Obituaries

Lydia Mae Bontrager, age 94, of Centreville, passed away Sunday morning, July 14, 2019, at her home. She was born April 22, 1925, in Centreville, a daughter of the late Alvin J. and Lydia (Hochstetler) Yoder. On March 1, 1942, she married William Bontrager. He preceded her in death Oct. 2, 2009. She is survived by 10 children, Alvin (Susie) …

Jean Dare (Osbon) (Lukomski) Rynberg passed away on Saturday, July 13, 2019. She was born Sept. 8, 1929, in Colon, to Richard and Dorotha (Slagle) Osbon. She attended Colon High School, graduating in 1947, and earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jean worked as an auditor for First National Bank in Sturgis until her retirement. On July 12, 1985, …

Fr. Jude Bell, monk of St. Gregory’s Abbey, an Episcopal Benedictine monastery in Three Rivers, died peacefully on Thursday, July 11, 2019, the Feast of St. Benedict. He was born as Roger Craig Bell on June 20, 1928 in Otwell, Indiana of William F. Bell, Sr. and Edna Craig Bell. He received an AB at Indiana University Bloomington in 1949. …

Judith Karen Darmofal, age 78, of Colon passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at Borgess Ascension Hospital in Kalamazoo. Judy was born Aug. 21, 1940, in Toledo, Ohio, a daughter of the late Harry and Dorothy (Kemming) Hasty. In 1958, Judy married George Brittingham. In 1963, she married Raymond J. Darmofal. She had worked for 13 years at Acorn Building …

Wanda Jean (VanZile) Parlin, age 92, of Sturgis, passed away on Wednesday, July 10, 2019, at Thurston Woods in Sturgis. Wanda was born Feb. 7, 1927, in Elkhart, a daughter of the late Rolland J. and Fern I. (Thursby) Wise. Wanda grew up in Centreville, graduating from Centreville High School with the class of 1945. She later moved to Sturgis. …

Morris B. “Sonny” Frain, age 63, of Sturgis, died Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born on July 2, 1956, in LaGrange to Morris A. and Goldie Louise (Edcox) Frain. Sonny worked at Shook’s restaurant in Kendallville for several years. He is survived by his three sisters; Mary Deal of Sturgis, Delores (Lynn) Reece …

Patricia Ruth Weitzel, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Friday, July 5, 2019, at her home. She was born April 17, 1934, in Central Lake, a daughter of the late Harold and Clara (Wilson) Zook. Pat was a longtime Sturgis resident. On Oct. 14, 1977, she married David R. Weitzel at First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis. She was an …

Herman Skelton, Jr., age 84, of Constantine, passed away Wednesday, July 10th, at Heartland Health Care Center, Three Rivers. Herman was born in Constantine on January 23, 1935, a son of Herman and Sadie (Thorn) Skelton, Sr. He graduated from Constantine High School in 1954 and served in the Army National Guard. On February 14, 1976, he married Ruby Lydia …

Robert Errol Shaler, age 81, of Cassopolis, passed away during the early morning hours on Friday, June 21, 2019 in St. Joseph, Michigan. He was born in Lowell, Michigan on March 17, 1938 the son of Harry L. and Marguerite M. (Holland) Shaler. Bob loved: life, his wife of 22 years, Rottweilers, family, helping others, traveling, his 1896 Victorian era …

Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Carroll and Marietta (Briner) Combs, passed away together on Saturday, July 6, 2019 in their home. Samuel was born on Dec. 6, 1939 in Chavies, Ky., the son of the late Jeff and Latisha (Duff) Combs. Marietta was born on Aug. 31, 1941 in Crothersville, Ind., the daughter of the late Wilson and Lula Ann (Beringer) …