Obituaries

Maxine Schowalter, 93, of Sturgis, died at 6 a.m. Friday, Sept. 14, 2012, at Thurston Woods Village, Sturgis. She was born March 9, 1919, in Hugo, Colo., to Claud and LaVina (Bradfield) Wilson. On May 28, 1942, she married Fred Schowalter in Pueblo, Colo. He died Jan. 14, 2007. Surviving are a daughter, Sheryl (Larry) Gingerich of White Pigeon; a son, …

Edward William Thompson II passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012, in Three Rivers. He was born March 4, 1970, in Petoskey, to Edward and Claudette Thompson of Cheboygan. Edward was raised in Cheboygan and graduated from Cheboygan High School in 1988. Ed enjoyed deer hunting, Steelers and spending time with Eddie and C.J. He worked most of his life …

Delmar E. Keeslar, 59, of Sturgis, passed away Sept. 7, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following a long battle with Crohn’s disease. He was born Aug. 13, 1953, in Angola, Ind., the son of Jacque and Lilya Keeslar. On Sept. 8 2000, he married Joanne Keeslar in Sturgis. He was raised in Fawn River Township and lived in …

Maxine Ellen Wertz, 87, of Colon, Mich., arrived safely home with Jesus Christ her Savior on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012, at Sturgis Hospital following an extended illness. She was born March 8, 1925 in White Pigeon, Mich., the daughter of Arthur and Myrtle (Sullivan) Dowty. She was a Colon resident since 2003, coming from Mottville. On April 20, 1947, she married …

Harold Elwood Frohriep, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Monday afternoon, Sept. 10, 2012, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born Jan. 5, 1924, in Burr Oak Township, a son of the late Arthur and Agnes (Niles) Frohriep. Harold was a lifelong Burr Oak Township resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1942. …

Lois Elaine Robinson, age 69, of Sturgis, passed away Monday evening, Sept. 10, 2012, at her home. She was born Aug. 18, 1943, in Breman, Ind., a daughter of the late John and Beulah (Young) Metzger. Lois was a lifelong Sturgis resident. She retired from Grumman Olson in Sturgis following 16 years of employment. She had also worked at the …

Robert D. “Bob” Vanderhoof, 67, of Marcellus, passed away at home Sunday, Sept. 9, 2012. He was born May 12, 1945 in Three Rivers, the son of Henry D. and Marion A. (Welburn) Vanderhoof. On June 4, 1966 in Three Rivers, he married Josephine “Joey” Draime , who survives. He graduated from Marcellus High School in 1963 and then went …

Rex M. Oberlander, 76, of Three Rivers, died Friday, Sept. 7, 2012. He was born in Three Rivers on March 7, 1936 the only child of Marion C. and Viola M. (Kline) Oberlander and was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. He had worked for many years at Petersen Spring in Three Rivers. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in his …

Donald E Buel, Sr., age 65, of Constantine, passed away Friday, September 7th, 2012 at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Three Rivers on January 17, 1947, a son of Raymond and Edna (Nichols) Buel. Don graduated from Three Rivers High School and received his Electrician training at Glen Oaks Community College. On July 2, 1986 …

Karen A. Yoder, age 51, of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday evening, Sept. 5, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.  She was born May 14, 1961, in Sturgis, a daughter of Robert Thayne and Martha (Leach) Stevenson.  Karen was a longtime resident of Sturgis and a graduate of Baldwin High School with the class of 1979. She always enjoyed …