Obituaries

Frances “Fran” Reya DeKilder, age 68, of Marcellus, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019 at Bronson Methodist Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on Sept. 14, 1950 in Elkhart, the daughter of the late Kenneth Paul and Janice Mae Heffner. On June 15, 1970 Frances married the love of …

Janet M. Peterson, age 74, of Mendon, passed away at Heartland Health Care Center on Wednesday, August 28, 2019. She was born in Toledo on November 5, 1944, a daughter of Ted and Irene (Moore) Brown. Janet went to Hillsdale Schools, graduating in 1962. After, she received her business degree from Augerbright Business College in Battle Creek. On December 8, …

Claudette Webber, age 86, of Sturgis, born March 30, 1933, passed away at home on Wednesday, August 28, 2019. Claudette is survived by her husband of 64 years; Robert “Bob” Webber: and her children; Michael and Jaymme. The family is being assisted by Avink Funeral Home & Cremation Society, 129 S. Grand St., PO Box 417, Schoolcraft, MI 49097.

John Franklin Phillips, age 58, of Centreville, died Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2019 at his home following a long illness. He was born in Sturgis on Jan. 26, 1961 the son of the late Carlos E. and Laura J. (McClish) Phillips, and was a lifetime resident of the area. He graduated from Centreville High School and later became a Certified Nursing …

Debra S. “Deb” Bruystens, age 63, of Mendon, died Monday, Aug. 26, 2019 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born in Three Rivers on Oct. 6, 1955 and was a lifetime resident of St. Joseph County. Following her graduation from Three Rivers High School she was married to Millard Bruystens on April 5, 1975 at the Parkville Community …

Sally Lou Stevens, age 77, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday morning, Aug. 24, 2019, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born April 15, 1942, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Owen Henry and Maxine Pearl (VanDyke) Powers. Sally was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1960. On Oct. …

Harold O. Walters, age 100, of Colon, died Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019 at Bronson Commons near Mattawan. He was born in Burr Oak Township on Aug. 27, 1918 the son of Otis Roy Walters and Grace Ethel (Ultz) Walters and was a lifetime resident of the Burr Oak-Colon area. He graduated from Colon High School. Harold was married to Ila …

JoAnn L. Flatt, age 59, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019, at Three Rivers Health. She was born Sept. 1, 1959, in Burr Oak, a daughter of the late Robert L. and Rosetta June (Burch) Stuck. JoAnn graduated from Burr Oak High School and lived in Niles, Mishawaka and Sturgis throughout her life. She was first married to …

Roy D. Oliver, age 52, of White Pigeon, died Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo, following an extended illness. He was born Jan. 21, 1967, in Rensselaer, Ind., a son of Roger G. and Thelma (Ratliff) Oliver. He was a resident of White Pigeon, coming from Bristol. He was employed in the maintenance department at Merhow …

Gladys “Lucille” Melville, age 94, of Marcellus, passed away early Thursday morning, August 22, 2019, peacefully in her sleep. Lucille was born on April 21, 1925 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the daughter of Robert F. and Iva P. (Luskleet) Midkiff. On November 20, 1943, she married Leslie E. Melville in Benton Harbor, MI. Together they had five children: Sandra, Donna, …