Obituaries

Dorothea Marie Robbins, age 98, of Burr Oak, Michigan passed away early Friday morning February 7, 2014 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born August 6, 1915 in Burr Oak Township, Michigan daughter of the late Albert and Clara (Hagelgans) Kaas. Mrs. Robbins was a lifelong Burr Oak resident and Valedictorian graduate of Burr Oak High School with …

Vickie L. Kirkum, age 61, of Coldwater, and formerly of Colon, passed away, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility in Coldwater. Vickie was born June 24, 1952, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Alvin J. and Wava J. (Wallman) Dobberteen. Vickie had lived most of her life in St. Joseph County, attending Colon High School, …

Brandon Terris Smith, age 28, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, in Sturgis. He was born Nov. 13, 1985, in LaGrange, Ind., a son of Terry and Brenda (Conley) Smith. Brandon was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 2004. He continued his education at the Universal Technical Institute in …

Lorance Dean Arnold, Sr., age 52 of Cassopolis died Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 at his daughter’s home in South Bend. He was born in Three Rivers, MI on Sep. 27, 1961 the son of William and Marion (Salisbury) Arnold. Lorance was a welder and handyman and had been employed at Voyager R.V. in Elkhart. He was also a biker who …

Robert D. Bainbridge, age 95, of Kalamazoo, MI passed away Monday, February 3, 2014. He was born December 18, 1918 in Butler, IN the son of Edward and Ida (Barnhill) Bainbridge. On January 22, 1943 in Wakelee, MI he married Carol Jean McKenzie who survives. He graduated from high school in 1937 then attended Michigan State. Through hard work and …

Sandra M. Chapman-Pittman, 61, of Centreville, died at Sturgis Hospital on Jan. 31, 2014. Arrangements are being handled by the Eickhoff, Farrand, Halverson Chapel.

Donald Gerald Swatek, age 84, of Sturgis, and formerly of Westmont and Brookfield, Ill., died Jan. 30, 2014. He was an Army Korean War veteran and former owner of Holiday Draperies Brookfield. He was beloved husband of the late Jane Swatek, nee Jacob; fond father of Linda (Lenny) Wenz, Wayne (Lynn) Swatek, David (Laurie) Swatek, Susan (Rob) Buege, Barbara (Bill) …

Graydon Howard, age 62, of Sturgis, MI. passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 31, 2014 at his home. He was born on Jan. 10, 1952 in Knott County, Kentucky the son of Ell and Goldie (Shepherd) Howard. Mr. Howard served his country in the U.S. Marines and was honorably discharged as a Corporal. He was later employed for over eighteen …

Leroy Bishop, age 69, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis, following 14 years of illnesses. He was born June 3, 1944, in Johnson City, Tenn., a son of the late Joshua T. and Reba (Humphrey) Bishop. On July 1, 1976, he married Joan Pitman in Sturgis. Leroy’s early life was spent in …

Keith Delmas “Bumper” Wing, age 68, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully early Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 at his home surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. Keith was born on Nov. 4, 1945 in Three Rivers, the son of the late L.D. and Mildred Pearl (Armstrong) Wing. Keith graduated from Constantine High School in 1966. …