Obituaries

Dr. Joseph P. Tironi, who practiced dentistry in Three Rivers, and provided dental services to the poor in Guatemala and St. Lucia, died on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017 in Holland, Michigan, at the age of 87. Joe was born in 1930 in Raton, New Mexico. His father, Pasquale, worked as a miner and bricklayer. His mother, Carolina (Rubini), was a …

Larry Eugene Frohriep, age 69, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2017, at his home. He was born Oct. 23, 1948, in Sturgis, a son of the late Harold and Frances (Persing) Frohriep. Larry was a lifelong Sturgis resident. He had been employed by Harris Kayot in Burr Oak and also had worked at Forest River RV in Middlebury …

Marco Alen Hunt, 49, of Three Rivers, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 after a lengthy illness. Marco was born on Sept. 30, 1968 the son of LaDoris Hunt and Willie McCloud. Marco attended Three Rivers Public Schools from K-12 after taking other classes in Biology and Chemistry with the class of 1987. While …

Mark E. Riley, 42, of Columbia, Tennessee, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017. Mark was born Jan. 11, 1975, in Kalamazoo and was a graduate of Centreville High School. He was a Master Mason with the Three Rivers’ Mount Herman Lodge no. 24 since 1997. He worked as a welder for Columbia Gate and recently started at the General …

Romaine Elaine Berry-Nelson passed away Nov. 13, 2017, at her home, of natural causes. Romaine was a daughter of Roger Leroy Berry and Jill Dian (Grossman) Berry. She was born in Sturgis and was a lifelong resident. Romaine graduated from Centreville High School, as well as Glen Oaks Community College. She was employed by Abbott Labs for more than 20 years. Nicknamed …

John W. Grant, 75, of Constantine, passed away on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center. He was born in Constantine on March 7, 1942, a son of George and Myrtle (Eshelman) Grant. On February 20, 1964, he married Judy Carter in Centreville. She preceded him in death on July 21, 2014. John previously worked for Denton Mills in …

Marlene Adair Wait, 66, of White Pigeon, died on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017, at home, following a two-year battle with cancer. She was born Dec. 23, 1950, in Sturgis, a daughter of Fred and Mildred (Carr) Meier. Marlene was a lifelong resident of the area. She was a 1969 graduate of Constantine High School. She was a lifelong member of …

Nola LeGene Bowlby, age 92, formerly of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 28th, 2017 in Granger, Indiana.  Nola was born in Flowerfield Twp., St. Joseph County, Michigan on September 28, 1925, the daughter of the late Wayne and Viola (Maul) Heckelman. Nola graduated Three Rivers High School with the class of 1944.  The class yearbook described her as …

Tonya Elaine Smith, age 60, of Three Rivers, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 26th, 2017 at the Henry Ford Hospital surrounded by her loving family after battling a long illness. She was born on March 11, 1957 in Muncie, IN., the daughter of the late Williard D. Willis and Carolyn (Turner) Willis. Tonya was united in marriage to the love …

James Paul Noecker, 76, of Sturgis, died early Monday morning, Nov. 27, 2017, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Jim was born May 1, 1941, in Constantine, a son of Paul and Marion (Sartain) Noecker. He earned his degrees from University of Michigan, BBA in 1963 and JD in 1967. He worked as assistant prosecutor for St. Joseph County for …