Obituaries

Merton Henry Austin, age 84 of Mendon, died Sunday, May 7, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in South Bend, IN on Nov. 13, 1932 the son of Loren and Mildred (Eaton) Austin. He grew up a farm in the Shipshewana area and later served in the U.S. Army. He owned and operated Mert’s Barber Shop …

Dennis Weston Klinger, age 66, of Three Rivers passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center.  He was born on July 17, 1960 in Cheboygan, the son of Isador and Evelyn (Briggs) Klinger. Dennis served in the U.S. army until his honorable discharge.  Surviving are brothers, Darrel Klinger of Bronson, MI and Darwin (Jeanette) Klinger of Fulton, MI. In …

Gregory J. Wilson, age 47, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, May 4, 2017, at his home. A memorial service is being planned for a later date. The family is being assisted by the Schipper Funeral Home LTD. in Colon.

Paul Douglas Abrams, 81, of Shipshewana, died on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, at his residence. He was born on Aug. 15, 1935, in Three Rivers, to Ernest and Margaret (Douglas) Abrams. On Aug. 2, 1958, he married Catherine Pierson. She survives. Survivors in addition to his wife are two daughters, Christine (Douglas) Pagels of Sturgis, and Teresa Abrams of Three …

Marvin K. Richardson, 82, of Three Rivers, died Monday, May 1, 2017 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Marvin was born July 21, 1934 in Augusta, Mich., the son of Clare E. and Edna Fern (Pettit) Richardson and was a graduate of Galesburg High School in 1952. As a young man, he worked briefly for Knappen Milling Company …

Robert C. Brouse, age 73, of Middlebury, passed away Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at his home. He was born Dec. 15, 1943 in Elkhart, IN, a son of Warren and Bernice (Julian) Brouse. Bob graduated from Constantine High School in 1962. On September 30, 1989 he married Betty Taylor in Bristol, IN. Bob was a truck driver for Excel Industries in …

Richard Duane Pugh, age 65, of Burr Oak, passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. He was born Nov. 18, 1951, in Bronson, a son of the late Wilmer “Jack” and Mary (Bekoski) Pugh. Richard grew up in Burr Oak and attended Burr Oak schools. He was employed by ACM Plastics in Sturgis. …

Prentice Wayne Dollins, age 49, of Three Rivers, formerly of Dowagiac, passed away on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on Oct. 23, 1967 in Dowagiac, the son of the late Lloyd and Karen (Hislop) Dollins. On Oct. 28th, 1988 Prentice was united in marriage to the love of his life …

George Frank Benes, age 83, of Colon, passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at Battle Creek VA Medical Center. George was born March 1, 1934, in Brocket, N.D., a son of the late John and Frances (Slamel) Benes. He had served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. George graduated in 1968 from Loyola University in Chicago with …

Marilyn Jean Fraizer, 71, of Three Rivers passed away on Sunday, April 30th, 2017 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was born a triplet along with her brother William and sister Linda of February 28th, 1946 to Delbert and Edythe (Rice) Cooley. She grew up most of her life in Warren, Ohio where she attended school until …