Obituaries

Betty L. Stears, 83, passed away peacefully at her home. She married her childhood sweetheart, Fred. They raised four children on the family farm: Fred (Gloria) Stears, John (Sheila) Stears, Rita (Jim) Bickle and Sheila (Frank) Seybert; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren. She touched many lives during her nursing career. Betty and Fred enjoyed wintering in Nevada and Arizona and made many new friends. Visitation …

Marion Bernice Burlingame, 95, of Three Rivers died Thursday, March 22, 2012 at her home. She was born in Minneapolis, Minn, on Aug. 26, 1916, the daughter of Harry Douglas and Willa Mae (Wylie) Bostwick. Marion was a homemaker who also worked as a receptionist at Dr. Dana’s office in Kalamazoo. She was a Day Care Center volunteer and also …

Joyce Hitchcock-Hackenberg-Thompson, 63, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, March 21, 2012 at Rose Arbor Hospice Facility, following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on Oct. 2, 1948 in Paw Paw, the daughter of Raleigh “Hambone” and Imogene (Salyer) Hitchcock. Joyce has been a long time resident of Three Rivers. She was a member of Three Rivers …

Donald E. Easterday, age 84, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday afternoon, March 22, 2012, at his home. He was born Oct. 28, 1927, in Columbus, Ohio, a son of the late Edwin and Sylvia (Griffith) Easterday. On Sept. 20, 1950, he married Carol Townsend in Columbus. Donald was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during World War II, earning …

Norby R. Ortmann, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away late Wednesday evening, March 21, 2012, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born Aug. 15, 1926, in Detroit, a son of Frank and Agnes (Jesch) Ortman. Mr. Ortmann resided in Sturgis since 1960 coming from East Detroit. On July 24, 1948 he married Rita Strzalkowski at the Sweetest Heart …

Dorothy L. Pagels, age 95, of Centreville, passed away Wednesday March 21, 2012 at the Sturgis Hospital She was born on February 2,1917 in Sturgis to Albert and Nettie( Mingus) Pagels. Dorothy attended the Todd Rural School on Findley Road and graduated from Sturgis High School in 1935. She was employed at St. Joseph County Dept. of Social Services in Centerville for …

Lovina Borkholder-Miller, age 76, of Centreville, passed away peacefully Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 into the arms of Jesus after struggling with cancer for 4 years. She was born in Elkhart County, IN on November 6, 1935 to Jacob J. and Lizzieann Borkholder. At an early age her family moved to the Nottawa, MI area. She attended school in both Indiana and Michigan. …

William Donald (W.D.) Reynolds, age 72, of Burr Oak, passed away Tuesday afternoon, March 20, 2012, at Sturgis Hospital, with his son, sisters, stepdaughter, grandson and friends by his side. He was born Nov. 3, 1939, in Hillsdale, a son of the late Robert Leon and Danelda (Wilmer) Reynolds. W.D. resided in Sturgis since 1982, coming from Hillsdale County. He …

Mildred Rose Fetch, 92, of Three Rivers, died Monday, March 19, 2012, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids. She was born Dec. 25, 1919, in Penn, to John H. and Myrn E. (Thomas) Dussel. She lived in the Three Rivers area except the last four years, with her daughter. She was a lifelong homemaker and founding member of The Three Rivers Square. On Sept. …

Ronald W. Sager, 70, of Long Lake, Burr Oak, passed away March 19, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. Ron was born Sept.. 24, 1941, in Sturgis, a son of the late Walton V. and Doretha F. (Johnson) Sager. Ron graduated from Burr Oak High School with the class of 1958, he then continued his education at Ball State University, …