Obituaries

The Rev. Dale E. Gerig, age 87, of Sturgis, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Sunday evening, Feb. 12, 2017, at Sturgis Hospital. Dale was born Nov. 13, 1929, in DeKalb County, Ind., the eighth of nine children to Menno and Zula (Sponhower) Gerig. He attended the one-room school just down the road from the family farm. …

Leavin Yvonne Mitchell passed away suddenly on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at home. She was born on December 29, 1950 in Chicago, IL the daughter of Willie Bord and Minnie (Banks)-Willis. Leavin was a resident of Three Rivers for over thirty years moving here from Chicago, IL. She was a long time and faithful member of New Jerusalem Baptist Church …

Randy L. VanDosen age 55, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday evening, Feb. 9, 2017, at the Sturgis Hospital emergency room. He was born Feb. 2, 1962, in Sturgis, a son of the late Donald and Mary E. (Bunge) VanDosen. Randy was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1980. He enjoyed fishing, …

Donald J. Hamilton Jr. age 74 of Marcellus, passed away at home on Wednesday, February 8, 2017.           He was born June 19, 1942 in Plainwell, MI the son of Donald J. Sr. and Beatrice (Polamateer) Hamilton. On July 6th, 1963, he married Kathleen M. O’Connell who survives.           He worked for a Pharmaceutical Company as a machine repairman.  He …

Leon Michael Tokarski, age 89, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 7th, 2017 at Grace Manor Nursing Home. He was born on April 22, 1927 in Flowerfield Twp., MI., the son of the late John and Barbara (Pierhal) Tokarski. Leon attended Park Township Schools and has been a resident of Three Rivers his entire life. He was …

Dr. Robert Walter Puckett, of Klinger Lake, White Pigeon.    April 30, 1923-February 9, 2017. An 80-year love affair ended early Thursday morning, Feb. 9, 2017, when he said “I love you Jean” and passed away at his home. He was born April 30, 1923, in Hampton, Iowa, a son of the late Bertram and Mary O. (Mitchell) Puckett. Dr. …

John P. Brown, age 69, of Constantine, passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at Heartland Health Care in Three Rivers. John was born in Three Rivers on November 27, 1947, a son of Richard “Pete” and Mary (Harding) Brown. He graduated from Constantine High School in 1966. After high school, he attended Central Michigan University and graduated with a …

Russell Ray Luchies went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, February 6, 2017, after a courageous battle with cancer.  He was born on Dec. 28th, 1963 in Kalamazoo, MI., the son of Robert and Winifred (DeGroot) Luchies. Russell was employed as a historic mason for Midwest Masonry where he worked for many years.  He truly loved …

June Joan McCarthy, age 80, of 1942 Alder Lane, Sturgis, died Saturday morning, Feb. 4, 2017, at her home. She was born April 15, 1936, in Sturgis, a daughter of Chalmer Charles and Hazel Irene (Smith) Merriman. She was a resident of Sturgis for 53 years, moving there from White Pigeon. On October 9, 1954, she married Michael Terence McCarthy …

Judith Ann Rudy, age 78, of Long Lake, Colon, passed away Monday, Feb. 6, 2017, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville. Judi was born Oct. 10, 1938, in Chicago, a daughter of the late Randall and Dorothy (Nichols) Jacobson. Judi grew up in Chicago, graduating from St. Dominic’s High School, and moved to Colon in 1999. On Sept. …