Obituaries

Gertrude Ireen Geark, 91, of Three Rivers, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013 at her home surrounded by her loving sons. She was born July 13, 1922 in Schoolcraft the daughter of the late Ellis and Billie (Cobb) Butler. Mrs. Geark has been a lifetime resident of this area. She was formerly employed in sales at Gilmore’s and also …

Allen “Spoon” Witherspoon, Jr., 84, of Three Rivers, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Barbara June Sobie, age 73, of Coldwater, passed away Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, at The Laurels of Coldwater. She was born June 4, 1940, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Marion and Cecilia (Harmon) Lawniczak. Barbara graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1958. She had resided in the Coldwater and Sturgis area all her life, working …

Turner T. Powell Jr., age 75, of White Pigeon, passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, at home. He was born Nov. 23, 1937, in Hartford, a son of the late Turner T. and Hattie (Poplin) Powell. Turner had been a resident of White Pigeon since 2004 and he resided with his caregiver and adopted mother, Stella Powell, since 1968. …

Dianna Sue Pliska, age 61, of Constantine, passed away Sunday, September 15th, 2013 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born on October 5, 1951, a daughter of Ethel Robinson and Charlie Cheeks. Sue graduated from Constantine High School in 1968. On July 4, 1988 she married Frank Pliska in Constantine. Sue worked as a Tax Assessor for Jamie …

Roger Alan Kisseberth, 77, passed away Friday, September 13, 2013. He was born Aug. 19, 1936, in Sturgis, to Milo and Martha (Mieras) Kisseberth. He married Marcella Daub Nov. 21, 1992 in Goshen. She survives along with a son, Mark T. (Jann Groom) Kisseberth, Winter Garden, Fla.; two step-daughters, Pamela (Mark Morton) Fisher, and Juli (Mitch) Kaylor, both of Goshen, …

Walter Lee McElvain, Jr., age 75, of Colon, died Sep. 14, 2013 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Kalamazoo, MI on June 21, 1938 the only son and oldest of five children born to Walter Sr. and Margaret (Meyers) McElvain. He graduated from Vicksburg Schools and served in the U.S. …

Wilma Ruth (Good) Hendricks, 90, passed away Sept. 11, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born Jan. 3, 1923, in Kewanna, Ind., a daughter of Charles and Evie Good. She graduated from Star City High School and South Bend College of Commence in South Bend. She worked at Singer Sewing Machine Company, Weyerhauser in White Pigeon, Formed Tubes in Sturgis and Trio …

Vickie L. Black, 65, of White Pigeon, died Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital, following an extended illness. She was born April 16, 1948, in Sturgis, a daughter of Otis and Arlene (Easterday) Leister. She had been a resident of White Pigeon since 1967, coming from Sturgis. On Oct. 8, 1966, she married Russell L. Black in Sturgis. She …

Oma Pendergrass, 88, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2013.  Oma was born in Hardy, Ark. on Oct. 27, 1924, the daughter of the late Robert and Lillie (Davis) Vardell. She was a member of Calvary Missionary Baptist Church of Three Rivers. She enjoyed bird watching, shopping at Goodwill, country music and spending time with her dog …