Obituaries

Merna Mae Alleshouse, age 91, of Colon, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012, at Fairview Nursing & Rehabilitation Community in Centreville. Merna was born April 14, 1921, in Colon, a daughter of the late Cecil and Minnie (Broker) Hart. Merna had lived in Colon and Battle Creek, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 1940. On May 23, …

Raymond Edward Hartman of Saginaw, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2012 at his home surrounded by his family. He was 86 years old. Ray was born in Columbus, Ohio on Oct. 16, 1925, spent his youth in Centreville and most of his life in Saginaw. Although he was afraid of heights, he enlisted …

Victor C. Hostetler, age 65, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, September 20th, 2012 at his home. He was born in Sturgis, MI on October 18, 1946, a son of Bud and Betty (Easterday) Hostetler. Victor graduated from Constantine High School in 1965. On October 30, 1992 Victor married Cheryl Moodie in Union, Michigan. He worked as a purchasing agent …

Ronald Keith Buehlman, age 58, of Leonidas, died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born July 30, 1954, in Cook County, Ill., a son of the late Ronald F. and Joan C. (Schultz) Buehlman. The family moved to Leonidas in the early ’70s and Ron attended Colon Schools. He had been employed at Bronson …

George William Wojciechowski, 55, of Three Rivers and formerly of Hammond, Ind., passed away at 11:35 a.m. Monday, Sept. 17, 2012 at his home. He was born Aug. 26, 1957. He is survived by: his best friend and caregiver, Russell Snyder; a brother, Walter (Pat) Wojciechowski of Hobart, Ind.; four sisters, Irene Tsakopoulos of Munster, Ind., Wanda (Carey) Curtis of …

Beatrice “Bea” Griffin (Hill) Thurman, 70, of Three Rivers, went to be with her Lord on Friday, Sept. 14, 2012. She was born in Grenada, Miss. the daughter of William and Carey Hill. Bea has been a long time resident of Three Rivers. She was employed as a nurse aide at the Three Rivers Hospital, Fairview Nursing Home, and later …

Darl Duane Gunthorpe, age 80, of Westerville, Ohio, and a former lifelong Sturgis resident, passed away early Monday evening, Sept. 17, 2012, at the St. Anns Hospital in Westerville, Ohio. He was born Aug. 24, 1932, in Bronson, a son of Maurice and Iola (Bidwell) Gunthorpe. Darl was a lifelong Sturgis area resident. On July 24, 1954 he married Beverly …

Steven Lee Reed, age 65, of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday morning, Sept. 18, 2012, at his home with his family at his side. He was born Aug. 18, 1947, in Three Rivers, a son of the late Russell and Bonnie (Blank) Reed. Steve was a lifelong resident of the Sturgis and Centreville area and was a graduate of Centreville …

Brandy Lynn Barnell, 34, Sturgis, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Sunday morning, Sept. 16, 2012, at her home. She was born July 4, 1978, in LaGrange, Ind., a daughter of Thomas and Cindy (Sanford) Marker. Brandy resided in Sturgis since May of 2011, coming from Holden, Mo. On July 3, 2001, she married Michael Barnell in Arkansas. She attended Holy …

Doris M. Nelson, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, Sept. 17, 2012 at Thurston Woods Village. She was born Sept. 10, 1922, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Clarence and Florence (Merchant) Bunnell. Doris had resided in Burr Oak and Sturgis all her life. On June 11, 1938, she married Irvin F. Nelson in Sturgis. He preceded …