Obituaries

Virgil Hicks, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2018, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital in LaGrange. He was born Aug. 5, 1930, in Wayland, Ky., a son of the late Andrew and Eva (Hicks) Hicks. Virgil was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War and earning the rank of corporal. He was a prisoner of war and earned the …

Roger Leroy Heath, age 70, of Mendon, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 while working at his home. He was born in Vicksburg, on April 24, 1948 the son of Merle E. and Betty L. (Thomas) Heath and has been a lifetime resident of the area. Roger attended Vicksburg Schools. He had been employed over the years by Tri-Lakes …

Teresa Marie Buehlman, age 59, of Leonidas, died Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo following a brief illness. She was born in Vicksburg on June 1, 1959 the daughter of Merle E. and Betty L. (Thomas) Heath. She attended Colon Schools and later received her GED from Centreville High School. Teresa was married to Ronald K. …

Joyce M. Giles, age 83, of White Pigeon, died Friday, Dec. 21, 2018, in Goshen, following an extended illness. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, 2018, at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Interment will follow in White Pigeon Township Cemetery. Donations …

Janet L. Grove, age 78, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, Dec. 24, 2018, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born Dec. 30, 1939, in Jackson, a daughter of the late Kenneth and Pauline (Brooks) Walling. Janet had resided in the Sturgis area since 1987, coming from Coldwater. She was first married to William Leon Spade. On Aug. 22, …

John James Freeman, Sr. age 68, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday morning, December 23, 2018 at his home. He was born June 23, 1950 in Memphis, Tennessee son of the late Shirley Jean Freeman. John resided in Sturgis since 2005 coming from Fremont, Ohio. He was a talented airbrush artist. His work was featured in many different publications including …

Frederick W. Wolf, age 68, of Constantine, passed away on Saturday, December 22, 2018 at his home. He was born June 18, 1950 in Sturgis a son of Fred and June (Geark) Wolf. Fred graduated from Sturgis public schools. On August 29, 1981 he married Catherine Renee Cruce in Constantine. He was employed for many years at Oak Products in Sturgis …

Lilly J. Misner, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, December 20, 2018 at Elkhart General Hospital. She was born June 26, 1927 in Colon, a daughter to the late George and Lilly (Thrams) Schellhous. Lilly was a graduate of Colon High School and resided in Sturgis all of her adult life. On May 10, 1946 she married Lee Monroe …

On Friday, December 21, 2018, Leone Viola (Schoch) Huff of Volinia went to her heavenly home to be with her Lord and Savior. She passed away at her home after a long illness surrounded by her family. Leone was born in Howardsville, MI on December 26, 1914, to Leora and Arthur Schoch. Shortly after her birth, her family moved to …

Denna L. Close, age 55, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 18, 2018, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born May 31, 1963, in Sturgis, daughter of Wallace “Butch” and Patricia “Pat” (McLaughin) Bowman. Denna resided in the Sturgis and Constantine area most of her life. She had been employed at Bay Bridge Manufacturing in Bristol, and …