Obituaries

Mary J. Young, age 84, of Constantine, died Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at Heartland Health Care Center. She was born April 1, 1931, a daughter of George and Vira (Gilbert) Tilford. Mary graduated from Constantine High School in 1949. On May 1, 1954, she married Raymond Young at Messiah Lutheran Church in Constantine. Mary was active in school and community for her …

Fred Cooper, Jr., age 88, of rural Three Rivers, died unexpectedly of natural causes at his home. He was born near Vicksburg on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1928 the son of Fred and Frieda (Lowe) Cooper and was a lifetime resident of the area. He graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1946, and later served in the U.S. …

Richard A. Lewis, 60, of Mottville Township, Constantine, passed away Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, at his home. He was born Oct. 21, 1955, in Three Rivers, a son of Richard E. and Wanna L. (Keller) Lewis. He was a resident of the Mottville area for the past 15 years, coming from Stone Lake. He was a graduate of White Pigeon …

Claire E. Knapp, age 86, of Marcellus, MI, passed away Friday, January 29, 2016 following a brief illness. She was born September 18, 1929 in Dowagiac, MI the daughter of Harvey E. and Christine D. (Cowham) Elsey. On June 5, 1949 in Wakelee, MI she married Fred R. Knapp who preceded her in death. Claire retired from G.W. Jones Exchange …

Wilma Marianne Knecht, age 87, of Three Rivers passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center. She was born in Solingen, Germany on January 16, 1929 and moved to the United States in 1958. If light could be a person If love would never die If laughter healed a broken heart If …

Arnold S. Long, 85, Nottawa, passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center. He was born in Ney, OH on August 15, 1930, a son of James and Jenny (Lumpkins) Long. Arnold served in the National Guard. In 1955, he married Rhea High in Angola, IN. Arnold held many jobs throughout his life, retiring from Process Metals in …

Kenneth R. Reish, age 90, of Marcellus, MI passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2016. He was born April 30, 1925, in Marcellus the son of Leo E. and Fannie G. (Beadle) Reish. On July 20, 1957, in Benton Harbor, MI he married Glina L. Henderson who preceded him in death. Kenneth graduated from Marcellus High School in 1944. He was …

  Robert Lee Gray, 77, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday morning, Jan. 24, 2016 at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers following a long, difficult battle with Lewy Body Dementia. Robert (Bob), a founding faculty member at Glen Oaks Community College (GOCC), is remembered as a man who passionately loved music; and dedicated his life to teaching, mentoring …

Mr. Rochester “Chet” Brown Sr., age 70, of Three Rivers, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, January 25, 2016. Chet was born April 26, 1945 in New Orleans, LA., from the union of Velma and Louis Brown Sr. Chet moved to Michigan in 1959. He was employed by General Motors Corporation for forty years …

Ruby Steiner, 71, of White Pigeon, passed away Sunday, January 24, 2016 at Goshen Hospital. She was born in VanWert County, OH on March 21, 1944, daughter of Glen and Viola (Gibson) Copsey. Ruby graduated from Constantine High School in 1962. She married Dennis Steiner on June 17, 1962 at Trinity Missionary Church. She received her cosmetology license from the …