Obituaries

Alan Scott Carpenter, age 51, of Parchment, Mich., and formerly of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly on or after Feb. 28, 2014, at his home. He was born May 9, 1962, in Sturgis, a son to the late James and Dorothy (Miller) Carpenter. On June 30, 1990, he married Shelley Myers in Sturgis. This marriage ended in divorce. Alan had been …

Marieann Johnson, age 53 of White Pigeon. died Thursday March 13, 2014 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born in Three Rivers on Nov. 17, 1960 the daughter of Alva J. and Stella N. (Wodjylo) Johnson, and was a lifetime resident of St. Joseph County. She is survived by three daughters, Shantell (Matt) Rumsey of Three Rivers, Brianne …

Joyce Ann Ames, age 84, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away early Friday morning, March 14, 2014, at her home. She was born Aug. 14, 1929, in Sturgis, Mich., daughter of the late Lawrence and Dorothy (Chapman) Holtz. Joyce was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1948. On Dec. 31, 1948, she …

Dennis Dale Brooks, age 35, of Burr Oak, Mich., was taken from his loving family and will be painfully missed Thursday evening, March 13, 2014, in Burr Oak Township. He was born July 5, 1978, in Coldwater, Mich., the only son of Robert Dale and Cathy (Robertson) Brooks. Dennis was the loving father of Isaac Nichols, Caleb Nichols, Grant Brooks, …

Leondard D. Cross, age 84, of Sherwood, passed away, Friday, March 14, 2014, at his home. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. at the Schipper Funeral Home LTD. in Colon. Funeral services will be Thursday, March 20, 2014, at 11 a.m. at the Factoryville Bible Church in Factoryville, MI.

Noel O. Kindt, age 80, of Marcellus, MI passed away Tuesday morning, March 11, 2014 at home. He was born April 30, 1933, the son of Omer and Mary Ann Kindt. On April 28, 1956 he married Patricia (Gundeck) who survives. Noel graduated from Central High School in 1951 and went on to attend and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree …

Barbara A. Hauck, age 89, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully early on March 12, 2014. Her last day on Earth was spent surrounded by her loving family and her friends. Barb was born Aug. 4, 1924, in Iowa, a daughter of the late George and Barbara Pettigrew. While in Iowa, Barb met and married her late husband, Daniel Hauck. After …

Gladys Marie VanVlerah, 74. Born Jan. 1, 1940, Skillman (Hawesville), Ky. Parents: Alvin E. and Frances M. (Minnett) Shearn. Survived by her children, Jay and Karen VanVlerah of Elkhart, Ind. and Sabra VanVlerah of Allegan; grandchildren, Joshua and Sarah VanVlerah of Ft. Collins, Colo. and Tyler VanVlerah of Bloomington (Elkhart), Ind.; three sisters, Marion Eubanks of Orlando, Fla., Jean Croce …

Robert Lee Payton, age 49, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, March 10, 2014, at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He was born May 7, 1964, in LaGrange, Ind., a son of David Lee and Nellie (Singleton) Payton. Robert had resided in Sturgis most of his life. On Aug. 18, 2007, he married Michele Akers in Sturgis. He had been employed …

Dale E. Sponseller, age 87, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Sunday morning March 9, 2014 at his home. He was born April 5, 1926 in Jackson, Michigan son of the late Dale and Lucille Sponseller. Dale’s early life was lived in the Hastings area where he was a graduate of Hastings High School with the class of 1944. While in …