Obituaries

Darl Duane Gunthorpe, age 80, of Westerville, Ohio, and a former lifelong Sturgis resident, passed away early Monday evening, Sept. 17, 2012, at the St. Anns Hospital in Westerville, Ohio. He was born Aug. 24, 1932, in Bronson, a son of Maurice and Iola (Bidwell) Gunthorpe. Darl was a lifelong Sturgis area resident. On July 24, 1954 he married Beverly …

Steven Lee Reed, age 65, of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday morning, Sept. 18, 2012, at his home with his family at his side. He was born Aug. 18, 1947, in Three Rivers, a son of the late Russell and Bonnie (Blank) Reed. Steve was a lifelong resident of the Sturgis and Centreville area and was a graduate of Centreville …

Brandy Lynn Barnell, 34, Sturgis, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Sunday morning, Sept. 16, 2012, at her home. She was born July 4, 1978, in LaGrange, Ind., a daughter of Thomas and Cindy (Sanford) Marker. Brandy resided in Sturgis since May of 2011, coming from Holden, Mo. On July 3, 2001, she married Michael Barnell in Arkansas. She attended Holy …

Doris M. Nelson, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, Sept. 17, 2012 at Thurston Woods Village. She was born Sept. 10, 1922, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Clarence and Florence (Merchant) Bunnell. Doris had resided in Burr Oak and Sturgis all her life. On June 11, 1938, she married Irvin F. Nelson in Sturgis. He preceded …

Donald E. Dilts, 79, of LaGrange, Ind., died Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne, Ind. He was born Sept. 24, 1932, in Steuben County, Ind., to Clarence L. and Thelma M. (Coney) Dilts. Don was retired from Ross Laboratory in Sturgis. He worked there for 26 years. He also was a farmer in Howe, Ind., …

Anna Wright, of Three Rivers and formerly of Allegan, passed away Sept. 12, 2012 in Three Rivers. Mrs. Wright was born Feb. 18, 1935 in Riceville, Ky., the daughter of W.E. “Deak” Conley and Shirley (Burke) Conley. Surviving: husband, Steve; two daughters and two sons and their families; special friends and caregivers Diane Buell and Jan Bresson. At Anna’s request, …

Jean Benson Daugherty entered into the “Kingdom of God” Saturday morning, Sept. 1, 2012, surrounded by her three loving daughters. She was the daughter of Lester and Frieda (Smith) Heape and was born on June 29, 1929 in Tamaroa, Ill. On Dec. 21, 1946 Jean married Clyde Benson and they raised three daughters. She was employed at Continental Can, Glen …

Willodean (Swindle) McKenzie, 92, of Fort Wayne, Ind., and formerly of White Pigeon, died Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, at Saint Anne Home and Retirement Community following an extended illness. She was born Sept. 16, 1919, in Marmaduke Ark., a daughter of Cornelius A. and Tulah Mae (Thomas) Swindle. She resided for a short time in Fort Wayne, Ind., LaGrange, and Sturgis, and …

Dustin “Raze” Pike, age 28, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born Oct. 5, 1983, in Sturgis, a son of Lloyd Pike Jr. and Bonnie Jarratt. Dustin spent most of his life in the Sturgis area and had moved to Grand Rapids in 2008 to work with the 61syx Teknique …

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, …