Obituaries

Regenia“Jean”Valentine Pellegrom, died on January 23, 2012 at her home on Elm Street at the age of 102. Her friends said that she was the most optimistic and cheerful person they had ever met. Her husband, Francis “Pelly” used to say she truly cared about her friends and made deep, long lasting friendships. She wanted to know about people and …

Margaret Patricia Evans, age 85, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2012, at Sturgis Hospital.  She was born Jan. 15, 1927 at St. Francis Hospital in Freeport, Ill., a daughter of the late Lalon F. and Sybil A. (Harnish) Straub.  Mrs. Evans resided in Sturgis since 1954, coming from Ann Arbor. She had also lived in Detroit, …

Norman Herbert Martin passed away peacefully on Jan. 21, 2012 in Three Rivers. Herb was born July 18, 1926 in Wickliff, Ky. the son of the late Norman L. and Verble (Mills) Martin. He married his high school sweetheart, Betty Lindsey, on Sept. 3, 1944. They spent 66 years together traveling the country. Herb worked for Bechtel Corporation supervising the …

Vincent L. “Roy” Spore, 94, of Elkhart, Ind., formerly of White Pigeon, passed away Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, at his residence. He was born Jan. 25, 1917, in New York Mills, MN to Fred and Marie (Traver) Spore. On Feb. 15, 1938, he married Louise D. (Mann) Spore in Elkhart. She preceded him in death May 28, 1999. Survivors include …

Pastor Eliezer Melendez, age 80, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, father of Dr. Eliezer Melendez of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday morning January 18, 2012 at the home of his youngest son, Alvin. He was born July 2, 1931 in Puerto Rico, a son of the late Juan and Josefa (Vazquez) Melendez. Pastor Melendez early life was lived in Puerto Rico until …

Walter Henry Bauman, age 92, of Three Rivers, died Friday, Jan. 13, 2012, at the Three Rivers Health emergency room. He was born near Burr Oak on Aug. 14, 1919, a son of Henry C. and Elsie F. (Frohriep) Bauman and was a lifetime resident of St. Joseph County. He attended the Jones Country School and he worked alongside his …

Elmer Jacob Schrock, age 60, of Bristol, Ind., died Thursday, Jan. 14, 2012, at his home. He was born Nov. 20, 1951, in Arcola, Ill., a son of Joe D. and Elizabeth (Otto) Schrock, and he had lived in the White Pigeon-Constantine area since 1962. On Sept. 1, 1973, he married Cindy Copsey in Constantine. They were later divorced. Elmer …

Marlene L. Case, 75, of Three Rivers, and a former resident of Sturgis, joined Jesus in heaven Saturday evening, Jan. 14, 2012, at her home, with her family and friends at her side. She was born Nov. 27, 1937, in Kalamazoo, a daughter of the late Elmer and Mary Etta (Armour) Cox. Marlene had resided in Three Rivers for the …

Frances M. Hoopingarner, age 87, of Constantine, died  Saturday, January 14th, 2012 at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born in Constantine, on April 19, 1924,  a daughter of  Herman and Sadie (Thorn) Skelton. Frances attended Constantine Schools. On June 30, 1967 she married Austin Charles Hoopingarner in Constantine. He preceded her in death April 4, 2000. Frances …

Marcus Carpenter, age 90, of Sturgis, and formerly of Burr Oak, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2012, at his home in Sturgis. Marcus was born Aug. 28, 1921, in Berne, Ind., a son of the late Joseph D. and Fannie (Eicher) Carpenter. On Sept. 21, 1947, he married Esther L. Eichorn in Burr Oak. She preceded him in death Sept. …