Obituaries

James Paul Johnson, (known as Paul and Jim), age 99, formerly of Three Rivers, died Monday, September 28, 2020, at Birches Adult Foster Care in Leonidas. He was born in Chicago on New Year’s Eve, 1920, the son of Carlton and Effie (Moffitt) Johnson. Paul was married to Leola Hammer in Rockford on August 31, 1941. He graduated from Rockford …

Robert L. Bidelman, Sr., age 82, of Marcellus, passed away on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at his home.  He was born in Newago County, MI on March 3, 1938, a son of Rolland and Mildred (Romans) Bidelman. He received his education from Three Rivers Public Schools.  Robert was previously married to Mary Jane Allen Wise; she preceded him in death.  Later, he married …

Leota May Kunce, age 86, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 6, 2020, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born May 7, 1934, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Archie F. and Esther M. (Gest) Sites and stepfather, Leroy Weber. Leota was a resident of Burr Oak and Sturgis most all of her life, was a …

Cathy Hopkins, age 66, a lifetime Sturgis resident passed away Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born Aug. 24, 1954, in Sturgis, a daughter to the late Eugene and Dorothy (Darby) Ripple. On May 19, 1973, she married Doug Hopkins in Sturgis. Cathy had worked many years for Michiana Container, Murphy Oil …

Andrejs Rozentals, age 84, of Three Rivers, passed away on October 5th, 2020 at home with his loving family by his side after a very short battle with cancer. He was born in Riga, Latvia the youngest of three children, to Ludvigs and Alisa (Meija) Rozentals. Preceded in death by his son, Gunars Juris Rozentals and older brother, Gunars Rozentals. …

Richard F. “Dick” Wiard, age 70, of Sturgis, was surrounded by his family at the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit Saturday morning, October 10, 2020 when he went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, due to medical complications following a fall. Dick was born in LaGrange on October 5, 1950 to the late Frank and Billie …

Lincoln A. Spencer, age 24, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2020, following a motorcycle accident in San Diego. He was born April 30, 1996 in Three Rivers and was married on June 10, 2018, in Girard, Pa. They were blessed with a daughter on Sept. 10, 2020, in Port Orchard, Wash. Lincoln is survived by his wife, Kelsie (Chaffee) …

Leslie A. Snyder, age 86, of White Pigeon, died Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo following a short illness. Born Sept. 17, 1934, in Paw Paw, he was the son of Bernard R. and A. Marie (Cuddeback) Snyder. A White Pigeon resident since 1950, coming from Paw Paw, he was employed by Paramount Furniture in Sturgis …

Brett Kyle O. Baker, age 49, of Marcellus, passed away Wednesday, October 7, 2020. Born on October 1, 1971, Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota, Brett was the beloved son of Janet (Rogers) and Jerry Baker. Brett’s nicknames growing up were “Silent Stranger,” “Packie” and, of course, “Bake.” He graduated from Climax-Scotts High School in 1990, where he participated in Football, Track …

Earle M. Bontrager, age 79, of Centreville, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at his home.  Earle was born in Elkhart County on April 8, 1941, a son of Menno and Lizzie (Miller) Bontrager.  He attended Centreville Schools and went on to serve in the U.S. Army from 1960 to 1963.  On June 4, 1971, he married Melanie …