Obituaries

Donald Oris Gordon, 78, of Nottawa, passed away Sunday, June 9, 2013 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. Don was born on March 21, 1935 in Muskegon to Stanley and Fern (Benedict) Gordon. Early in life found him moving to different states with his mother and step-father, James Mintz, who was serving in the Navy. Eventually the family settled in …

James L. Hawks, age 64, of Elkhart, Indiana passed way Thursday morning June 6, 2013 at the Elkhart General Hospital in Elkhart. He was born October 21, 1948 in Marked Tree, Arkansas son of the late James and Jurlean (Atchley) Hawks. James resided in Elkhart the past 25 years. On October 7, 1988 he married Marji Veasy in Elkhart. James …

Betty A Fries, 81, of Mendon, died Friday June 7, 2013, at Heartland Health Care in Three Rivers, following a short illness. She was born July 23, 1931, in Schoolcraft, a daughter of Millard Pierce and Alice Janice (Amos) Granger. She had been a Mendon resident since 1965, coming from Schoolcraft and Vicksburg. She was owner and operator of Auntie …

Barbara D. (Hochstetler) Yoder, age 91, of Nottawa Road, Sturgis, passed away Thursday, June 6, 2013, at her home after several months of failing health. Barbara was born Oct. 6, 1921, in LaGrange, Ind., a daughter of the late Daniel and Anna (Wickey) Hochstetler. On Nov. 2, 1941, she married Moses D. Yoder Sr. in Centreville. He preceded her in …

Charles Eugene Burg, 85, passed away at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 4, 2013, at Heartland in Three Rivers after an extended illness. He was born March 26, 1928, in Sturgis, to the late Frank and Agnes (Bothamley) Burg. Charles is survived by two sisters, Dorothy Stubig of Sturgis, and Betty (Ralph) Fetch of Constantine; also surviving include several nieces, nephews …

John H. Blood, age 92, of Three Rivers passed away at his home on Tuesday, June 4, 2013. John was born October 24, 1920 in Howardsville, MI to the late Carl and Mabelle(Musser)Blood. John served his country honorably in the United States Air Force during WWII. One June 24, 1944 he was united in marriage to the former Bernice L. …

Norman E. Collins, 76, formerly of Sturgis, died peacefully on Feb. 4, 2013 in Venice, Fla. He was born Aug. 25, 1936, in Lancaster, N.Y. Norm is survived by his wife, Anne, married 53 years; three daughters, Susan (Frank) DiLeonardo of Chicago, Lori (Craig) Wildasin of Venice, Fla. and Cynthia (Jason) Parker of Cedar Springs; six grandchildren, Tyler, Brooke and …

Phillip D. Rice, 64, of Goodyear, AZ passed away on May 31, 2013. He was born in Sturgis, MI to Marion & Elizabeth Rice of Sherwood, MI. Following graduation from Colon (MI) High School he worked for Kirsch Co. of Sturgis, MI, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving aboard the USS Fox for two tours of duty off the …

Kathleen Gieber, 81, of Three Rivers passed onto eternal life at home restfully with family on  June 2, 2013. Her Flesh is now her spirit. May Kathleen’s spirit live on in all whom she has touched . Kathleen was born August 3, 1931 to Leonard and Alice (Stieger) O’Connor in Detroit, Michigan. She is preceded in death by her parents …

Ernest G. Willcocks II entered into the Gates of Heaven on June 2, 2013, at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Ernie was lovingly surrounded by his wife, children, stepchildren and his michigan family who all gave thanks to God for blessing them with Ernie. Ernie was born July 10, 1946, in Cleveland, a son of Ernest G. Willcocks I and Eleanor (Depner). …