Obituaries

Enos J. Bontrager age 79, of Burr Oak, passed away early Friday morning, Sept. 23, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born Aug. 8, 1932, in Sikeston, Mo., a son of the late John M. and Elizabeth (Mullet) Bontrager. On April 22, 1971, he married Clara Yoder, who passed away July 6, 1988. Surviving are four brothers, John Bontrager of …

George W. Washburn, age 63, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, at home. He was born Sept. 30, 1947, in Three Rivers, a son to the late Marion and Hazel “Jo” (Barnes) Washburn. George was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam. He had been a resident of Sturgis most of his life and had been …

William L. McManus IV of Colon, passed away, Friday, Sept. 23, 2011 at Select Specialty Hospital in Battle Creek. Bill was born April 12, 1931, in Detroit, a son of the late William L. III and Gertrude (Gimnich) McManus. Bill graduated from Constantine High School with the class of 1949, he then continued his education at Hiram College in Hiram, …

Donald Lee Brueck, age 74, of Mendon, died peacefully at home in the presence of his family on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011. Don was born Dec. 13, 1936, near Burr Oak, a son of Albert F. and Dorothy J. (Fisher) Brueck. On Aug. 20, 1955, he married Sharlene Batten, and they have resided in Mendon since 1957. Don was employed …

Nina B. Wellman, 69, of Three Rivers, died Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a long illness. She was born in Muskegon on Jan. 8, 1942 the daughter of the late Alfred and Pauline (Berghuis) Wieber. She graduated from Muskegon High School, and later from Central Michigan University with a Bachelors Degree in Education. She …

Twilla A. Wright, 94, of Three Rivers, passed away Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011 at Tendercare Nursing Home of Kalamazoo. Twilla was born June 7, 1917 in Porter Township, Lawton, the daughter of the late Clarence and Gladys (Hackenberg) Oxley. Twilla was united in marriage to Raymond Wright on Aug. 15, 1938 in Warsaw, Ind. They resided in Marcellus for 26 …

Stanley W. Pope, age 73, of Elkhart, Ind., and formerly of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, at Elkhart General Hospital. He was born Dec. 16, 1937, in Grand Rapids, a son of the late William and Genevieve (Stapley) Pope. On Feb. 19, 1957, in Grand Rapids, he married Wanda J. Rhodes. She preceded him in death April …

Jerry Lee Potter, 65, of Jones, passed away peacefully at his residence on Sept. 18, 2011. Jerry was born Jan. 23, 1946 in Three Rivers. The son of Jerry L. and Beverly Potter, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Surviving are four sons, Jerry and Garry Lytle of LaGrange, Ind., Tim Ludman of Dowagiac and Sheldon Ludman of Downey, …

Gladys Jean Slocum, 67, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011 at her home. She was born on Dec. 15, 1943 in Three Rivers the daughter of Edward and Gladys Comeau. She graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1963. Jean has been a long time resident of Three Rivers. She was a former member of the …

Anna Stauffer, age 90, of Burr Oak, passed away, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2011, at her home. Anna was born Sept. 30, 1920, in rural Centreville, a daughter of the late Sam N. and Fannie (Bontrager) Bontrager. On May 12, 1945, she married Christopher J. Stauffer in Sturgis. He preceded her in death Aug. 4, 1975. Anna had lived in St. …