Obituaries

Joe Whetstone,age 81, of Constantine, passed away Thursday, February 14th, 2013 at Three Rivers Health Hospital. He was born in Elkhart, IN on December 16, 1931 to John and Susie (Hostetler) Whetstone. Joe proudly served in the Air Force from 1951-1955. On November 23, 1957 he married Carol Larrance. Joe was a Manager at Syndicate Systems in Middlebury, where he …

Kolyn Wayne Harker, infant son of Wayne and Kelli Harker, was stillborn Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013, at Sturgis Hospital after he had been diagnosed with Trisomy 13, a rare genetic disorder affecting only one in 10,000 babies. He is survived by his parents, Wayne and Kelli (Modert) Harker of Sturgis; maternal grandparents, Scott Modert of Sturgis and Michelle Hershberger of …

Leola D. Geark, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday evening, Feb. 12, 2013, at her home. She was born May 17, 1924, in Nebo, N.C., daughter of the late Sam and Lizzie (Cuthbertson) Dellinger. Leola resided in Sturgis since 1952 coming Marion, N.C., and she was a graduate of Glen Alpine High School with the class of 1942. …

Gaylord Dean “Gator” Hill, age 65, of Mesa, Ariz., since December of 2012, and a longtime former Sturgis resident, passed away unexpectedly Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, in Phoenix. He was born May 26, 1947, in Sturgis, a son of Wayne T. and Opal (Patrick) Hill. He was a member of the Eagles Lodge #1314 and Captain John J. Kelley Post …

Betty Jean Widdel, age 86, of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday evening, Feb. 12, 2013, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday at Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis. Funeral services celebrating the life of Betty Jean Widdel will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at …

Evelyn Ilene Phillips, age 71, of Mendon died Wednesday Feb. 13, 2013 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born in Mendon on Dec. 2, 1941 the daughter of James Edward and Zelma (Halsey) McClish and was a lifetime resident of the Mendon area. After attending Mendon Schools, Evelyn was married to James Leroy Phillips on May 23, 1959. …

Betty Louise Bickle, age 91, of Centreville, passed away Tuesday, February 12th, 2013 at Sturgis Hospital. She was born in Battle Creek, on May 23, 1921, a daughter of the Harl J. and Fern (Burgett) Moore. Betty graduated from Athens High School in 1940. On June 2, 1940 Betty married Dan Bickle in Athens. He preceded her in death on …

Paul N. Woods, 58, of Sturgis, died unexpectedly of a 24-hour rapidly progressing lung infection at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 9 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12 and 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13 at Sturgis Missionary Church, 67080 N. M-66, Sturgis. A service celebrating the life of …

Charles Martin, 87, of Lawton, passed away Friday morning, Feb. 8, 2013 at the Battle Creek VA Hospital. He was born July 19, 1925 in Three Rivers the son of the late Harold and Lola (Abshire) Martin. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Charlie was a member of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Lawton, the American …

Michael Alan “Mike” Schmitt, age 54, of Mendon died Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013 at his home. He was born in Mendon on Jan. 13, 1959 the son of Clement C. and Joan L. (Dick) Schmitt and was a lifetime resident of St. Joseph County. Mike graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1978. He was married to Vickie …