Obituaries

Rick L. Downer of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly Saturday, February 2nd, 2019 at the age of 61. He was born to parents Richard and Janet Downer on March 10th, 1957 in Three Rivers. He grew up as the oldest of three and attended Three Rivers High School where he played Trumpet in the marching band. In 2000, he married …

Geraldine Emily Lawrence, age 93, of Three Rivers, passed away on Friday, February 1, 2019 at her daughter’s home in Three Rivers.  She was born in Wasepi, MI on September 18, 1925 to John and Rosa M. (Barnes) Favorite. Geraldine graduated from South Haven High School in 1943.  She worked in a bakery during her senior year, then went to …

Sharon Marie Milliman, age 76, of Sturgis, passed away Monday afternoon, Feb. 4, 2019, at her home. She was born Aug. 26, 1942, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Morris and Philena (Ryder) Jackson. Sharon was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1960. On Aug. 23, 1997, she married Marvin …

Michael L. “Mike” Happel, age 55, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born Nov. 2, 1963, in Sturgis, a son of Lee G. and Judith E. (Abbs) Happel. Michael was a graduate of Burr Oak High School with the class of 1982. He continued his education and graduated from Michigan …

Hershel Powell, age 78, of Simpsonville, S.C., and formerly of Sturgis, husband of Betty Videtto Powell, died Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, while at home with his family. He was born in Batesville, Ark., a son of the late Herman and Eula Stroud Powell. Mr. Powell served our country in the U.S. Army Signal Corps in Korea. In addition to his …

Linda Vander Mei, age 85, passed away on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019 at her home in Three Rivers. She was born in Harkema, Friesland in The Netherlands. On June 9, 1956 she married Evert Vander Mei. She is survived by three children, Gary (Chris) Vander Mei, Gus Vander Mei, Theresa (Ken) Rondeau; five grandchildren, Jenny (Daniel) Hill, Chad, Max and …

Thomas A. Decker, age 74, of Cassopolis, died Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 29, 2019. He was born June 9, 1944 in South Bend,  the oldest of three children born to Dean and Betty Decker. Tom was a lifelong Cassopolis resident. He was passionate about the outdoors and loved spending time in the field hunting pheasant over one of his beloved dogs. …

Michael H. Deskovitz, age 82, of Lake Templene, passed away at Borgess Medical Center on Tuesday, January 29, 2019.  He was born in Detroit on June 19, 1936, a son of Mike and Esthma (Darensburg) Deskovitz. He graduated from Wyandotte Mt. Carmel High School and went on to play football for the University of Detroit before graduating from Lawrence Tech. …

Thomas Peter “Tommy” Shepard Jr., age 50, of Marcellus passed away Saturday, January 26, 2019. Thomas was born September 26, 1968, in Elkhart, the son of Thomas P. Shepard Sr., who preceded in death April 28, 2001, and Ardith K. (Bowers) Shepard. Surviving is Thomas’ one son: Tristan T. Shepard of Centreville, mother: Ardith K. (Bowers) Shepard and step father: …

Matthew John Powell, age 38, of Colon, passed away Wednesday, January 30, 2019 unexpectedly at his home. Matt was born September 1, 1980 in St. Charles, IL a son to the late John T. and Laura Elizabeth Brown. Matt married Mickey L. Baker in 2009 in Sturgis. He had made his home in Colon for the last nine years coming …