Obituaries

James D. Yurs, 81, of Shipshewana, Ind., and formerly of Howe, Ind., died Monday, Dec. 5, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital.  James was born on April 27, 1930, in Elgin, Ill., and was raised on a farm operated by his parents, Donald L. and Juanita C. Yurs.  Jim, along with his wife, owned and operated several Motels in Colorado, Michigan and …

Vera M. McVay, 60, of Woodruff, Ind., and formerly of Colon, died at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 5, 2011, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital, LaGrange, Ind.  She was a homemaker. She was a member of Moose Lodge No. 1351 in LaGrange.  Vera enjoyed helping others by volunteering her time, setting up fundraisers, and helping those in need. She liked to play …

Janice Marie Sgambelluri, age 71, of Bronson, passed away early Monday evening, Dec. 5, 2011, at Borgess medical Center in Kalamazoo.  She was born Sept. 26, 1940, in Sherman Township, a daughter of the late Clarence and Alice (Wallman) Teadt.  Janice had resided in Bronson for the past 48 years. Before moving to Bronson, she had lived her entire life …

Herbert ‘C.’ Watson, age 89, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, Dec. 5, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village.  He was born Jan. 31, 1922, in Livingston County, a son of the late Arthur and Edna Bess (Coleman) Watson.  On May 17, 1944, he married Wava Jean Large in Sturgis.  Herbert had been employed for 32 years at Kirsch Company in …

Richard Vernon “Dick” Hagerty, 87, died Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011 at Three Rivers Health of natural causes. Cremation has taken place as per his wishes. Born Nov. 21, 1924 to Vernon and Marguerita (Bates) Hagerty in Battle Creek and spent his childhood in Schoolcraft where he attended school until entering the US Navy as a Merchant Marine on March 8, …

Janice K. Marunde, 73, of Manistique and formerly of Three Rivers, passed away Nov. 2, 2011 at the Schoolcraft Medical Care Facility in Manistique. Janice was born on July 3, 1938 in Three Rivers and graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1956. From 1958-1977 Janice was married to Rolland Hackenberg of Three Rivers. They had three children together, Cindy …

Jessie Ott, age 92, of Sturgis, passed away Monday, Dec. 5, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village, where she had been a resident for six months.  She was born Nov. 19, 1919, in Petoskey, a daughter of the late James and Mae (Wilkinson) Houts. Jessie had been a resident of Sturgis most of her life. On Dec. 26, 1946, she married …

Marjorie M Hawkins, age 81, of Constantine, passed away Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Schoolcraft on April 19, 1930, a daughter of Leon and Cora (Barnell) Westphal. On April 5, 1952, she married Junior Hawkins in Sturgis. Marjorie was a bus driver for Constantine Public Schools for over 20 years. Marjorie …

Carolyn Mae (Peach) Matthews, 69, of Sturgis, died Friday, Dec. 2, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis following an extended illness. She was born May 28, 1942, in Elkhart, Ind., a daughter to Wallace and Dorothy (Eggleston) Vanhook. She lived in Sturgis for several years, coming from Coldwater, Mich. Most of her life was spent in St. Joseph County. In October …

Marjorie Ellen Holt, age 79, of Klinger Lake, passed away Saturday morning, Dec. 3, 2011, at home surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 6, 1932, in Wolcottville, Ind., a daughter to the late Ferman and Angilia (Butler) Fiandt. On Jan. 31, 1953, in Hudson, Ind., she married John S. “Jack” Holt. He passed away May 9, 2005. …