Obituaries

Ruby Grace Hall, age 94, of Jones, died Tuesday, December 4th, 2012 at Cass County Medical Care Facility in Cassopolis, MI. She had been in declining health for two years. Ruby was born in Elkhart County, IN, on November 8, 1918 to Clarence and Dessie (Walker) Blough. On February 16, 1941 she married Chester George Hall at Chapel Hill Missionary Church. He …

Roger Wesley Evans, age 67, of Portage, died Monday Dec. 3, 2012 at Rose Arbor Hospice. He was born in Three Rivers on Oct. 8, 1945 the son of Otis M. and Ethel (Campbell) Evans and was a lifetime resident of Southwest Michigan. Roger graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1963 and then went to work at W.F. Wells …

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, …