Obituaries

Donald M. Chenoweth, age 78, of Constantine, passed away on Saturday, August 12, 2017 at Fairview Nursing Home. He was born in Middlebury, IN on July 3, 1939, a son of Elmer Chenoweth and Lucille (Schumacher) Lovejoy. He graduated from White Pigeon High School went on to obtain a Microbiology Degree from Michigan State University. He was previously married to Diana …

Donald Robert Clementz passed peacefully Friday, August 11, 2017. Don, a lifelong resident of St. Joseph County, was born in Three Rivers, August 5, 1936, to Robert and Luvetta (Daniels) Clementz. He is survived by his four brothers and one sister: Edward Clementz, Las Vegas, Nevada, George Clementz, Centreville, Rodger Clementz, Colon, Dan Clementz, Hulbert, MI and Jane Shepherd, White …

Dr. John Thomas Seurynck, DDS, age 68, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at his home. He was born Jan. 12, 1949, in Highland Park, a son of Robert and Elizabeth “Betty” (Fedricks) Seurynck. Dr. Seurynck resided in Sturgis since 1977, coming from Mount Pleasant. He also resided in El Paso, Texas, where he worked in the U.S. …

Rose Sweitzer, age 89, of Constantine, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2017 at Heartland Health Care Center, following a long illness. She was born to Pauline Davis Beachey and Henry Beachey on Sept. 14, 1927. She is survived by her son Ed (Eileen) Denny; granddaughters Michelle (Jeff) Geske, Janie (Jason)Avila, Lori (Charles) Toles, many more grand and great grandchildren. …

Joan Peck, of Portage, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 at the age of 92. Joan was born July 22, 1925 in South Bend, to the late Robert and Fern (Dowell) McCombs. She was married to William H. Peck of Kalamazoo in 1950. After graduating, Joan worked for Indiana Bell. She then moved to Kalamazoo. …

Lois B. King, age 94, of Three Rivers, died on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born on August 12, 1922 in South Bend, a daughter of Walter and Sarah (Simmons) Price. She attended school in Elkhart. On July 7, 1947, Lois married Dayton King in Goshen. He preceded her in death …

Following a long illness, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and faithful servant of the living God, Velma Ree (Shelton) Whitten, 75, made her heavenly transition in the early morning hours of Friday, August 4, 2017 surrounded by her loving family.   Born in Stanton, Alabama on August 22, 1941 to parents Thomas Andrew Shelton Sr. and Christanna Harville …

Frances Arlene Gerkin, age 84, of Sturgis, passed away Friday evening, Aug. 4, 2017, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born March 22, 1933, in Centreville, daughter of the late Leon C. and Blanche D. (Brown) Hepner. Fran was a lifelong St. Joseph County resident. On Oct. 20, 1953, she eloped with Ernest T. “Red” Gerkin in Angola, …

Thomas Lee Kitch, 69, of Mottville Township, White Pigeon, died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, at his home, following an extended illness. Visitation will be from 2-6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Services will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Cremation will follow, with burial of cremains at a later date …

Robert Lawrence “Bob” LaBrash, age 79, of Three Rivers, died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017 at Heartland Healthcare Center. He was born in Adrian, MI on Sep. 28, 1937 the son of Edlore and Lillian (Petsch) LaBrash. Bob was a former Mason and Demolay Dad Leader, and was a former Scout Leader. He retired to Three Rivers after managing Firestone and …