Obituaries

Ernest A. Willman, age 96, of Constantine, passed away on Friday, November 16, 2018 at home.  Ernie was born December 22, 1921 in Chesterton, IN, son of Ernest and Emma (Milbrandt) Willman.  He attended school in Three Rivers until 8th grade, when he started farming on the family farm in 1931.  Ernie was a lifelong farmer, purchasing his first farm …

Robert H. Smith, age 80, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday afternoon, Nov. 15, 2018, at the home of his son in Colon. He was born Feb. 22, 1938, in Bronson, a son of the late John and Ellen (Woodcox) Smith. Bob resided his entire life in the Sturgis area and was a graduate of Brighton High School in Brighton, Ind., …

Robert Michael Young, age 85, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Nov. 15, 2018, at his home. Robert was born Nov. 5, 1933, in Harvey, Ill., a son of the late James and Mary (Boyle) Young. On Oct. 15, 1966, he married Rose LaBanca in Harvey. She preceded him in death Oct. 12, 2013. He had worked as a lab …

Virginia Lee “Ginger” Neal, age 81, of Athens, died peacefully at her beloved home on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018 following a ten-year illness. She was born in Kalamazoo on Oct. 28, 1937 the daughter of James and Marguerite (Vink) Waters. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School and also graduated from several banking institutes. She was involved in banking for …

Douglas John Teadt, age 67, of Burr Oak, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, at his home. He was born April 30, 1951, in Colon, a son of the late Clifford L. and Helen Irene (Maystead) Teadt. Doug was a lifelong Burr Oak resident and a graduate of Burr Oak High School with the class of 1969. Most of Doug’s …

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 …