Obituaries

Phyllis Elaine Van Aken, age 88, of Colon, passed away at her home surrounded by her family on Monday, February 10, 2025. Phyllis was born on April 13, 1936, in Reading, Michigan, daughter to the late Lawrence and Dorothy (Burger) Wiler. Phyllis was a graduate of Bronson High School with the class of 1954. Phyllis worked for 35 years for …

Carolyn Ann Vickers, age 73, of Colon, passed away at her home on Sunday, February 9, 2025. Carolyn was born on August 27, 1951, in Pontiac, Michigan, a daughter to the late Dewey and Vandaray (Combs) Deaton. Carolyn was a graduate of Pontiac Northern High School with the class of 1969. She then worked many years in finance.  She was …

Joseph C. Panarici, age 71, of Burr Oak, passed away at his home on Sunday, February 8, 2025. Joseph was born on February 2, 1954, in Chicago, a son to the late Anthony and Jesse (Tritto) Panarici. Joseph attended and graduated from DeLaSalle High School. He worked as a truck driver. Joseph and Ann moved to Colon 25 years ago …

Ronald L. Heath, age 95, of Lake Wales, Florida passed away on February 1, 2025.  He was born on May 26, 1929 in Kalamazoo, the son of Harry and Lillian (Bush) Heath.  He attended school in the Kalamazoo area; after school he would began working at Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment Company.  While employed there Ronald was drafted by the United States …

Roger G. Spillers, age 86, of Colon, passed away on Friday, February 7, 2025, at his home on Palmer Lake. Roger was born on May 13, 1938, in Fort Wayne, a son to the late Donald Spillers and Garnett Roth. Roger attended Central High School in Fort Wayne. Roger had made his home in Colon since 1979, coming from Fort …

Ralph “Jerry” Burkhead, age 77, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday morning, February 8, 2025, at Edgewood Nursing and Rehabilitation in Three Rivers. He was born February 4, 1948 in Sturgis, son of the late Ralph M. “Hap” and Eulalia M. “Pat” (Houser) Burkhead. Jerry was a lifelong Sturgis resident and graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1968. …

Herbert G. Steffey, age 92, of Mendon, passed away at is home surrounded by his loving family on Friday, February 7, 2025. He was born on October 10, 1932 in Little Shoal, Kentucky the son of Willie and Mary (Chaney) Steffey. Herbert honorably served his country with the United States Army. Following his army days, he married Susan Misener on …

Robert Theodore VanDeraa, age 82, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Ascension Borgess Hospital. He was born November 1, 1942 in Harvey, Illinois, the son of Bernard and Helen (Le Munyon) VanDeraa, and graduated from Three Rivers High School with the Class of 1963. Bob served his country honorably in the U.S. Army in Korea, then …

Doris Esther “Dee” Meyer, age 86, passed away Monday, February 03, 2025 at Birch Meadows Senior Care in Three Rivers. Dee was born in Woodbury, Tennessee on December 20th, 1938. She was the daughter of Izetta White Mooneyham-Cain and graduated from Jackson High School with the class of 1956. Dee grew up in a small home in Woodbury, Tennessee until …

James Nelson Bailey Jr., age 74, of Three Rivers, passed away on February 1, 2025 at his home. He was born July 29, 1950 in Highland Park, the son of James N. and Helen (Van Dyke) Bailey, and graduated from Milford High School with the Class of 1968. James pastored at the Open Door Bible Church in Hudson, MI, The …