Obituaries

Sylvia Yoder, age 84, of LaGrange, Ind., died Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, at 8:33 a.m. at Miller’s Mary Manor in LaGrange. She was born Dec. 1, 1928, in Nappanee, Ind., to the late Ben P. and Ida (Miller) Yoder. She was married Sept. 5, 1948, to Sylvanus L. Yoder. Sylivia was a homemaker and a member of the Locust Grove …

Jim Lauver, 57, of Shipshewana, Ind., died suddenly around 10:05 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 27, 2012, while on his usual morning walk near his home. He was born on Sept. 7, 1955, in Puerto Rico to Rev. J. Paul and Lois (Swihart) Lauver. On March 29, 1980, he married Jan Mast. She survives. Survivors in addition to his wife are his …

Edward Mitchell Schmeling, 88, of Union, died Wednesday, Dec. 26, 2012, in Cass County Medical Care Facility, Cassopolis. He was born on Feb. 12, 1924, in Union, Mich., to Emil and Elsie (Hoffman) Schmeling. Edward married Vera Maxine O’Dell on Sept. 13, 1947, in Elkhart, Ind. She preceded him in death on Jan. 26, 1996. He was also preceded by …

Marion Elizabeth Hults, age 84, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Wednesday Dec. 26, 2012, at the home of her son and daughter-in-law Edward and Linda Hults. She was born Sept. 30, 1928, in Bronx, NY, daughter of the late Herbert and Marion (Hopkins) Williams. Mrs. Hults resided in Sturgis since 1965 coming from Detroit. She retired from Grummon Olsen in …

James R. Gerchow, age 66, extraordinary business man of Sturgis, Michigan passed away peacefully on the eve of his favorite holiday, Monday, December 24, 2012 with his wife and family at his side at the Sturgis Hospital. He was born April 5, 1946 in Sturgis, Michigan son of the late Glenn R. and Evelyn (Ratliff) Gerchow. Jim was a lifelong …

Marion Elizabeth Hults, age 84, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Wednesday December 26, 2012 at the home of her son and daughter-in-law Edward and Linda Hults. She was born September 30, 1928 in Bronx, New York daughter of the late Herbert and Marion (Hopkins) Williams. Mrs. Hults resided in Sturgis since 1965 coming from Detroit. She retired from Grummon Olsen …

Eva L. Wooten, age 91, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away early Saturday afternoon, Dec. 22, 2012, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born Sept. 25, 1921, in Sturgis, daughter of the late Wallace and Emma (Ward) Kinsey. Mrs. Wooten lived most of her life in Sturgis. On March 28, 1942, she married Clarence V. Wooten in Battle Creek. After 69 years …

Esther M. Lunger, age 90, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away early Saturday morning, Dec. 22, 2012, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born Jan. 30, 1922, in Bremen, Ind., daughter of the late Harry and Martha (Pippenger) Huber. Esther resided in the Burr Oak and Sturgis area most of her life. On Sept. 19, 1975, she married Leo …

Helen R. (Nibbelink) Withers, 92, of Cassopolis, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012. She was born Aug. 29, 1920 in Blendon Township, the daughter of John and Grace (Lobdell) Nibbelink. Helen married Roy Arthur Withers on Oct. 2, 1940 in Schoolcraft. He preceded her in death. She was also preceded by one granddaughter-in-law, Cheryl Withers; one great-grandson, Tyler Dean Withers; …

Melvin E. “Red” Jacobs died Nov. 21, 2012. He was born June 25, 1925 to William and Edith (Gray) Jacobs at home in Three Rivers. Jacobs married Kay Butler. They had one son, Thomas Everett Jacobs and one daughter, Linda Kay (Jacobs) Blood (Gary). He later married Betty (Brown) Jacobs. Betty had three previous children: Sara Proctor, Ruskin, Fla., Thomas …