Obituaries

Dortha Ruth Robbins, 84, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at Heartland Healthcare Center. Dortha was born July 30, 1927 in Paris, Ill., the daughter of Harry and Stella (Reed) Stepp. Dortha was a long time resident of Three Rivers. She was employed as a teacher’s aide at Hoppin Elementary School in Three Rivers for many …

Loranne Marie Jacobs, 91, of Three Rivers and formerly of Bradenton, Fla., passed away peacefully on Easter Morning, April 8, 2012. She was born on Aug. 2, 1920 in Mattawan, the daughter of the late John and Luella (Britton) Butler. Loranne had been a long time resident of this area where she worked for more than 20 years at G.T.E. …

Jose Anjel Castro, age 19 minutes, son of Jose and Katheana (Brown) Castro of Coldwater, passed away Tuesday, April 10, 2012, at Sturgis Hospital.  He is survived by his parents; four sisters, Katheana, Kassandra, Leandra and Cecilia; four brothers, Robert, Kyle, Joshua and Jose Alexander; grandmothers Julia Brown of Coldwater and Leandra Castro of El Salvador; a niece, Layliah Deeren; …

Ila Mae Pierson, 80, of Marcellus, died Friday, April 6, 2012 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born on Oct. 9, 1931 the daughter of the late Leo and Florence (Wortinger) Westphal and was a lifetime resident of the Marcellus area. Ila was married to Jack Richard Pierson in Centreville on April 15, 1950. Jack died on Sept. …

Jacquelyn Diane “Jackie” Elliott, 64, of Centreville, passed away on March 29, 2012 at the Borgess Medical Center following a lengthy illness. She was born on Oct. 7, 1947 in Paw Paw the daughter of Robert “Bob” and Mildred “Porky” (Joyce) Rex. Jackie was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Richard Elliott. She leaves to cherish her …

Charles R. “Charlie” Gearhart, age 74, of Three Rivers, passed away Sunday, April 1, 2012, at Bronson Methodist Hospital, following complications from surgery.  He was born April 23, 1937, in Three Rivers, a son of Harold and Leona (Parker) Gearhart.  Charlie graduated from Three Rivers High School with the class of 1955, where he was a member of the state …

Jamie I. Hershberger, age 54, of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday, April 8th, 2012 at Sturgis Hospital. She was born in Elkhart, IN on December 18, 1957,  a daughter of Elmer and Mildred Inez (Collins) Henderson. On May 12, 1985 she married Daniel Hershberger in Columbus, Miss. Jamie worked at  Wendy’s Restaurant in Three Rivers & Schoolcraft. She enjoyed bingo, the New …

Patricia Lee (King) Baum, age 75, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Friday, April 6, 2012, at her home after a courageous battle with cancer. Patty was born Sept. 22, 1936, in Churchville, NY (Near Rochester), the only child of the late Lauren Journal and Ernestine (Aikens) King. She had been a Sturgis resident since 1972 coming from Erie, Pa., (Via …

Howard Jay Kasdorf, age 79, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Saturday, April 7, 2012, at home surrounded by his loving family after a short terminal illness. He was born Feb. 18, 1933, in Sturgis, a son to the late John Fredrick William and Lucile (Gross) Kasdorf. Howard went to country schools from kindergarten until entering Sturgis High School for the …

Doyle L. Lunger, 74, of Goshen, Ind., died Saturday, April 7, 2012, at Greencroft Health Care (Gables Unit) in Goshen, Ind. He was born march 28, 1938, in Three Rivers, Mich., the son of O.J. and Leona (Hoyt) Lunger. He served in the National Guard and Army Reserves and was a Goshen, Ind. resident since 1980, coming from Constantine, Mich. He …