Obituaries

Emma Louise Kerns, 85, of Burr Oak, passed away early Thursday morning, June 23, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born Dec. 7, 1925, in LaGrange County, Ind., a daughter of the late Franklin J. and Irene (Johnson) Friend. Emma had resided in the Burr Oak area for more than 40 years. Her early life was lived in the LaGrange …

Buelah M. Bradford, age 90, of Three Rivers went to be with the Lord on Wednesday June 22, 2011. She was born on March 1, 1921 the daughter of Lester and Mabel (Smith) Heckelman and was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. Following graduation from Three Rivers High School she took secretarial courses and later worked at Abstract Title Co. …

Ruth A. Blonde, 96, of Klinger Lake, White Pigeon, died, Saturday, June 18, 2011, at her home, following an extended illness.  Ruth was born March 24, 1915, in Detroit, to Anthony and Irene (Affeldt) Kraft. On Jan. 30, 1943, she married Howard J. Blonde in Detroit. He died Feb. 15, 2003.  They came to the White Pigeon area in 1953, …

Shirley Rose, age 74, passed away Saturday, June 18, 2011, at Fairview Nursing Community in Centreville.  She was born Sept. 15, 1936, in Hillsdale, a daughter of the late Walter and Erma (Hairre) Sheely.  Shirley had been a resident of Sturgis since 2001, moving from Detroit, where she resided for more than 20 years.  While living in Detroit,s he worked …

Mary F. Schaeffer, 78, of White Pigeon, passed away Tuesday, June 21, 2011, in Sturgis.  Mary was born Nov. 6, 1932 in South Bend, Ind., to Leonard and Blanche (Geyer) Meert.  She was a 1950 graduate of White Pigeon High School and had lived there for many years until moving to Kalamazoo.  After raising her family, she attended Parsons Business …

Wilda G. Weinberg, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday, June 18, 2011, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation in Centreville. Wilda was born Feb. 19, 1921, in Sturgis, a daughter to the late George and Marie (Worrall) Schrader. On Nov. 20, 1952, she married Richard Weinberg in Angola, Ind. He preceded her in death on March 14, 2000. Wilda received …

John M. Schrock, age 77, of Constantine, MI , passed away  Monday, June 13th, 2011 at his home. He was born in White Pigeon, MI on December 24, 1933, a son of  Thomas and Ruth (Harrison) Schrock.  On October 12, 1958 he married Mary Shingledecker in Angola, IN. John worked as a Finisher and maintenance at Weyerhauser in Middlebury. Following …

Sunday morning, June 12, 2011, Alfred H. Peterson, Jr., known to all as “Bud,” passed away quietly at Bickford Cottage in Portage. During his last days he was surrounded by his devoted family. Bud is survived by his beloved and loving lady, Della, their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bud was born in Detroit Nov. 28, 1916, attended Harms grade school, …

Vera Lorraine King Reed, formerly of 505 Tulip Lane, Three Rivers, died at the age of 102 on June 9, 2011, in Birmingham, Ala. She was born in a home in Three Rivers on Oct. 25, 1908, the first of three daughters born to Orville H. and Myrtle Viola (Gentzler) King. She graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1925 …

Frank P. Nemeth, 88, of White Pigeon, died Thursday, June 16, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis, after an extended illness. He was a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II served in the Pacific. He was born July 5, 1922, in Galatia, Ill., a child of Gabor and Lena (Lorenz) Nemeth. He had been a resident of White Pigeon …