Obituaries

Sue Ann Geer, age 63, of Elkhart, and formerly of Sturgis, passed away Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, at Greenleaf Health Campus in Elkhart. Sue was born Sept. 24, 1956, in Sturgis, to Edwin and Patricia Smoker. On June 23, 1984, she married David L. Geer Sue graduated from Sturgis High School and Glen Oaks Community College, where she received a …

Larry Wilkins, age 78, of Three Rivers, passed into the arms of angels in the early hours of Tuesday, September 24, 2019 surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 2, 1941 in Detroit, the son of Harry and Edna (Hackenberg) Wilkins. He graduated Three Rivers High School in 1960. On June 29, 1963 he married Terry Lusson in …

Thomas Eugene Waltke, age 84, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019, at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Thomas was born Feb. 20, 1935, a son of the late Elwood Waltke and Mary Barnell Trattles. On March 12, 1955, Thomas married his wife of 64 years, Helen Wondergem, in Sturgis at Church of the Nazarene. Thomas and Helen would spend their …

Janice Ileen Modert, age 83, of Robbinsville, N.C., formerly of Frostproof, Fla., passed away Monday, Sept. 23, 2019, at Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital, surrounded by her loving family. Janice was born March 28, 1936, a daughter of the late David Earl Vorce and the late Goldie Jasper. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Leroy Modert, in 2013. …

Rolland Daniel Courtney, age 71, of Marcellus, passed away Monday, September 24, 2019 at home surrounded by family. Rolland was born in Kalamazoo on January 12, 1948, the son of Rolland “Curly” John Courtney, Jr. and Ethel Zenzie (DeYoung) Courtney. On Sunday, June 24, 2012, Rolland married Ardith Kay (Bowers) Shepard in Marcellus. Rolland is survived by his loving wife: …

William “Bill” P. Zuzanek, age 88, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 21, 2019. Bill was born on April 29, 1931 in Chicago, to the late William P. Adams and Helen (Koubek) Adams. Bill leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife of 30 years, Doris (Mechling) Bell, whom he married on October 28, 1989, two daughters …

Judith Kay (Gildea) Wellington died on Tuesday, September 10th, 2019 at Bryn Mawr Hospital in Bryn Mawr, PA. Judy grew up in Three Rivers, and was a graduate of Three Rivers High School, where she participated in cheerleading. In 1964 she had the honor of becoming Miss Three Rivers and representing Three Rivers in the Miss Michigan competition. After high …

Carole Ann Minger, age 82, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, at Thurston Woods Village. She was born May 5, 1937, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Gerald Ray and Wilma May (Fieberkorn) Carper. Carole had been a resident of the Sturgis and Bronson area all her life and had been employed at Kirsch Company for many …

Shane Matthew Buelna, age 31, of Burr Oak, passed away Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, at Dallas VA Medical Center in Dallas. Shane was the beloved son of Melodie Hummer Frazin and Kevin Ivan Bird. He was born July 11, 1988, in Elkhart. Shane honorably served his country in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear engineer. Shane was a lifetime learner and loved …

Rita Christine Scheske, age 84, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday morning, Sept. 22, 2019, at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. She was born April 24, 1935, in Morehead, Ky., a daughter of the late Joseph and Katherine Irene (Phelps) McClurg. Rita resided in Sturgis since 1969, coming from Southfield. She married Melvin Gerald Scheske in Detroit. He preceded her in …