Obituaries

Robert Franklin “Bob” Baker, Sr., age 84 of Three Rivers, died Friday June 24, 2011 at Borgess Medical in Kalamazoo. He was born in Elkhart, IN on March 10, 1927 the son of Harold and Marjorie (Flynn) Baker. He was raised in the Constantine area, and later moved to Three Rivers where he was a member of the Three Rivers …

Judy Louise Mosier, 54, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, June 20, 2011 following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born in LaGrange, Ind. on June 20, 1957 the daughter of Delbert and Bonnie (Ringer) Terry. Judy has been a resident of this area for more than 30 years. Judy loved animals of all …

Ralph Burton Clapp, 91, of Jackson, formerly of Three Rivers and LaGrange Highlands, Ill., passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Saturday, June 18, 2011. He was born in Oak Park, Ill., on July 21, 1919, the son of Albert and Alice (Pollard) Clapp. Ralph (“Swede” to many of his friends) graduated from Oak Park-River Forest …

Glen S. Smith II, age 39, of Sturgis, passed away early Thursday morning, June 23, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born Feb. 8, 1972, in Sturgis, a son of Glen and Mickey (Boggs) Smith. Glen had resided in Sturgis his entire life and had been employed by Dexter Axle in White Pigeon. He always looked forward to attending the …

Terry Lee VanNest, age 67, of Sturgis, lost his battle with cancer early Thursday morning, June 23, 2011, at his home. He was born Feb. 10, 1944, in Centreville, a son of the late Albert and Thelma (Morrison) VanNest. Terry was a lifelong Sturgis area resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1962. On March …

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 …