Obituaries

Leighton Jerry Longacre, age 7 months, of Centreville gained his wings Wednesday, March 6th, 2013 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born in Kalamazoo, MI on July 10, 2012, the son of Jerry E. Longacre and Katie Jean Alexander of Centreville. Leighton will live on in the lives of many others by the donations he made to the …

Susan Helen Bir, age 56, of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday morning, March 6, 2013, at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. She was born Sept. 27, 1956, in Three Rivers, a daughter of Floyd and Helen (Stenhouse) Benash. Sue resided in Sturgis since 1977. Her early life was lived in White Pigeon and she was a graduate …

William “Bill” W. Hughes passed away on Monday, March 4, 2013 after an extended illness. Bill was born July 11, 1955 in Three Rivers to the late Lester and Joyce (Norton) Hughes. Bill was an avid hunter and fisherman. In addition to his parents, Bill was preceded in death by a special nephew, SSG Brian Lee Morris. He worked for …

Kathy Marie Hoercher, 62, of Three Rivers, passed away surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. Kathy was born on Nov. 26, 1950 in Coldwater the daughter of Arnold and Edith (Taber) Swift. Kathy has been a resident of Three Rivers for more than 37 years. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Kathy enjoyed …

Emil “J.R.” Junior Schmeling, 86 of Elkhart, Ind., passed away Feb. 19, 2013, at Elkhart General Hospital. He was born Jan. 3, 1927, in Union, to Emil and Elsie (Hoffman) Schmeling. He married Lois A. Kruse, who survives along with a daughter, Sue Ann (Tom) Cloud; two sisters, Dorothy (Wayne) Reber and Arlene (Jim) Southard; three nieces, Karla Moore, Karen …

Antoinette Marie Christiaens, age 91, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Friday morning, March 1, 2013, at the Bronson Battle Creek Hospital in Battle Creek, Mich. She was born April 20, 1921, in South Bend, Ind., a daughter of the late Michael and Josephine (Swiniarski) Sokoloski. Toni had resided in Sturgis since 1975 coming from Livonia, Mich. Her early life was …

William F.(Bill) Broker III, age 66, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2013, in Fergus Falls, MN. Bill was born Jan. 14, 1947, in Sturgis, Mich., a son to William F. and Margaret K. (Haroff) Broker II. Bill had lived all of his life in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the Class of 1965 He furthered …

Jeffery Lee Fricker, age 49, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away early Friday evening, March 1, 2013, at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. He was born March 12, 1963, in Sturgis, Mich.,son of John C. and Sharon L. (Knight) Fricker. Jeff was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1981. Jeff actively volunteered …

Paul Robert Jacobs, 84, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 at Fairview Nursing and Rehab Facility. Paul was born June 2, 1928 in Centreville the son of Ernest and Edna (Cain) Jacobs. Paul owned a dairy farm in Three Rivers where he managed and tended to his land. Paul then developed and owned his excavating business …

Clarence Lester “Bud” Swihart, age 73, of Mendon, went to be with the Lord while surrounded by his loving family on Friday March 1, 2013. He was born March 31, 1939, in Colon, a son of Walter and Ethel (Ware) Swihart. He worked at several area family farms while attending Colon Schools. He served with the U.S. Army and then …