Obituaries

Peyton R. Render, age 9, of Sturgis, passed away into the arms of Jesus at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Grand Rapids on Sunday, October 29, 2023 after complications from a short-term illness.  Peyton was born in Sturgis on September 26, 2014, a son of Cody and Michelle (Sobota) Render.  He currently was in the third grade at Eastwood …

Linda Rae Benton, age 82, of Edwardsburg, passed away early Friday morning, October 27, 2023, at Rose Arbor Place in Kalamazoo. She was born May 9, 1941, in Sturgis to Walter and Rachel (Soules) Brouse and graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1960. During high school, she took an interest in “the boy next door,” and on …

Julie L. Bertch, age 68, passed away suddenly and most unexpectedly on October 28, 2023. Julie was born on March 9, 1955, in Three Rivers to Sybert and Charlett Crose. She attended and graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1973 and continued her education at Western Michigan University and Davenport University, completing a certificate in computer programming. On June …

Lucy Jean Tilbury, age 85, passed away on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at her home in Three Rivers. She was born September 10, 1938 in Maine. Lucy spent her early years in Akron, Ohio, before moving to West Michigan. She lived for 20 years in various West Michigan towns until settling in Three Rivers in 1991. She married her loving …

William Earl “Bill” Harroun, age 68, of Mendon, died Sunday, October 22, 2023 at his home. He was born in Sturgis on November 26, 1954 and was the adopted son of Leonard and Kathleen “Katie” (Bower) Harroun. He attended Mendon Schools, and later enlisted in the U.S. Army. Bill assisted his father as Sexton of Mendon Cemeteries for a short …

Craig Wallace Garrison, age 74, of Three Rivers, passed away Friday, October 27, 2023 at his home. He was born May 19, 1949 in Three Rivers, the son of Norman W. and Bette (Eddy) Garrison, and graduated from Three Rivers High School with the Class of 1967. He joined the United States Marine Corps straight out of high school, completed …

Chad T. Schipper, age 63, of Colon, passed away unexpectedly at his home on the morning of Friday, October 27, 2023. Chad was born on November 25, 1959, in Three Rivers, a son to the late Theodore M. and Hellen A. (Dykstra) Schipper. Chad lived his entire life in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 1978. …

Dorothy M. Jennings, age 91, of Constantine, passed away Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at LakeHouse Three Rivers Assisted Living. Born in Constantine on May 9, 1932, she was the daughter of Merritt and Cleo (Avery) Hassinger. Dorothy graduated from Constantine High School in 1950. On April 7, 1951 she married Bernard “Bud” Jennings at Messiah Lutheran Church in Constantine. He …

William V. Holtz, husband, father, grandfather, writer, scholar, teacher, and builder extraordinaire, died at his home in West Salem, Wisconsin in the early hours of October 9, 2023.  He was 91 years old.  He is missed by Lora (Mowry), his wife of 69 years, his daughters Vickie and Erica, his twelve grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, one great, great grandchild, and …

Alice C. Scheetz, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday evening, October 22, 2023 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born April 29, 1933 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Thomas H. and Edith (Voyce) Sturgis. Alice was a lifelong Sturgis resident and graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1951. She furthered her education …