Obituaries

Ida Jane Smith, age 75, of Burr Oak, passed away Wednesday morning, Jan. 10, 2018, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation in Centreville. She was born June 17, 1942, in Des Moines, Iowa, a daughter of the late Gerald and Esther (Galenback) Sanford. Ida resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area since 1971, coming from the Chicago area. In September …

June Marie Summey, age 93, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday evening, Jan. 10, 2018, at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born Sept. 16, 1924, in Olivet, a daughter of the late John and Ruth M. (Boals) Mecklenburg. Mrs. Summey resided most of her life in the Sturgis area and was a graduate of Lima High School …

Jennifer Leach, age 46, died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital in LaGrange, Ind. She was born July 9, 1971, in LaGrange, Ind., to Richard Baker and Linda (Smith) Girard. She was a graduate of Sturgis High School in Sturgis. She married Doug Leach. He survives. Jennifer had worked at Miller’s Super Valu for 18 years in the …

Leola Marjorie Johnson, age 99, formerly of Three Rivers, died Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 at Birches Adult Foster Care in Leonidas. She was born in her parents’ home, in Rockford on Aug. 31, 1918, the daughter of Adam and Ada (Zimmerman) Hammer. Leola was married to James Paul Johnson on the lawn of the family home in Rockford on Aug. …

Beatrice A. Porath, age 64, of Marcellus, passed away Wednesday, January 10, 2018. She was born June 18, 1953 in Dowagiac, the daughter of Ernest and Ellamae (Hibbard) Porath. Bea was retired from the Kalamazoo State Hospital as a Supervisor.  She loved horses and all her animals. She was the president of the 4-H Horse Leaders Association of Cass County and …

Marilyn Ruth Haney, age 81, died on Wednesday, January 10, 2018. Per Marilyn’s wishes cremation has taken place and there will be no public services held at this time. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Veronica Marie Hornblower, age 86, passed away Sunday, January 7th, 2018 at her home in Three Rivers, Michigan. She was born November 10, 1931 the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Watts in London, England. In 1953 Veronica was united in marriage to her beloved husband William Hornblower. Together they raised six children living in multiple locations, eventually settling down in Three Rivers in 1971. She worked many years in …

Rachel Dorothy Murray Celmer, age 100, of White Pigeon, died Monday, January 1, 2018 in Prescott Valley, Arizona. She was born on July 22, 1917 the daughter of Willard Edmund and Ocie Davis Murray on her grandmother Davis’ farm in Van Buren Township in LaGrange County, Indiana. She graduated from Scott High School in 1934. She was married to Henry …

Beverly A. Minger, age 85, of Centreville, died Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at Bowman House in Three Rivers. She was born on August 11, 1932 in Los Angeles, a daughter of Arthur and Violet (Parham) Cotter. Beverly graduated from Centreville High School in 1950. On December 1, 1951 she married Frederick Minger in Centreville. He preceded her in death on …

Wesley “Wes” A. Oliver, age 88, passed away on Monday, January 8, 2018 at Borgess Medical Center. He was born in Chicago on August 3, 1929, a son of Zeffa Oliver. Wes attended Mendon Public Schools and went on to serve in the United States Army. On June 1, 1956, he married Norma Kimball in Cass County. Wes retired from …