Obituaries

Verily Shepherd, 54, of Three Rivers, passed away Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at his home. Verily was born Nov. 24, 1956 in Chicago, Ill. a son to the late Ernest and Christine (Carr) Shepherd. He had worked at the former Dock Foundry in Three Rivers. Verily is survived by his companion of 27 years, Christine Bingaman of Three Rivers; four …

Karen Elaine Ruhlig, 54, of Three Rivers, died Monday, May 2, 2011 in a motor vehicle accident in Kalamazoo County. She was born in Springfield, Ohio on Oct. 22, 1956 the daughter of Walter G. and Betty Jo (Ostram) Ruhlig Jr. She was a 1974 graduate of Three Rivers High School and received her degree from Western Michigan University in …

Francis Lawrence “Frank” Dreger, 96, of Three Rivers, died Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Heartland Health Care Center. He was born in Chicago on Oct. 23, 1914 the son of Henry and Caroline (Rowles) Dreger and was a lifetime resident of Chicago. He was married to Phyllis Hughes in 1941, and she died in 1988. Frank was a pipefitter and …

William “Bill” Judson Affhalter, 79, of Constantine, passed away Saturday, May 14, 2011 at Heartland Healthcare Center. William was born June 15, 1931 in Colon the son of George and Edith (Brock) Affhalter. William was a long time resident of Constantine. William entered the U.S. Army in 1952 and served his country proudly in the Korean Conflict. Upon returning in …

Timothy Leonard Graves, age 40, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, April 28, 2011, in Grand Rapids from injuries sustained in a semi-truck accident.  He was born March 1, 1971, in Gladwin, a son of Gary Graves and Karen (Osborne) Breece.  Timothy was a truck driver for 13 years. He was the president of the Wild Bunch M/C. He enjoyed riding …

Ruth Ann Lucas, age 53, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, May 10, 2011, at her home.  She was born July 21, 1957, a daughter of the late George C. and Sarah J. (Pancake) Lucas.  Funeral services celebrating the life of Ruth Ann Lucas will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes — Hackman Chapel, 114 …

Betty J. Sites, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, May 16, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis.  She was born June 6, 1920, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Albert and Sarah (Foster) Maxwell.  Betty was a life long Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1938.  On Aug. 31, …

Gatha Marie Knepple, age 77, of Vandalia, MI, passed away Sunday, May 15th, 2011 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. She was born in Constantine, on March 23, 1934,  a daughter of Frank and Fannie (Hall) Caseman.  On March 28, 1953 she married Roger Knepple in Constantine. Gatha enjoyed fishing, crochet and sewing quilts, playing Bingo and going to garage sales. She …

Betty Jane Lewis, age 69, of 245 Memorial Drive, Sturgis, died at 7:05 p.m. Thursday May 12, 2011, at her home.  She was born May 13, 1941, in Temple, to Vernon and Dorothy M. Northrup. She had lived in LaGrange, Ind., prior to moving to Sturgis, and had been employed at Mastercraft.  She is survived by a son, Bruce and …

Ira E. Clark, age 79, of Colon, passed away May 15, 2011, at Bickford Cottage Assisted Living Home in Portage.  Ira was born July 25, 1931, in Fremont, Ind., a son of the late Ira P. and Ruby (Thompson) Clark.  Ira grew up in Fremont, Ind., graduating from Fremont High School with the class of 1949. He then continued his …