Obituaries

Wanda Schlatter Zonyk, age 96, of Lake Templene, Sturgis, died Wednesday, March 11, 2015. She was born Feb. 18, 1919 in South Bend, IN a daughter of the late Alex and Angela (Karwacka) Grombik. She had resided in Bronson, MI most of her life where she was active in community affairs, held offices in Summer Youth Recreation Program, Local Welfare-Relief Org., …

William Kermit Sampson, age 89, of Colon, passed away, Tuesday, March 10, 2015, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. William was born Dec. 20, 1925, in Woodburn, Ky., a son of the late Hershal and Ova P. (Creek) Sampson. William served in the U.S. Army during World War II. On June 26, 1948, he married Dorothy L. Eldridge in Kentucky, …

Aaron Van Vorst, age 28, of Colon, passed away Monday, March 9, 2015, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, from complication of congestive heart failure. Aaron was born April 23, 1986, in Sturgis, a son of Jeffery and Gayle (Moyer) Van Vorst. Aaron grew up in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 2004. He served in …

Dean Robert Rice, 93, went to be with the Lord on Friday, January 16, 2015 at Fairview Living Center in Centreville, Mi., where had been a resident for the past four years. Dean was born in Three Rivers on February 5, 1921, the son of Henry and Verna (VanNordstrand) Rice. Dean had lived his entire life in the Three Rivers …

Larry R. Nelson, 71, of Three Rivers, born in Akron, Ohio, and formerly of the Edwardsburg-Niles area, as well as Wichita and Hutchinson, Kan., died peacefully Friday, March 6, 2015 at 6:38 p.m. in Spectrum-Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids after a short struggle with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Larry was the son of Ralph M. and D. Jane (Lagerberg) Nelson. Larry …

Mary Ruth Homan, age 69, of Mendon died Sunday, March 8, 2015 at I.U. Health in Goshen. She was born in Vicksburg, MI on Aug. 29, 1945 the daughter of Ray Eldon and Rachel (Shook) Culp. She attended Fulton Elementary and graduated from Vicksburg High School with the class of 1963. Mary was married to Roger “Bill” Homan on Feb. …

Katie Jean Alexander-Longacre, age 28, of Centreville, passed away Saturday, March 7th, 2015. Katie was born in Kalamazoo, MI on April 3, 1986, a daughter of Vicky Lynn (Kannegieter) Alexander and David Wright Alexander. On September 6, 2014, she married Jerry E. Longacre in Nottawa. She attended Mendon Public Schools and later obtained her GED from Three Rivers.  Katie worked as a …

Walter M. Tokarski, age 94, of Three Rivers,  died Friday, March 6, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Wilson, MI on June 10, 1920 the son of John and Barbara (Pierhal) Tokarski. The family moved to Three Rivers in 1926, and Walter attended Three Rivers schools. He served in the U.S. Army with the 96th …

Melvin Alger Taylor, age 85, of Three Rivers, passed away on March 5, 2015 at Riverview Manor. He is survived by one son, Gregory M. Taylor and one daughter Melodee A. Taylor. Cremation has taken place and no services are scheduled at this time. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Amy Louise Kennedy, age 46, passed away on Thursday, March 5, 2015 at her family’s home who has cared for her after a courageous battle with cancer. Amy was born on September 6, 1968 in Three Rivers, MI the daughter of Jack Jr. and Patricia (Meyer) Kennedy. Amy attended Immaculate Conception Elementary School and graduated with Honors from Three Rivers …