Obituaries

Mr. Willie Fred Crump, age 72, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 14th, 2016 at the Heartland Nursing Home. He was born on August 24, 1944 in Hazelehurst, MS., the son of the late C.J. Joina and Rosie May Crump. “Smiling Willie” has been a long time resident of Three Rivers. He was employed at Sturgis Metal and …

Mrs. Barbara Jean Schaefer, of Three Rivers, formerly of Muskegon, passed away on Tuesday, September 6th, 2016 at the Riverview Manor Nursing Home. She was born in the Village of Oak Park, Illinois on March 28th, 1926, the daughter of the late Clifford Augustus Hastings and Adela Marie Lawton. In the 1960’s Barbara Jean was on the Board of West …

Daniel J. Hedgcock, 35, of Battle Creek, formerly of Bronson, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, in Marshall. Mass of Christian Burial will be Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary of Assumption Church in Bronson with Rev. Fr. Richard Fritz officiating. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. …

Kenneth Ray “Kenny” McClain, age 50, died Friday, Sep.t 16, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Three Rivers on Oct. 8, 1965 the son of Shirley Ann McClain and Russell Forrest. He grew up in Colon and has resided in Sturgis since 1989. Kenny attended the Pathfinder School, and worked at ACM Plastics in Sturgis …

Harvey B. Rhodes, age 88 of Three Rivers, died on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. He was born in Three Rivers on Oct. 10, 1927 the son of the late Bernard A. and Irene (Coler) Rhodes and was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. He was a longtime employee of the Cooper, Eddy, …

Peter T. Stutzman, age 74, of Colon, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo, after a bicycle accident. Peter was born Feb. 27, 1942, in Chicago, a son of the late King C. and Frances C. (Thornton) Stutzman. Peter grew up in Chicago, graduating in 1959 from University of Chicago High School. He studied philosophy at …

Robert R. “Rob” Rockelein, age 55, formerly of Leonidas died Friday, Sept. 16, 2016 at Three Rivers Health. He was born in Sturgis on July 6, 1961 the son of the late Joseph L. and Alice M. (Kelly) Rockelein and was a lifetime resident of St. Joseph County. Rob attended the Pathfinder Center in Centreville and later worked at ARCH …

Mr. Ralph Dean Haag, age 85, of Marcellus, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 12, 2016 at Grace Riverview Manor.  He was born on Oct. 1, 1930 in Mongo, IN., the son of the late William Harley and Edna Bell (Gochenhaur) Haag. On Sept. 20th, 1956 Dean was united in marriage to the love of his life, Dolores.  He was …

Shirley M. Blum, age 92, of Three Rivers passed away on Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at The Bowman Place of Three Rivers. She was born on January 28, 1924 in Three Rivers, MI the daughter of James William and Treva (Jors) Brycoft. Shirley graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1942. On December 17, 1943 she was united in marriage …

Imogene Slack, 89, of White Pigeon, died Monday, Sept. 12, 2016, at Terry’s home in Constantine, following an extended illness. She was born June 25, 1927, in Champaign, Ill., a daughter of Arthur and Ida (Fairfield) Sample. She resided in the White Pigeon area most of her life. She was a homemaker and owner of the White Pigeon Bowling Alley. …