Obituaries

John Clemens Starmann, age 74, of White Pigeon, died as the sun set over Lake Michigan on April 7, 2017, surrounded by his wife and children in Manistee, after a year-long illness. John was born April 8, 1942, in Saginaw, to the late Bernard H. Starmann M.D. and Lucy (Wadsworth) Starmann. He grew up in Cass City and graduated from …

Kelly Jean Gottschalk, age 49, of Howe, Ind., passed away Monday, April 24, 2017, at Parkview Health in Fort Wayne, Ind. She was born Sept. 14, 1967, in Sturgis, a daughter of Darryl and Sharon (Schrock) Gottschalk. Kelly had resided in Howe since 1995, coming from Sturgis, where she was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class or …

Dr. Wilbur H. Kotcher, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away early Monday morning, April 17, 2017, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born Nov. 11, 1925, in Detroit, a son of the late Wilbur Joseph and Cora (Kennard) Kotcher. On Dec. 7, 1992, he married Eugenia M. Gonzales in Reno, Nev. A chiropractic doctor, he was a graduate …

Ernest Lee Easterday, age 79, of Mendon, died Monday, April 24, 2017 at his home. He was born in Shipshewana, IN on May 17, 1937 the son of Hugh and Orpha (Nelson) Easterday. He was married to Pat Tribble on Jan, 16, 1957 in Elkhart, IN. She survives along with three daughters, Debbie (Doug) Wright of Nottawa, MI, Darcie (Jeff) …

Velma L. Beardsley, 82, of White Pigeon, died Monday, April 24, 2017, at Garce Healthcare in Three Rivers, following an extended illness. She was born Sept. 5, 1934, in Pineville, Ark., a daughter of Arbille and Fannie Marchant. She was an Elkhart, Ind., resident from 1950-1972, and a resident of St. Joseph County since 1972. She was a homemaker and …

Richard Fisher, beloved husband, father, son, poppy, brother, uncle and friend peacefully transitioned on Saturday, April 22,2017 surrounded by his loving family. Rich is survived by his loving and devoted wife Lana, children Ron (Cristine) Fisher and RoseYetta Witters, mother Glenna Fisher, siblings Joseph (Joan), Donald (Carolyn) and Debra (Diane). Rich was an incredible Poppy to his grandchildren Austin Witters, …

Lisa Ann Lego, age 57, of Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, April 21, 2017, at her home. She was born July 13, 1959, in Hayti, Mo., a daughter of the late Robert Eugene and Ann Elizabeth (Dowdy) Muller. Lisa resided in Sturgis since 1992, coming from Rocky Mount, N.C. On May 26, 1991, she married Ronald Lego in Rocky Mount. …

Larry K. Shirk, age 74, of Constantine, died on Friday, April 21, 2017 at his home. He was born September 23, 1942 in Springfield, OH a son of Gordon and Emma (Ogdon) Shirk. Larry attended school in Springfield. On July 23, 1968 he married Helen Carter in Constantine. He retired from Birkhold Pattern Co. in Centreville after 20 years of employment. …

Tobias C. Miller, age 87, of Constantine, passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at his home. He was born in Haven, KS on November 23, 1929, a son of Clemens and Polly (Schrock) Miller.  Toby graduated from Middlebury High School in 1949 and went on to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean war.  On May 18, 1951, …

R.J. Edington, age 80, of Three Rivers passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at Heartland Healthcare Center. He was born on January 23, 1937 in Little Rock, AR the son of R.E. and Roxie (Holbert) Edington. R.J. served in the U.S. Army until his honorable discharge in 1957. He was united in marriage in to Polly Ann “Frankie” Williams …