Obituaries

Jerry D. “Pat” Vreeland, age 80, of Burr Oak, passed away unexpectedly Monday morning, Oct. 10, 2011, at the Sturgis Hospital emergency room.  He was born March 17, 1931, in Branch County, a son of the late William and Annabelle (Martin) Vreeland.  Pat had resided in Burr Oak for the past 56 years, coming from the Sherwood area.  On Feb. 19, …

Jesse M. Bercaw, age 85, of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday morning, Oct. 9, 2011, at his home.  He was born June 19, 1926, in Bronson, a son of the late Irvin and Etta (Mast) Bercaw.  Jesse had lived his whole life in the Bronson and Burr Oak area and in the home he was currently living in since 1948. …

Arthur J. Tobey, 76, of Burr Oak, and formerly of Tekonsha, passed away Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.  He was born Oct. 19, 1934, in Battle Creek to Harry and Clelah (Simons) Tobey. On April 10, 1982, he married Marcia Michielsen in Tekonsha. She survives.  Arthur grew up in the Marshall and Tekonsha area. He …

Lillian E. Shepard, 90, of Niles, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011 at Riveridge Manor, Niles. She was born April 6, 1921 in Savannah, Tenn. to Thomas and Etta (Phillips) Downing. She married Berl G. Shepard, Sr. on May 14, 1939 in Corinth, Miss. He preceded her in death on April 28, 1990. Lillian was also preceded in death by two …

Ronald C. Melvin, 64, of Three Rivers, went to be with his Lord and Savior peacefully at home on Friday, Oct. 7, 2011. He was born on Jan. 8, 1947 in Dayton, Ohio to Carl W. and Mary V. (Strucensky) Melvin, and was married to Rochelle M. Albright on April 19, 1980 in Niles. Ron was a Three Rivers area …

Robert James “Bob” Faist, 91, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully Oct. 7, 2011 at Heartland Healthcare Center surrounded by his loving family. Robert was born in Calumet City, Ill., the son of George and Florence Opal (Everson) Faist. Robert graduated from Thornton Fractional High School, Calumet City, Ill., later he took several correspondence courses. In 1941 Robert enlisted in …

Avis Genese Brothers, age 92, of Sturgis, passed away early Friday morning, Oct. 7, 2011, at Maple Creek Lodge in Grand Rapids.  She was born Aug. 28, 1919, at the family home on U.S. 12 near Klinger Lake in Sturgis.  Mrs. Brothers had resided in St. Joseph County and for a short time in Detroit returning to Burr Oak, where …

Lee Ridley, age 81, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday evening, Oct. 6, 2011, at her home, with her devoted daughter, Marsha, and dear friend, Darlene, Loetz at her side. She was born Feb. 20, 1930, in Chicago, a daughter of the late George and Effie (Cooper) Smith. Lee had resided in Sturgis since 1941 coming from Chicago. On Dec. 26, …

Richard W. Schmidt, 88, of White Pigeon, passed away early Thursday morning, Oct. 6, 2011, after a brief stay at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo.  He was born March 3, 1923, to Herman and Alta (Grimes) Schmidt at their farm in rural White Pigeon.  During World War II, he served in the 981st Ordnance Depot Company earning five bronze stars for campaigns …

LaMoine Belle Metty, 92, of South Padre Island, Texas, died Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011 at the Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, Texas. She was born near East Gilead, Mich. on Dec. 25, 1918 the daughter of the late Earl and Nellie (Stout) Preston. She attended Centreville schools and was married to Dr. Aloys C. Metty on April 21, 1939. …