Obituaries

Geraldine Marie “Geri” Zarza, age 91, of Marietta, Ga., and a former Nottawa resident, passed away Friday, July 13, 2012, at Tranquility at Kennesaw Mountain. She was born Feb. 13, 1931, in Groton, N.Y., a daughter of the late Clinton and Cornelia (Rockwell) Cunningham. Geri resided in Berkshire, N.Y., Bath, Md., Flint, Sturgis and Nottawa, and Marietta. Ga., at Winnwood Retirement Community. …

Roger LeRoy Berry, of Marsing, Idaho, and formerly of Sturgis, passed away July 9, 2012, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.  He was born Feb. 12, 1933, in Constantine, to Frank and Evalene Berry. He went to school in Constantine, worked his parents’ farm, participated in 4-H, raising both swine and cattle.  Roger served in the U.S. Army during …

Vickie L. Tucker, age 63, of Centreville, passed away Sunday, July 15th, 2012 at Borgess Medical Center. She was born in Wayne, MI on January 17, 1949,  a daughter of  Wesley and Ruby  (Lockhart) Angles. Vickie graduated from Wayne Memorial High School in 1967.  On August 24, 1968 she married Mahlon Tucker in Wichita, Kansas. She enjoyed craft work including ceramics, crochet …

Louise A. Pletcher, 92, of White Pigeon, died Saturday, July 14, 2012, at her home following an extended illness. She was born May 5, 1920 a daughter to Glen W. and Hattie (Wilson) Line. On June 15, 1941, she married Harry L. Pletcher in Elkhart, Ind. She was a resident of Marl Lake in White Pigeon since 1969, coming from Elkhart, …

Donald Robert “Bob” McKindley, 91, of Birmingham, died Thursday, July 12, 2012 following a short illness. He was born in Kalamazoo on Oct. 27, 1920 the son of the late Homer F. and Lucile M. (Acker) McKindley. Bob graduated from Mendon High School in 1939 and was drafted into the Navy in 1942. He was honorably discharged from the service …

Earl Brown, 83, of Portage, died on Thursday, July 12, 2012, in Kalamazoo with his family at his side. He was born on April 24, 1929, in Kings Mountain, Ky., to Amos and Dora (Floyd) Brown as one of seven children and raised in Bluefield, W.Va., until the age of 14 when his family moved to Kalamazoo. Upon completion of …

Maurice M. Pippenger, age 79, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning, July 14, 2012, at Matthew 7:7 Limited in White Pigeon, Mich. He was born Feb. 18, 1933, at the family farm in Greenfield Township, Ind., a son of the late George and Ella (Royer) Pippenger. Maurice resided in Sturgis since 2010. Before moving to Sturgis nearly his …

George E. Pierce, age 75, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning, July 14, 2012, at  Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Mich. He was born Jan. 28, 1937, in Sturgis, Mich., the son of Raymond and Majel (Barrett) Pierce. George was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1955 and continued …

Gail Lynn Goff, age 58, of Sturgis, went to be with her Lord Jesus on Thursday, July 12, 2012 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born April 28, 1954 in Plainwell, the daughter of Richard and Marie (Cooley) Rouse. Mrs. Goff has been a long time bank teller of the Centreville area. On Nov. 4, 1972 …

Donald C. Fitch, age 84, of Three Rivers, died Thursday July 12, 2012 at his home following a long illness. He was born in Three Rivers on April 1, 1928 the son of Raymond and Ether Marie (Spooner) Fitch and was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. He graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1947. Donald was a long …