Obituaries

Emil “J.R.” Junior Schmeling, 86 of Elkhart, Ind., passed away Feb. 19, 2013, at Elkhart General Hospital. He was born Jan. 3, 1927, in Union, to Emil and Elsie (Hoffman) Schmeling. He married Lois A. Kruse, who survives along with a daughter, Sue Ann (Tom) Cloud; two sisters, Dorothy (Wayne) Reber and Arlene (Jim) Southard; three nieces, Karla Moore, Karen …

Antoinette Marie Christiaens, age 91, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Friday morning, March 1, 2013, at the Bronson Battle Creek Hospital in Battle Creek, Mich. She was born April 20, 1921, in South Bend, Ind., a daughter of the late Michael and Josephine (Swiniarski) Sokoloski. Toni had resided in Sturgis since 1975 coming from Livonia, Mich. Her early life was …

William F.(Bill) Broker III, age 66, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, in Fergus Falls, MN. Bill was born Jan. 14, 1947, in Sturgis, Mich., a son to William F. and Margaret K. (Haroff) Broker II. Bill had lived all of his life in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the Class of 1965 He furthered …

Jeffery Lee Fricker, age 49, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away early Friday evening, March 1, 2013, at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. He was born March 12, 1963, in Sturgis, Mich.,son of John C. and Sharon L. (Knight) Fricker. Jeff was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1981. Jeff actively volunteered …

Paul Robert Jacobs, 84, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 at Fairview Nursing and Rehab Facility. Paul was born June 2, 1928 in Centreville the son of Ernest and Edna (Cain) Jacobs. Paul owned a dairy farm in Three Rivers where he managed and tended to his land. Paul then developed and owned his excavating business …

Clarence Lester “Bud” Swihart, age 73, of Mendon, went to be with the Lord while surrounded by his loving family on Friday March 1, 2013. He was born March 31, 1939, in Colon, a son of Walter and Ethel (Ware) Swihart. He worked at several area family farms while attending Colon Schools. He served with the U.S. Army and then …

Warren Lavern Harder, age 83, of Three Rivers, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, Feb. 24, 2013, at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born May 13, 1929, in Three Rivers, a son of the late, Charles L. and Grace (White-Dieffenderfer) Harder. Mr. Harder has been a lifetime member of Three Rivers. After graduating from …

Lucille G. Pierson, age 88, of Vicksburg, died Feb. 24, 2013, at Faith Hospice in Grand Rapids. Lucille was born March 24, 1924, in Scotts to Earl and Melva (Wilcox) Holtz. She was a member of the Grange, Kalamazoo County Extension Club, 4-H and several genealogy societies. ‘ A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 at …

Judy Ann Lutz, age 70, of White Pigeon, passed away Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, at her home following a long illness. Judy was born July 22, 1942, in Marcellus, a daughter of Harold and Sylvia Milhahn. Judy graduated from Constantine High School in 1960. On June 25, 1960, she married James T. Smith in Constantine. He preceded her in death …

Esther Mae McConn, 87, of Bronson, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2013, at Maple Lawn Medical Care Facility in Coldwater. Visitation will be held 4-8 p.m. Friday, March 1, 2013, at Dutcher-Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2013, at the funeral home, with Pastor Terry Siler of First Congregational …