Obituaries

Gerald E. Bradford, 75, of Three Rivers, passed away early Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at Three Rivers Health. He was born on July 31, 1935 in Three Rivers the son of George and Esther (Horn) Bradford. Gerald graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1953. Mr. Bradford attended Western Michigan University and traveled to Colombia, South America for two years. …

Mrs. Ann B. Mell, 93, of Kalamazoo and formerly of Three Rivers, died Sunday morning, April 10, 2011. Services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday from the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Portage Chapel, 411 E. Centre Ave. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the chapel. Private interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Three Rivers. Memorials may …

Bruce P. Garland, 76, of Suttons Bay, passed away Sunday, April 10, 2011 at his home. Bruce was born Dec. 24, 1934 in Dowagiac the son of William P. and Doris Irene (Pray) Garland. On Sept. 3, 1960 in Rives Junction he married his loving wife of 50 years, Darlene Louise (Fullerton) Garland, who survives. As a young man Bruce …

Grace Van Wormer age 94, formerly of Colon, passed away Sunday, April 10, 2011, in Kalamazoo. Grace was born Dec. 10, 1916, in Colon, a daughter of the late George and Lilly (Thrams) Schellhous. She had lived most of her life in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the class of 1936. On Feb. 16, 1944, she married Clyde …

Clarence V. Wooten, age 90, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at Sturgis Hospital. He was born May 1, 1920, in Kenova, W. Va., a son of the late Charles and Martha (Ellis) Wooten. Clarence had resided in Sturgis since 1945, coming from Kentucky. On March 28, 1942 he married Eva Kinsey in Battle Creek. He retired from …

John Howard Butler Sr., 91, of Three Rivers, died Monday, April 11, 2011 at Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers following an extended illness. He was born on July 8, 1919 in Charlotte, Mich. to Fred E. and Hazel M. (Brooks) Butler. He married Adelia Church on Sept. 19, 1946 in Charlotte; she preceded in him death in 1999. …

Geraldine Erma Hackenberg, age 88, of Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2011, at the Porter Hills Assisted Living Center, Grand Rapids. Geraldine was born on March 25, 1923, in Florida, Ohio, the daughter of Charles and Neva (Patrick) Baker. Geraldine graduated from Florida Ohio High School in 1941. On Jan. 28, 1941 she was united in marriage …

Arthur Amos “Art” Cross, age 82, of Mendon, died Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at his home, following a long illness. He was born Sept. 25, 1928, in Sherwood, a son of Irving and Loretta (Hanna) Cross, and attended school in Sherwood. Art was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Korea. On Feb. 26, 1953, he married Sarah Wolfe …

James Russell Rice, age 77 of Sturgis, was unexpectedly called home by his Lord and Savior early Tuesday morning, April 12, 2011 at his home. He was born Oct. 31, 1933, at the family farm on Fawn River Road in Sturgis, to the late Russell J. and Marguerite (Lockwood) Rice. Jim was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of …

Alan I. Saxman, 83, of Springfield, died Sunday, April 10, 2011, at his home. Alan was born May 8, 1927, in Leonidas, a son of Wesley I. and Mabel E. (Troy) Saxman. He had been an area resident since 1948, coming from Leonidas, and was a graduate of Colon High School. He was a veteran serving in the U.S. Navy …