Obituaries

Clinton Lee Shafer, 84, of Three Rivers, died Monday, Oct. 25, 2010 at the Palliative Care Unit of the Veterans Administration in Battle Creek. He was born on Dec. 8, 1925 the son of Clinton and Ellen (Brannan) Shafer. He grew up on the family farm west of Three Rivers. He served his country during World War II in the …

Melvin S. Guess, age 81, of Portage, passed into eternal life on Oct. 25, 2010. He was born Dec. 5, 1929, in Kalamazoo, a son of Geo and Lois Guess. On Sept. 2, 1950, he married Christine Shoemake Guess. She preceded him in death Feb. 14, 1997. Mel enjoyed many years of family and fun, whether it be at the …

Norma Jean VanZile, 58, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010 at the Rose Arbor Hospice Care Center. She was born in Three Rivers on June 6, 1952 the daughter of Norman and Margene (Savage) Wordelman. Norma was a faithful member of the Three Rivers Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She built a life with her devoted …

Wilmyth Lucille DeMint, 91, formerly of Nottawa, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010 at Our Lady of Victory Nursing Home in Bourbonnais, Ill. She was born on Nov. 23, 1918 in Marion, Ind., the daughter of Edgar N. and Iona E. McAtee. Mrs. DeMint and her late husband, Rev. Milo DeMint, whom she married in 1940, pastored Churches of …

Phyllis A. “Annabell” Seybert, 82, LaGrange, Ind., died Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010, at Miller’s Merry Manor in LaGrange after an extended illness. She was born June 2, 1928, in Darlington, Wis., a daughter of John and Delma (Waters) Ramsier. She had also lived in Antwerp, Ohio, Scott, Ind., and White Pigeon. On Feb. 13, 1948, she married Delvan F. Seybert in …

Mary Eloise Miller, age 90, of Burr Oak, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010, at Birch Adult Foster Care Home in Leonidas. Mary was born July 17, 1920, in Burr Oak, a daughter to the late Marie (Kane) Hagelgans. Mary had lived all of her life in Burr Oak, graduating from Burr Oak High School with the Class of 1937. …

Doris A. Gross,  age 76, of Constantine, passed away on Monday, October 25th, 2010 at her home.  She was born in White Pigeon on March 3, 1934,  a daughter of  Edward and Irene (Weber) Easterday. Doris attended White Pigeon Schools. On December, 29, 1951 she married Robert E. Gross in Angola, IN. He preceded her in death on February 15, 2006.  …

Arthur August Wesse, 89, of Constantine, passed away early Sunday morning, Oct. 24, 2010, at his home. He was born July 22, 1921, in Riverdale, Illinois a son of the late Herman and Elsie (Beckman) Wesse. Mr. Wesse had resided in Constantine since 1961, coming from Sturgis. On Oct. 1, 1949, he married Margaret Sites in Constantine. He retired from …

David L. Tompkins, 75, of Sturgis, passed away early Saturday morning, Oct. 23, 2010, at Sturgis Hospital. He is survived by his wife, Janet; a daughter, Tracy (Don) Belyeu of East Jefferson, N.C.; a son, Craig Tompkins of Gainesville, Fla.; two stepsons, Eric (Linda) Carr of Sturgis and Daniel (Casandra) Farnham of Colon; three grandchildren, David (Marie) Belyeu of Gainesville, …

DeForest J. (Shorty) Wright, age 88, of Colon, passed away Monday, Oct. 25, 2010, at the home of his daughter Christine in Marshall. Shorty was born Oct. 29, 1921, in Coldwater, a son of the late Peter and Hazel (Melser) Wright. On July 15, 1945, he married Shirley Sanford in Coldwater. She preceded him in death July 7, 1992. Shorty …