Betty (Rose) Babb. His early life was spent in Wilmington where he graduated from Wilmington High School with the class of 1978. He furthered his …

Carolyn A. Gruber, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020, at Gardens of Fountains at Bronson Place in Kalamazoo. Arrangements will be announced by Hackman Family Funeral Homes of Sturgis

Judith K. Randall, age 80, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Nov. 30, 2020, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born Nov. 23, 1940, in Kendallville, a daughter of the late George and Hutoka Prentice. Judy was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1959. On May 26, 1963, she married Jerry L. Randall in Sturgis. …

Gerald “Gary” Rodney Vedmore, age 73, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 at Rose Arbor Hospice Facility in Kalamazoo. He was born on Feb. 8, 1947 in Vicksburg, the son of the late Clarence Willard and Josephine Marie (Hotchkiss) Vedmore. On Oct. 15, 1965 Gary married the love of his life Janie (Manwarren) Vedmore. Together …

Ruth Margaret Bowman, age 99, of Fulton, passed away Tuesday, December 1, 2020 at The Oaks at NorthPointe Woods in Battle Creek. Ruth (Becker) Bowman was October 22, 1921, to Rudolph and Anna (Becker) Brandenburg in Sturgis. She graduated from Sturgis High School in 1939. Ruth and Albert L. Bowman married May 5, 1940 at her parents’ home. She resided …

John O. Philo, age 63, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Monday, November 30, 2020. John was born on August 14, 1957 in Sturgis, a son of the late Walter “Gib” and Ardis (Wasnich) Philo. John graduated from Colon High School with the class of 1975 and lived his life in Colon. John had worked as an …