Obituaries

Carl Theodore Richard Drefke, age 82, of Three Rivers, passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2020. He was born on Sept. 9, 1937 to Carl Louis and Bertha Marie (Bruechert) Drefke. Carl graduated from Deerfield High School and Toledo University. He was also in the Marine Corps. He enjoyed fishing and traveling. While residing in Arkansas he was chosen Sportsman of …

Malachi Moriah Budfuloski Mechling, age 35, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, April 9, 2020, at his home. He was born Oct. 29, 1984, in Kalamazoo, a son of John and the late Connie Sue (Sorko-Ram) Budfuloski. Malachi’s early years were spent in California. In 1998, he moved to the Sturgis area, where he remained until his death. He was a …

Fern Marie Knauss, age 79, of Three Rivers, died Monday, June 29, 2020 at Ascension-Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Benton Harbor on Dec. 24, 1940 the daughter of the late Estell and Letha (Floyd) Bell. She attended a one-room school near Jones and went to Marcellus High School. Fern was married to Gordon L. Knauss on …

Kenneth Leo Wyant, age 75, of Sherwood, died Monday, June 22, 2020, under the care of his family and with the aid of Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. A private family memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 5, 2020, at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City, with Pastor David Farrell officiating. The service will be …

Duane A. Beardsley, age 74, of Colon, passed away Friday, June 26, 2020, at his home, surrounded by his family. Duane was born Oct. 3, 1945, in Battle Creek, a son of the late Ray A. Beardsley and Alice G. Fox. Duane graduated from Athens High School with the class of 1966. After graduation, Duane enlisted in the U.S. Army, …

It saddens us to announce the death of Julia Renee Zimmerman, our Peanut, whose life was taken from her in a horrific automobile accident. She was born April 6, 2000, and left this earthly world to join God’s heavenly home on June 26, 2020. Throughout her 20 years, Julia carried a smile on her face every day, which she shared …

Wallace Andre Mollema, better known as Andy, passed from this life at Munson Medical Center, Traverse City, on Tuesday, June 16, 2020, with Martha, the love of his life, at his side. He had been a full-time resident of Benzie County since 1996. Andy was preceded in death by his father Wallace A. Mollema in 1994 and by his mother …

Robert A. Zlotkowski, age 67, of Colon, formerly of Hegewisch, IL, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2020. Robert is survived by his beloved wife of 46 years, Linda(nee Erickson)Zlotkowski; daughters, Dana Howe and Kristy(Steve)Donley both of Griffith, IN; grandchildren, Hailey Howe and Raegan and Jenna Donley; brother, Larry Zawistowski and nieces, Danielle and Sarah Zawistowski.  Preceded in death by …

Glenn “Hillbilly” Spencer Sr., age 81, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday morning, June 28, 2020, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born July 15, 1938, in Combs, Ky., a son of the late Seldon and Lydia (Riley) Spencer. Glenn resided most of his life in Sturgis. On Nov. 14, 2014, he married Kathleen Miller in Centreville. He retired …

Patricia Ann Forsyth, age 86, of Constantine, passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2020 at Beacon Pointe Assisted Living in Portage. She was born on April 6, 1934 in Sturgis, a daughter of Charles and Virginia (Minzey) Kilgore. Pat graduated from Rome City High School in 1952 and Glen Oaks Community College in 1969. She then received her Masters Degree …