Obituaries

Helen A. Butler, age 91, of Mendon, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015 at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers. She was born near Mendon on Sep. 21, 1924 the daughter of Claude L. and Katie R. (Winkleplek) Harriger and was a lifetime resident of Mendon. Helen graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1943. She was married to Carl …

Deborah S. Blue (Debbie) of Naples, Fla. passed away Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015, after a five-month illness. She was born April 22, 1955 in Sharon, Pa. She graduated from White Pigeon High School in 1973, and graduated from Blodgett Nursing School, Grand Rapids as an RN in 1973. She worked at Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo for two years, in Saudi …

Neil P. Kentner of Bancroft, Michigan, formerly of Mason, Michigan. Neil was born on August 7, 1954 and passed away, Saturday, December 26, 2015 at the age of 61. Neil was a member of the Michigan Sheep Breeders Association and very active in 4-H and was well known throughout the United States for his judging. Neil loved the farm, minor …

James “Jim” Kevin Wolfinger, age 55, of Bryson City, NC, passed away on Monday, December 21, 2015 at his home. He was born September 13, 1960 in San Jose, CA, a son of George and Josephine (Mull) Wolfinger. Jim worked as a self-employed roofer in Daytona Beach, FL most of his life. He also worked with his brothers in tree and …

Martha M. (Forreider) Merchant, 95, of Kalamazoo, died Thursday evening, Dec. 24, 2015. Martha was born Aug. 26, 1920 in Sidney, Ohio a daughter of J. Isaac and Lulu (Dodson) Jones. She had been a lifelong Schoolcraft area resident and attended Sunnyside United Methodist Church. Martha was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Eugene Forreider in August …

Oliver Wendell Roberts, 90, of Leander, Texas, passed away Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 29, at Generations Church, 1461 Woodview Drive, Leander, TX 78641, under the direction of Pastor Bob Brydon. Interment with military honors will follow at 3 p.m. sharp in Central …

Ronald Sterling “Ron” King, age 82, of Three Rivers, died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2015 at Riverview Manor. He was born in Grand Rapids on Sep. 24, 1933 the son of Sterling M. and Alice L. (Kobb) King. He attended Grand Rapids Central High School, and served in the U.S. Navy. Ron was a route driver for Oven Fresh Bakery, Shaffer …

Sharon Jean Buell, 71, of Bronson and formerly of Three Rivers, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015 at the Riverview Manor Nursing Home surrounded by her loving family. Sharon was born in Niles on Sept. 10, 1944 the daughter of the late Clifford and Mary (Okonski) Helminen. Sharon owned and operated the B & S Stop and Shop in …

Patty Lou Hagenbuch, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015 at the age of 80. Pat was born to parents Leslie and Marie (Prutzman) Hagenbuch on April 9, 1935 in Constantine. She grew up on the family farm, the fourth of five sisters and lived her entire life in the Three Rivers area. She cared for both …

Darlene Joy Mathews, age 74, formerly of Mendon died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015 at her Athens home following a one year illness. She was born in Parkville, MI on Nov. 12, 1941 the daughter of Glen and Jeannette (Ward) Dentler. She attended the Parkville School and Three Rivers High School. Darlene loved children. She and her family cared for 92 …