Obituaries

Grace Irene Tyler, age 60, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 24, 2012, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born April 25, 1952, in Kalamazoo, Michigan a daughter of the late Walter and Irene (Chaney) Salton Sr. Grace resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area since 1987. On Dec. 27, 1987, she married George Tyler …

Eugene I. Barnes, 85, of Wolcottville, Ind., died Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2012, at 12:50 p.m. in his residence. He moved to this area over 20 years ago from Sturgis. Mr. Barnes was a self-employed brick mason. He retired after 25 years with Inland Steel in East Chicago, Ind. He was a missionary through the Wesleyan Church in Sturgis, serving in …

Cheryl “Sherry” Birkhold passed away Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012. Born on Jan. 17, 1949, in Sturgis, Sherry was the eldest child of Orson and Willodean Poley, who survive her and reside in Sturgis. Sherry also leaves behind her devoted husband, Michael; her two beloved daughters and sons-in-law, Kimberly (and Erik) Ellner of Sacramento, Calif., and Amy (and Dean) VanDyke of …

Dolores Kryder, age 87, of Colon, passed away, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Dolores was born July 24, 1925, in Chicago, a daughter to the late Emanuel Arthur and Alberta Evelyn (McKibben) De Oliver. On June 15, 1946, she married Robert Kryder. He preceded her in death on Jan. 2, 2011, after 65 years of …

Marvin Eugene Reed was born Aug. 20, 1957, in Sturgis and passed away Oct. 24, 2012, at Rose Arbor Hospice of Kalamazoo. He resided most of his life in Sturgis before moving to Kalamazoo in recent years. He was a U.S. veteran, having served in the Army, where he was stationed in Germany. Marvin was an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast, traveling …

Evelyn J. Neice, 93, of Three Rivers, died Monday Oct. 22, 2012. She was born in Goshen, Ind. on Aug. 5, 1919 the daughter of Lloyd and Audrey (Spencer) DeWitt. She graduated from Riley High School in South Bend, Ind. and was later married to Jack Henry Neice. Evelyn worked at C.T.S. in Elkhart, Ind. for 30 years, retiring in …

Imogene Kursner, 90, of Three Rivers, passed away on Friday, Oct. 19, 2012 at Three Rivers Health. She was born in Avoca, Ind. on April 20, 1922 the daughter of Harley and Geneva (Jennie) Holmes. Imogene worked for many years at Continental Can from where she eventually retired. She was an avid reader and also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles. Mrs. …

David Foster Hecht, Retired Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, age 68, of Sturgis, passed away early Friday Morning, Oct. 19, 2012, at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland. He was born Feb. 3, 1944, in Sturgis, a son of the late Max E. and Audrey E. (Reeg) Hecht. David was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with …

Jean L. Tomlinson, age 87, of Colon, passed away Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, at Birch Adult Foster Care Home in Leonidas. Jean was born Dec. 19, 1924, a daughter of the late, Harvey and Grace (Hendricks) Walters. Jean graduated from Sturgis High School and continued her education at Olivet College in Olivet. On Sept. 21, 1946, she married Richard Burr …

Gerald Sherman Barr, age 81, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, at Three Rivers Health in Three Rivers. He was born in Sterling, Conn., a son to the late Earl and Ethel (Sherman) Barr. On June 24, 1950, he married Lorraine Theresa Bedard in Danielson, Conn. Gerald had been a resident of Sturgis since 1987, moving here from …