Obituaries

Jill D. Pagels, 65, of Sturgis, died Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2014 at her home. Jill was born on Dec. 11, 1948 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Richard and Joan (Peters) Jacobs. She was a Sturgis area resident since 1969. She was a graduate of Three Rivers High School in 1967 and graduate of Parsons Business School in Kalamazoo with a …

John R. Ware, age 97, of Burr Oak, passed away Monday, Nov. 17, 2014, at the Sturgis Hospital emergency room. John was born Nov. 27, 1916, in Athens, a son of the late Ernest and Regina (Baumeister) Ware. John had attended grade school at Worden School in Burr Oak and later graduated from Colon High School with the class of …

William G. Willer, 75, of White Pigeon, Mich., died Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, at his home. He was born Jan. 9, 1939, in Sturgis, Mich., to Harry and Leone ( Robertson) Willer. He was a Sturgis and White Pigeon area resident all of his life. He attended Michigan State University and was an avid fan of Michigan State sports. He …

Charles E. Kesler, age 87, of Centreville, Mich., passed away Saturday evening, Nov. 15, 2014, at his home, surrounded by his family. He was born Sept. 9, 1927, in Fort Wayne, Ind., son of the late Walter and Anna ( Jennings) Kesler. Chuck resided in the Sturgis and Centreville area since 1958. Prior to coming to Sturgis, he lived in …

Deborah A. Mead, 59, of Constantine, died Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, from injuries of an automobile accident. She was bornMay 17, 1955, in Holly, to Richard H. and Carol G. (Armstrong) Roberts. She was a Constantine resident many years coming from Holly. She had a master’s degree in health administration and was employed by …

Harold D. Hershberger, 76, of White Pigeon, died Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, at his home. He was born May 18, 1938, in Bristol, Ind., a son of Harold R. and Viola (Gooch) Hershberger. He was a resident of Bristol, Mottville and White Pigeon all his life. Harold worked many jobs including Auto Mechanic, Shipshewana Pallets, Alcona Homes, United Express Line …

Robert Eugene Kipker, 79, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born on Jan. 2, 1935 in Three Rivers, the son of the late Elmer and Barbara (Bryant) Kipker. Mr. Kipker served his country in the U.S. Army from 1956 until his honorable discharge in 1963. On …

Mildred Adel Abbott, age 101, of Marcellus, departed this life at the Riverview Manor Nursing Home in Three Rivers on Thursday, November 13, 2014. She was born February 12, 1913 at the Wright home on Steininger Road, Marcellus Township, the daughter of Arthur and Mary Adel (Ayers) Wright. She was the youngest of five children. Mildred has lived in the …

Donald J.(Don) Eberhard, age 91, of Colon, died Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, at the Branch County Community Health Center in Coldwater, due to multiple health issues. He was born Oct. 22, 1923, on South Clay Street in Sturgis, the first born of Roy and Rose (Holtz) Eberhard. Don graduated from Sturgis High School with the Class of 1942 and was …

Alberta Marie Kastead was born on November 7, 1917, in Mendon, MI., the daughter of Ella Tillotson. Alberta died peacefully in her sleep on November 4, 2014 with her daughters present at the Laurels of Sandy Creek where she was a resident for eight years. She attended schools in Indiana and graduated from Mongo High School in 1936. On July …