Obituaries

Myrtle Eileen Butler was born June 10, 1927 in Silver Lake, Indiana to Percy A. and Florence (Eiler) Petgen. She was the fourth child in a family of 5 daughters and 1 son. At an early age her mother taught her to sew and her father introduced her to auto mechanics.  She graduated from high school in Bristol, Indiana. She met …

Orson (Frank) Franklin Poley III, passed away July 25, 2018, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born on Aug. 8, 1953, in Sturgis. Frank is the youngest child of his loving parents, Orson and Willodean Poley who survive him. Frank also leaves behind to cherish is memory his wife, Gail (Morris); two sisters, Teresa (Rick) Dickerson of Three Rivers and Carol Gyomory …

Floyd Ray Eichorn, age 87, of Three Rivers, formerly of Marcellus, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 16, 2018 at Three Rivers Health surrounded by his loving family.  He was born on June 7, 1931 in Clarence, New York the son of the late Lewis and Ida (Troyer) Eichorn. Floyd has been a long-time resident of this area where he …

John E. Swinehart, age 62, of White Pigeon, died Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2018, at his home, following a two-month illness. He was born Oct. 6, 1955, in Three Rivers, a son of LeRoy and Dorothy (Cyphers) Swinehart. He served two years in the U.S. Navy. He was a resident of White Pigeon and Union all his life. He was employed …

Vera A. Ruge, age 99, of Colon, passed away Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, at Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility in Coldwater. Vera was born March 7, 1919, in Chicago, a daughter of the late John and Alice (Gooley) Mansell. On Jan. 12, 1946, she married Howard J. Ruge in Chicago. He preceded her in death Oct. 1, 1988. Vera retired …

Mary E. Houck, age 82, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018 at Thurston Woods Village. Mary was born April 22, 1935, in Goshen, Ind., to Archie and Katherine (Oswald) Robinson. On June 14, 1953, she married the love of her life, Allen Houck, at Trinity Lutheran Church, where she continued to attend as a longtime member. Mary lived …

Pauline Lucinda Nash (nee Modert) of Three Rivers, passed away on Friday, August 10, 2018. Pauline was born January 17, 1923 in Branch County, Michigan and was united in marriage to Otto Nash on August 30, 1946. Pauline worked at Miller’s Soda Fountain and JJ Newberry’s in downtown Three Rivers. Pauline was preceded in death by her parents, Jesse and …

Patricia Ann Quirin, age 84, of Sturgis, passed away May 13, 2018, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born March 14, 1934, in Kalamazoo, a daughter of the late Warren Burnette and Gladys June (Shigley) Clancey. Pat was a longtime Sturgis and also lived in Portage for many years, where she graduated from Portage schools and continued her …

Marcia Lee Arend passed peacefully on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2018 after a short illness. She is survived by her beloved husband, Earl Arend; a daughter Jeanine Lugo (Nobel) of Indianapolis; a son, David Arend (Telka) of Lansing; a granddaughter, Saige Arend, step-grandchildren Robert Lugo (Leslie) and Melissa Ervin (Bryan); step-great-grandchildren Joseph Lookabaugh, Jacob, Jarrin and Jacen Ervin, and Austin, Olivia …

Lorraine L. Mast, age 77, of Sturgis, formerly of White Pigeon, died at 2:45 a.m. Friday, August 10, 2018 at Thurston Woods Village. She was born December 4, 1940, in Souderton, Pa., to Mahlon and Edna (Lapp) Detweiler. On September 12, 1970, she married Omer Mast in Goshen, Ind. He survives in Sturgis. In addition to her husband, surviving are …