Obituaries

Vera (Koffarnus) (Olson) Smallcombe, age 95, passed away Monday, June 2, 2025 at Railside Assisted Living Center in Byron Center. She was born August 17, 1929 in Hilbert, WI, the daughter of George and Helena (Lautenschlager) Koffarnus, and graduated from Hilbert High School with the Class of 1947. In 1943 Vera was confirmed at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Hilbert, WI. …

Michelle “Missie” Andre Kosloski, age 65, of Sturgis, passed away Friday afternoon, May 30, 2025, at The Laurels of Coldwater in Coldwater. She was born December 12, 1959 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Jack and Sharon (Whitsel) Long. Missie was a lifelong Sturgis resident. She had been employed as a painter by Grumman Olson for several years, and also …

Donald Ralph DeVerna, age 71, of Klinger Lake Road, Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly in his home May 31, 2025. He was born November 27, 1953 to Dallas and Hazel (Keck) DeVerna. Don worked for Lazy Boy and GM, where he worked for 43 years before retiring in 2019. He married Barbara Lee Stevenson on June 30, 1973 in Temperance, Michigan. …

Dolores D. Ware, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday afternoon, May 31, 2025, at her home. She was born April 27, 1934 in Chicago, daughter of the late John and Helen (Butrimas) Pokorny. Dolores resided in Sturgis for the past 70 years. Her early life was spent in Chicago. On May 22, 1954, she married Richard I. Ware at …

Ronald Leo Johnson, age 91, of Three Rivers, passed away Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. He was born December 27, 1933 in Kalamazoo, the son of Elmer and Leone (Kern) Johnson, and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1952 and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Western Michigan University. Ron served his country in the …

Ralph Max Chapman, age 62, of Three Rivers, passed away Friday, May 30, 2025 at his home surrounded by his loving family. He was born October 7, 1962 in Three Rivers, the son of Max and Oneda (Hostetler) Chapman, and graduated from Three Rivers High School. Ralph served his country in the Army National Guard. In 1986, he married Lori …

Carol Ann Keagle, age 77, of Portage, Michigan, and former Sturgis resident, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday evening, May 28, 2025, at the Bronson Methodist Hospital emergency room in Kalamazoo. She was born in Sturgis on July 10, 1947, daughter of the late Donald R. and Elsie (Smoker) Wittenberg. Carol has resided in Portage since 2013 coming from Arizona where she …

Pamela Jean Pugh, age 68, of Colon, passed away at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Pamela was born in Sturgis on June 26, 1956, a daughter to the late Lloyd and Carolyn (Llewelyn) Babcock. Pamela was a graduate of Sturgis High School. On December 20, 1973, Pamela married Leroy Pugh in Howe, Indiana. Leroy preceded …

Thomas William Lee, age 80, of Burr Oak, passed away at his home on Thursday, May 29, 2025. Thomas was born on October 31, 1944, in Three Rivers, a son to the late He was a lifelong resident of Burr Oak. Thomas worked for more than 30 years at Ross Labs in Sturgis, as a powerhouse engineer. He was a …

Michael W. Stiver, age 75, of Centreville, died on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at Fairview Living and Rehabilitation. He was born February 21, 1950 in Three Rivers, a son of Paul and Dorothy (Bolender) Stiver. Mike attended Roys School and Centreville Schools. He worked at Weyerhaeuser Paper Company in White Pigeon from 1968 until his retirement in 2016. Mike also …