Obituaries

David A. Kauffman, age 62, of Centreville, died on Sunday, May 26, 2019 at his home following a short illness. He is survived by his wife Mary Kauffman, son Samuel Kauffman, 4 daughters Loretta Combs, Sarah Odubela, Rosanna Miller, Malinda Schwartz, and 7 grandchildren Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Eickhoff Farrand Halverson Chapel in …

LuAnn (Studeman) Herding, age 65, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully Sunday evening, May 26, 2019, at Glenn Arbor Hospice residence in Battle Creek. She was born Feb. 19, 1954, in Detroit. Her parents, Robert Frank and Grace E. (Parker) Studeman, preceded her in death, along with twin infant sisters Marilyn and Mary Studeman. On Feb. 19, 1973, she married George …

Foy Heltzel, age 87, of Sturgis, passed away Friday, May 24, 2019, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born Nov. 23, 1931, a son of Milton and Sylvia (Itt) Heltzel. Foy lived in LaGrange County, Ind., for 31 years, moving in 1962 to Sturgis, where he lived until his death. He was a veteran of U.S. Army, serving 1952-1954, …

Sandra “Sandy” Jean Swartzentruber, age 77, of Mendon, passed away in the early hours on Wednesday, May 22, 2019 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on December 15, 1941 the daughter of Frances and Helen (McElvain) Truckey. Sandy was a long-time resident of Mendon, having graduated from Mendon High School in the class of 1959. She retired from …

Linda Lou Thrams, age 62, of Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, May 24, 2019, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born Nov. 20, 1956, in Dayton, Ohio, a daughter of Donald Ray and Mary Lou (Brinkman) Ware. Linda was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1976. On April 17, …

Thomas Michael “Tom” Millard, age 77 of Mendon, died peacefully at his riverside home on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. He was born in Three Rivers on Dec. 29, 1941 the son of the late Kenneth A. and Mercedes A. (Truckey) Millard. Tom graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1960. He was married to Karen Osgood on Dec. …

Marialyce Leer, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday morning, May 22, 2019, at Glenn Arbor Hospice Residence in Battle Creek. She was born March 20, 1928, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Fred and Katherine (Raudman) Stutz. Marialyce resided her entire life in Sturgis, with the exception of 10 years when she lived in Algonac. She was …

Alice Drake, age 93, of Three Rivers, died May 16, 2019. She was born April 30, 1926 in Constantine, the third of four children born to Stanley and Mildred Drake. Alice will be greatly missed by family and friends.  She is survived by one sister, Jane Drake of Lexington, Michigan; nieces, Jennifer Drake of Kalamazoo, Suzanne (James) Crabbs of Quincy, …

Lyle E. Thrasher, age 85, a lifelong resident of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, May 22, 2019, at his home, with family by his side. He was born June 15, 1933, in Sturgis, a son of the late Ambrose and Hazel (Bordner) Thrasher. On June 25, 1960, he married Mary L. Persails. Surviving are his wife, Mary; two sons, Alan (Renae) …

Dixie L. Melchi, age 77, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday morning, May 22, 2019, at her home, with her family at her side. She was born Sept. 11, 1941, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Kenneth and Irene (Abbs) Thompson. Dixie resided in Mattawan for 30 years. The rest of her life was lived in Sturgis, where she was …