Obituaries

Theodore M. (Ted) Schipper, age 92, passed away Sunday, March 7, 2021 at his son’s home in Colon. Ted was born July 18, 1928 in Allendale a son to the late Minord M. & Anna M. (VanSingle) Schipper. He grew up in Allendale on the family dairy farm and moved to Colon in 1957 where  he has resided since. Ted …

Clifford R. Parks, age 79, of Colon, passed away Friday, March 5, 2021 at Glenn Arbor Hospice Residence in Battle Creek. Clifford was born on August 19, 1941 a son to the late Harold and Geraldine (Squires) Parks. Clifford lived his entire life in the Colon and Battle Creek area. He attended Augusta Schools. Clifford was married to Ruth (Adams) …

William Binder Jr., age 81, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, March 4, 2021, at Brookdale Portage. He was born March 23, 1939 in Chicago, the son of William and Eunice (Minton) Binder Sr. Bill was employed at Wells Saw as a saw assembler for 32 years. For 18 years he was a member of the Park Boosters; for five …

Alice A. Kline, age 83, of White Pigeon, died on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, at Birch Meadows in Three Rivers, following an extended illness. She was born Sept. 19, 1937, in Mendon, a daughter of Otis C. and Emma E. (Rexford) Alber. She had been a resident of White Pigeon since 1966, coming from Mendon. She was a homemaker and …

Connie Sue Jennings, age 63, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully at home late Monday evening, March 1, 2021, after a very courageous battle with cancer and many other illnesses. She was born Jan. 21, 1958, in Sturgis, a daughter of Ted and Donna (Deal) Rickett. Connie was a lifelong Sturgis resident and graduate of Sturgis High School with the class …

Judith Brockway Disney, age 89, of Sturgis, passed away Friday, Feb. 26, 2021, at American House in Charlevoix, with her loved ones by her side. She was born July 3, 1931, in Lakewood, Ohio, a daughter of Gerald F. and Elizabeth (Brockway) Disney. Judy graduated from Culver-Stockton University with a bachelor’s degree in education. She taught for several years in …

Larry L. Smart, age 68, of Burr Oak, passed away Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation in Centreville. He was born February 23, 1953 in Nottawa, son of the late Leland and Dorothy (Dehoff) Smart. Larry resided in the St. Joseph and Branch County area his entire life and was a graduate of Bronson High School with …

William Henry Hoeflinger, Jr., age 94, of Three Rivers, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, February 28, 2021 at his home. William (Bill) was born in Mishawaka on February 19, 1927, five minutes prior to his twin, Barbara Jean, to William Henry and Flossie Mae (Voelker) Hoeflinger, Sr. In 1941, the Hoeflingers moved to Lansing, where Bill …

Wallace Leon James Mesler, age 84, of Colon, began a new journey on Monday, March 1, 2021 after a battle with cancer. He was born October 9, 1937 and thanked his mom and dad for giving him life.  He had lived in various places from Lansing to Union City as a youth but for the past 70+ years has called …

Donna Lee (Edwards) Williams passed away unexpectedly Feb. 21, 2021, at her home. She was born June 23, 1951, in Three Rivers, to the late Don and Alace (Babcock) Edwards. She was a member of the Burr Oak High School class of 1969. In June 1985, she married Bill C. Williams. She had been employed by Dollar General and also …