Obituaries

Ella L. Balluff, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at Thurston Woods Village. She was born Oct. 8, 1922, in Nisland, S.D., a daughter of the late John and Anna (Peters) Freed. Ella spent her early years and graduated high school in Sturgis, S.D, and had been a resident of Sturgis, Mich., since 1952, moving here …

Lore Anna Oman, age 78, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Sunday afternoon January 5, 2014 at her home. She was born January 5, 1936 in Lansing, Michigan daughter of the late Fred and Anna (Shumann) Frueh. Lore resided in Sturgis since 1956 coming from Lansing. On October 6, 1956 she married James Oman in Sturgis. She retired in 1991 from …

Rachel B. Hostetler, age 90, of Sturgis, MI entered Heaven’s Gates, on Tuesday, January 07, 2014 at Thurston Woods Village.She was a native and former resident of Berne, IN, daughter of John P. and Barbara Schwartz, she was born on July 31, 1923. She married Joe R. Wickey on January 2, 1942 (deceased October 8, 1960). On March 7, 1971 …

Charles C. Jackson, 57, of Constantine, passed away in his home Friday, Jan. 3, 2014. Charles was born on March 19, 1956, the son of the late Milton S. and Emma Jean (Silcock) Jackson. He is survived by two daughters, Colleen Walls of Middleville and Cherie (Chase) Schmucker of Middlebury, Ind.; four grandchildren, Kaeli Walls, Devin Walls, Taeler Jones and …

Mildred C. Garcia, 90, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014. She was born July 25, 1923 in Petersburg, Tenn. She later married John M. Garcia who preceded her in death in 1967. She formerly was a caregiver for the Council on Aging and a member of the Marcellus V.F.W. Post 4054 Ladies Auxiliary. Surviving are three daughters, Mildred Pierce of …

Mary Lou Chrobot, 80, of Three Rivers, formerly of South Bend, Ind., passed away Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, in Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo. Mary Lou was born on April 12, 1933 in South Bend, Ind. to Peter and Stella (Scultz) Cudowski. She was employed with the South Bend Elks Club for 20 years and at Memorial Hospital in the Communications Department …

Philip “Shorty” Clark, age 71, of Centreville, passed away Saturday, January 4th, 2014 at his home. He born in Three Rivers, MI on September 10, 1942, a son of William P. and Bernice (Parker) Clark. On June 21,1964 Shorty married Janet Brooks in Three Rivers. She preceded him in death on July 20, 2009. He worked as a materials handler …

Michelle Dawn Jarratt, age 54, of Sturgis, Mich., and formerly of Constantine, Mich., passed away unexpectedly Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, at her home. She was born May 22, 1959, in Three Rivers, Mich., a daughter to the late William Dennis Poorman and Lorna (Shears) Stahl. Michelle was a homemaker and enjoyed decorating, playing cards, and spending time with her grandchildren. …

Esther S. Howell, age 71, of Sturgis, passed away Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, from injuries received from a fall at home. She was born Oct. 25, 1942, in Laporte, Ind., a daughter of the late Leonard and Jeanette (Linde) Watnick. Esther graduated from Union Township High School in Laporte and then attended Purdue University, …

James S. Kline. age 72, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday morning, Jan. 5, 2014, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Thursday at Hackman Family Funeral Homes — Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Road, Sturgis. Funeral services celebrating the life of James S. Kline will be held at 10 …