Obituaries

Richard David “Rick” Potts, age 38, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at his home. He was born June 5, 1976, in Sturgis, a son of David and Janice (Machan) Potts. Rick was a lifelong Sturgis area resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1995. He continued his education at Kalamazoo Valley Community …

Kenneth L. Airgood, 78, of White Pigeon, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following an extended illness. He was born Aug. 28, 1936, in White Pigeon, a son of Leland K. and Katherine J. (Rudloff ) Airgood. He lived all his life in White Pigeon, except for four years in the U.S. Navy, where he …

Marilyn Ruth DePlanche, age 83, of Mendon, died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Mendon on Jan. 28, 1931 the daughter of Donald C. and Alma G. (Bartholomew) Happel. She graduated from Mendon High School where she later worked as a custodian. Marilyn was a homemaker who also worked at G-W Pizza …

Robert Lee “Bob” McClish, age 71, of Leonidas died Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 at his home. He was born in Battle Creek, MI on April 11, 1943 the son of Cecil and Audrey (Bastian) McClish and was a lifetime resident of the area. He graduated from Colon High School with the class of 1961. Bob worked as a millwright for …

Richard Allen “Rick” Clark, 54, of Sturgis, passed away Monday evening, Jan. 19, 2015 at his home. He was born Feb. 20, 1960 in Sturgis, son of Paul and Karyl (Lutz) Clark. Rick resided most of his life in Sturgis and he was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1978. On Sept. 2, 1988 he married …

Robert A. Zabel, age 86, of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday morning, Jan. 21, 2015, at Matthew 7:7 Adult Foster Care Home in White Pigeon. He was born April 27, 1928, in Sturgis, a son of the late Herman and Inez (Reamer) Zabel. Bob was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of …

Kristine Anne “Kris” Reid, 64, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 at home. She was born May 11, 1950 in Three Rivers a daughter to the late Douglas J. and Elizabeth (Meyer) Bullock. As a young girl Kristie became an avid stamp collector and developed a love of reading with “Nancy Drew Mysteries” and “Superman Comic Books.” As …

Betty Mae Bontrager, age 84, formerly of White Pigeon, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, in Cape Girardeau, Mo. She was born Jan. 26, 1930, in White Pigeon, a daughter of William Stewart and EdnaMae (Simpson) McClain and attended Cook Country School on Vistula Road. Betty was a homemaker who also worked in the shipping department at Kent Company in Elkhart, …

Ronald E. Patterson, age 71, of Three Rivers passed on Friday, January 16, 2015 at his home. He was born on August 7, 1943 in Three Rivers, MI the son of Clyde and Ella Dean(Jaseph)Patterson. Although he lived all over the United States growing up, he came back to Michigan to live out his later years. He was employed for …

Elizabeth Maxine Lytle, age 96, of Three Rivers passed away on Monday, January 19, 2015 at the Sunshine Care Home of Three Rivers. She was born in White Pigeon, MI on April 30, 1918 the daughter of William and Ione(Smith)Friesner. Elizabeth graduated from White Pigeon High School. On December 24, 1940 Elizabeth was united in marriage to James Lytle in …