Obituaries

Jerry Earl Bingaman, age 67, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday afternoon, January 2, 2020 at his home. He was born January 25, 1953 in Sturgis, son of the late Alden and Beulah (Gay) Bingaman. Jerry resided his whole life in St. Joseph County. On April 2, 2009 he married Phyllis Minnick in Sturgis. Most of Jerry’s working life was as …

Kenneth “Kenny” Chamberlain, age 65, of Marcellus, passed away Thursday December 31, 2020, at home. Kenny was born in Marshall, Michigan on August 8, 1955; the son of Kenneth L. and Beverly Jean (Warsup) Chamberlain, and was raised by his Uncle George Chamberlain and Aunt Doris Chamberlain, after the death of his father. Kenny was a farmer, working for many …

Carolyn M. Wickey, age 71, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday morning December 31, 2020 at home with her family by her side. She was born on October 14, 1949 in Winter Haven, FL a daughter to Stuart and Louise (May) Stowell. On October 1, 1967 at Locust Grove Mennonite church she married John W. Wickey. Carolyn was a graduate of …

Mark “Little Mark” Arthur Roberts, age 60, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, December 28, 2020 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born on December 6, 1960, in Sturgis, the son of Arthur George “Sam” Roberts Jr. and Catherine Louise “Kay” (Stump) Roberts. Mark worked in the construction industry and was a very talented woodworker. He enjoyed being …

Shirley Anne Schiedel, age 84, of Marcellus, passed away on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at Heartland Healthcare Center in Three Rivers. She was born in Kalamazoo on February 15, 1936, the daughter of Sherman Biss and Nellie (Drobny) Biss. On January 15, 1954, in St. Joseph, Michigan she married Harold Junior Schiedel, III who survives her in death. Shirley was …

William Dennis Poorman, age 86, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday evening, December 29, 2020 at Sturgis Hospital. He was born December 28, 1934 in Sturgis, son of the late Ertis and Clara A. (Reading) Poorman. He was a lifelong Sturgis resident. Bill held various jobs but his last and favorite job was transporting the Amish. He was proud to have …

Marion Elizabeth Bedard, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday morning December 27, 2020 at Care Community Assisted Living in Springfield, Michigan. She was born November 22, 1935 in Oneco, Connecticut daughter of the late Earl W. and Ethel A. (Sherman) Barr. Marion resided in Sturgis since 1957 coming from Oneco. On February 2, 1957 she married Roland H. Bedard …

Joe R. Shinn, age 93, of Shipshewana, passed away holding his wife’s hand on Tuesday, December 22, 2020. He was born in Sturgis on December 20, 1927 to the late Clyde and Ester Shinn.  Joe proudly joined the Navy during World War II and served in the Philippines when the war ended 6 weeks later. Joe worked in Sturgis at Harter …

James E. Murphy, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away Friday morning December 4, 2020 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born May 20, 1935 in New Bedford, Massachusetts son of the late John Joseph and Anna Elizabeth (Flynn) Murphy. Jim’s early life was spent in Massachusetts moving to Michigan in 1992. He was a graduate of St. Mary’s …

Betty Carlene Boydston, age 84, of Three Rivers, passed away on Sunday, December 27, 2020. She was born in Three Rivers on October 2, 1936 the daughter of Carl E. and Flora (Brantley) Hilbert. Betty was a graduate of Three Rivers High School in 1954. Upon her graduation she was employed at Three Rivers City Hall where she was promoted …