Obituaries

Joan Peck, of Portage, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Aug. 4, 2017 at the age of 92. Joan was born July 22, 1925 in South Bend, to the late Robert and Fern (Dowell) McCombs. She was married to William H. Peck of Kalamazoo in 1950. After graduating, Joan worked for Indiana Bell. She then moved to Kalamazoo. …

Lois B. King, age 94, of Three Rivers, died on Wednesday, August 9, 2017 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born on August 12, 1922 in South Bend, a daughter of Walter and Sarah (Simmons) Price. She attended school in Elkhart. On July 7, 1947, Lois married Dayton King in Goshen. He preceded her in death …

Following a long illness, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and faithful servant of the living God, Velma Ree (Shelton) Whitten, 75, made her heavenly transition in the early morning hours of Friday, August 4, 2017 surrounded by her loving family.   Born in Stanton, Alabama on August 22, 1941 to parents Thomas Andrew Shelton Sr. and Christanna Harville …

Frances Arlene Gerkin, age 84, of Sturgis, passed away Friday evening, Aug. 4, 2017, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born March 22, 1933, in Centreville, daughter of the late Leon C. and Blanche D. (Brown) Hepner. Fran was a lifelong St. Joseph County resident. On Oct. 20, 1953, she eloped with Ernest T. “Red” Gerkin in Angola, …

Thomas Lee Kitch, 69, of Mottville Township, White Pigeon, died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, at his home, following an extended illness. Visitation will be from 2-6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017, at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Services will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Cremation will follow, with burial of cremains at a later date …

Robert Lawrence “Bob” LaBrash, age 79, of Three Rivers, died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017 at Heartland Healthcare Center. He was born in Adrian, MI on Sep. 28, 1937 the son of Edlore and Lillian (Petsch) LaBrash. Bob was a former Mason and Demolay Dad Leader, and was a former Scout Leader. He retired to Three Rivers after managing Firestone and …

Alfred Jay DeRuiter passed away Thursday, August 3, 2017 after a well fought battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born December 9, 1937 to John and Helena DeRuiter of Falmouth, Michigan who precede him in death. He is survived by wife Joyce Ann Abbott DeRuiter, daughter, Lori DeRuiter Bauer (David Bauer of Lewisville, Texas), Son David Alan DeRuiter (wife, Brandi …

Dale E. Stratton, age 80, of Marcellus, passed away Thursday, August 3, 2017. He was born June 10, 1937 in Kalamazoo, the son of Ernest A. and Mildred I. (Snow) Stratton. On February 22, 1958 in Marcellus he married Margaret “Lil” Stratton who preceded him in death. Dale was a farmer his whole life, he was also a Patience Supervisor …

Known as a man who lived his faith, Robert P. Tissot, Sr. went home to be with His Lord in the early hours of Friday, August 04, 2017, surrounded by loving family.  His 92 years were marked by serving others.  From his time as a Navy WWII veteran, to providing for his family as a toolmaker with General Motors, to …

Gerald “Jerry” Glass, age 85, of Three Rivers passed away on Thursday, August 3, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center after a short illness, surrounded by his family. Jerry was born on March 23, 1932, in Porter Twp., Cass County, the son of Charles and Helen (Kilgore) Glass. He was married to Patricia Harvey from 1951 to 1965. She was the …