Obituaries

Arnold L. Malesh, age 92, of Colon passed away Friday, Dec. 20, 2019, at Maple Lawn of Coldwater. Arnold was born Nov. 28, 1927, in Chicago, a son of the late Adolph and Mary (Norbut) Malesh. Arnold grew up in the Chicagoland area and was a veteran of the U.S. Army. Before moving to Colon in 1992, Arnold and his family …

Shawn Christopher Lane, age 56, of Burr Oak, passed away on Wednesday, December 18, 2019, due to injuries sustained in a car accident. Shawn was born August 30, 1963 in Sturgis, the son of James E. and Bonita L. (Offenbecher) Lane. Shawn is survived by his parents and his brother, James (Sharon) Lane II, of Zeeland, Michigan; a niece Nicole …

Charles A. Reed Sr., age 78, of Sturgis, died Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, at The Laurels of Coldwater, following a long battle with Alzheimer’s. He was born Sept. 7, 1941, in Sturgis, a son of the late Lester and Lillian (Allabach) Eatinger. He was a lifelong resident of Sturgis. He leaves behind his wife, soulmate and best friend of 50 …

Wilfred “Willie” A. Miller, age 91, of Colon, passed away Thursday, December 19, 2019 at Birch Meadows AFC in Three Rivers. Willie was born in Bronson, Michigan on March 28, 1928, a son to the late Ray and Ruth (Annis) Miller. He grew up in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 1946. Willie married Norma Jean …

Elizabeth Ann Dillon, age 60, of Reading, passed away from complications associated with ALS on Wednesday, December 18, 2019 at home surrounded by her family. She was born August 9, 1959 in Three Rivers, to Clinton and Dorothy (Fosdick) Shafer. On July 9, 1982 she married Patrick Dillon and he survives. She graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1977 …

Beverly G. Smelker, age 81 of Sturgis, died surrounded by family on Friday, Dec. 20, 2019. She was born in Battle Creek on March 23, 1938 the daughter of Orville and Bernice (Sullivan) Jackson. Beverly graduated from Battle Creek Central High School with the class of 1956. She was married to Bruce Smelker on Nov. 30, 1958 in Battle Creek. …

Don Ricky “Rick” Spoerner, age 55, of Mendon, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 at his home. Rick was born in Indiana on March 16, 1964. He graduated from Centreville High School in 1982. He was currently working for KS Auto in Sturgis as an office manager for the past five years. Previously, he was a manager at …

Richard Eugene Strang, age 87, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday morning, Dec. 17, 2019, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born July 28, 1932 in Sturgis, son of the late John and Bertha (Ross) Strang. Dick was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1950. On October 7, 1950 he …

Todd James Smeltzer, age 54, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday afternoon, December 15, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born April 29, 1965 in South Bend, son of Glennis L. and Beverly (Reiner) Smeltzer. Todd resided in Sturgis for the past nine years coming from Saline where he lived for three years. His early life was …

Alison Carmona-Nieves, age 21 months, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday morning, Dec. 11, 2019, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born Feb. 22, 2018 in Kalamazoo, a daughter of Cecilia Nieves-Ramirez. Alison is survived by her mother; a sister, Camila Nieves-Sanchez, at home; grandparents Manuel and Patricia Nieves of Sturgis; and aunts Mayra Castro, Yolanda Reynel and Tania …