Obituaries

Russel D. Ames, 86, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday morning, March 1, 2014 at his home. He was born July 24, 1927 in Three Rivers, son of the late Claude and Mildred (Ernest) Ames. Russel resided in Sturgis since 1948 coming from Three Rivers. On Dec. 31, 1948 he married Joyce Ann Holtz at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis. …

Alice Marie Rockelein, age 88, of Leonidas, died Saturday March 1, 2014 at the Heritage-Upjohn Community Care Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Mattawan on June 24, 1925 the daughter of John and Loretta (McCarthy) Kelly. Alice was married to Joseph L. Rockelein in Paw Paw on October 11, 1952 and has resided on a farm north of Leonidas …

Frank “Tete” Osborn, age 83, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, February 27th, 2014 at Three Rivers Health. He was born in Three Rivers on June 7, 1930, a son of Donald and Beulah (Franklin) Osborn. Frank graduated from Constantine High School in 1948. Frank was married to Betty (Flack) Osborn for 22 years. He worked at CG Conn Musical …

Ardena Joyce Wells, age 86, of Three Rivers, passed away Wednesday evening, Feb. 26, 2014,at the New Friends Assisted Living, Kalamazoo, surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Three Rivers, MI., on Feb. 3, 1928, the daughter of Bernard and Pauline Wetherbee Smith. On Jan. 20, 1950, Ardena married the love of her life, Mr. Lane Wells. Together …

John Marshall Pollard Sr., 66, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 at his home. He was born on July 20, 1947 in Portsmouth, Ohio the son of Clarence E. and Lida May (Hammond) Pollard. Mr. Pollard has been a long time resident of this area. He was employed at Centurion Trailer Factory for over 19 …

John L. Currier, age 84, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away early Thursday morning February 27, 2014 at his home. He was born August 19, 1929 in Burr Oak Township, Michigan eldest son of the late Leo and Elizabeth (Nusbaum) Currier. John resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak, area his whole life. On August 31, 1947 he married Edna Miller …

Hazel (Smith) Merriman-Reynolds, 93, of Schoolcraft, and formerly of Klinger Lake, passed away Feb. 25, 2014, with Shirley by her side. She had lived at Klinger Lake since 1943, later moving to Schoolcraft. She was a homemaker and had worked at Scovill and Harvey Paper in Sturgis. Ms. Reynolds was born Aug. 28, 1916, in Noble Township, Bronson, to Walter …

Evelyn C. Ford, age 91, of Avilla, Ind., and formerly of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at Presence Sacred Heart Nursing Facility in Avilla, Ind. She was born Jan. 10, 1923, in Chicago, a daughter of the late George and Emma (Hajek) Koza. Evelyn moved to Sturgis in 1965, coming from South Bend, Ind. On Dec. 28, 1946, …

Robert “Bobby” Wiles was born on May, 11 1955, in Sturgis, and joined his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014. His loving, caring spirit lives on in the love of his wife, Diana; children Jason Wiles, Ryan (Abby) Wiles and Sonya Cronkite; grandchildren Alexis, Daija, Jaidon, Cross, and Austin; sisters, Betty (Jerry) Caudill and Donna (Dan) Voorus; brother, Michael …

Elizabeth M. Johnsonbaugh, 94, a lifelong resident of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014 at Thurston Woods Village. She was born Dec. 3, 1919 in Sturgis, a daughter to the late Edward and Mary (Johns) Mamroe. Elizabeth graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1937. On April 25, 1941 she married Louis E. Johnsonbaugh in Sturgis. He …