Obituaries

Joseph A. Peoples, age 96, passed away at Fairview Nursing Home in Centreville on Saturday, May 18, 2024.  He was born on September 30, 1927 in Forsyth County, North Carolina the son of Luther and Mary (West) Peoples.  Joseph married Joan E. Griffith in 1992 in Alexandria, Virginia. Joseph traveled the world sharing his woodworking talents with high end curators …

Kathryn L. “Kate” Monahan, age 64, of Fish Lake, Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, May 17, 2024, at her home. She was born September 8, 1959 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Lucille “Tootie” (Emboden) Scott. Kate lived her entire life on Fish Lake in Sturgis and was a graduate of Centreville High School with the class of 1977. On …

Leonard R. Burnham, age 90, of Mendon, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at Edgewood Health and Rehabilitation in Three Rivers. Leonard was born on November 6, 1933, in Vicksburg, a son to the late Rex and Bertha (Bower) Burnham. On April 4, 1954, Leonard married his wife of 70 years, Marlene J. Wood at the Colon United Methodist …

Ernest “Bud” O’Conner was born on August 22, 1940 in Monongalia, West Virginia to May O’Conner and Alonzo Mayle.  He passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at the age of 83 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo.  Ernest worked with his dad on a dam in West Virginia until Ernest and his grandmother Laura moved to Michigan and went to …

Leon “Stub” Truckey, age 79, of Leonidas, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2024 at Medilodge Nursing Home in Kalamazoo.  He was born in Leonidas on December 26, 1944 the son of Robert “Bob” and Vera (Stolp) Truckey.  On September 2, 1986 he married Karon Morley in Manton, MI.  Stub was a man of many talents and was known for …

Richard E. Jones, age 77, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. Richard was born on March 19, 1947, in Sturgis, a son to the late Robert and Flora Mae (Kime) Jones. Richard was a graduate of Colon High School as a member of the class of 1965. After school Richard enlisted and served …

Olen A. “Jr.” Rifenberg, age 88, of Jones, a lifetime Newberg Township resident, passed away Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born November 23, 1935, the son of Olin A. and Mary (Cunningham) Rifenberg. While a freshman at Cassopolis High School he was struck with polio but fought through a six-month hospital …

Laura June Krick, age 79, of Sturgis, passed away early Monday morning, May 13, 2024, at her home. She was born August 4, 1944, in Sturgis, daughter of the late John and Ann (Halsey) Kelly. Laura resided most of her life in the Sturgis area except for the 21 years she lived in Goodrich, Michigan. She was a graduate of …

Vicki A. Budd of Sturgis, was called home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, following a brief but courageous battle with cancer. She faced her diagnosis with grace and dignity, the same way she lived her life. A devoted caretaker to the end, she worried less about herself and more about those she would leave behind. …

Robert (Bob) Wayne Cooper, age 62, of Battle Creek, passed away Monday May 6, 2024, surrounded by his family members at Bronson Hospital in Battle Creek. Bob’s life began October 18, 1961, in Norfolk, VA, the son of Richard Thomas and Patricia Ann (Flynn) Cooper. As a young boy, Bob grew up in Jones, MI after his family moved from …