Obituaries

Gene Shepherd, age 68, of Mendon, passed away on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. The family will receive relatives and friends from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017, at Schipper Funeral Home in Colon. Cremation will follow. A graveside Service and burial of ashes will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 30, at Mendon Cemetery.

Kitty Miller, age 64, of Elkhart, died on Thursday, November 23, 2017. She was born January 9, 1953 in Van Wert, OH, daughter of Charles and Betty (Potter) Spahr. Kitty graduated from Hillsdale High School. On June 11, 1988 she married Ernie Miller in Centreville. Kitty was employed at Valmont Industries and previously at Pro Design in Elkhart. Kitty enjoyed …

Diane Elizabeth Heckler, age 66, of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday morning, Nov. 22, 2017, at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born Aug. 29, 1951, in Sellersville, Pa., a daughter of the late Robert and Arlene (Hartman) Heckler. Diane resided in Sturgis since 1986, coming from Pennsylvania. She was a homemaker and enjoyed online gaming, watching …

Edna Allen, age 95, of Sturgis, and a former longtime Three Rivers resident, passed away on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. Friends and family will be received from 10:00-11:00 A.M., Wednesday at the Bethel Baptist Church, 17852 S. River Road in Three Rivers where funeral services celebrating the life of Edna Allen will begin at …

Shirley Ann Clauss, age 76, of Sturgis, and a former longtime White Pigeon resident, passed away early Wednesday morning, Nov. 22, 2017, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Shirley was born April 27, 1941, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Jesse Robert and Dorothy (Krontz) Chapman. She resided in Sturgis since 2009, coming from White Pigeon, where she lived …

Walter entered the world on November 20, 1932 and entered heaven on the same date, November 20, 2017. Walter J. Mroczek I, passed away peacefully in his home in Marcellus on his 85th birthday. His loving wife of 61 years, Joan Walsh Mroczek, was by his side. Walter was well known for his capacity to work hard and was proud to …

Thomas Charles Vaccaro, Jr., 61, of Colon, passed away on Sunday, November 19, 2017 at The Laurels of Bedford under the care of Great Lakes Caring Hospice A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 4 PM at Crossroads Bible Church in Sherwood, MI with Pastor Trent Hammond officiating. Thomas was born on February 18, 1956 …

Sharon Ann Stigter, age 65, of Burr Oak, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, Monday, Nov. 20, 2017, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Sharon was born June 29, 1952, in Evergreen Park, Ill., a daughter of Louis and Dolores (Grimaldi) Reiner. On June 23, 1973, she married Robert L. Stigter in Palos Heights, Ill. Sharon received her bachelor’s …

Sara Jean Moyer, 84, Centreville, died  on Sunday, November 19, 2017 in Portage. She was born on June 3, 1933 in Sturgis, a daughter of LeRoy and Wava (Miller) Evarts. Jean graduated from Centreville High School in 1951 and received her Bachelors and Masters in Education from WMU. She married Bruce Jones and later divorced. On July 27, 1985, Jean …

Patricia Phelps, age 58, of Mendon, passed away at home on Friday, November 17, 2017, surrounded by family after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was born in Sturgis, the daughter of the late Phillip and Linda (Wilber) Zinsmaster. Pat had a great personality and loved life. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and leaves them with …