Obituaries

Charles D. Saunders, 94, of White Pigeon, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. He was born Sept. 8, 1918, in South Bend, Ind., a son of Theron and Ethel (Bates) Saunders. He had been a resident of the White Pigeon area most of his life. On Dec. 12, 1955, he married Rosa J. Mummey in Centreville. She died Nov. 20, 2011. Charles was …

Jeanette Murrel Schirs, age 74, of Three Rivers, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012 at her home. She was born in English, IN., on Aug. 20, 1938 the daughter of Edward A. and Laura Mae (Asher) French. Jeanette has been a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. She was an avid and faithful member of Trinity Episcopal Church. She …

Nancy Lou Handshoe, age 58, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, at home after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was born July 17, 1954, in Sturgis, a daughter of John and Virginia (Geyer) Kuhl. Nancy was a resident of the Sturgis area all of her life and graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of …

John L. Deisler, 81, of White Pigeon, died Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012, at his son’s home in Middlebury, Ind., following an extended illness. He was a petty officer in the U.S. Navy for four years. He was born Jan. 21, 1931, in White Pigeon, a son of Charles Clayton and Gladys L. (Hawkins) Deisler. He had been a resident of the White …

Stephen Shingledecker, age 59, of Warsaw, Ind., passed away Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012 at 6:08 p.m. at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne, Ind. He was born Dec. 22, 1952 in Three Rivers to Robert and Roeberta (Barnes) Shingledecker. Stephen was a 1971 graduate of Three Rivers High School, received his Associates Degree in 1974 from Michigan Technological University and Bachelors Degree …

Tim Tilka, 53, of Three Rivers, passed away at 1:17 p.m. Friday, Oct. 26, 2012 at Riverview Manor. He was born on April 14, 1959 in Hammond, Ind. to the late Edward and Ruth (Hovey) Tilka. Tim is survived by his siblings, Marion (Verlin) Belcher of Schereville, Ind., Kenneth Tilka of Kalamazoo, Dawn Tilka Teeter of Three Rivers, Jack Tilka …

Marilyn Marie Warner, 82, of Three Rivers, passed away Friday, October 26, 2012 at her home surrounded by family. Marilyn was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers, born on June 20, 1930, the daughter of George and Esther (Horn) Bradford. She worked at the soda fountain at Hudson’s Drug Store before graduating from Three Rivers High in 1948. She later …

Lola Carleen Musser, age 87, of Portage MI, formerly of Bedford, VA, passed away Oct. 24, 2012 at Clare Bridge of Portage. Lola was born on September 26, 1925 in Constantine, MI. the daughter of the late Ernest and Florence Marie (Kelly) Fairchild. Mrs. Musser was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Raymond Dale Musser, who passed away …

Heaven gained a beautiful soul on the morning of Oct. 28, 2012, Judy Ann Grove, age 71, lost her battle with cancer at her home. She was born Oct. 4, 1941, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Raymond and Caroline (Baker) Vanzile. Judy Grove was a lifetime resident of Sturgis, where she was married to Carl Edwin Grove, they …

Kimberly Ann Richmond, age 35, of Portage, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, Oct. 28, 2012, at her home. She was born April 10, 1977, in Hollywood, Calif. She is the daughter of Paul and Lori (Strang) Richmond. Kimberly lived most of her life in the Kalamazoo area. She had been employed as a nanny. Kimberly had a total love and appreciation …