Obituaries

Richard “Dick” Cripe, age 87 of Centreville, passed away at his home surrounded by his family on Monday, July 22, 2019. Dick was born in Youngstown, OH on April 12, 1932, the son of Glen “Dutch” and Bess (Beaty) Cripe. He graduated from Morgan Park High School in Chicago in 1950 and received his Masters in Counseling and Industrial Arts …

Elsie A. (Baker) Sees, age 76, of Goshen, passed away Friday morning, July 19, 2019, at Goshen Health Hospital. She was born May 11, 1943, in Three Rivers, a daughter of the late William Bond “Bill” and Mildred Ethel “Sally” (Ryan) Baker. Elsie resided in Goshen for the past 20 years, coming from Sturgis, where she was a graduate of …

Carolyn J. Eckert, age 74, of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday evening, July 21, 2019, at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Kalamazoo. She was born Nov. 27, 1945, in Three Rivers, a daughter of the late William Phillip and Bernice (Parker) Clark. Carolyn resided most of her life in the Burr Oak area. On Nov. 8, 1968, she married Theodore …

Joshua Nelson Bell, age 36, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at his home. He was born Sept. 25, 1982, in Sturgis, a son of Daniel Nelson and Debra (Trine) Bell. Josh was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a member of the Sturgis High School class of 2001 and a graduate of Ding King Car Detailing School. Most …

Donald Moore, age 70, of Kalamazoo, died on Friday, July 12, 2019. He was born May 7, 1949, in Lansing, the son of John and Wilma (Proctor) Moore. Don graduated from East Lansing High School and earned his B.S. in Biology from Alma College. He was a lifelong educator and coach. Don retired after 37 years after serving the Three …

Judith K. Wood, age 78, of Three Rivers, died Thursday, July 18, 2019, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, following an extended illness. She was born April 6, 1941, in Sturgis, a daughter of H. Russell and Mary (Gross) Lough. She was a Three Rivers resident for the past 40 years, coming from White Pigeon. She was employed at Continental Can in …

Cecelia Diane (Brooks) Huber, age 66, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, July 18, 2019, at Three Rivers Health. She was born May 6, 1953, in Harrisburg, Ark., a daughter of Billy Wayne and Hazel (Minor) Brooks. Cecelia moved from Arkansas to Indiana and graduated from New Carlisle High School in 1972. She also lived in Ohio and Michigan. On June …

Eric L. Stafford, age 37, of Mottville, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, July 17, 2019.  He was born in Sturgis on October 16, 1981, a son of Brad Stafford and Lisa (Swart) Finch.  He attended Middlebury schools. Eric currently worked as a swingman for Coachman RV in Middlebury and previously for Thor Motor Coach.  On June 9, …

Omer D. Bontrager, age 85, of White Pigeon, died Wednesday, July 17, 2019, at his home, following a nine-month illness. He was born July 6, 1934, in Mio, a son of Dan and Fannie (Kaufman) Bontrager. He was a resident of White Pigeon since 1965, coming from Sturgis and Lansing. He was employed by Elkhart Products, retiring in 1999. Omer …

“Drake” Frank Edward Ward, age 87, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, July 17, 2019 surrounded by his devoted and loving family. He was born April 20, 1932 in Lancaster Wisconsin, the son of Lyle Ward and Eva (Tindell) Ward. He was a Staff Sargent in the US Air Force, from April 1951 until April 1955, serving in England. …