Obituaries

Richard (Dick) Forrest Kirby, age 90, deeply loved husband, father and grandfather, of Oak Park Heights, Minn., and formerly of Sturgis, passed on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean L. Kirby; his mother, Bernice A. Kirby; and his father, Everett L. Kirby. Dick is survived by children Scott (Mary), Kimberly (Steven Belzer) and …

Frederick William Hull, age 63, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday evening, July 18, 2018, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born Jan. 12, 1955, in Grant, a son of the late Dean D. and Hilve (Hendrickson) Hull. Fred resided most of his life in the Sturgis area and was a …

Kathleen Elaine (Reed) Hollister, age 85, of Bronson, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, July 18, 2018. She was born May 20, 1933, the daughter of William Ira and Maurine Ida (Blossom) Reed and lived her life in the Burr Oak and Bronson area. On November 23, 1951, in Angola, she said “I Do” to Donald Roy Hollister …

Stanley W. Bickel, age 76 of Mendon, died Wednesday, July 18, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Cadillac, Michigan on June 20, 1942 the eleventh of twelve children born to Hallett Herr and Hazel Marie (Sheldon) Bickel. After graduating from Cadillac High School, Stanley served in the US Army for four years. He was employed …

Mr. Larry Allen Clark age 77, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at his home.  Larry was born in Defiance, OH on January 15, 1941 the son of Wilfred and Dean (Stoller) Clark. On January 11, 1964 Larry was united in marriage to Mrs. Martha G. “Marty” Clark (Marketon) in Waverly, Minnesota.  Together they raised …

Jerry O. Burnham, age 84, of Vicksburg, passed away with his family at his side Tuesday, July 17, 2018, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born March 17, 1934, in Branch County’s Burlington Township, a son of George and Lucille (Hanna) Burnham. Jerry was a longtime Battle Creek resident after graduating from Marshall High School with the class …

Shea Michael Cline, age 28, of Three Rivers, died Monday, July 16, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Three Rivers on Dec. 3, 1989 the son of John E. and Kimberly (McWatters) Cline III and was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. Shea was a handyman, and had worked for Keller Roofing, JMC Construction, Viking …

Gerald “Gary” C. Ford, a resident of Traverse City, died on July 10, 2018 after a valiant battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. His firm belief in God, as well as the love and support from his family and friends, ultimately gave him peace. Gary never reached his goal of receiving a lung transplant and hoped everyone would consider becoming an …

Ethel Salina (Lehman) Slabaugh, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday evening July 15, 2018, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born March 23, 1927, to Joseph and Stella (Sharp) Lehman in Kenmore, N.D. Her father, a minister, was deceased in North Dakota on Oct. 10, 1928. Her mother, Stella moved with her seven children to Fairview in January 1934. Ethel …

Braelynn Hope Clark, age 13 months, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday afternoon, July 14, 2018, at the Sturgis Hospital emergency room. She was born June 5, 2017, in Sturgis, a daughter of Jordan Carr and Nathan Clark. She is survived by her mother, Jordan Carr of Sturgis; her father, Nathan Carrr of Sturgis; twin-sister Addelynn Clark and sister Brooklynn Sutton, …