Obituaries

Richard Earl Roush, 86, of Lansing, passed away peacefully at his home on July 18, 2013. He was born June 26, 1927 in Benton Harbor to Harry and Louisa Roush. He graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1945. He served his country in the U.S. Navy at the end of WWII. He was a proud and loyal graduate of …

Harold Raymond “Red” Barkdull, III, 32, of Wolcottville died Thursday, July 18, 2013, in I.U. Goshen Health in Goshen. He had resided in Sturgis for ten years, then moved to Goshen before returning to Wolcottville. Mr. Barkdull worked for Godfrey Marine in Goshen. He was born March 6, 1981, in LaGrange to Harold R. Barkdull, Jr. and Karen (Ralston) Barkdull. …

Sue Dearduff, age 64, of Sturgis, died Saturday, July 13, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital in Sturgis. She was born Feb. 22, 1949, in Sturgis, to Vernie C. and Dorothy B. (Merchant) Saddison. She was previously employed at Javelin, Kenco and Multiplex as a laborer. She enjoyed spending time with her family, woodworking, crafts, baking and spending time at the lake. …

Minnie Lillian Ellard, age 87, of Mendon, died Monday July 15, 2013 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born in Browntown, VA on June 30, 1926 the daughter of Weaver and Gladys (Thornhill) Clem. She later moved to Washington D.C. where she attended school and worked as a secretary for the Civil Defense Department. Minnie was married to …

Robert G. Kosakowski, age 78, of Colon, passed away Saturday, July 13, 2013, at Community Health Center of Branch County in Coldwater. Bob was born in Chicago, a son of the late Tom and Mary (Opolski) Repinski. On Jan. 2, 1954, he married Phyllis Machalk in Daggett. Bob graduated from Stephenson High School in Stephenson. He had made his home …

Harriett E. Taylor, age 83, of Sturgis, MI passed away Sunday, July 14, 2013 at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, MI. She was Born Feb. 27, 1930 in Constantine, MI a daughter of the late Marcus and Ethel (Bowersox) Lewis. Harriet graduated from Mendon High School and had been a resident of St. Joseph County and the Sturgis area …

Robert E. Hagen of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Friday, May 17, 2013, at Borgess Medical Center. Born Dec. 11, 1934, in Sturgis, Robert was the son of the late William and Ilo (Waltz) Hagen. As a lifelong resident of Sturgis and a lifelong member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Robert spent his youth involved in 4-H before earning the rank of …

Marjorie Ann Beard, age 67, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Sunday, July 14, 2013 at her home. She was born on February 21, 1946 in East Lansing, MI. the daughter of Norman and Ruth (Orr) Mills. Mrs. Beard has been a lifelong resident of this area outside of a few brief years working in Fort Wayne. She retired …

Mark Annis Pierucki, age 58, passed away Wednesday morning, July 10, 2013, at the home of his care provider Janice and Carroll Parmeter of Marcellus. Mark was born May 17, 1955, in Sturgis, a son of the late John and Esther (Garn) Pierucki. Mark spent most of his life on the family farm north of Burr Oak. He attended Pathfinder …

Erma Mae (Mendelsohn) Chiddister, age 103, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Wednesday morning July 10, 2013 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born June 11, 1910 in Sturgis, Michigan only child of the late Edward and Louise (Meyers) Mendelsohn. On May 12, 1933 she married Sidney M. Chiddister in Sturgis. He died May 29, 1980. Erma resided her …