Obituaries

Wava Marie Hartman, 89, died on Tuesday, April 5th at West Woods of Niles after a short illness. She was born on August 22, 1926 to Elias and Magdalena Troeger in Defiance, OH Wava graduated in 1944 from Highland-South Richland High School in Ayersville, Ohio and was employed at Michigan Gas Company in Sturgis, MI and Ford Agency in Three …

Denny Seager, Sr., age 67, of Jones, died Sunday, April 3, 2016 at Lakeland Hospital in Niles. He was born in Three Rivers, the son of the late Walter and Melvina (Clute) Seager. He was a graduate of Three Rivers High School class of 1967. Denny was a charismatic and loving man. He had a “big heart” and was always …

Megan Marie Carpenter, 20, of Sturgis, died Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at her home. She was born April 22, 1995, in Three Rivers, a daughter of Bradley K. Carpenter and Joyce M. Collins. She was a resident of the Sturgis area the past six months, coming from Constantine, where she had attended school. She was employed at J&J Discount in …

Sharon Rose Smith, age 72, of Centreville, died Saturday, April 2, 2016 at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 10, 1943 in Lansing, a daughter of Charles and Alice (Kimble) Green. On March 31, 1979 she married Francis Lee Smith in Three Rivers, he preceded her in death in 2009. She owned and operated several businesses, Jessica’s …

George B. Garl, Sr., age 69, of Constantine, died Saturday, April 2, 2016 at Alamo Nursing Home in Kalamazoo. He was born November 2, 1946 in Mason Twp, a son of Vernon and Jeanette (Miller) Garl. George graduated from Constantine High School in 1966. George served in the US Army from 1966 to 1968. He worked his farm and also worked …

Nicholas Peter “Nick” Ruddock, age 63, of Leonidas, died Friday, April 1, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a long illness. He was born in Marshall, MI on Dec. 5, 1952 the son of Fred and Arlene (Van Nortrick) Ruddock. Nick graduated from Marshall High School in 1971. He was an independent truck driver, and had worked at …

Gail G. “Buckshot” Johnson, age 75, of Colon, passed away Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Buckshot was born Sept. 13, 1940, in Burr Oak, a son of the late Thurman and Lauretta (Fetch) Johnson. On July 2, 1961, he married Patricia J. Haskins. They met when he was 17 and they were high school sweethearts. …

Margo I. (Wagner) Baughman, age 74, of Colon, drove away in her Jeep to meet her Lord, Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. Margo was born Feb. 1, 1942, in Union Township, a daughter of the late George W. and Dorothy (Davis) Wagner. On May 18, 1978, she married Jerry O. Baughman in Colon. Margo had lived …

Maxine McLaughlin, age 80, of Leonidas, died Thursday, March 31, 2016 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born in Colon Township on March 26, 1936 the daughter of Frank and June (Bower) Williams. She was raised by her paternal grandmother, and later by her aunt and uncle, Emory and Pearl Kuder. Maxine graduated from Battle Creek …

Opal May (Chrisman) Brown, age 90, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 30, 2016. She was greeted by many family members including her husband Richard Brown, her parents Elmer & Ruth Chrisman, her sister Irene Tokarski, and her great grandsons Max, Jett, & Henry Fuelling. Opal “Bobo” was born on January 22, 1926 in Three Rivers, Michigan. …