Obituaries

Ronnie “Gus” Kahler, age 70, of Indianapolis, passed away Wednesday, January 17, 2018. He was born May 16, 1947 in Dowagiac, the son of Bernard Dale and Eulah (Stanard) Kahler. Ronnie received his associate degree in Applied Science from Southwest Michigan College in 1968 and was part of the first graduating class.  He was employed with CTS for 40+ years.  …

Blanche McKee, age 89, of Mendon, passed away Tuesday, January 16, 2018. She was born March 23, 1928 in Newberg Township, MI, the daughter of Charles John and Hazel Mildred (Wahl) Hartman.  On October 12, 1945 in Marcellus, she married Rolland E. McKee who preceded her in death. She loved her little dogs, her chickens and gardening, especially her flower …

Jon David Stage, age 79, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 16, 2018, at his home. He was born Aug. 10, 1938, in Ironwood, a son of the late Henry and Marie (Skeel) Stage. Jon resided in Sturgis since 1947 coming from Ironwood. On July 20, 1963, he married Gwen Patterson. Most of Jon’s working life was involved in …

Nellie F. Middlestadt, age 71, of Marcellus, passed away Monday, January 15, 2018. She was born September 10, 1946 in Osceola, AR, the daughter of Louis and Sula Mae (Burfield) Allred.  On March 19, 1966 she married David Middlestadt who preceded her in death. Nellie worked as a nurses aid for 27 years at the former Bronson Lakeview Nursing Home …

Theodore C. Eckert, age 74, of Burr Oak, passed away Monday, Jan. 15, 2018, at his home. He was born Aug. 1, 1943, in Sturgis, a son of the late Carl and Lenora (Holtz) Eckert. Ted was a lifelong resident of Burr Oak and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1961. On Nov. 8, 1968, he …

Helen L. Stewart, age 95, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018, at Sturgis Hospital. Helen was born May 24, 1922, in Oil Hill, Kan., a daughter of the late Leroy and Vivian (Troxel) Sprowl. Helen had lived in Colon, where she had worked at Colmer Company, and for the past 20 years had lived in Sturgis. On March …

Rolland J. (Rod) Mead, 64, of Florence Township, Constantine, died Friday, Jan. 12, 2018, at his home. He was born Aug. 5, 1953, a son of John and Caroline (Hafer) Strait. He had been a Constantine-area resident for the past 34 years. He was employed as an auto mechanic, welder and fabricator for Med Tech, a licensed firearms dealer and …

Edward W. Marsh, age 71, of Jones, passed away Saturday, January 13, 2018. He was born May 18, 1946 the son of Edward and Helen (Griffin) Marsh. He attended Jones and Three Rivers Schools and lived most of his life in the Jones area.  Edward served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and was awarded the Silver Star, Combat Infantry …

Darren J. Gearhart passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2018 unexpectedly with his father by his side.  He was born on September 04, 1984 in Kalmazoo, the son of David R. Gearhart Jr and Veronica L. Etter (deceased) . He was a resident of Marcellus for many years of his life. Darren loved the outdoors.  He was an avid fisherman and …

Patsy Emma Baker, age 83, of Constantine, passed away peacefully on Friday, Jan. 12th, 2018 at Grace Healthcare Nursing Home. She was born in Constantine on April 8, 1934 the daughter of the late Johnny and Lorene (Smith) Leister and her step-mother, Pearl Camphues. Patsy was preceded in death by her husband James “Bud” Baker, and one sister Lois Munson. …