Obituaries

Douglas Anthony Novak, age 67, of Leonidas, died Monday, Nov. 19, 2018 at Bronson Methodist Hospital after an extended illness. He was born in Flint, MI on Aug. 1, 1951 the son of the late Harry and Lorraine (King) Novak. Doug graduated from Bentley High School in Flint and served in the U.S. Air Force during the Viet Nam war. …

Linda Dee Linn, 71, of Interlochen, formerly of Edwardsburg, died peacefully at her home on November 7, 2018.  She was born on September 14, 1947 to Donald and Irene (Sheets) Aldrich in Sturgis. Linda attended White Pigeon Community Schools, graduating with honors in 1965. She went on to study at Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University where she graduated, …

Donald A. Maystead, age 78, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday afternoon, Nov. 17, 2018, surrounded by his family at Grace Health Care of Three Rivers. He was born March 23, 1940, in Burr Oak, son of the late Earl and Edna (Lankanau) Maystead. Don was a lifelong resident of the Burr Oak and Sturgis area and a graduate of Burr …

Evelyn May Blucker, age 78, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully Saturday afternoon, Nov. 17, 2018, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born Aug. 26, 1940, in Cassopolis, daughter of the late Menno and Nora (Weldy) Richer. On Feb. 2, 1958, she married John Blucker in Goshen. Evelyn was employed as a recess teacher at Congress School in Sturgis …

Gene “Binky” LuRay Bontrager, age 53, of Constantine, passed away on Friday, November 16, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center.  Binky was born on March 20, 1965 in Kalamazoo, a son of Jacob and June (Hood) Bontrager. He attended schools in Beecher City, IL and in Three Rivers, and later received his GED while in the U.S. Army National Guard.  He served …

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 …