Obituaries

Richard Glenn Bontrager of Salem, Ore., and formerly of Centreville, died Nov. 24, 2012. He was born Nov. 26, 1938, in Elkhart, Ind., to Menno E. and Lizzie (Miller) Bontrager. He grew up in the Michiana area and attended Centreville High School in Centreville. At age 17, he joined the Navy and served as a radio man from 1957-1961. After serving …

Clyde O. Troyer, age 77, of Sturgis and Arcadia, Fla., passed away Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, at Peace River Regional Medical Center in Port Charlotte, Fla. Clyde was born Nov. 29, 1935, in Mio, a son of the late John and Anna (Miller) Troyer. On Sept. 3, 1960, he married Dorothy Miller in Holland, Ohio. Clyde attended high school in …

Ward Duane Pierce was born on Aug. 5, 1930 in Grand Rapids, MI the son of Ward F. and Mary E. Pierce. He went home to the Lord on Sunday Dec. 2, 2012 at Three Rivers Health following a brief illness. Ward was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son; two wives, Joan (Holcomb) Pierce and Muriel (Casteel) …

Gloria J. Dunafin, 88, of LaGrange, Ind., died Monday, Dec. 3, 2012, at Miller’s Merry Manor in LaGrange. Mrs. Dunafin was born June 19, 1924, in LaGrange County to Robert E. Sr. and Marie (Choler) Frutig. They preceded her in death. Living her lifetime in LaGrange County, she worked at Kirsch Company in Sturgis for 33 years. She was a …

Cheryl Diane MacPherson, age 62, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Friday evening, Nov. 30, 2012, at Three Rivers Health Hospital emergency room in Three Rivers. She was born Nov. 12, 1950, in Sturgis, Mich., daughter of the late Frederick W. and June (Blackburn) MacPherson. Cheryl resided her entire life in Sturgis. She had been employed by Midwest Tool, Wendy’s and …

Darwin G. (Dar) Matthews, 74, of Sturgis, died Friday, Nov. 30, 2012, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m. Tuesday at the Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon, where services are at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Cremation will follow. Donations may be directed to the family. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.

Herman Kenneth Karlsten, after 90 years of life, passed away in the home of his granddaughter, Kimberly Staley. Herman was born on July 27, 1922 in Chicago, the son of John and Annie Karlsten. On Aug. 29, 1942 he married Mae Belle Olson in Chicago. She preceded him in passing on Aug. 5, 2002. Before being drafted in 1943, Herman …

Clara Burkey, age 82, of Mottville, passed away Friday, November 30th, 2012 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born in Cass County , MI on June 5, 1930. Clara graduated from Dowagiac High School in 1947 and served in the Women’s Army Corps. during WW II. On March 25, 1950 she married Max Burkey in Bronson, …

Irene Arnold, age 94, of Constantine, passed away Wednesday, November 28th, 2012 at Fairview Nursing & Rehabilitation Centre in Centreville. She was born in Marshall County , IL on April 11, 1918, a daughter of Arthur and Myrtle (Sullivan) Dowty. On November 27, 1935 she married Reuben Arnold in Goshen, IN. He preceded her in death in 1985. Irene worked …

Ailene H. Doe, 89, of Grand Rapids, and a former longtime Sturgis resident, passed away Thursday evening, Nov. 29, 2012, at Crystal Springs Lifehouse in Grand Rapids. She was born Oct. 2, 1923, in Kinde, to Cyril and Anne Cregeur. On Feb. 19, 1944, she married Richard Doe. In 1958, they moved their family to Sturgis to establish Doe Distributing …