Obituaries

Richard G. “Dick” Arbogast, age 63, of Colon, died Tuesday, July 25, 2017 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. He was born in Evart, MI on July 17. 1954 the son of Lester Albert Arbogast and Etta Louise (McMichael) Arbogast. Dick worked briefly at Crocker Limited in Three Rivers, was a semi-truck driver, and had worked at several manufactured …

Karen A. Hipsher, 79, of Constantine, died Monday, July 24, 2017, at Kairos Dwelling Home in Kalamazoo, following an extended illness. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. Sunday at St. John’s of the Cross Episcopal Church in Bristol, Ind., where services will begin at 2 p.m. Interment of cremains will be in the church cemetery. Memorial donations may be directed …

Leon V. Webb, age 62, of Constantine, passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at his home. He was born in Hale, MI on June 13, 1955, a son of Gerald and Jean (LaVack) Webb. Leon received his GED in Elkhart. On May 5, 1984, he married Deanna Stouder in Osceola, IN. He was employed in the Tool Room for …

Shane Andrew Richardson, age 29, of Constantine, died Thursday, July 20, 2017. His life was tragically cut short and he died at Three Rivers Health emergency room of injuries from a gun shot. He was born Nov. 5, 1987, in Sturgis, a son to Ronald “Rollo” and Judy (Vargo) Richardson. Shane had been a resident of Sturgis all of his …

Janice E. Mihills, age 71, of Jones, MI passed away Friday, July 21, 2017. She was born December 16, 1945 in Dowagiac, MI the daughter of Harold Franklin and Lucille Cora (Rosby) Moon. On November 29, 1964 in Dowagiac, she married Norman Lee Mihills who preceded her in death. Janice retired from Woodland Behavior Healthcare Network in Vandalia and had …

Lawrence Jay Emerick, age 46, of Mount Dora, Fla., and a longtime former Sturgis resident, passed away unexpectedly Friday, July 7, 2017, at the Florida Hospital Waterman in Tavares, Fla. He was born May 30, 1971, in LaGrange, Ind., son of Victor Allen and Judy (Acker) Emerick. Larry resided in Florida for the past several years, going there from Sturgis …

Marco David Chapman, age 16, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, July 19, 2017 while swimming with friends along the St. Joseph River. He was born in Three Rivers on Feb. 27, 2001 the son of Marco David Patton and Leesa O. Chapman, and was a lifetime resident of the Michiana area. Marco had just completed the 10th grade at Lakeland …

John Edward Thoendel, Sr., age 66, of Vandalia, died peacefully Friday, July 21, 2017 in the comfort of his family’s presence in his daughter’s residence. He was born July 24, 1950 in Cassopolis to Adolph and Martha Thoendel. His parents preceded him in death. He was also preceded by one daughter, Nykole Thoendel. John served honorably in the U.S. Army …

Floyd Alfred Astling, age 80, passed away Thursday, July 20, 2017, following a brief illness. He spent his remaining days in the care of Grace Healthcare in Three Rivers. Floyd was born Aug. 30, 1936, at the Constantine Hospital in Constantine. He was the son of the late Charles H. and Myrtle K. (Schutt) Astling. He was a well-known resident …

Richard E. Claxton, age 73, of White Pigeon, died Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at his home, following a one-year illness. He was born July 28, 1943, in Constantine, a son of Russell and Illa (Sudlow) Claxton. He was a White Pigeon and Constantine resident all his life, a graduate of White Pigeon High School and a veteran of the U.S. …