Obituaries

After a brief battle with cancer, Lee “Bruty” Griffith, age 81, of Mendon, passed away on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at Bronson Hospital surrounded by his beloved family. Lee was born on September 7, 1944 to John and Edna (Forney) Griffith in Savannah, Illinois.  The family relocated to Michigan, and Lee graduated from Mendon High School in 1962.  In 1965, …

Gary Louis Johnson, age 76, of Allegan, passed away on Monday, March 16, 2026, at Beacon Health System in Kalamazoo. Gary was born on October 22, 1949 in Allegan, the son of Clair and Norma (Sweet) Johnson. On October 12, 1972, he married the love of his life, Shirley Alsip, in Saugatuck. Together they built a life centered on love, …

Clarence S. Harter, age 62, died unexpectedly on Monday, March 16, 2026, at Parkview Noble Emergency Room. He was born June 12, 1963 in Sturgis to Ralph and Betty (Markley) Harter. Clarence was a 1982 graduate of Lakeland High School and went on to work in various manufacturing positions throughout the area. On August 14, 1999, he married the love …

Wanetta Louise VanScoik, age 96, of Three Rivers, passed away on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at The Orchards of Three Rivers. She was born on July 16, 1929 in Nappanee, Indiana, the daughter of Virgil K. and Hazel P. (Wagner) Postma. If success in life were measured by the number of houses owned, degrees earned, or the size of one’s …

Penny Elaine Gearhart, age 78, of Three Rivers, went to be with her Lord Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Birch Meadows Senior Care. She was born August 16, 1947 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Charles and Nola (Dehn) Daugherty, and graduated from Three Rivers High School with the Class of 1965. Penny had the honor of being named Miss …

Francis “Frank” Raymond Steinman, age 80, of Three Rivers, passed away Friday, March 13, 2026, at his home, surrounded by his loving family while holding the hand of his beloved wife. Frank was born on September 9, 1945 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, the son of Delmar and Flora (Mileham) Steinman. He grew up on the family farm in Charlotte …

John Wayne Stuart, age 76, of Angola, passed away early Monday morning, March 16, 2026, at his home with his family at his side. He was born January 21, 1950 in Sturgis, son of Paul Wayne and Phyllis Rose (Mast) Stuart. John resided in Angola since 1996, coming from Sturgis, where he was a graduate of Sturgis High School with …

Don Gary Meixner, age 83, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, March 15, 2026. He was born on June 25, 1942 in Detroit, the son of William and Anna (Medley) Meixner. Don graduated from Inland Lakes High School with the Class of 1960. In his younger years, he lived on the east side of Michigan, …

Marion Wayne “Hap” Yoder, age 75, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday morning, March 15, 2026, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born January 11, 1951 in Sturgis, son of the late Sylvanus LeRoy and Sylvia (Yoder) Yoder. Hap resided in the Sturgis and Colon area most of his life. He retired from International Paper Company in Sturgis …

Paul Weston Fries, age 67, of Vine Grove, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at Beacon Three Rivers Health, surrounded by his beloved family while visiting them in Three Rivers. Paul was born February 21, 1959 in Elgin, Illinois, a son to Robert Gustav and Waltraut (Kullmann) Fries. He spent his early childhood in Carpentersville, Illinois before …