Obituaries

Paula Doenges, age 56, of Colon, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, at her home, after several months of failing health. Arrangements will be announced at a later date by Schipper Funeral Home in Colon.

James D. Weiss Sr., age 83, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully of natural causes Tuesday morning, November 13, 2018, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born Aug. 23, 1935, in Sturgis, a son of the late Earl and Elizabeth (Grimes) Weiss. Jim resided in the Sturgis area most of his life. In 1953, Jim graduated from Howe Military …

Kenneth LeRoy Davis, age 86, of Sturgis, passed away early Monday morning, Nov. 12, 2018, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born Dec. 12, 1931, in Sturgis, a son of the late Clifford and Helen (Gest) Davis. Ken was a lifelong Sturgis resident. On June 5, 1965, he married he married Rebecca Jean Payton in Stroh, Ind. He had been employed …

Lois Faye Foster, age 78, of Athens, and formerly of Portage, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Reed City, on Aug. 31, 1940 the daughter of the late Rev. Albert Edwin and Eleanor Lavina (Foster-McDougal) McFarland. Lois was a homemaker who also worked at Meijer, a local day-care center, and as …

Bruce M. Jones, age 85, of Centreville, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center following a brief illness.  He was born in Schenectady, NY., the son of the late Duane and Frances (Miller) Jones and moved to Centreville in 1949. Bruce graduated from Centreville High School in 1951, where he was class Treasurer and attended Boys …

Stephen M. Snyder, age 57, of Kalamazoo, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2018, at his home. He was born Feb. 20, 1961, in Three Rivers, a son of Ralph A. and Harriet J. (Hutton) Snyder. He was a 1979 graduate of White Pigeon High School, where he was on the cross country track team and played french horn in the band. …

Jerry Walter Whitley, age 68, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, at Lakeside Cemetery in Colon. The family was assisted by Schipper Funeral Home.

Gerald James Ross Jr., age 70, of Burr Oak, passed away early Saturday morning, Nov. 10, 2018, at Goshen Hospital. He was born Aug. 14, 1948, in Alma, a son of the late Gerald James and Beatrice (Oswald) Ross. Jerry resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area since 1989, coming from St. Louis, Mich., where he had lived his …

Heidi Sue Pyke, age 54, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday evening, Nov.6, 2018, at her home. She was born Dec. 15, 1963, in Champaign, Ill., a daughter of Gary and Carol (VanZile) Jones. Heidi resided most of her life in Sturgis and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1982. On April 11, 1998. she married …

Patricia L. Merriman, 78, of Sturgis, died Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, at Glenn Arbor Hospice in Battle Creek, following an extended illness. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at Grace Christian Fellowship Church in Sturgis, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Cremation will follow the service. Donations may be directed to the family. …