Obituaries

Laura Lee Krontz, age 75, of Burr Oak, passed away Friday morning, Jan. 10, 2013, at Three Rivers Health. She was born May 6, 1938, in Battle Creek, a daughter of the late Lloyd and Irene (Schrader) Leatherbery. Laura resided in Burr Oak nearly her entire life. On May 22, 1954, she married Harold “Pat” Krontz in Centreville. Laura was …

Martha Ellen Fitch, age 89, of Three Rivers, passed away early Friday morning, January 10, 2014 at the Bowman House in Three Rivers. Martha was born on January 7, 1925, the daughter of the late John Daniel and Nellie Ann (Mader) Luther. Mrs. Fitch has been a long time resident of Three Rivers. She married the love of her life, …

Mary Lee (Heskett) Brown, age 48, of White Pigeon, daughter, sister, mother, wife and grandmother sadly passed away Wednesday, January 8th, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Elmhurst, IL, on December 10, 1965, a loving daughter of Don E. and Dorothy M (Corbin) Heskett. Mary attended Constantine Schools. On February 11, 2010 she married the …

Douglas Allen Cunningham, age 54, of Centreville, passed away Wednesday morning, Jan. 8, 2014 at his residence. He was born December 14, 1959 a son of Howard and Melva (Veon) Cunningham at Three Rivers Hospital. Following graduation from Centreville High School in 1979 he farmed with his father & brother, raising livestock, crops and training harness racing horses. He was …

Raymond Gerald Sharick, age 86, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Monday afternoon January 6, 2014 at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. He was born April 2, 1927 in Metamora, Illinois. Ray resided in Sturgis for the past 57 years coming from LaGrange, Indiana. He worked as an auto mechanic for forty years retiring from Dave Smith Pontiac Buick & GMC …

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 …