Obituaries

Ralph E. Parham, age 96, of Venice, Fla., and a former longtime resident of Howe, Ind., passed away Saturday morning, Sept. 14, 2019, at Venice Hospice House in Venice. He was born July 11, 1923, in Billings, Mont., a son of the late Lyle H. and Nora E. (Brown) Parham. Ralph resided in Florida since 2015. Prior to moving to …

Sally Lou Stevens, age 77, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday morning, August 24, 2019 at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born April 15, 1942 in Sturgis, 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 October …

Patricia Anne Bristol, age 88, of Marcellus, passed away Sunday, September 15, 2019, at home surrounded by her family. Patricia was born in Medford, Wisconsin on March 26, 1931, the daughter of Albert Oliver and Elsi Mae (Green) Rogers. On June 7, 1952, she married Verlin “Shaky” George Bristol, in Rockford, IL. Together they had five children: Sandy, Candy, Randy …

Donald Lamar Rentfrow, age 74, of Portage, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, September 14, 2019.  Don was born on October 29th, 1944 in Elkhart, to the late Lyle Lamar and Marguerite (Rumsey) Rentfrow.  Don was also preceded in death by one daughter Theresa in 1964 and one brother David Rentfrow. Don leaves to …

William Francis West, age 92, of rural Vicksburg, died Friday, Sept. 13, 2019 at his home. He was born in Olney, IL on Dec. 13, 1926 the son of Harley and Mattie (Delzell) West. After graduation from Athens High School he worked at the Oliver Plant in Battle Creek and for Wolf’s Feed and Grain in Athens. For many years …

Ruby Mildred Estes, age 96, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, September 12, 2019 at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born June 2, 1923 in Cumberland Gap, TN a daughter to the late Theo and Louise (Greer) Estes. She was preceded in death by her parents, husbands: Charles Estes and Rex Willis; son: David Estes; …

Wanda Ucille Stauder, age 98, of Three Rivers, died Sunday, Sept. 8, 2019 at Thurston Woods Villa. She was born in Otsego, MI on March 26, 1921, the daughter of Leo Fowler and Anna Fowler. She graduated from Cedar Lake Academy, Glen Oaks Community College and attended Western Michigan University. Wanda was married to George D. Stauder on January 22, …

James A. Walker Sr. age 86, of Kalamazoo, and formerly of Centreville, passed away at home Wednesday, Sept., 11, 2019, with his family at his side. Jim was born April 28, 1933, in Kalamazoo, a son of the late George “Chi” and Elizabeth (Ballinger) Walker. He served his country honorably in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany during …

Robert James “Bobby” Schwartz, age 57, of Leonidas, passed away Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, in Portage. He was born Jan. 25, 1962 in Sturgis, a son of Eli and Clara (Mast) Schwartz. Robert graduated from Colon High School with the class of 1980 and had lived in Fort Wayne, and Florida for a few years before moving back to St. …

Shirley A. Lesniak, age 80, of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday morning, Sept. 11, 2019, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born July 17, 1939, in Detroit, a daughter of the late Anthony and Helen (Mentkowski) Krasniewski. Shirley resided in Sturgis since 1972, coming from Detroit. On June 27, 1959, she married Walter John Lesniak in Detroit. He died Nov. 25, …