Obituaries

Francis A. “Fran” Lamb, 82, of Jones, died Thursday, March 17, 2011 in Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo. He was born Aug. 29, 1928 in Kalamazoo to Otis and Anna (Maas) Lamb. He married Millie Seager in Indiana on Aug. 8, 1950. She survives. He was a loving husband and a wonderful father and grandfather. He greatly enjoyed his hobbies of …

Joanne Mae Brown Sadewasser, 83, of Indian Head, MD and formerly of Centreville, MI, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 16 at the Civista Medical Center in LaPlata, MD.Born July 3, 1927, in the family home in Centreville, delivered by her Grandmother Brown, she was the daughter of John “Jake” Brown and Lenore Marion Schrader Brown. Mrs. Sadewasser graduated from …

Fred E. Shank Sr., age 79, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Thursday morning, March 17, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born Dec. 2, 1931, in Coldwater, Mich., a son of the late Stanley S. and Esther (Carver) Shank. Fred was a longtime Sturgis resident and had attended schools in Coldwater, Freemont, Ind., and Muskegon. On Dec. 6, 1952, he …

Geraldine May “Jerry” Decker, age 78, of Vicksburg, died Wednesday March 16, 2011, at her home following a three-month illness. She was born in Fulton on May 13, 1932, the daughter of Gerald and Fay (Waits) Spealman and has been a lifetime resident of this area. She graduated from Athens High School with the Class of 1949. Jerry was married …

Helmut N. ‘Bill’ Franz, age 70, of Burr Oak, Mich., passed away unexpectedly early Thursday evening, March 17, 2011, at his home. He was born Feb. 9, 1941, in Montau, West Prussia, a son of the late Walter and Kate (Kliewer) Franz. Bill had resided in Burr Oak for the past 44 ½ years coming from Sturgis. On Oct. 1, …

Norma Ann Gold, 83, of Elkhart, Ind., died Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Ind. She was born in Elkhart, the oldest daughter of William and Clara (Dunafin) Berry, on Jan. 26, 1928. On Nov. 3, 1959, she married John W. Gold. He preceded her in death Jan. 19, 1986. She is survived by …

Pauline Fay “Polly” Melchi of Sturgis passed away early Wednesday morning, March 16, 2011, at her home. She was born in Burr Oak,, a daughter of the late Charles Ray and Viola Waive (Reading) Scupholm. Pauline had resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area her whole life. She married Eugene Howard Melchi in Hopkinsville, Ky. He died April 25, …

Marilyn M. (Mecklenburg) Kelso, age 86, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 3, 2011. She was born on Aug. 7, 1924, in Sturgis, Mich., and has lived in the Madison area for more than 72 years. Marilyn is survived by her three loving sons, Tim (Lisa), Thomas (Rose) and Robert (Linda); and six grandchildren, Ann, Thomas Jr., Kelly (Brad), Shaun …

Diane Kay Stringfellow, 66, died Monday, March 14, 2011, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born Sept. 1, 1944, in Goshen, Ind., to the late Robert H. and Dorothy (Raymer) Stringfellow. She is survived by a daughter, Erin (Bill) Clewell, Constantine, Mich.; four grandchildren, Billy, Jenny, Shanon, and Brandi Clewell; a great-granddaughter, Camilla Clewell; and a nephew, Randall …

James Burmeister, age 74, of Vandalia, passed away on March 9, 2011 in his residence following a long illness. Jim was born May 15, 1936 in Appleton, WI the son of Ervin H. and Viola M. (Kinney) Burmeister. On May 15, 1998 in Leland, MI he married Charlene M. (Buckhold) DeWeerd who survives. He had lived at his present residence …