Obituaries

Barbara Ann Culver, age 79, of Portage, passed away Sunday, November 19, 2023 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on June 16, 1944, in Detroit, the daughter of Alvin and Anna Elizabeth (Grey) Bates and graduated from Cooley High School with the Class of 1962. Barbara earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Wayne State …

Michael A. Wozniel, age 67, passed away Monday, November 13th, 2023, in Virginia Beach, VA surrounded by his loving family. Mike was born August 28th, 1956, to Anthony and Joanne Wozniel in Three Rivers. He was a graduate of White Pigeon High School, class of 1974. In early life, Mike was heavily involved in 4-H, where he raised and showed …

Chris Howard Buckhold, age 83, of Sturgis, passed away early on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. Chris was born July 31, 1940 in Three Rivers, son of Howard and Frances (Tessin) Buckhold. He was a graduate of Three Rivers High School with the class of 1958. Following graduation he enlisted in the US Army, serving …

David Lee Blasius, age 56, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, October 26, 2023 at Rose Arbor Hospice surrounded by his loving family. He was born January 11, 1967 in Three Rivers, the son of David and Vivian (Rice) Blasius, and graduated from Three Rivers High School with the Class of 1985. David was a dedicated employee of Midwest Plastics in …

David J. Alvey of Sturgis, loving husband, grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend passed away on Wednesday, November 15th, 2023 at the age of 70 at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. His heart was unfortunately too weak to continue, but memories of him will live forever in the hearts of his loved ones. David was born December 14, 1952 in Kalamazoo, …

Wayne Lamar Kline, age 84, of Centreville, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Willowbrook Memory Care of Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis after a courageous battle with Parkinsons. He was born March 9, 1939 in Three Rivers, a son of Harry and Zelma (Schultz) Kline. He attended Three Rivers Schools. On September 12, 1957 …

Leda Marie Smith, age 84, of Cassopolis, passed away Thursday, November 16, 2023 at Beacon Health System – Three Rivers. She was born August 3, 1939 in Dowagiac, the daughter of Laverne and Josephine (Mays) Smith, and graduated from Cassopolis High School with the Class of 1957. Leda served her community as the probate court, county clerk, for 12 years. …

Gregory Arthur Pant, age 64, of Bronson, passed away Thursday afternoon, November 16, 2023 at his home due to injuries sustained in a pole barn fire. He was born September 30, 1959 in Sturgis, son of the late Richard A. and Shirley (Krontz) Pant. Greg resided in Bronson since 2006 coming from White Pigeon, where he lived for many years. …

Mary Ellen Wetzel Coon, age 89, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday morning, November 14, 2023, at her home a few weeks short of her 90th birthday, following a long illness. She was born December 9, 1933, in Coldwater, the daughter of Raymond and Pearl May (Harpham) Brown. Mary survived childhood polio, including weeks in an iron lung breathing machine. In …

Dennis Hlathein, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday evening, November 16, 2023 at his home. He was born October 31, 1935 in Moulmein, Burma son of the late U Ba Thein and Daw Mya Khin. Mr. Hlathein came to the United States in 1969 from Burma. He resided in Sturgis since 1981, coming from Stevensville. On January 19, 1961 …