Obituaries

Jerome Alan “Jerry” Crabtree, age 93, of Mendon, died on Sunday, December 31, 2023 at Safe Haven Assisted Living in Hastings. He was born in Mendon on June 11, 1930 the son of Sheridan L. and Marjorie R. (Kirby) Crabtree, and was a member of the Mendon High School Class of 1948. Jerry was the proprietor of Crabtree Realty and …

Annette Lynn Brown, age 82, of Three Rivers, passed away at her home on Saturday, December 30, 2023.  She was born on March 16, 1941 in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Cecil and Evelynn (Matthews) Sellers.  She graduated from Galesburg-Augusta High School, and later obtained a degree from Tunxis Community College in Connecticut.  On September 16, 1964 Annette married Ray S. …

Gerald Lee “Jerry” Spealman, age 58, of Mendon, died Friday, December 29, 2023 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Kalamazoo on April 27, 1965 and was the son of William and Mary (McClain) Spealman. He graduated from Mendon High School in 1983 where he was active in Scouts and the Hornet football teams. Jerry gained experience …

Maude L Denny, age 82, of Constantine, died on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at Edgewood Health and Rehab in Three Rivers. She was born December 9, 1941 in South Bend, a daughter of Donald and Esther (Fairbanks) Fink. Maude graduated from John Adams High School in South Bend. On June 13, 1973 she married Edwin G. Denny, Jr., in Anderson, …

Suzi Lee French, age 58, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Thursday, December 28, 2023. Suzi was born on July 9, 1965, in Coldwater, a daughter to the late Leon and Jennie (Curtis) French. Suzi was a graduate of Colon High School with the class of 1984. Suzi lived in Colon her entire life. She worked at …

Brenda Lee Bertrem, age 65, of Constantine, passed away on Tuesday, December 26, 2023 at her home. She was born in Bremerhaven, Germany on April 18, 1958, a daughter of Kenneth and Elsie (Siebel) Hoople. Brenda attended Oregon High School in Oregon, IL. She married Thomas Guentert in May of 1975 in Oregon, IL. He preceded her in death on …

Martha Rae “Marty” Wheeler, age 81, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday afternoon, December 26, 2023 at her home. She was born on March 23, 1942 in Sturgis. Marty resided in the Sturgis area nearly her entire life, and was a member of the Sturgis High School class of 1960. On May 28, 1960 she married the love of her life …

Garry Lee Rawlings, age 87, of Howe, Indiana passed away unexpectedly late Monday evening, December 25, 2023 at his home. He was born January 7, 1936 in Jacksonville, Illinois son of the late John and Gertrude (Oxley) Rawlings. Garry resided in Howe since 1981 coming from Sturgis where he lived for many years. His early life was spent in Franklin, …

Phyllis Schermerhorn Prather Hanley, age 92, of Atlanta, Georgia, and a former longtime Sturgis and Howe resident, passed away on December 7, 2023 at Phoenix Assisted Living in Atlanta. She was born on her family farm, November 2, 1931 in LaGrange, daughter of the late Raymond and Ruth (Isabell) Schermerhorn. Phyllis is survived by her six children, Susan Prather, Janet …

Hayley Melinda Thomas, age 54, of Sturgis, passed away on December 1, 2023 at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room following a hard fought battle with alcoholism and homelessness. She was born October 6, 1969 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Harold and Marcella (Wyatt) Johnson. Hayley lived most of her life in Sturgis, but had also resided in Hillsdale and …