Obituaries

Gwendolin Lea Manson, age 57, of Sturgis, passed away early Friday morning May 1, 2020 at Elkhart General Hospital. She was born September 23, 1962 in Michigan daughter of James and Paulette (Anderson) Coleman. Gwen resided in St. Joseph County since 2005 coming from McHenry, Illinois. She was married to Lee Manson who preceded her in death December 25, 2011. …

Marjorie I. Wright, age 80, of Sturgis, passed away on November 21, 2020 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. She was born December 20, 1939 in a farmhouse in Valentine, Indiana, daughter of the late Dale and Shirley (Johnson) Machan. Marge resided in Sturgis since 1957 coming from LaGrange, where she was a graduate of LaGrange High School with the …

Norah Lillian Willard, age 86, of Three Rivers, died unexpectedly on Friday, May 1, 2020 at her home. She was born in Detroit on Dec. 29, 1933 the daughter of Andrew and Lillian (Hughes) Smith. She graduated from McKenzie High School with the class of 1952. She was married to John B. Willard in Detroit on Jan. 2, 1954. Norah …

Catherine (Kate) L. Torrans age 94 of Ypsilanti, Michigan passed away on Friday, May 2, 2020.  She was born in Berwyn, IL on February 13, 1926, the daughter of Ernie and Rose Porath.  Both Harold Shannon and her second husband, Richard Torrans, preceded her in death along with her sister, Agnes Sabonis and her step son, Steve Torrans.  In 2005 …

Freddie K. “Fred” Neubert, age 83, of White Pigeon, went to be with our Lord on Saturday, May 2, 2020 at Center for Hospice Care in Elkhart. He was born November 5, 1936 in Esserville, VA, a son of William and Lelia (Wells) Neubert. Fred graduated from Constantine High School. He served in the US Marines Reserve and active US …

John N. Hassinger, age 89, of Constantine, passed away at his home on Friday, May 1, 2020. John, the second child of Merritt and Cleo (Avery) Hassinger, was born on August 20, 1930 at the old homestead out on Millers Mill Road in Constantine. He is survived by his special friend Barbara Adcock of Elkhart, Indiana and her family. He …

Mayne E. Smith, age 98, formerly of Colon and Scotts, passed away Thursday, April 30, 2020 at Medilodge of Kalamazoo. Mayne was born Feb. 15, 1922, in Kalamazoo, a daughter of the late Benjamin and Princess (Lewis) McClish. She grew up in rural Colon, graduating from Colon High School as salutatorian of the class of 1939. In November 1940, she married …

Gary C. Schneider (Guppy), age 69, of Marquette, passed away Monday afternoon, April 27, 2020, at home, surrounded by family and friends, after a courageous battle with colon cancer. Born Oct. 11, 1950 in South Bend, to Charles and Jane Ann (Hartman) Schneider, Gary grew up on Baldwin Lake in Union, enjoying barefoot water skiing and spearing pike. He was …

Alice L. Ankney Verspelt, age 85, of Sturgis, and a former longtime Burr Oak resident, passed away Wednesday evening, April 29, 2020, at Life Care Center of LaGrange in LaGrange, Ind. She was born May 1, 1934, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Clarence and Pauline (Maxwell) Maystead. Alice resided in Sturgis since 2006, with most of her life …

Jamie Lee Palmer, age 46, of Centreville, lost his battle to Glioblastoma April 21, 2020 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born September 21, 1973 in Marshall, the son of Lula (Goodman) Cross and the late Jackie Palmer. Jamie grew up in Burlington, where he made numerous friends and memories that were sure to make you laugh. …