Obituaries

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, …

Margaret Helen Shultz, age 68, of Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, September 9, 2019 in Kalamazoo. She was born on December 11, 1950 in Lansing, the daughter of Malcolm and Mary Helen (Benson) McNeil. Margaret graduated from Monsignor John Gabriel’s Catholic School, class of 1969 and went on to receive her bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University in 1973. On June …

Edith “Sarah”  Hooker was born on July 6, 1923, to the late Edith Mary and Earl Logan Lambert in Dakota, Illinois. While attending Carthage College she met her future husband, Robert L. Hooker, also a student. Upon Bob’s ordination as a Lutheran pastor, the then married couple moved to San Francisco. It was the beginning of an adult life full …

George G. Pratt, age 83, of Celina, Tenn., and formerly of the White Pigeon area, died Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019, at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Services will be held at noon at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Mottville Township Cemetery, with full military …

Richard Lee McDaniel Sr., age 55, of Constantine, died on Monday, September 9, 2019 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He was born on January 1, 1964 in South Bend, a son of Franklin Richard and Linda Kay (Arnold) McDaniel. Richard graduated from Constantine High School in 1982 and attended Glen Oaks Community College. He received his Journeyman tool & …

Bree Kaitlin King, age 19, of Constantine, passed away after a long battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer on Sunday, September 8, 2019 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. Bree was born in Coldwater on February 17, 2000, a daughter of Don and Tina (Liles) King.  She attended Constantine Public Schools, graduating in 2019. Bree loved to go camping.  She enjoyed …

Colleen S. Yunker, age 78, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday morning, Sept. 8, 2019, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born Feb. 6, 1941, in Pierre, S.D., a daughter of the late Leland and Eleanor (Wareing) Steele. Colleen resided in Sturgis for more than 50 years, coming from South Dakota. On Aug.10, 1979, she married Jean H. Yunker …

Joshua P. Wickey, age 41, of Kalamazoo, passed away peacefully Friday, Sept. 6, 2019, at his home, surrounded by his beloved family. Joshua, a son of Jeffery and Sharon (Sorko-Ram) Wickey, was born May 13, 1978, in Sturgis. Joshua lived most of his life in the Sturgis and Kalamazoo region, graduating from home school in 1996. Following completion of his …