Obituaries

Michael Melvin “Mike” Wheeler, age 67, of White Pigeon, died Monday, April 23, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, following a brief illness. He was born June 15, 1944, in Pinehurst, N.C., a son of the late Melvin and Pearl Mae (Smith) Wheeler. His family moved to Centreville when he was young, and Mike graduated from Centreville High School …

Howard E. Harker, 87, of Sturgis, of Sturgis, passed away early Monday evening, April 23, 2012, at his home. He was born Aug. 8, 1924, in Sturgis, a son of the late William Cloyce and Gladys (Krontz) Harker. Howard was a lifelong resident of Sturgis. On Dec. 27, 1945, he married Dorothy Westfall at Sturgis Church of the Nazarene in …

Hazel E. Hicks, 88, of Sturgis, died April 23 at her home, where she had lived with her daughter and son-in-law since 2004. The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday and 10-11 a.m. Saturday at Sturgis Missionary Church, 67080 N. M-66, Sturgis. A service celebrating the life of Hazel E. Hicks will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at …

Alice Suzette “Suzy” Warner, age 85, of Three Rivers, went peacefully to her Lord on Sunday, April 22, 2012, the day of her birth. She was born in Three Rivers, the daughter of Merrill and Florence (Ellet) Warner. Suzy was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. The tapestry of her life vividly illustrates the unselfish service Suzy devoted to her …

Dickey A. Carper, 76, of Osceola, Ind., passed away on Friday, April 20, 2012 at his residence with his family at his bedside. Dick was born on May 8, 1935 in Constantine to the late Payson and Bessie (Bowman) Carper. Dick married the former Mary Mix on April 19, 1965 in Olympia, Wash. Dick and Mary just celebrated their 47th …

John F. “Jack” Ashby, age 94, of Three Rivers, died Saturday April 21, 2012 at his home. He was born in Springfield, Ohio on March 31, 1918 the son of Elmer I. and Emma (Harrison) Ashby. Following high school Jack joined the Marine Corps and served in the South Pacific during World War II. Before going overseas, he was married …

Phyllis A. Barr, 80, of Bronson, passed away Friday, April 20, 2012, at The Community Health Center of Branch County. A service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 24, 2012, at Dutcher-Kolcz Funeral Home in Bronson with Pastor Kurt Kuhlmann of St. John’s Lutheran Church officiating. Interment will follow at Bronson Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-7 …

Joanne Holden, 84, of Three Rivers, died April 17, 2012. She was known to many as the lady who operated the Long Lake Food and Book Shop from 1968 until her retirement in 2011. Born in Michigan City, Ind., on Oct. 26, 1927, to Ruth and Kenneth Holden, she grew up in Harbert, Mich., on the shore of Lake Michigan. …

Dorothy J. Townsend, age 84, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Thursday afternoon, April 19, 2012, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born February 9, 1928 in Detroit, Michigan daughter of Fred and Alice (Nichols) Stites. Mrs. Townsend had resided in Sturgis since 1964, coming from the Adrian area. Her early life was lived in Detroit and she was a graduate of …

Greta (Webb) Johnson, 50, of Northport, Ala., and a former Sturgis resident, died unexpectedly Thursday, April 12, 2012, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.  She was born Nov. 24, 1961, in Arkansas.  Greta had resided in Alabama since 1993. Her early life was lived in Sturgis and she was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1980, where she excelled in …