Obituaries

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 …

James “Jimmy” Souers Brundirks, age 39, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 15th, 2017, at Henry Ford Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. He was born on August 15, 1978, in Kalamazoo, son of James E. Brundirks and Nancy (Souers) Pick. Jimmy attended Immaculate Conception Catholic School for his elementary education and went on to graduate from …

The Rev. Roland Richard Barkow (Emeritus), age 84, of Three Rivers, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, November 13, 2017. Roland was born in Ferndale, Michigan on November 29, 1932, the son of Reinhard and Sarah (Kinghan) Barkow. Roland married Caroline Louise Seng on Nov. 29, 1958, and subsequently graduated from Concordia Seminary, St. …

Joyce Joann Beebe, age 86, of Portage, died Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. She was born in Kalamazoo on Nov. 15, 1931 the daughter of Bernard C. and Mildred M. (English) Haas. She graduated from Mendon High School in 1949 and later from the Nazareth School of Nursing. Joyce was married to Allen J. Beebe on Nov. 27, 1954 at St. …

Barry Donald Bradley, age 69, of Colon, passed away Wednesday Nov. 1, 2017 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. Barry was born Aug. 22, 1948, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, a son of Dr. Donald E. and Eileen (Pickthall) Bradley. Barry grew up in Colon and attended Colon schools, Howe Military School and graduated from Sturgis High School with the class …

James “Jim” Alfred Platz Sr., age 90, of Constantine, passed away Nov. 7, 2017, in Sarasota, Fla. He was born July 10, 1927, in Scott, Ind., to George and Mae (Hurst) Platz. On Feb. 1, 1947, he married his school days sweetheart, Vivian Broadworth, who survives him along with four children, Sharon (Rick) Soice, Gwendolyn (James) Carpenter, James Jr. (Jane) …

Virginia R. “Ginny” Farley, age 72, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017 at her home. She was born in Champagne, IL on Aug. 26, 1945 the daughter of Kenneth and Mary (Brockbank) Kandler, and attended school in LaGrange, IL and the family moved to Three Rivers in 1963. She was married to Billy Joe Farley on May 20, …