Obituaries

Barbara Ann Oberlander, age 76, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at Three Rivers Health. She was born in Nottawa on Oct. 7, 1940 the daughter of Everett F. and Evelyn J. (Friend) Williams and had seven brothers and two sisters. She was married to Rex M. Oberlander on Nov. 3, 1956 in Three Rivers. Rex died in …

Henry Jay Weldy, age 70, of Mottville, passed away on Monday, April 10, 2017 at his home. He was born in Elkhart County, IN, on February 11, 1947, a son of Harold and Virginia (Holaway) Weldy. Henry graduated from Penn High School and served in the U.S. Army from 1967 to 1969. On April 27, 1985, he married Judy Stroup …

Lawrence “Little Mikey Bell” Hughes, age 54 of Three Rivers passed away on Tuesday, April 4, 2017 at Three Rivers Health. He was born in Three Rivers on October 6, 1962 the son of Lawrence and Luella (Harsh) Bell. Lawrence was a lifetime resident of Sturgis and Three Rivers. He was employed on many roofing jobs and also enjoyed working …

Helen J. Avery, age 90, of Colon, passed away Monday, April 10, 2017, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. Helen was born Oct.11, 1926, in Sherman Township, a daughter of the late Albert and Helen (Taylor) Sadewasser. She grew up in Sturgis, graduating from Sturgis High School in 1943. On Aug. 2, 1947, she married Donald E. Avery of Centreville. …

Norman D. VanPelt, age 89, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, April 10, 2017, at his home. He was born Feb. 14, 1928, in Fawn River, a son of the late Crate and Viola (Knight) VanPelt. Norman was a lifelong Sturgis-area resident. On Feb. 15, 1947, he married Betty Jean Jourdan in Angola, Ind. She died Feb. 9, 2014. Norm …

Harvey Robert Schlabach, age 73, of Burr Oak, passed away early Monday morning, April 10, 2017, at his home, surrounded by his family. He was born Dec 28, 1943, in Litchfield, a son of the late Joas and Barbara (Schwartz) Schlabach. He worked at Burr Oak Tool and Gauge and retired from Jayco in 2007. He loved to spend time …

Jody Clipfell, age 53, of Colon, passed away Sunday, April 9, 2017, from injuries received in a car-pedestrian accident in Colon Township. Jody was born March 19, 1964, in Sturgis, a daughter of Philip G. and Louise (Drumhiller) Clipfell. Jody had made her home in Colon all her life and was presently employed at Palomino RV in Colon. She enjoyed …

Carolyn Faye (Llewellyn) Babcock, age 82, of Three Rivers, passed away in her sleep on Sunday, April 9, 2017, after a short but hard fight with cancer. She was born the daughter of the late Roy and Ardath (Dinsmore) Llewellyn. On Feb. 14, 1956, she married Lloyd Babcock Jr. He preceded her in death. Carolyn had worked and retired from …

Donald Earl “Donny” McClain, age 90, of Mendon, died Monday, April 10, 2017 at Heartland Healthcare Center in Three Rivers. He was born in Mendon on May 31, 1926 the son of Robert J. and Martha L. (Rench) McClain and has been a lifetime resident of Mendon. Donnie attended the Michigan School for the Deaf in Flint in his younger …

Rick W. Schlabach, 54, of Howe, Ind. died unexpectedly Thursday, April 6, 2017, in an accident at the Winnebago Manufacturing Plant in Middlebury, Ind. Rick was born on May 18, 1962 in LaGrange, Ind., to William E. and Deloris A. (Myers) Schlabach. They preceded him in death. Living his life in LaGrange County, he was a paint repairman for motorhomes. …