Obituaries

Sondra L. Richmond, age 68, of Sturgis, passed away early Monday morning, Jan. 28, 2013, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born May 23, 1944 in Fort Wayne, Ind., a daughter of Harold and Kathleen (Darby) Newman. Sondra resided most of her life in Sturgis and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1962. …

Ruth Marie Matilda Stielau, age 85, of Centreville, Mich., passed away early Saturday morning, Jan. 26, 2013, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Victoria Stielau in Sturgis. She was born Sept. 30, 1927, in Chicago, daughter of the late Ernst and Maria (Piepenburg) Engel. She attended schools in Chicago and graduated from Jones Commercial High School …

Barbara E. DeBack, age 94, of Colon, passed away, Jan. 27, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital. Barbara was born, June 4, 1918, in Deerfield, Mich., a daughter to the late Arthur G. and Mae (Barnaby) Starks. Barbara grew up in Adrian, Mich., graduating from Adrian High School in 1936, moving to Colon after her marriage in 1945. Barbara Married John W. …

Lucille R. Griffith, age 90, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away late Saturday morning, Jan. 26, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born May 24, 1922, in Rochester, New York, daughter of the late Archie and Alice (Tillman) Gibson. Lucy resided in Sturgis since 1931 coming from Rochester, New York. On June 18, 1943 she married Warren Griffith in Rochester, New …

Vern Stroup, age 63, of Three Rivers, died unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013. He was born in Three Rivers on May 25, 1949 the son of Roland and Ethel M. (Carter) Stroup and has been a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. Vern was first married to Janice Arnold in 1970, and they were later divorced. He …

Carlene V. Gilchrist, 85, of Colon, formerly of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013. She was born on March 25, 1927 in Three Rivers, the daughter of the late Ray R. Earl and Ora (Wordelman) Richmond. Carlene has been a life long resident of Three Rivers. She was formerly employed by Continental Can, later Weyerhaeuser, and …

Hilma M. Houts passed away Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013 at Rose Arbor Hospice, Kalamazoo. Hilma was born Jan. 30, 1916 in Fabius Township, St. Joseph County, the daughter of Elmer and Edna Pulver. She married Elmer S. Houts, Jr. on July 16, 1936 and raised five children, Lewis (Edie) Houts of Plano, Texas, Martha (Carl) Stakes of Kerrville, Texas, Mary …

Brian J. Evans of Three Rivers passed away Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, at his home. Brian was born Dec. 4, 1972, in Edison, N.J., to Edgar and Jacqueline (Kundzala) Evans. Brian was a 1992 graduate of Lakeland High School in LaGrange, Ind. While in high school he was a star athlete in track and field and earned a scholarship to …

Lila Marie Gemmill, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013, at Thurston Woods Village. She was born April 17, 1924, in Hillsdale County, a daughter of the late Floyd and Clara (Sarles) Lyon. On Aug. 30, 1941, she married Richard John Gemmill in Newport, Ky. He preceded her in death Jan. 18, 1986. Lila had been a …

Wendell Paul Searer, MD, died peacefully on Dec. 27, 2012 in his 81st year after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Loving husband of Annetta (nee Howard) for 59 years. Adored father of Kathryn (Jeffrey) McNair and Susan (Benjamin) Myers of Redlands, Calif. and Judith (Grant) Bevill of Crystal Lake, Ill. Proud Pop-Pop to Courtney, Josh, Amy, Clark, Molly, Kristina, Maxwell …