Obituaries

Juanita Grace Keister died on July 23, 2013, in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the age of 96. She was born Nov. 22, 1916, in Bippus, Ind., (Huntington County), the daughter of Myrtle Tobias Ziegler and Cyrus Ziegler. She married Howard Homer Keister on March 6, 1935, in Fort Wayne, Ind., and they welcomed their daughter, Marlene, in 1936. Juanita and …

Jeromiah James Gieber, age 32, of Three Rivers passed away suddenly on Thursday, July 25, 2013. He was born in Three Rivers, MI on May 5, 1981 the son of Mark James “Jim” and Lisa(Thomas)Gieber. Jeromiah was a graduate of Three Rivers High School. He enjoyed attending W.O.R.D. Fellowship Church. Jeromiah was preceded in death by brother, Anthony “Tony” Gieber, …

James Robin Smith, 58, of White Pigeon, died Wednesday, July 24, 2013, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, after a short illness. He was born May 11, 1955, in South Bend, Ind., a son of Bruce A. and Janet F. (Hall) Smith. He had been a resident of White Pigeon since October of 2011, coming from Elkhart, Ind. On Oct. 21, 1989, …

Mel Wayne Swihart, age 66, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Thursday, July 25, 2013 at his home. He was born November 27, 1947 in Sturgis, Michigan son of the late Nicholas M. and Maxine (Baker) Swihart. Mel was a lifelong Sturgis area resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1966. Mel retired from the City …

Jerry L. Randall, age 74, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Thursday morning July 25, 2013 at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers, Michigan. He was born July 16, 1939 in Sturgis, Michigan son of the late Perry Lavern and Hazel Flavilla (Fish) Randall. Jerry resided in Sturgis for the past 50 years coming from LaGrange, Indiana where he …

Dorothy Hulda (Brower) Wheeler, 99, of Colon, MI died at her residence on Tuesday, July 23, 2013. She was born January 2, 1914 in Chicago, IL the daughter of Henry and Hulda (Burglund) Brower. She was a prize winning, accredited artist, mainly working in oils, pastels. She loved doing decopage and also making dolls. Her artistic work won 1st Place …

Edward A. Bates, 68, of Marcellus, passed away Monday morning, July 22, 2013 in his home following a long illness. He was born Feb. 9, 1945 in Centreville, the son of Ellery A. and Maycel G. (Wilson) Bates. On Dec. 6, 1975 in Three Rivers he married Constance R. Avila who survives. Ed graduated from Marcellus High School in 1963. …

Mary Anetta (Dibble) Renner Johnson was born Sept. 5, 1933 and died July 22, 2013. Survived by her sister, Joyce Heath of Vicksburg; daughter, Patsy McDowell and husband Cecil McDowell of Three Rivers; daughter, Judy Bigelow and husband Charles Bigelow of Comstock; daughter, Teddi Renner of Battle Creek; son, Rick Renner of Three Rivers; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. The …

Julia A Stutesman, 74, passed away Tuesday, July 2, 2013 in Fort Wayne. Born in Fort Wayne, IN, Julia was a self-employed accountant and realtor. She was a past member of the Lady Lion’s Club, Eagles Club, and the American Legion. Surviving are her daughter, Debra (Kirk) Mason of Cummings, GA; daughter, Terisa (John) Seidner of Sturgis, MI; daughter, Patty …

Bob Ripley, age 76, passed away July 19, 2013. Bob lived in Kalamazoo all his life and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School. Over the years, he served in the National Guard, was a Kalamazoo police officer, worked as a used car manager at Gilmore Pontiac and he retired from the Upjohn Company. He is survived by his wife Sue …