Obituaries

Charles F. “Charlie” Comden, age 61, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday afternoon, February 8, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo after fighting a sudden illness. He was born September 24, 1953 in Bryan, Ohio son of Richard and Betty “Peg” (Hendrickson) Comden. Charlie married the love of his life, Geraldine “Gerri” Ortmann May 26, 1972 at the Holy Angels …

Harold Clayton ( Tuffy) Abbs passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis, Mich. He was born April 11, 1924, in Sturgis, the son of Theodore and Gertrude ( Adams) Abbs. He was one of 11 children — five brothers and five sisters. He married Isabelle King in 1951. She passed away on June 26, 1996. …

Florence Elvera Nilsson, age 97, of Lake Templene, passed away Thursday, February 5th, 2015 at Thurston Woods Village, Sturgis.   Florence was born in Bridgeport, CT on February 28, 1917, a daughter of Charles A. and Elin C. (Wallin) Berglund.  On May 27, 1939 Florence married John Erik Nilsson in Orange, NJ. He preceded her in death February 2, 1991.  …

John Alvin Rittman, age 70, of Mendon, died Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 at his home. He was born in Terre Haute, IN on Aug. 8, 1944 the son of the late George and Delphine (Lawrence) Rittman. He graduated from Garfield High School and took college courses in Terre Haute. He later graduated from Western Michigan University and was a schoolteacher …

Susan J. Blue, 54, of Three Rivers, passed away Tuesday, February 3rd, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center. Susan was born in Three Rivers, MI on July 4, 1960, a daughter of Anthony and Joyce (Thornton) Witek. She graduated from Constantine High School in 1978 and attended Glen Oaks Community College. Susan worked as a sales associate at Seelye Automotive in Kalamazoo for …

Marie M. Holderman, age 88, formerly of Colon, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, in Stevensville. On Sept. 19, 1942, she married Lloyd Holderman in Goshen, Ind. He preceded her in death Sept. 12, 1967. Marie had an unwavering faith in God. She was a member of Colon Baptist Church for most of her life. She is survived by her …

Maryann Keller, 78, of Three Rivers, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 at home. She was born Aug. 31, 1936 in White Pigeon, a daughter to the late August and Marie Bender. Maryann was raised in White Pigeon and Kalamazoo and after marriage has resided in Three Rivers. On March 1, 1958 in Constantine, she married Ralph Keller. She attended …

Ezra Graber, 96, of Goshen, Ind., died at 12:45 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015 at his residence. He was born on Oct. 27, 1918 in Mylo, N.D., to Abraham and Rubena (Roth) Graber. On June 1, 1941, he married Maudie Kauffman, she died Jan. 28, 2001. On May 18, 2002 he married Irma Gingerich, she survives. Survivors in addition …

John Boyd, of Allegan, died Monday, Feb. 2, 2015, at his home. John was born May 9, 1945, in Three Rivers, the son of the late Robert and Elizabeth (Kinney) Boyd. He graduated from Mendon High School in 1963. He graduated from Green’s Barber College, and was a barber in Mendon for several years, before coming to Allegan and working …

Jack Ellis Oberle, age 85, of Columbus, OH (formerly of Constantine), passed away Monday, February 2, 2015 at University Hospital, Cleveland, OH. He was born in Three Rivers  on March 20, 1929, a son of Oswald  and Margaret (Ellis) Oberle. Jack married Shirlie Mae Miller, she preceded him in death  on Dec. 29, 2012 after 60 years of marriage. Jack graduated from …