Obituaries

Jane Wagner, age 64, of Leonidas, passed away Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012, at her home, after an extended illness. Jane was born Dec. 31, 1947, in Battle Creek, a daughter of the late Harold C. and Iola (Stewart) Bower. Jane had lived in Colon all her life, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 1966. On June 14, …

Nelvina K. Weiderman, age 79, of Mendon, died Friday, Nov. 23, 2012 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Chicago, IL on Aug. 25, 1933 the daughter of Kermit and Sybella (Vander Veen) Parsons, and was a 1951 graduate of Three Rivers High School. Nelvina was married to Donald R. Weiderman on April 14, 1956, and they …

Inez M. Ultz, age 84, of Burr Oak, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She is now celebrating a full life with her Savior Jesus Christ. Inez was born June 3, 1928, in Sturgis, a daughter to the late William and Emma (Wittenberg) Studeman. Inez had lived most all of her life in Burr …

Viola M. Copsey, age 87, of Constantine, passed away Monday, November 19th, 2012 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born in Baldwin, IN on May 2, 1925, a daughter of Edward and Lucinda (Hoover) Gibson. On June 8, 1942 she married Glen Copsey in Ft. Wayne, IN, he preceded her in death in February 1984. Viola was …

Norman E. Webb, age 67, of Colon, passed away Monday, Nov. 19, 2012, at his home, after several months of failing health. Norm was born Feb. 1, 1945, in Sturgis, a son of the late Warren and Dorothy (Sager) Webb. Norm lived most all of his life in Colon, where he had attended Colon schools. On June 23, 1973, he …

Joyce P. King, 69, of Coldwater, passed away Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012, at Community Health Center of Branch County. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, 2012, at Dutcher Funeral Home in Coldwater. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 11 a.m. Friday, also at the funeral home. Joyce was born Aug. 11, …

Patricia Ann Vrobel, age 82, of Mendon, died Sunday, Nov. 18, 2012 at Heartland Healthcare Center in Three Rivers. She was born in Kalamazoo on Jan. 16, 1930 the daughter of William and Martha (Frick) Rynd. she graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1947. Pat was married to Raymond Vrobel on Oct. 2, 1948 in Kalamazoo and they moved …

Rodney A. Ryder, age 66, of Sturgis, passed away late Friday morning, Nov. 16, 2012, at his home, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born Nov. 4, 1946, in Yale, a son of Harlan and June (Wiegand) Ryder. Rod resided in Sturgis since 1994. Before moving to Sturgis, he lived in Saline for five years, Caro for 10 …

Roger D. Hart, age 74, of Centreville, passed away Monday, November 12th, 2012 at his home. Roger was born in Tully Township, Ohio, on April 30, 1938, a son of James W. and Marceille E. (Wass) Hart. In September 1972 he married Johnetta Phelps at the Centreville Baptist Church. Roger worked for Centreville Public Schools in the maintenance and janitorial department. He …

James D. “Jim” Van Degrift, age 81, of rural Three Rivers, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2012 at Rose Arbor Hospice. Cremation has been conducted, and a private family service will be held later. Memorials may be directed to either Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, or to the West Mendon United Methodist Church. Condolences may be left for the family at …