Obituaries

Bryan David Annis, age 64, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, December 8, 2023 at his home. He was born October 29, 1959 in Hillsdale, a son to the late Burton D. and Geraldine (Slocum) Annis. Bryan has been a resident of Sturgis since moving here in 1995 from Manchester, MI. He graduated from Western High School in Jackson …

Cora Graber, age 96, of Three Rivers, formerly of White Pigeon, passed away at 1:02 pm on Friday, December 8, at Birch Meadows Senior Care in Three Rivers. She was born on March 2, 1927 in Arthur, IL to William and Mary Ann (Mast) Miller. On August 21, 1948, at Clinton Brick Mennonite Church, she married Joseph A. Graber. He …

Susan Marie Taylor left this earth suddenly, and much too soon, on December 5, 2023. Susan was born December 18, 1962 in Fort Wayne to Robert L. and Jane E. Taylor. Susan, one of seven children, grew up in White Pigeon. She graduated from Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT in 1990. She was preceded in death by her brother …

Jay Dee Swinehart, age 61, of Goshen, passed away on December 4, 2023 at Bronson Battle Creek Hospital, following a long illness. Jay was born on September 22, 1962 in Three Rivers to Shirley (Hackler) and Norman Swinehart. After Jay graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1980, he worked nearly 40 years in the RV industry, most recently for …

Leonard James Beers, age 79, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday morning, December 10, 2023 at Edgewood Nursing and Rehabilitation in Three Rivers. He was born March 30, 1944 in Sturgis, son of the late Clarence L. “Speed” and Betty Jean (Harris) Beers. James was a lifelong Sturgis resident. In 1962 he married Dixie Jacobs. She preceded him in death …

Judy Shafer, age 81, of LaGrange, died on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital. Mrs. Shafer was born on June 1, 1942, in Fort Wayne to Lawrence D. “Buck” and Mary J. (Myers) Witham. She worked as an assembler at Dometic Corporation and had worked at other various jobs. On January 23, 1974, in LaGrange, Judy was married …

Dorothy Evelyn Fennell, age 97, passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 at Health Win Nursing Home in South Bend. Dorothy was born in Sturgis on October 2, 1926 to the late David and Pearl (Yunker) vonOlnhausen. Dorothy married Richard Arthur Fennell on October 5, 1947 at the Pretty Prairie Church in Howe, Indiana. She was preceded in death by …

James Brian Miller, age 77, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at Willowbrook Memory Care at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born September 21, 1946 in Three Rivers, son of the late Nyle Cameron and Marguerite Jean (Bolander) Miller. Jim was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of …

Donelda Adell Hart, age 87, of Colon, passed away Monday morning, December 4, 2023 at her home. She was born October 17, 1936 in Flint, Michigan daughter of the late Elmo W. and Dorothy (DePlanche) Bryan. Donelda resided in Sturgis area since 1972 coming from Flint. She was first married to Albert Richard Fields.  On November 2, 1974 she married …

Wayne G. Hinkley, age 78, of Portage, and former longtime resident of Sturgis, passed away Monday afternoon, December 4, 2023 at his home. He was born October 4, 1945 in Miami, Florida son of the late Frank and Thelma (Snell) Hinkley, Jr. Wayne resided in Portage since 2020 coming from Sturgis. His early life was lived in Colon where he …