Obituaries

Margie Edna (Edson) Krontz Close, age 89, of Bronson, passed away late Wednesday evening, Sept. 26, 2018, at her home. She was born Feb. 10, 1929, to Ethel Maud Edson McAuliffe, in Somerville, Mass. She was raised by her German step-grandmother, Caroline Spangenburg Edson Miller, in Sturgis, having been told her mother died after giving birth. Margie had many stories …

Alta Blanche (Flanders) Toush, age 93, of Marcellus, passed away Tuesday, September 26, 2018. She was born on March 17, 1925, in Dowagiac, the only child of Carl Louis and Amy (Smith) Flanders. On July 8, 1950, she married Robert L. Toush, whom together had one daughter: Sheila (James) Roberts of Three Rivers, and one son: Lawrence “Larry” Toush of …

Charles LaVerne McClain, age 94, of Constantine, passed away Monday, September 24th, at Heartland Health Care Center, Three Rivers. Charles was born in Osceola, IN on November 1, 1923, a son of William Stewart and Edna Mae (Simpson) McClain. He graduated from Middlebury High School in 1941. Charles served in the US Army and the Merchant Marines. On July 20, …

Ella (Brabec) Lamphere, age 92, of Mendon, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2018 at the Three Rivers Health Emergency Room. She was born in Chicago on Nov. 25, 1925 and attended schools there. She was married to Rolly Arthur Lamphere in Chicago on Dec. 20, 1941. Ella worked for Delco Radio in Chicago. After moving to Mendon in 1949 she worked …

Elsie M. Ludwig, age 84, of Jones, passed away Sunday, September 23, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center. Elsie was born in Pittsburgh, PA on February 10, 1934, a daughter of Mabel (Quake) and Jesse Arnold. She attended school in Three Rivers. On August 26, 1950, she married Orson “Bud” Ludwig in Three Rivers; he preceded her in death on May …

Vivian J. Ochampaugh, age 94, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday morning, Sept. 20, 2018, at her home. She was born Nov. 2, 1923, in Flint, a daughter of the late Beaumont and Grace Lucille (Phillips) Lavender. Mrs. Ochampaugh resided in Sturgis for the past year and a half. She had lived in Kalamazoo for many years and her early life …

Robert “Pidge” John Schabes, age 87, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at his home. He was born in Chicago on March 29, 1931 the son of the late William J. and Catherine (Collopy) Schabes. Mr. Schabes served his country honorably in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He married his first wife Joan …

Gerry L. Duncan, age 65, of Constantine, passed away Saturday, September 22, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center. He was born in Warsaw, Indiana on March 19, 1953, a son of Bernard and Phyllis (Wuthrich) Duncan. Gerry went to Three Rivers Schools, graduating in 1970. On August 28, 1971, he married Denise Clarkson in Centreville. Gerry worked as a truck driver …

Marcia J. (Batten) Ross, age 79, of Sherwood, passed away Friday, Sept. 21, 2018, in Sturgis. Marcia was born April 12, 1939, in Mendon, a daughter to the late Earl and Mary (Neddo) Batten. On Feb. 24, 1968, she married Earl Ross Jr. in Leonidas. Marcia had made her home in Sherwood for the past 45 years where she was …

Robert E. Kime, age 85, of Howe, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018, at his residence. He was born on March 12, 1933, in Howe, Ind., to Ervin and Mildred (Harris) Kime. Bob was a lifetime residence of the Howe community. He worked for 53 years at Sherman Farm Equipment. He was a mechanic and the service manager. He was a …